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LANDMARKS _£^ 



OF 



RENSSELAER COUNTY 



NEW YORK 



By George Baker Anderson 

PUBLISHED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF 
THE TROY PRESS 



SYRACUSE, N. Y. 

D. MASON ik COMPANY, PUBLISHERS 

1897 



K^ 



01 



PREFACE, 



It is manifestly impossible to record, in a volume even so lar^^e 
as this, all of the interesting occurrences in a political division 
so rich in history as the county of Rensselaer. Realizing" the vast 
expenditure of labor and time involved in making a tnistworthj'' 
compilation of the most important facts connected with the his- 
tory of the county, and the utter impotency of man when an 
endeavor is made to collate all of the data necessary to make a local 
historical work complete and correct in all its various departments, 
the author of " Landmarks of Rensselaer County" and his assistants 
have confined themselves principally to chronicling the most im 
portant events, with separate historical sketches of leading industries 
and institutions in each locality'. 

When the first white men — Henry Hudson and his little band of 
navigators — visited, in the fall of 1609, what is now known as Rens 
selaer county, the latter was the abode of a tribe of friendly Indians, 
the Mohicans, or Mohegans, since made famous by the writings of the 
novelist, James Fenimore Cooper. About two decades later, as near 
as can be determined, the first settlements were made by the Dutch 
within the limits of what is now Rensselaer county, on or near the 
site of the village of Greenbush. For a century and a half there- 
after the territory now embraced in the county formed the "east dis- 
trict" of the manor of Rensselaerwyck, granted originally by the 
Dutch West India Company to Killiaen \'an Rensselaer, who became 
the first patroon of the colony, November 1, 1683, the province of 
New York was divided by the Eu'glish into ten counties — Albany, 



iv PREFACE. 

Dutchess, Oransjfe, Ulster, Westchester, New York, Richmond, Kings, 
Queens and Suffolk. From that time until 1791 Rensselaer county re- 
mained a part of Albany county. The limits of the former county 
have since remained as originally fixed, though there have been 
many changes in the boundaries of the various towns. 

It is difficult to divide the history of Rensselaer county, aside from 
its civil history, into distinct epochs. Its geographical location made 
it. in most respects, neutral ground during the period of Indian occu- 
pancy of which we have definite knowledge. During the long series 
of FVench and Indian wars its early inhabitants suffered occasionally 
from the depredations of the contending forces; and the capture of 
innocent and neutral families, sometimes their wanton massacre, is 
chronicled. 

During the War of the Revolution one of the most important and de- 
cisive battles was fought entirely within the limits of the town of 
Hoosick, in Rensselaer county, yet historians have given to it the 
name of the Battle of Bennington. In the long struggle between 
landlords and tenants, known as the Anti-Rent War, many exciting 
events occurred in the county. When the Rebellion of the Southern 
States compelled the President to ask for v(jlunteers for its suppres- 
sion. Rensselaer county was the first to respond to the call. With 
these exceptions the inhabitants have been left to take part in the 
peaceful development of the community. The history of the countv 
for the past century and a (juarter, tor the most part, is a history 
of this development. The facts illustrating this growth have been 
gleaned by personal incjuiry throughout the county and by reference 
to the most reliable historical works heretofore published. Material 
for the sketches in the l:)iographical department of the work has 
been gleaned by agents of the publishers, and the matter as pre- 
pared has been reviewed by those persons best able to guarantee 
its accuracy. 

The author is indebted to many persons in all parts of the countv 
for valuable assistance. It is impossible to enumerate all these, but 



PREFACE. V 

it is desired to acknowledge practical help and sugg^estions received 
from Hon. Martin I. Townsend, Reed B. Kontccou, M. D., Jesse B. 
Anthony, Hon. Gilbert Robertson, jr., De Witt Clinton, William 
Ba)'ard Van Rensselaer, Prof. J. H. Willets, Nelson Gillespie, Hon. 
Lewis E. Griffith, E. Ogden Ross, Frank W. Thomas, Jonathan 
Denison, Jeffrey P. Thomas, Richard F. Hall, Gilbert Geer, jr., Capt. 
James H. Lloyd, Capt. Wait H. Stillman, Capt. John P. Treanor, 
Major Isaac F. Handey, Milford H. Fancher, the pastors of the 
various churches, the principals of schools and academies, the officers 
of Masonic bodies and other societies, the officers of banking- and 
other corporations, public officials, the custodians of city, village, 
town and county records, and many others. Frequent reference has 
alscj been made to and valuable assistance received from numerous 
earlier volumes, including- "Troy's One Hundred Years," by A. J. 
Weise; " History of Rensselaer County," b}^ N. B. Sylvester; "Rem- 
iniscences of Troy," by Hon. John Woodworth ; "The Iroquois 
Trail," by William H. Beauchamp: "Documentary Colonial History 
of New York;" Professor Pearson's " Albany County Records;" Joel 
Munsell's "Annals of Albany;" "History of Lansingburgh and 
Troy," by A. J. Weise, and many other books of record. 

There doubtless are some mistakes in " Landmarks of Rensselaer 
County;" but as all statements of more than ordinary importance, and 
those regarding which serious questions have arisen, have been re- 
ferred to the best authorities accessible, the work is submitted in 
the belief that it will be found to be, on the whole, a trustworthy 
record of the origin and development of the county and the doings 
of its inhabitants. 

GEORGE BAKER ANDERSON. 

Troy, N. Y., October 1, 189(3. 



CONTENTS. 



PART I. 

CHAPTER I. 

Early Settlements in the Valley of the Hudson — Explorations of Henry Hudson 
— Records of His Journey — The First White Man to Set Foot on the Soil of 
Rensselaer County — Privileges Extended to Traders in the Newly Discov- 
ered Territory . 1-6 

CHAPTER II. 

Early Indian Occupancy — The Mohicans the Aboriginal Inhabitants of Rensse- 
laer County — The Five Nations: Their Organization and Development — 
Warfare Between the Mohicans and Mohawks — Uncas and Miantonomoh-^ 
Origin of the Schaghticoke Indians. 6 — 14 

CHAPTER III. 

Killiaen \'an Rensselaer, Founder of the Manor of Rensselaerwyck — The Fa- 
mous Charter of Freedom and Exemptions — Jealousy Over the Patroon's 
Large (irant — Early Administration of the Colony — Collision P>etween the 
Colony and the Province — The Early Trade in Piu's — First White Settlers in 
Rensselaer County 14-32 

CHAPTER IV. 

The French and Indian War — Cause of the Hostilities — Expeditions Against 
Canada — Origin of Yankee Doodle — English Control of the Colony — The 
Strife Over the Government of the Hampshire Grants — Outrages Committed 
by the Bennington Mob — Temporary (Jovernment Organized by the Insur- 
gents 32-46 



viii CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER V. 

The War of the Revolution and the Participation Therein of the Colonists of 
Rensselaerwyck — General Schuyler Deposed- -Baum's Proclamation — The 
Famous Battle of Benninijton and the Events Leading up to It— F'ought 
I'ntirely Within the Town of Hoosick — The Accounts of General Stark and 
Lieutenant Glick — Losses on Both Sides — Direct Result of the Battle — 'I'he 
Decisive Action at Saratoga . 4fi-G5 

CHAPTER VI. 

Division of New York into Counties and Organization of Rensselaer County — 
Work of Developing the Resources of the County Renewed — Act Erecting 
Rensselaer County — The First Judges and other Civil Officers — Description 
of the County, its Geography and Geology 05-75 

CHAPTER VII. 

The Erection of the First County Buildings — Rivalry Between Troy and Lan- 
singburgh as to Which Should Secure the Court House — Formation of New 
Towns — Rapid Development of the County and Its Increasing Needs — Or- 
ganization of the State Militia — Appointments for the Rensselaer County 
Brigade — Its Evolution in the Early Days of the Nineteenth Century 76-90 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Tlic Famous Anti-Rent Troubles in Rensselaer County and Vicinity— The Cen- 
tres of the Scenes of Disturbance — Anti-Rent Associations — Refusals of the 
Occupants of Farms to Pay Rent— The Murder of Griggs — Arrest. Trial and 
Ac(|uillal of Witbeck, the Alleged Murderer 91-1(4 

CHAPTER IX. 

Rensselaer County in the War of the Rebellion — Organization in Troy of the 
First Regiment of Yohmteer Soldiers Who Served in the War — History of 
the Second Regiment — Operationsof the Thirtieth, One Hundred and Sixty- 
ninth, and One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Regiments — The Twenty-first 
New York, or the Griswold Cavalry IIS-ISO 

CHAPTER X. 

Closing Days of the Nineteenth Century — New County Buildings — History of 
the Railroad.s — Rensselaer County Citizens Who Have Held High Public 
Office — The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument — Statistics of the Development 
of the Countv .. ... i;<()-153 



CONTENTS. ix 

CHAPTER XI. 
BRNCri AND BAR OF RKNSSELAER COUNTY 154-1(57 

CHAPTER XII. 
Till-: MEIHCAL PROFESSION 107-185 

CHAPTER XIII. 
MASONRY IN RENSSELAER COUNTY 185-199 

CHAPTER XIV. 
RENSSELAER COUNTY'S NATIONAL GUARD 2()()-21U 

CHAPTER XV. 
TROY AS A YIIJ.AGE ....217-245 

CHAPTER XVI. 
TROY AS A CITY VI46-304 

CHAPTER XVII. 

Industries and Institutions of Troy — The Leading Manufactures and Mercantile 
Establishments— Tro\' Famous for Collar and Cuff Industries — The Manufacture of 
Iron and Steel, Stoves. Ranges and Valves — Other Big Industries — Troy's Celebrated 
Educational Institutions — History of its Churches — Municipal Departments — Statis- 
tics Showing I)evelo])mcnt Along Various Lines 304-374 

CHAPTER XVIII. 
TOWN OF LANSIN(iBirR(;H ..;{74-4(J2 

CHAPTER XIX. 
TOWN OF GREENBUSII 402-416 

CHAPTER XX. 
TOWN OF HOOSICK 416-437 



/ 



/ 



t CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XXI 
'lOWN OF SCHAGHTICOKE ....438-45fi 

CHAPTER XXII. 
TOWN OF SCIIODACK ... 456-4^8 

CHAPTER XXIII. 
TOWN OF I'lTTSTOWX 468-481 

CHAPTER XXIV. 
'I'OWN OF I'.FRLIN 482-489 

CHAPTER XXV. 
Y 'J'oWN OF STI-^IHIFNTOWN .4110-501 

CHAPTER XXVI. 
\/ TOWN OF I'lCTRRSRURGH r)01-509 

CHAPTER XX\'II. 
"^ TOWN OI'^ SAND LAKF .... .^lO-.VJO 

ciiapti:r XXVIII. 

TOWN Ol' F.Rl'NSWICK S'Jl-MO 

CHAPTER XXIX. 
TOWN OF NORTH C.REFNF.ITSII r>30-.i:?7 

CHAPTER XXX. 
'!'< )WN OF ICAST GREENHUSII T):}; -543 

CIIAPTICR X.XXI. 
TOWN OF NASSAU . 543-555 



CONTENTS. xi 

CHAPTER XXXI I. 
TOWN OF POESTENKILL ^ ...555-561 

CHAPTER XXX HI. 
TOWN OF GRAFTON 561-570 



PART II. 
BIOGRAPH ICAL 571 -7.'J.- 



PART ill 

FAMILY SKETCHES.. 1-407 

INDEXES - - 409-460 



Landmarks of Rensselaer County. 



CHAPTER I. 



Early Settlements in the Valley of the Hudson— Explorations of Henry Hudson — 
Records of his Journey— The First White Man to Set Foot on the Soil of Rensselaer 
County — Privileges Extended to Traders in the Newly Discovered Territory. 

The history of the county of Rensselaer up to the year 1791 is iden- 
tical with that of the county of Albany, of which it formed a part up 
to that year. The foundation of the colony was the result of an at- 
tempt to establish in the New World the European feudal system of 
land tenure and local government which was then beginning to be un- 
popular in the Old World. The main peculiarity of this system was 
that the bulk of the land was divided into feuds or fiefs, held by their 
owners on condition of the performance of certain duties to a superior 
lord who, in default of such performance, could reclaim the land. The 
lord was entitled to the fealty of his tenants, but not to that of their 
subtenants, every man being responsible only to his iminediate lord. 
In a new and comparatively free country it was but natural that this 
system should fail, as it did. The system prevailed in New York, 
however, until the War of the Revolution, but the changes then wrought 
were not of a radical nature, else we should never have been called 
upon to chronicle the Anti-rent War, as it became known. 

The settlement at Fort Orange, now Albany, was made in 1614, five 
years after the exploration of the Hudson by Sir Henry Hudson and 
six years before the foundation of Plymouth by the Pilgrim Fathers. 
Hudson was followed by a number of Dutch adventurers, he having 
taken possession of the country in the name of Holland, prominent 
among whom were Cornelis Jacobsen Mey, Adrian Block and Hendrick 
Corstiarnsen. Gerrit Jacob Witsen, a former burgomaster of the city 
1 



2 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

of Amsterdam, and twelve associates received, Oct. 14, 1614, a grant 
giving- them the exclusive right to navigate and explore for three 
years the lands then called New Netherlands, The company sailed 
up the Hudson, which they called " De Riviere van den Vorst Mau- 
ritius," and in the spring of 1615 they built two posts — one at the 
southern end of the island of Manhattan, and the other on Castle island, 
in the southern part of the city of Albany. The latter, called Fort 
Nassau, was begun in the spring of 1614 by some of the members of 
the company. It was in command of Jacob Jacoby Elkinz and a gar- 
rison of less than a dozen men, all in the employ of the company. In 
the spring of 1618, at which time the special grant of the company ex- 
pired, the fort was injured by a freshet and the company abandoned 
t, building one on the mainland a short distance further down the 
river, at the mouth of the creek now known as the Norman's Kill. 
Soon after the completion of the fort the Dutch settlers made their 
first treaty with the Mohawks, representing the Iroquois nation, gain- 
ing for the former a friendship with the red men which was never 
broken. Jvily 1, 1621, the powerful Dutch West India company took 
possession of the lands granted it by the States-General June 3, 1620, 
the province of the company including New Netherlands. The year 
afterward permission was granted several families of Walloons, then 
settled at Amsterdam, to establish in the New Netherlands a colony 
to be governed by magistrates which they themselves were to select. 
The Walloons were descended from the ancient Belgae, mixed with 
Germanic and Roman elements. They were one of the divisions 
of the Huguenots and spoke the French language. They were very 
conscientious, industrious and persevering; cleanly in their habits 
and lived on an unusually high moral and spiritual plane. The ship 
"New Netherland," which was sent out from Texel in the spring 
of 1623 by the West India company, carried about thirt}- families, 
mostly Walloons, and in May, after a voyage of about two months, 
arrived in New York harbor. Fort Orange, which had been started 
the year before, was the destination of these immigrants, over half of 
whom, under the leadership of Ad riaen Joris, immediately settled there 
and began the work of completing the fort. This was early in the 
summer of 1623. Joris at once renewed the original treaty with the 
Iroquois. In the following year Cornells Jacobsen Mey was made first 
director of New Netherlands. 

The name of Henry Hudson is ineffably associated with Rensselaer 



SIR HENRY HUDSON'S VOYAGE. 3 

county Under the orrant of King James I of England, dated April 
10, ICOG, the territory embraced within the limits of the present county 
of Rensselaer became a part of the grant to the Plymouth company, 
which embraced all the land on the continent between the forty-first 
and forty-fifth degrees of latitude. When the Council of Plymouth 
succeeded the original Plymouth company, Rensselaer county still re- 
mained in the same grant, which was increased, however, by the addi- 
tion of the territory lying between the fortieth and forty-first degrees 
on the south and the forty- fifth and forty-eighth degrees on the north. 
The English at once began the settlement of New England. But the 
voyages and explorations of the illustrious wSir Henry Hudson resulted 
in the settlement of a portion of the Plymouth grant by the Dutch. 

Hudson was employed by a company of London merchants to en- 
deavor to discover a new route to the Indies. His two voyages while 
in the employ of the Englishmen, his fellow countrymen, resulted in 
failure and he offered his services to the Dutch East India company. 
This company furnished him with a small ship — the Half Moon — hardly 
more than a yacht, and in April, 1G09, he set out on his third voyage 
for the Indies. Baffled, but not discouraged, at his inability to pass 
through the ice fields of the north, he turned toward America once 
more. He touched at Newfoundland, the coast of Maine, Cape Cod, 
Chesapeake bay, Delaware bay, and finally the harbor of New York. 
September 10, 1609, he entered the picturesque river which now bears 
his name and sailed northward. "On the evening of the fifteenth he 
arrived opposite the mountains which lie from the river side, where he 
found *a very loving people and very old men,' and the day following 
reached the spot hereafter to be honored by his own illustrious name. 
One day more wafts him up between Schodac and Castleton; and here 
he landed and passed a day with the natives, greeted with all sorts of 
barbarous hospitality ; the land ' the finest for cultivation he ever set 
foot on;' the natives so kind and gentle that when they found he 
would not remain with them over night, and feared that he left them — 
poor children of nature! — because he was afraid of their weapons, — he, 
whose quarterdeck was heavy with ordnance! — they 'broke their 
arrows in pieces and threw them in the fire!' " 

Hudson, then, undoubtedly set foot on the soil of the present town 
of Schodack before his crew sailed up the river to Albany. There is 
little doubt, by reason of the long stops he made and the slowness with 
which he proceeded up the stream, that he spent considerable time on 



4 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

the shores on both sides of the river. On the 19th he anchored again a 
short distance further up the river. From here a small exploring party 
rowed up the river to a point not far from the present city of Troy. 
Two voyages in row boats were made — the first on the 20th of the 
month and the second on the 22d. At noon of the 23d the Half Moon 
weighed anchor, Hudson finding that navigation was impossible be- 
yond the islands at the mouth of the Mohawk, and started on the 
journey homeward. In the journal in which he recorded his daily 
doings we find the following records for the period from Sept. 15 to 23 
inclusive: 

The fifteenth, in the morning, was misty until the sunne arose; then it cleered. 
So we weighed with the wind at South, and ran up the riuer twentie leagues, passing 
by high mountains. Wee had a very good depth, as six, seven, eight, nine, twelve 
and thirteen fathoms, and great store of salmons in the river. This morning our 
two savages got out of a port and swam away. After we were under sayle they 
called to us in scorne. At night we came to other mountains which lie from the 
river's side. There wee found very loving people and very old men ; where we 
were well used. Our boat went to fish, and caught great store of very good fish. 

The sixteenth faire and very hot weather. In the morning our boat went againe 
to fishing, but could catch but few by reason their canoes had beene there all night. 
This morning the people came aboard and brought us eares of Indian corne and 
pompions and tobacco, which wee bought for trifles. Wee rode still all day and 
filled fresh water; at night wee weighted and went two leagues higher and bad 
shoaled water ; so we anchored till day, 

The seventeenth, faire sunshining weather and very hot. In the morning as soon 
as the sun was up we set sayle and ran up six leagues higher and found shoales in 
the middle of the channel and small islands but seven fathoms water on both sides. 
Toward night we borrowed so neere the shoare that wee grounded, so wee layed out 
our small anchor and heaved oflf againe. Then we borrowed on the banke in the 
channel and came aground againe. While the floud ran we hoved off againe and 
anchored all night. 

The eighteenth, in the morning was faire weather and we rode still. In the 
afteruoone our master's mate went on land with an old savage, a governor of the 
countrey, who carried him to his house and made him goode cheere. 

The nineteenth was faire and hot weather. At the floode, being neere eleven of 
the clocke, wee weighed and ran higher up two leagues above the shoals and had no 
lesse water than five. We anchored and rode up in eight fathoms. The people of 
countrie came flocking aboord and brought us grapes and pompions which wee bought 
for trifles. And many brought us bevers' skinnes and otters' skinnes, which wee 
bought for beades, knives and hatchets. So we rode there all night. 

The twentieth in the morning was faire weather. Our master's mate with four 
men more went up with our boat to sound the river, and found two leagues above 
us but two fathoms of water and the channell very narrow, and above that place be- 
tween seven or eight fathoms. Toward night they returned and we rode still all 
night. 



THE MOHICAN INDIANS. 7 

tude. One of the principal villages of the Mohicans was in the county 
of Rensselaer, covering a portion of the site of the present city of Troy. 
At the time when our first knowledge of them begins they were already 
beginning to decay, and when the white settlers made their appearance 
the decadence of all the tribes of the family were accelerated. 

In the reign of Atotarho XII, one of the kings of the Five Nations, 
perhaps about fifty years before Columbus discovered America, we are 
told by an authority on Indian history' that the Tehatirihokea, or Mo- 
hawks, were at war with Ranatshaganha, " supposed Mohegans, who oc- 
cupied the opposite bank of the river Skaunataty or Hudson. The warfare 
was maintained by small expeditions; the Mohawks would cross the 
river and attack the enemy; the canoes were kept in the river contin- 
ually to cover their retreat; but after a while the Mohegans expoliated 
the war; the chief of the Mohawks received orders from the king, and 
invited the two confederate nations, the Oneidas and the Onondagas, 
to unite against the common enemy; the band of the combined forces 
immediately crossed the river and revenged a part of the country, and 
the enemy were compelled to sue for peace." 

In the centre of the great expanse of territory occupied by the Al- 
gonquins, and entirely cut off from communication with other nations, 
except in the event of war, lived the powerful nations called the Iro- 
quois and the Hurons. By some these two families were called one 
nation, the Huron-Iroquois. 

The Iroquois Indians, or the Five Nations as they were called by the 
French (subsequently, by the amalgamation with them of the Tusca- 
roras, becoming the Six Nations), occupied practically all the territory 
now known as New York State when the first white man penetrated 
the wilderness through which they roamed. The English called them 
the Confederates ; the Dutch, more particularly those who settled the 
Mohawk valley, called them theMaquaas; and the Indians called them- 
selves the Agannschioni, meaning "United People." They also called 
themselves the Hodenosaunee, meaning "the people of the long 
house," all their houses being low, narrow and as a rule very long. 
They also likened their confederacy, stretched for 200 miles along a 
narrow valley, to one of the long wigwams containing many families. ^ 

The Five Nations were composed of the Mohawks, on the east; next 

' David Cusick's Sketches of Ancient History of the Six Nations. 

' Credit is due George S. Conover, the well-known authority on Indian history, for much of 
the information contained in this chapter. 



8 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

west being the Oneidas, then the Onondagas, the Cayugas and the Sen- 
ecas. When the Tuscaroras, from the Carolinas, joined the Confeder- 
acy which existed among those nations they became amalgamated with 
the Oneidas and gradually lost their identity. It is not postively 
known when the Confederacy was established. In David Cusick's his- 
tory of the Six Nations he relates the Indian traditions relative to the 
origin of the kingdom, which was called " a Long House, the Wars, 
Fierce Animals," etc. He says: 

By some inducement a body of people was concealed in the mountain at the falls 
named Kuskehsawkich (now Oswego). When the people were released from the 
mountain they were vi.sited by Tarenyawagon, i. e., the Holder of the Heavens, who 
had power to change himself into various shapes; he ordered the people to proceed 
toward the sunrise as he guided them and come to a river and named Yenonanatche, 
i. e., going round a mountain (now Mohawk), and went down the bank of the river 
and come to where it discharges into a great river running towards the midday sun ; 
and Shaw-nay-taw-ty, i.e., beyond the pineries (now Hudson), and wtnt down the 
bank of the river and touched bank of a great water. . . The people were yet in 
one language; some of the people went to the banks of the great water towards the 
midday sun, but the main company returned as they came, on the bank of the river, 
under the direction of the Holder of the Heavens. Of this company there was a par- 
ticular body which called themselves one household; of these were six families and 
they entered into a resolution to preserve the chain of alliance which should not be 
extinguished in any manner. The company advanced some distance up the river of 
Shaw-na-taw-ty (Hudson), the Holder of the Heavens directs the first family to 
make their re.sidence near the bank of the river, and the family was named Te-haw- 
re-ho-geh, i. e., a speech divided (now Mohawk) and their language was soon altered ; 
the company then turned and went towards the sunsetting, and travelled about two 
days and a half, and come to a creek, which was named Kaw-na-tawte-ruh, i. e., 
Pineries. The second family was directed to make their residence near the creek, 
and the family was named Ne-haw-re-tah-go, i. e., Big Tree, now Oneidas, and like- 
wise their language was altered. The company continued to proceed towards the 
sunsetting; under the direction of the Holder of the Heavens. The third family was 
directed to make their residence on a mountain named Onondaga (now Onondaga) 
and the family was named Seuh now-kah-tah, i. e., carrying the name, and their 
language was altered. The company continuedtheir journey towards the sunsetting. 
The fourth family was directed to make their residence near a long lake named Go- 
yo goe, i. e., a mountain rising from the water (now Cayuga) and the family was 
named Sho-nea-na-we-towah, i. e., a great pipe, their language was altered. The 
company continued to proceed towards the sunsetting. The fifth family was directed 
to make their residence near a high mountain, or rather nole, situated south of the 
Canandaigua lake, which was named Jenneatowake and the family was named Te- 
how-nea-nyo-hent, i. e. , Passing a Door, now Seneca, and their language was altered. 
The sixth family went with the company that journeyed towards the sunsetting, and 
touched the bank of a great lake, and named Kau-ha-gwa-rah-ka, i. e., A Cap, now 



THE GREAT IROQUOIS FEDERATION. 9 

Erie, and then went towards between the mid-day and sunsetting, and travelled 
considerable distance and came to a large river which was named Ouau-we-yo-ka, i. 
e., a principal stream, now Mississippi. . . The family was directed to make their 
residence near Cau-ta-noh, i. e., Pine in water, situated near the mouth of Nuse 
river, now in North Carolina, and the family was named Kau-ta-noh, nowTuscarora 
and their language was also altered. . . The Holder of the Heavens returns to 
the five families and forms the mode of confederacy which was named Ggo-nea-seab. 
neh, i. e., A Long House, to which are 1st— Tea-kaw-reh-ho-geh ; 2d— New-haw teh- 
tah-go ; 3d— Seuh-nau-ka-ta ; 4th— Sho-nea-na-we-to-wan ; 5th— Te-hoo-nea-nyo-hent. 

This organization is supposed to have taken place between 1900 and 
2000 years before Columbus discovered America, or betv^een 400 B. C. 
and 500 B. C. While this account is purely traditional it is the most 
authentic in existence. 

When the white intruders first discovered that such an alliance ex- 
isted, all that was known of the organization of the form of govern- 
ment so remarkable among a savage people was, as we have shown, 
mere tradition. Each nation of the Confederacy was independent of 
every other in all matters of a local character, and in the councils no 
sachem was superior to another, except by reason of higher intellectual 
attainments, such as they might be. The fifty offices created at the 
organization of the Confederacy were distributed among the nations 
according to their numerical strength. Of these ofifices the Mohawks 
had nine, the Oneidas nine, the Onondagas fourteen, the Cayugas ten 
and the Senecas eight. Although these offices were hereditary, no one 
could became a ruler or sachem until elevated to such a place by a 
council of all the sachems of this original American Confederacy. The 
sachems who, in council, constituted the legislative body of the union 
were also the local rulers of their respective nations. While a sachem 
or chief had civil authority, he could not be a chieftain in war until 
elected to that position. Every sachem went on the warpath as a 
common warrior unless he had been doubly honored and made a 
military leader as well as a civil officer. The Iroquois nation then was 
practically a Republic, founded on much the same lines as the United 
States of America. 

The policy of the Iroquois nation in war appeared to have been not 
alone for the sake of war, but for conquest and the extension of the 
nation's power and influence. Instead of trying to exterminate their 
foes the Iroquois strove to subjugate and adopt them, and as far as 
they could in their weak way, to enlighten them. So successful were 
they in their efforts that at the end of the seventeenth century they 



10 LANDxMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

dominated a very large portion of what is now the United States. The 
Iroquois of New York and the Algonquin tribes of New England were 
perpetually at war. The Mohawks and Oneidas occupied the Mohawk 
valley mainly, and the three nations west of them were compelled to 
pass through this region when starting out upon the eastern warpath. 
The most natural and convenient pathway for them to traverse was 
from the Mohawk valley eastward, leading them up from theHudsonto 
the valley of the Hoosick river, then across the Berkshire hills or the 
southern spur of the Green mountains to the valley of the Connecticut 
river. Over this trail the Five Nations marched on many occasions, 
according both to history and early tradition, and in and near the 
county of Rensselaer many a bloody battle was fought by the red men 
of the wilderness. 

At the time the Dutch first ascended the Hudson the war against 
the Mohicans was carried on mainly by the Mohawks. " The Mohe 
gans occupied its banks, and the Mohawk villages were no nearer than 
Schoharie creek. The Dutch at first took sides with the Mohegans and 
were defeated, but afterwards were friends of their opponents. The 
Mohegans made their last invasion in August, 16G9, unsuccessfully 
attacking a Mohawk town. The Oneidas and Onondagas joined the 
Mohawks and invaded the Mohegan country in retiirn, with even 
smaller results, but it led to peace. The Mohegans were called Loups, 
or Wolves, this being the meaning of their name. They were of 
Algonquin stock, and kindred to the Delawares. "^ 

Even many years after its settlement by the Dutch bands of the Iro- 
c[uois, then of the Algonquins, passed through it on their way to carry 
out their plans for laying waste the villages of their enemy; but fortu 
nately for the colonists of the manor of Rensselaerwyck but few of 
these savage contests occurred after the foundation of the colony. The 
famous old Wampanoag chieftain, King Philip, once invaded the 
county, in the winter of 1075-76, at the head of a band of 300 warriors 
bound for the north. His followers encamped about fifty miles north 
of Albany and prepared to strike a decisive blow at the Mohawks. In 
February, 1676, the Mohawks assembled and marched northward and, 
by reason of superior numbers and a better acquaintance with the field 
of the campaign, succeeded in driving the brave old chieftain and his 
band back through the Hoosick valley to the other side of the moun- 

' W. M. Beauchmnp's notes on David Cusick's Sketches of Ancient History of the Si.x Na- 
tions. 



EARLY INDIAN WARS. 11 

tains. The famous old chief, Graylock, of the Woronoaks, the last 
chief of his tribe, also frequently passed through the Hoosick valley 
with his band of warriors. 

In the Connecticut valley there was a band called the Pacomptucks. 
During an invasion they wandered down the valley of the Hoosick, ac- 
companied by straggling members of the Wampanoags, the Narragan- 
setts and the Nipmucks, and settled about the junction of that river 
with the Hudson. They evinced a friendly disposition, frequently 
visited the white settlers, traded more or less with them and were 
known among the Dutchmen of the manor as the Schaghticoke 
Indians. 

The Mohegan or Mohican Indians, who occupied the east side of the 
Hudson, had a fortified village on the present site of the city of Troy, 
and as a rule were friendly with the whites. Tradition says that in this 
village Uncas, the famous Mohican chief, who went down when his 
tribe was exterminated, was born. The original central home or capi- 
tal of the Mohicans was mainly the southern part of Rensselaer county, 
of which they were complete masters until 1G28. The northern part of 
the county, in the valley of the Hoosick, was the original home of the 
Horicons. Beside the village on the present site of Troy the Mohicans 
had a still larger village in the present town of Schodack, They de- 
voted much time to agriculture, their principal crop being corn. The 
flat land in the river valley produced great quantities of this grain an- 
nually. The Indian name for Troy, "Paanpaack," means "The field 
of standing corn." 

Three years before Killiaen Van Rensselaer's colonists sailed up the 
Hudson the Mohicans and the Mohawks declared war, the principal 
scenes of their hostile demonstrations being about Fort Orange and the 
present site of West Troy, and the Mohican village on the east side of 
the river. For nearly two years the war continued. The Mohawks 
were the more powerful nation and they pursued their foes relentlessly. 
In the spring of 1828 they captured the castle of the Mohicans and 
drove the few remaining members of that tribe to the valley of the 
Connecticut. As late as fifty years afterward, according to tradition, 
Uncas and his little body of Mohicans, now greatly reduced numer- 
ically, returned to their aboriginal home and even crossed the Hudson 
to the present sites of Albany, West Troy and Waterford, where they 
succeeded in slaying many of their old enemies among the unsuspect- 
ing Mohawks. Later on some of the Mohicans emigrated westward 



12 LANDMARKS OP RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

and joined the Five Nations, some of them amalgamating with their 
old enemies, the Mohawks; others finding a new spot in the Schoharie 
valley, where they established villages. 

The Iroquois, as we have said, were constantly at war with the Al- 
gonquin tribes, and usually for the purpose of conquest. The Mohi- 
cans suffered greatly at their hands. After driving the Mohicans from 
their homes in the Connecticut valley, in 1628, they continued to an- 
noy them in many ways. The Mohicans appeared to be the especial 
target for their spite. After this tribe was driven out of the way the 
Iroquois turned their attention to the Hurons on the north, completely 
overrunning the country of the latter. The next year, 1G51, they de- 
stroyed the Neutral nation, and the year after that they made war 
against the Eries, practically wiping them out of existence. Eleven 
years later they marched over into the Connecticut valley, presumably 
in search of the remnant of the Mohicans, and laid waste the country 
of the Squakheags and the Pacomptucks. Most of these expeditions 
were lead by the Mohawks, whose name was dreaded by every tribe in 
the Algonquin family. When on the war path their fury knew no 
bounds. They were relentless when once a campaign had been begun, 
and even in the dead of winter, when the members of most tribes would 
be found hugging the v^agwam fire, the Mohawks often would start out 
on an expedition against the foe, traveling hundreds of miles through 
the snow and returning at the season of the year when progress was 
even more difficult on account of melting snows. Every tribe of the 
Algonquins within easy marching distance of the Mohawks paid tribute 
to the latter. The title, •' Romans of the West," was one which they 
justly deserved. 

When, in 1628, nearly two years before the founding of the colony of 
Rensselaerwyck, the Mohicans were driven by the Mohawks from their 
ancestral home into the Connecticut valley, they located near the mouth 
of the Connecticut on its east bank, with the Pequods, their friends, 
as neighbors on the east. The Pequods were exterminated by the 
whites a few years afterward — the tribe ceased to exist in 1637 — and 
the Mohicans on the west and the once powerful Narragansetts on the 
east occupied that portion of the former Pequod territory not appro- 
priated by the whites. Uncas, who fled with the Mohicans from the 
aboriginal home in Rensselaer county, was still their chieftain. 

For many years the Mohicans and Narragansetts had been enemies. 
Their hatred was intensified upon the destruction of the Pequods by 



UNCAS AND MIANTONOMOH. 13 

the whites. The Pequod captives were divided among the other two 
nations, but the former home of the extinct tribe was a subject for 
much quarreling-. In 1G43 the two tribes engaged in war, the Mohicans 
still being under the leadership of Uncas and the Narragansetts under 
Miantonomoh. Hostilities were begun by the latter, who gathered his 
braves and started across the territory the possession of which was in 
dispute. Uncas learned of the contemplated invasion, and mustering 
his forces started eastward to intercept his enemies. 

When the rival tribes met they were in the centre of the old hunting 
ground of the Pequods. That meeting and the subsequent develop- 
ments form one of the most romantic and at the same time one of the 
most tragic scenes in Indian history. The tribes halted within sight 
of each other and the two brave chieftains advanced to within speaking 
distance. In the brief conference that followed Uncas, in full confi- 
fidence of what he believed to be his superior prowess, demanded that 
his rival should fight him, man to man, and that the victor should be- 
come the chieftain of the braves of the vanquished leader. The pro- 
posal was haughtily scorned by Miantonomoh, who declared: "My 
braves are here to do battle, and they shall fight." No sooner had 
these words left the mouth of the Narragansett chief than Uncas, with- 
out a word, suddenly fell to the ground. His act was a signal previously 
agreed upon. Hardly had he become prostrate before the Mohicans, 
with a wild war-whoop, sprang over his body and savagely attacked the 
Narragansetts. After a brief but fierce struggle the latter were van- 
quished and Uncas made Miantonomoh a prisoner. The latter, as 
haughty as ever, refused to ask for quarter, but Uncas held him a cap- 
tive and handed him over to the English authorities at Hartford. H^s 
case was brought before the colonial commissioners and it was ordered 
that the old chieftain should die, and at the hands of his captor. The 
English claimed a protectorate over both nations and their verdict was 
taken as final. Miantonomoh was returned to the field of battle and 
one of the braves of Uncas buried a hatchet in his brain. 

The Schaghticoke Indians, who occupied the northern part of Rens- 
selaer county near the junction of the Hoosick river with the Hudson, 
were, as we have said, fugitives from New England tribes, who were 
driven from their hunting grounds by the whites at the close of King 
Philip's war in 1670. They were made up for the most part of strag- 
glers from the remnants of the once powerful Wampanoags, or Poka- 
nokets; the Narragansetts, the Nonotucks and the Pacomptucks. The 



14 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

history of King Philip's war is well known. Throughout the greater 
portion of the years 1G75 and 1G76 it wrought ruin on all sides. It was 
practically a war of extermination between the white settlers and the 
Indians. At the close of King Philip's first summer campaign, in 1675, 
he and some of his followers visited Saratoga and Washington counties 
and, as has been related, war was waged against them by the angry 
Mohawks. In February, 1676, Philip and his band were driven back 
into the Connecticut valley by the Mohawks, and soon afterward he 
resumed the struggle for supremacy with the whites. Being routed on 
all sides, those who were left of his tribe — the Wampanoags — with some 
of the braves from the three other tribes mentioned, moved up to the fer- 
tile valley of the Hudson, and the Mohawks, having nothing to fear 
from them, consented to their occupancy of the land about the mouth 
of the Hoosick river. Having no name they became known to the 
white settlers as the Schaghticokes. They remained in Rensselaer 
county for over 77 years when, in 1753 or 1754, they moved to the lower 
end of Lake Champlain, near the Canada and Vermont line, and joined 
the Woronoaks, their former neighbors, who had settled there at the 
close of King Philip's war, under their old chieftain, (iraylock. 



CHAPTER III. 



Killiaen Van Rensselaej, Founder of the Manor of Ren.sselaerwyck — The Famous 
Charter of Freedoms and Exemptions — Jealousy Over the Patroon's Large Grant — 
Early Administration of the Colony — Collision Between the Colony and the Province 
— The Early Trade in Furs — First White Settler in Rensselaer County. 

Killiaen Van Rensselaer, a wealthy merchant of Amsterdam, Hol- 
land, was a member of the famed Dutch West India company, the 
greatest trade organization and monopoly of its day, which was per- 
haps more closelj^ identified with the early history of the colony of New 
York, and particularly of the region of which Fort Orange or Albany 
was the centre, than any other single influence which affected the 
career of the infant colony. He was the founder of the colony of 
Rensselaerwyck, which formed the major part of the territory now 
known as Rensselaer county. In 1G30, the year in which the West 



CHARTER OF FREEDOMS AND EXEMPTIONS. 15 

India company made its great offer to its members, the attention of 
Killiaen Van Rensselaer was directed to the rich region, as yet totally 
undeveloped, of the valleys of the Hudson and the Mohawk rivers. 
The offer which this great trade organization had made was one well 
calculated to tempt such capitalists as he. 

The charter of the company provided, among other things, that any 
member who, within four years, should found a colony of fifty adults 
in any part of the New Netherlands grant, excepting the island of 
Manhattan, or "Mannatans," should be acknowledged as a Patroon 
and accorded powers similar to those granted lords under the estab- 
lished feudal system of Europe. An American Patroon, while he con- 
tinued as such in the full enjoyment of the powers accorded him, was 
just as much a landed lord as those of England or Germany or France, 
with the exception that he was not a member of his country's par- 
liament. But this was of trifling importance from the standpoint of 
the wealth-seeking Hollander, for a Patroon in America enjoyed com- 
mercial advantages and many opportunities for amassing wealth that 
were entirely unknown in the Old World. He was the feudal lord of 
the territory he colonized and the main profit from the development of 
its resources went into his own private purse, unless he happened to be 
unselfish and public-spirited to a degree that was seldom known in the 
days of the Patroons of the New Netherlands. 

To arrive at a correct understanding of the circumstances which in- 
duced the early colonists to accompany Killiaen Van Rensselaer to 
America, and of the conditions which surrounded them and shaped 
their lives, and which have left an indelible impress upon their numer- 
ous descendants in and about Rensselaer county, it is proper and neces- 
sary to notice the principal features of the Dutch West India company's 
famous Charter of " Freedoms and Exemptions" for the colonization 
of the New Netherlands under its great feudal system. These, in 
brief, were as follows: 

The head of each colony might select lands extending sixteen miles in length, if 
confined to one side of a navigable river. If both sides were occupied eight miles 
was the limit; but they might extend inland from the river as the situation of the 
colonists would demand or permit. This provision applied to colonies comprised of 
fifty adults. The limits described might be proportionately enlarged upon the addi- 
tion of a sufficient number of immigrants. 

Each Patroon was to receive the free title to his lands by inheritance, with testa- 
mentary rights. He was fir.st in command of his manor, with exclusive privileges 
as to fishing, hunting and agriculture. In the event of the development of his httle 



16 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

empire to that point where he should be able to found a city, his charter gave him 
power to establish officers and magistrates. He was empowered absolutely to make 
rules for the government of his colonists, providing that they should conform to the 
laws of the parent government. In order to appeal from a decision made by one of 
the Patroons' manorial courts, it was necessary that the judgment should be for fifty 
guilders or more, in which event the case might be carried to the director and coun- 
cil in New Netherlands. The tenants of the manor were to be free from taxes of all 
lands during the first ten years. No colonist was allowed to leave the colony during 
his term of service without the written consent of the Patroon, and the company 
contracted to do everything in its power to capture and return fugitive colonists. 

The trade arrangements between the company and the Patroons were very liberal 
for the times, it would appear. They were allowed to trade along the Atlantic coast 
of North America, with the single provision that all cargoes were to be sent first to 
Manhattan, where a duty of five per cent, should be paid to the company before 
shipment to Holland. The company, however, reserved the sole right to trade in 
the skins and furs of all animals. The colonists also were not allowed to weave any 
cloths, on pain of punishment. This restriction applied to all, whether independent 
or under patroons. The company, on the other hand, contracted to protect and de- 
fend all the colonists against all wars and powers, whether inter-colonial or internal. 
The company also agreed to furni.sh as many negro laborers as they conveniently 
could, for as long a time as was convenient to the company. A wise provision was 
that the colonists should provide and support a minister and a schoolmaster. 

One of the first of the Dutch capitalists to accept the tempting offer 
of the Dutch West India company was Killiaen Van Rensselaer. ^ 
Bastiaen Jansen Krol, commissary, and Dierck Cornelissen Duyster, 
under commissary at Fort Orange, having learned that a tract of land 
called by the Indians Sannahagog, or Sanckhagag, on the west side of 
the Hudson, or the North river as it was then known, extending from 
Beeren island, called Passapenock by the Indians, up to the Smackx 
island, and "extending two days' journey into the interior, " was for 
sale, purchased it from Paep Sikenekomptas, Nancouttanshal and Sick- 
oussen, the native proprietors, for Killiaen Van Rensselaer, who had 
heard of it from Krol. The sale was effected April 8, 1630. In July 
of the same year Gillis Hoossett purchased for Van Rensselaer "from 
Cottomack, Nawanemit, Abantzene, Sagisguwa and Kanamoack, the 
lands lying south and north of Fort Orange and extending to within a 
short distance of Moenimines Castle, then situated on what is now 
called Haver island; " and from Nawanemit, one of last named chiefs, 
his grounds, " called Semesseeck, stretching on the east side of the river, 

' The references employed in writing the history of the Colony of Rensselaerwyck were .sug- 
gested by William Bayard Van Rensselaer, esq., of Albany, a direct lineal descendant of Killiaen 
Van Rensselaer, 



VAN RENSSELAER ORGANIZES A COLONY. 17 

from opposite Castle island to a point facing Fort Orange, and thence 
from Paetanaek, the Mill creek, north to Negagons. " These convey- 
ances were ratified on the same day that the charter of 1629 was pro- 
claimed at Fort Amsterdam. April I'S, 1637, an intervening district 
"called Papsickenekaas, or Papsskanea as the name was afterwards 
pronounced, lying also on the east side of the river and extending from 
opposite Castle island south to the point opposite Smackx island, and 
including the adjacent islands and all the lands back into the interior, 
belonging to the Indian owners, was purchased 'for certain quantities 
of duffels, axes, knives and wampum,' also for Van Rensselaer, who 
thus became proprietor of a tract of country twenty-four miles long and 
forty-eight miles broad, containing, as is estimated, over seven hun- 
dred thousand acres of land, which now compose the counties of Al- 
bany, Rensselaer, and part of the county of Columbia. "^ 

Determined that no one should take advantage of what he believed 
to be, and what subsequently proved to be, a great opportunity in the 
way of acquiring a naturally rich and exceedingly fertile country, he 
made hasty arrangements to send out a colony and take possession of 
the lands on both sides of the noble Hudson river at the head of navi- 
gation. With the keen eye of an experienced Dutch trader he foresaw 
the great benefits which would fall to the colony which should be es- 
tablished at this point, where ships might be loaded with ease and at 
small expense and sail direct for any part of the world, making allowance 
for the customs restrictions imposed by the company from which- he 
was to receive the privileges referred to. Early in the spring of 1630 
he gathered together a small body of emigrants, farmers and their 
families, with a small stock of cattle and horses and what farming 
utensils they would need at the start, and put them in charge of a trusty 
overseer, or "upper bouwmeester, " named Wolfert Gerritson. These 
men and women, after being told exactly what would be expected of 
them and the benefits which would fall to them by diligent efforts on 
their part, embarked for the New World at the Texel in a small ship 
called the "Eendragt," or "Unity," of which John Brouwer was 
captain. 

Upon their arrival at Fort Orange they at once began the settlement 
of the colony of Rensselaerwyck after the plans which had been laid 
out for them by their patroon. Soon after their arrival Gillis Hoos- 

' Munsell's Annals of Albany, Vol. I, p. 18?. 



18 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

sett, acting as the special agent of the patroon, secured from the Indians 
the second grant of land on the west side of the river north of that 
obtained by Krol. The council at Manhattan retained exclusive con- 
trol of Fort Orange and the land immediately surrounding it, which was 
in the midst of the Van Rensselaer grant, so that Fort Orange itself, 
and its successor, the city of Albany, were never a part of the domain 
of the patroon. The council, however, confirmed the two purchases 
made by the patroon, on Aug. 8 and 13, 1630, respectively, and at the 
same time issued the formal patents therefore, placing under feudal 
rule a territory which now forms the larger part of the counties of 
Rensselaer and Albany. This domain for generations thereafter was 
known as the colony of Rensselaerwyck, and subsequently as the manor 
of Rensselaerwyck. 

The large grant received by Van Rensselaer caused feelings of jeal- 
ously to arise among other capitalists. This sentiment of dissatisfac- 
tion increasing, the patroon decided that it would be politic for him to 
make a show of dividing his estate. He therefore divided it into five 
parts, retaining two of the shares for himself and deeding the balance 
about equally among Samuel Godyn, John De Laet and Samuel Bloem- 
maert. With the latter were associated Adam Bissels and Touissaint 
Moussart, who were by the terms of the contract, co-directors of 
Rensselaerwyck. De Laet received that portion which now includes 
the village of Greenbush; Godyn's island i^ on the same side of the 
river a short distance to the south; Bloemmaert's share was about the 
mouth of the small stream which later was known as Patroon's Creek. 
Notwithstanding this division it will be seen that the portion reserved 
for Van Rensselaer was the most extensive and most valuable portion 
of the grant. 

The English confirmation of the patent to Killiaen Van Rensselaer 
given by Thomas Dongan, an English Governor, dated November i, 
1685, describes the boundaries of the several purchases made by the 
agents of Van Rensselaer as follows: 

Beginning at the south end of or part of Berrent Island on Hudson's River and 
extending northwards up along both sides of the said Hudson's River unto a place 
heretofore called the Kahoos, or the great falls of the said river, and extending itself 
east and west from each side of the said River backwards into the woods 24 English 
miles, as also a certain tract of land situate, lying and being on the East side of 
Hudson River beginning at the creek by Major Abraham Staet's and so along the 
said river southward to the south side of Vaxtri.x Island by a creek called Waghan- 
kasigh, stretching from thence with an easterly line into the woods 24 English 



FOUNDATION OF RENSSELAERWYCK. 19 

miles to a place Wawanaquiasick, and from thence northward to the head of said 
creek by Major Abraham Staet's aforesaid, i 

In 1630 a commissary of the Dutch West India company had pur- 
chased of the Indians two tracts on the west side of the Hudson River 
for Killiaen Van Rensselaer. Seven years later (1637) Van Rensselaer 
purchased the tract on the opposite or east side of the river for certain 
quantities of duffels, axes, knives and wampum, and thus became the 
proprietor of a tract of country 24 miles along- the river and 48 in ex- 
tent east and west. Over this tract he possessed all the authority of a 
sovereign and made a large outlay for its settlement, giving it the name 
of Rensselaerwyck. 

A copy of a map of that portion of the manor of Rensselaerwyck 
lying east of the Hudson River, comprising the major part of what is 
now Rensselaer county, is herein given, showing the farms or different 
parcels of land as they were originally laid out in the manor, under the 
manorial leases, many of which retain their original boundaries to this 
day. - 

Every year new^ immigrants arrived and the colony became even 
more prosperous and the patroon more wealthy than he had anticipated. 
All the settlers had live-stock, seeds and farming utensils. The land 
was leased of the patroon at an annual rental, payable in grain, beeves 
and wampunij or a share of the products of the land such as they might 
be. The average rate of rent demanded was ten bushels of wheat per 
hundred acres per annum. The patroon and his partners were in- 
vested with full authority in civil and military affairs, subordinate 
only to the Dutch West Indiacompany and the government of Holland. 
They had their forts, soldiers, cannon and courts of justice. The 
management of the colony was vested in a court or board consisting of 
four persons or votes, of which Van Rensselaer held two ; Bloemmaert, 
or Bissels, one; and De Laet, or Moussart, one. Van Rensselaer was 
not to have any authority superior to his associates except the title 
of patroon, which, with all its feudal honors, was vested in him 
alone. The other partners bound themselves to do fealty and homage 

' This Patent excepted Fort Albany from the southernmost end of the pasture lying over 
against the north end of Martin Garrittson's Island to the post on the north side of the said town, 
where it was formerly marked by Gov. Stuyvesant, and so backward into the woods northwest 
10 English miles. 

2 This map is a copy of the original map of the eastern half of the colony of Rensselaerwyck, 
now in the possession of Jeffrey P. Thomas, civil engineer and surveyor, of Troy. U is believed 
to be the only map of its kind in existence. 



20 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

for the fief on his demise, in the name and on behalf of his son and 
heirs. 

The court of the colony exercised executive, legislative or municipal, 
and judicial functions. It was at one time the governor, the legisla- 
ture and the supreme court. It was composed of two commissaries 
called " gecommitteerden " and two councilors called " gerechts per- 
soonen," also raetspersoonen, raedtsvrienden or "schepenen." The 
former were legislators more than anything else, and the functions of 
the latter were more like those of the countr}^ justice of to-day. There 
was also a sheriff or " schoutfiscaal;" a constable, or "gerechts- bode," 
and a secretary or clerk for the court and the colony in general. 

The office of sherifif was the most important in the colony. The 
first sheriff of Rensselaerwyck was Jacob Albertsen Planck, and the 
first colonial secretary, who was also superintendent of the colony, was 
Arendt Van Corkier or Van Curler. He was succeeded in 1G42 by An- 
thony de Hooges. Brant Peelen, Gerrit de Reus, Cornelis Teunissen 
van Breuckelen, Pieter Cornelissen van Munickendam and Dirck Jans- 
sen were among the earliest magistrates of Rensselaerwyck. Sheriff 
Planck's successor was Adriaen van der Donck, who in turn was suc- 
ceeded by Nicolaus Coorn. Andries Jansz was the first schoolmaster, 
beginning his service in 1G45. 

Arendt \"an Corlaer (or Van Curler) came from Holland in 1G30 as 
assistant commissary of the patroon, but soon after his arrival he was 
appointed commissary-general, or superintendent of the colony, and 
acted as colonial secretary until 1()42. His jurisdiction extended from 
Beeren island to the mouth of the Mohawk on both sides of the river. 
In 1(J42 he rescued Father Jogues from the Mohawk Indians; in 104(1 
he married Antonia Slaghboom and visited Holland; and on his return 
moved to the fiats above Albany, where he had a farm ; in 1(159 he held 
a conference with the Mohawks at Caughnawaga and renewed the 
treaty of sixteen years' standing with them. He was one of the leaders 
in the settlement of Schenectady in i(5Gl-(I2. 

The original journal of Arendt Van Corlaer's expedition to the coun- 
try of the Mohawks and vSenecas in 1G34-35, which was translated for 
the first time in the summer of 1805 by (ieneral James Grant Wilson 
of New York, is justly considered as of great historical value, inasmuch 
as it antedates any other existing document relating to the history of 
New Netherland, and also in that it comes from the pen of one of those 



JOURNAL OF ARENDT VAN CORLAER. 21 

who were very closely identified with the early life of the colony of 
Rensselaerwj'Ck. He was the Indians' great friend and they were all 
his friends. As General Wilson says, in his preface to the translation 
of the journal of Van Corlaer: 

A monument, perhaps without a peer on the pages of the history of New Nether- 
land, was that erected in the hearts of the Mohawks, Senecas and other native 
tribes, as well as in the hearts of the French of Canada, to Arendt Van Corlear, a 
man of large benevolence and unsullied honor, in remembrance of the kindness, the 
justness, and the mercy by which he so won the affections of the simple sons of the 
forest, ever open to the manifestations of regard for their welfare, that, when taken 
from them by death, they extended his name to every governor of the province of 
New York for many years, with the signification "good friend," and all that that 
title implies. 

Van Corlaer was a cousin of Jeremias Van Rensselaer and a nephew 
of Killiaen Van Rensselaer. He took up his residence in Rensselaer- 
wyck at what afterward was known as Fort Orange. He was at 
once thrown in contact with the Indians, and by his uniform fair- 
ness and kindness to them he so won their esteem that his wishes 
were law to them. Many a time when they were greatly provoked by 
the whites he restrained them from acts of violence. His great streno-fh 
with the red men was so generally recognized that when the English 
succeeded the Dutch in the control of the province in 1664, Governor 
Nicoll consulted him on the interests of the country generally and on 
Indian affairs particularly and through him paved the way to the ag- 
gressive alliance between the Five Nations and the Government, 'an 
alliance which was maintained for more than a century. Early in the 
summer of 1G07 Van Corlaer started on a visit to Quebec, in response 
to an urgent invitation from his friends there. He never returned. 
While attempting to cross Lake Champlain in a frail canoe he was over- 
taken by a storm and drowned near Split Rock, in the bay called by the 
French " Baye Corlar, " now Perne ba)^, Essex count}'. New York. 

In 1643 Arendt Van Corlaer married Antonia Slaghvoorn, widow of 
Jonas Bronck, a patentee of lands in Westchester county. In 1661 he 
organized an association and purchased the Schonowe flats west of 
Albany, which he named Schaenedestede, "the beautiful town," near 
vSchenectady, which was his home at the time of his death. Upon the 
death of his widow in 1677 his estate passed into the hands of strangers. 

December 11, 1634, Von Corlaer started on a journey "to the Ma- 
quas and vSinnekens Indians" — the Mohawks and Senecas. In his jour- 



22 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

nal he states that "the reason why we went wa.s that the Maquas and 
Sinnekens very often came to our commissioners (Martin Gerritsen and 
me) stating that there were French Indians trading in their land, and 
that the Maquas wished to go there and trade with their skins, because 
the Maquas Indians wanted to receive just as much for their skins as 
the French Indians did." Von Corlaer was accompanied by Jeronimus 
la Crock, William Tomassen and five Maquas Indians. On the first of 
January, 1635, a treaty of peace for four years was signed by the Ma- 
quas and Sinnekens and the French Indians. Von Corlaer and his 
party did not reach Fort Orange on their return until January 21. 

Johannes Megapolensis was called from Holland to serve as first 
pastor of the little colony. For the convenience of the settlers at Green - 
bush, called Tuscameatick by the Indians, a ferry was soon after es 
tablished near the foot of the creek called Beaver's kill, and from that 
day to this it has continued in constant operation. 

In 1652 Gerrit vSwart received his commission as schout, or sheriff, 
of Rensselaerwyck and was sent to this country from Holland to per- 
form the duties of that office, the most important executive office in 
the colony. In his commission were these words: " He shall use for 
his dwelling the house formerly used by the former preacher, situated 
in Greenbu.sh, and there reside with his family, and exercise and dis- 
charge his aforesaid office with all diligence and fidelity, according to 
the laws, edicts and ordinances already or to be enacted there." On 
his departure he received instructions which contained these important 
clauses: "Having arrived with God's help at the island of Manhattan, 
he shall proceed by the first opportunity to the Colonic and report him- 
self to Jan Baptist Van Rensselaer and make known unto him his qual- 
ity by exhibition of his commission and instructions. He shall above 
all things take care that Divine worship shall be maintained in said 
Colonic, conformably to the Reformed Religion of this Country, as the 
same is publicly taught in these United Provinces. He shall in like 
manner pay attention that the Lord's Day, the Sabbath of the New 
Testament, be properly respected both by the observance of hearing 
the Holy Word as well as the preventing all unnecessary and daily 
labor on said day. And whereas it is a scandal that the Christians 
should mingle themselves unlawfully with the wives or daughters of 
the heathen, the officer shall labor to put in execution the placards and 
ordinances enacted or to be enacted against the same and strictly exact 
the fines imposed hereby without any dissimulation," 



AUTHORITY OF THE SHERIFF. 23 

The winter of 1646-47 was remarkably long and severe and caused 
much suffering- among the colonists. The Hudson froze over at Rens- 
selaerwyck as early as November 24, and remained closed until the lat- 
ter part of March. Upon the melting of the snow and ice at that time 
a great freshet occurred. The water surrounded Fort Orange, nearly 
carrying it away, and a number of horses were drowned in their sta- 
bles. At the same time the inhabitants on both sides of the river were 
amazed at seeing a fish of great size, "snow white in color, round in 
the body and blowing water out of its head," swimming up the stream. 
The ignorant and superstitious among them feared that the visit of this 
monster of the deep would bring with it some dire calamity, and their 
fears were heightened when the first thunder and lightning of the year 
came, while this mysterious monster swam hither and thither, evidently 
looking for a way to escape This monster had hardly disappeared 
when another, more mysterious still, forty feet long, brown in color, 
having fins on its back and also ejecting water from the top of his head, 
put in an appearance. This visitor was at once pronounced a whale 
by some mariners who were familiar with the leviathan, and the strain 
upon the public nerve was relieved. Soon after it was learned that 
this whale had become stranded on an island at the mouth of the Mo- 
hawk river, and within a few days the flesh of the animal was roasted, 
and most of the oil extracted. Four other whales grounded in differ- 
ent parts of the Hudson in the same year. Why they should have as- 
cended the river so far is a matter of conjecture. 

Johannes Van Rensselaer, heir to the patroonship, was a minor at the 
death of his father and the duties of the office devolved on his uncle, 
Johannes Van Wely, and Wouter Van Twiller. The immediate man- 
agement of the estate was entrusted to Brant Arent Van Slechtenhorst 
of Nieukerke, in Guilderland, who assumed most of the powers of the 
patroon. Van Slechtenhorst made an attempt to extend the colony of 
Rensselaervvyck to the south, but he met with opposition and the 
scheme was abandoned. 

In 1645 the colonists were threatened with an attack by the Mohawk 
Indians, but an embassy of diplomatic Dutchmen visited the redmen, 
made them presents and returned with assurances that there would be 
no trouble. 

There was a collision between the authorities of the colony and the 
provincial government in 1651 on account of a demand for a subsidy 



24 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

from Rensselaerwyck. The colonists had already refused to pay the 
excise on wines and liquors consumed by them, on the ground that 
such a policy was an invasion of the freedoms and in direct opposition 
to the customs of the Fatherland. Van Slechtenhorst was commis- 
sioned to proceed to New Amsterdam to remonstrate with the directors 
and council against it, and while there he was arrested and held four 
months, on order of Stuyvesant, the governor, notwithstanding his 
protests and those of the authorities of Rensselaerwyck. He finally 
escaped and returned to Fort Orange. But feeling continued to run 
high over the question as to whether Fort Orange was properly under 
the jurisdiction of Rensselaerwyck or not, and if so, what constituted 
Fort Orange proper. Several collisions occurred between the two fac- 
tions. vStuyvesant sent a placard to the fort defining the limits of that 
settlement, but Slechtenhorst protested against its reading and in the 
confusion that followed the document was torn up by Jean Baptist Van 
Rensselaer. vStuyvesant immediately dispatched another decree to 
Joannes Dyckman, the company's commissar}-, declaring the jurisdic- 
tion of Fort Orange to extend within a circumference of 000 paces from 
the fort. This act, violent and illegal, contrary to the charter and in 
defiance of the rights of property, severed the town of Beverwyck 
from Rensselaerwyck. Despite the protests of the authorities Bever- 
wyck was finally given a separate tril)unal, not many years after be- 
coming the city of Albany. 

Jeremias Van Rensselaer succeeded his brother Jean Baptiste as 
director of the colony in 1058, his administration extending over a 
period of sixteen years and being characterized by rare discretion. He 
was highly respected and very influential among both the French and 
the Indians. He died Oct. 12, 1684. 

The eldest son of Jeremias, named Killiaen, was the first lord of the 
manor of Rensselaerwyck, which he represented in the provincial 
assembly twelve years, beginning in 1G91. In 1703 he was called to 
the council, and in the following year he conveyed Claverack, or the 
" lower manor," as it was known, with the Cralo estate at Greenbush, 
to his younger brother Hendrik. 

In the early days of the colony of Rensselaerwyck the population 
consisted of three classes principally. The most influential of these 
were the freemen, men and women of fair intelligence, who had emi- 
grated from Holland at their own expense. A second class was com- 




*.* •Ukn S^trtai^-' '" 




(T^A^^t^^^ ^rA^^ 



THE SYSTEM OF LAND TENURE. 25 

posed of the farmers, a highly desirable lot, mostly adult men, whose 
expenses were paid by the patroon, except in rare instances. The 
third class was made up of farm laborers and other servants, who were 
sent from Holland by the patroon. The extensive resources of Killiaen 
Van Rensselaer were freely applied to furthering the interests of those 
who had helped him to settle his colony, for he realized that their suc- 
cess meant his success and their failure meant his failure. Whenever 
he learned of any difficulties which had beset them he, through his 
agents, was quick to extend a helping hand. Considering the times 
and the conditions surrounding the colony and its inhabitants it may be 
said that he was in a certain sense a benefactor. Lack of capital rarely 
embarrassed any of his dependents. In the beginning he laid out sev- 
eral fine farms on the fertile flats on both sides of the river. On these 
he erected substantial dwelling houses, barns and stables, and at his 
own expense stocked them with cattle and horses, and in some cases 
with sheep. He also paid for the necessary farming- implements, and 
whenever the occupant of a farm applied to him for other necessities 
the appeal was not allowed to go unheeded. Thus it was that the first 
patroon caused to be established the most substantial colony, in many 
ways, in the New Netherlands, and which has been evolved into one of 
the richest and most prosperous communities which has succeeded any 
colony formed in America in the first half of the seventeenth century. 
The famous anti-rent troubles and their tragedies, which for years 
agitated not only the territory formerly known as the colony and later 
as the manor of Rensselaerwyck, but also a large section contiguous 
thereto, grew out of the ill-advised, pernicious system of the lease-hold 
tenure of the soil which formed one of the principal institutions in the 
foundation of Rensselaerwyck. It was the one weak spot in the great 
plan of the promoters of the early settlement. It was not in accord 
with the principles for which the average immigrant forsook the Old 
World for the New, and in the natural order of things the system was 
doomed to fall. An idea of what this system was may be gleaned from 
the following, which is a copy of the lease granted to Arendt \'an 
Corlear, by which he came into possession of the property on the west 
side of the Hudson, at Port Schuyler, which subsequently fell into the 
hands of the Schuyler family: 

We, guardians and tutors of Jean Van Rensselaer, Patroon of the colonie called 
Rensselaerswyck, situate on the North River, in New Netherlands, &c. , have leased 
4 



26 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

and farmed unto Arent van Curler, who hereby also acknowledges to have leased 
and farmed from us, under the following stated conditions, restrictions, and stipula- 
tions, the Bouwery named the Flatte (de Vlachte) and the hereafter mentioned ap- 
purtenances for the term of six successive years, the farm lease beginning and termin- 
ating on the first of September, and that of the house on the first of May, one 
thousand six hundred eight and forty. 

I. Firstly, the Patroon retains for himself the tenths of all grain fruits, the products 
which shall be raised off this bouwery. 

n. This bouwery contains about morgens of farm land, of which the lessee 

shall be bound yearly to cultivate morgens, and may, in addition, clear as 

much land as he shall be able to till with his people, without subletting or farming 
the same during the continuance of the lease, with the understanding that the le.ssee 
shall take the crops standing in the field on the commencement hereof, such as they 
are, paying the Patroon therefor according to the valuation of impartial persons, the 
Patroon agreeing on the other side to take the crops which shall be standing on the 
expiration of this lease at a valuation. 

in. The lessee shall be entitled to so much pasture as he shall require for his 
cattle without paying any extra rent further than only one guilder for every swine 
that ranges in the woods. 

IV. And for the cultivation of the said bouwerie there shall be delivered to him 
for his use six cows, two heifers (veers pincken), six mares, and two studs or oxen 
from among tho.se on this bouwery, and that on halves, to wit, one-half the produce 
shall be for the Patroon, and the other half for the lessee, it being well understood 
that the lessee is bound to restore the given number, according to the choice of the 
Patroon, and to divide the remainder, half and half, without the lessee pretending 
to have any claim for their maintenance or payment, or for the above-mentioned 
restitution. 

V. And it is specifically conditioned that the lessee shall not have power to keep 
on this bouwery any other cattle of private individuals, nor to lend, alienate, or give 
away during the continuance of the lease of this bouwery, any of the received stock, 
without our special consent, and he shall duly convey and ride all the manure on and 
over the land. 

VI. For the use of which bouwery, and occupancy of the house, the lessee shall 
pay yearly to the Patroon the sum of oUO guilders [$200] ; but for the first year a 
deduction of 150 guilders [$60] shall be made in regard that he convey his laborers 
thither at his own expense, — which payment shall be made, the first half in Novem- 
ber, and the other half in February, in merchantable beaver hides, at four guilders 
the pound, or in grain at the current rate as the same is sold in the colonic, or in 
ready current money. 

VII. The lessee shall be holden to keep the houses and buildings in good repair, 
and to preserve and maintain the bouwerye in good order, at his own expen.se, pro- 
vided the house shall be first delivered to him wind- and weather-tight, and at the 
expiration of the lease, he shall deliver it up in the same state. 

VIII. It is well understood that the lessee is holden over and above the aforesaid 
rent, during the winter season, to cut in the forest for the Patroon, ten pieces of oak 
or fir wood, which shall be pointed out to him, and bring the same to the shore; 



CONDITION OF THE EARLY COLONISTS. 27 

also, every year, to give three days' service with his wagon and horses, to the 
Patroon or his guardians; also, each year, to cut, split, and bring to the water-side, 
two fathoms of hickory or other fire-wood; further, to deliver yearly to the Director, 
as quit-rent, one-half mud (two bushels) wheat, five-and-twent}^ pounds of butter, 
and two pair of fowls. 

IX. The lessee shall not lodge any strange traders in his house nor bring nor 
receive their goods, on pain of forfeiting all the conditions granted to him, and to be 
ejected as a perfidious man. 

X. And m case any question should arise between the lessee and others, the same 
shall be submitted to the commissioners there, without any appeal or further com- 
plaint being allowed. 

XI. The lessee submits himself, moreover, as a faithful subject to all the regula- 
tions, orders, and conditions made by the Patroon, and read before him, regarding 
dwelling together, and to all the statutes and ordinances to be hereafter made. 

XII. The lessee promising, on the passing of the aforesaid lease, to comport him- 
self faithfully in the said quality, and to fully follow the same ; nor to defraud the 
Patroon in the least, nor in the most directly nor indirectly, all under mortgage of 
his person and goods, moveable and immoveable, having and to have, submitting the 
whole thereof, and the adjudication thereof, to the constraint of all laws and judges. 

XIII. Finally, have the guardians and lessors reserved, in case the aforesaid 
bouwerye should be leased by the commissaries there, before the arrival of the 
lessee there, that this lease shall be null, and the aforesaid Curler being shown 
another bouwerye, the commissaries there shall in that case agree with him there- 
upon, wherewith Curler is satisfied and agreed. 

A good idea of the condition of the Dutch settlements in Rensse- 
laerwyck and elsewhere along the Hudson river in their earliest days 
may be gleaned from the following contribution to a London publicja- 
tion — the Planter's Plea — in 1030, from the pen of an Englishman: 

This which they have settled in New England upon Hudson's river, with no extra- 
ordinary charge or multitude of people, is knowne to subsist in a comfortable manner, 
and to promise fairlie both to the state and undertakers. The cause is evident: The 
men whom they carrie, though they be not many, are well chosen, and knowne to be 
useful and serviceable ; and they second them with seasonable and fit supplies, cher- 
ishing them as carefully as their own families, and employ them in profitable labors, 
that are knowne to be of speciall use to their comfortable subsisting. 

This was the view taken by a disinterested critic who evidently had 
learned much of the character of the persons who were to become 
colonists before the first expedition left Holland. The extract quoted 
is of value in reminding us of tlie qualities of the early colonists and 
the care taken in selecting them and providing for them by the first 
patroon. Ten years after this was written the thrifty Dutchmen who 
had located on both banks of the Hudson, or North river, as it was com- 



28 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

monly known in the earlier days, had become such a body of traders 
that they found it almost impossible to supply the Indians, particularly 
the ferocious Mohawks, with the muskets and powder which the latter 
sought with great avidity. The business grew to great proportions and 
for some time about every settler, whether a farmer or not, was a trader 
principally. The Indians willingly paid as much as twenty beavers for 
a musket, many times its worth, and from ten to twelve guilders or its 
value in barter for a pound of gunpowder. As soon as the great profits 
accruing from these transactions became known outside the colony 
other traders from Holland brought over large quantities of guns and 
other munitions of war and the Mohawks, the best customers of the 
Dutchmen, soon became the best armed of the Indian tribes and made 
raid after raid upon neighboring tribes from the north end of Lake 
Champlain to the island of Manhattan. 

From the original records of the transactions of the colony which 
have been preserved it is evident that one of the principal aims of the 
founders of the colony was to secure for themselves the valuable trade 
in furs, the principal market for which centered at the point where they 
made their purchases and began their settlement. To secure to them- 
selves this trade they rigidly excluded from the colony all foreign and 
unlicensed traders. The Dutch West India company had ceased to 
keep Fort Orange supplied with foreign goods and the patroon and his 
partners were alone privileged to import foreign merchandise of any 
character. In the beginning all the colonists were bound under oath 
not to purchase any furs from the Indians without first having 
obtained a license so to do. It was comparatively easy to enforce this 
rule, by reason of an article in the charter defining the rights of the 
patroon in this direction. Later on most of the settlers procured this 
license and thereafter they were privileged to trade with the Indians in 
furs as well as other articles. The patroon, however, under this 
arrangement retained half the profits of all the transactions for awhile, 
his agreement with the colonists, who became dissatisfied, sub.sequently 
entitling him to only one sixth of the beavers and one guilder duty on 
the other five-sixths. Under this plan prices became so high that the 
authorities of Fort Orange and Rensselaerwyck were obliged to fix a 
limit to the price to be paid and to prohibit one trader from taking- 
advantage of another by going into the woods to trade, all the traders 
thereby being placed on an equal footing. 



EARLY RIVALRY IN TRADE. 29 

The license system introduced by the patroon and the great profits 
which resulted incited a number of private individuals to embark in 
the fur trade surreptitiously, in defiance of the restrictions imposed by 
the patroon. Within a short time the private traders secured prac 
tically all the benefits of exchange with the Indians by meeting the 
latter secretly, paying higher prices than the colonists were allowed to 
pay and securing all the most valuable skins, while the servants of the 
patroon and the company could rarely buy a skin. Sailing vessels 
came up the river in defiance of the rules laid down and carried 
away thousands of furs, and the colony was soon on the verge of 
impoverishment. To put an end to this infringement on his charter 
rights the patroon caused to be erected a fortified trading post on 
Beeren island, the southern boundary of the colony, determined to 
prevent illicit traders from entering his domain. This plan caused so 
much trouble that the council at Manhattan was compelled to interfere, 
on the ground that the patroon had no right to prevent vessels from 
navigating the Hudson, nor to impose any tax on them for so doing. 
The principle upon which the council stood was that the patroon had 
no authority over Fort Orange and that tc interfere with traffic to and 
from that Fort would be disastrous to its interests. Notwithstanding 
this decision, over which there was much wrangling, the patroon con- 
tinued to hold the fort some time and to levy taxes upon all strangers 
who entered the colony by that route for the purpose of trade. 

Although we have no positive record of the fact, the first white man 
to make a settlement in any part of what is now Rensselaer county was 
probably Gerrit Tunnis De Reue, who located opposite Fort Orange in 
the present town of Greenbush. That he had become established at 
that point and begun the tilling of the soil and the raising of stock even 
before the colony of Killiaen Van Rensselaer was founded is evidenced 
by the fact that as early as 1631, according to authentic information, his 
farming interests were well advanced. How man}" years before that 
time he actually took possession of the lands is not shown by any 
records extant. Judging from accounts of the condition of his farm in 
1631 it must have been under cultivation for three or four years when 
reference to it in existing records was made. Fort Orange was built 
in 1628. Previous to that time, however, the Dutch had made settle- 
ments on an island just south of Fort Orange, called Fort Nassau, and 
at the mouth of the Normans Kill; and it is highly probable that some 



30 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

settlement was made on the east bank of the river fully as early. The 
fact that the settlers on both sides of the river — as is shown by the early 
records for many years — considered themselves as belonging to the 
same little colony would indicate that settlements were made on both 
the west and east banks at about the same time. It is certain, however, 
that Gerrit Tunnis De Reue had occupied his farm in Greenbush for 
one year, if not for three or four, when his name and property first 
appear upon the public records. Some writers have assumed that it 
would not be amiss to fix the date &t 1G28, but this question is one that 
never can be settled, nor is it of prime importance. 

While there doubtless were several other settlements of land on the 
east bank of the Hudson earlier than lG4<i, the authentic records re- 
lating to them have been lost, with rare exceptions. In that year we 
learn that Thomas Chambers leased a bouwery between the Poestenkill 
and the Wynantskill, opposite the farm called the Flatt, which was 
leased to Arendt van Curler in 1647 and which afterward became the 
Schuyler farm. Chambers's farm occupied much of the land embraced 
in the site of the southern part of the city of Troy. The lease given 
to Chambers by the authorities of the colony of Rensselaerwyck has 
been preserved among the archives of Albany county. It reads as 
follows: 

This day, 7th September, anno 1646, the presiding officers of the colonie Rens- 
selaerwyck on one side, and Thomas Chamber on the other, have agreed and cpn- 
sented about a certain parcel of land, lying right opposite the bouwerie called the 
Flatt {de Vlachte), on the east bank of the river, between the two kills, which land 
he, Thomas aforesaid, shall occupy as a bouwerie for the term of five successive years, 
commencing the 15th November, anno 1647, on the following conditions: 

Thomas Chamber shall build free of all cost and charges, and without claiming a 
doit in return from the Lord Patroon, at his own expense, a farm house si.\ty feet 
long, twenty feet wide in the clear, the projection and all in proportion, as occasion 
may require, all faithful and firm work, without further specifying the same; but in 
all its parts and members similar to the barn of the Poenje. A dwelling house apart 
and separate from the barn, thirty-two feet long, eighteen feet wide, with a projec- 
tion on one side, the posts above the beams projecting two feet and a half, honest 
work, without specification, and without any expense to the Patroon as aforesaid. 
Further, the haggarts, palisades, and in fine everything free of charge to the Patroon. 

On condition of receiving in hand two mares and two studs, and moreover, two 
milch cows, the increase being on halves; but herein he shall enjoy the privilege of 
the bouweries which shall be leased on the arrival of the Director ; the risk is also half 
and half, except such as the Indians may kill, which shall be at the sole risk of the 
Patroon, on sufficient proof being brought thereof. In case any opportunity shall 



THE ORIGINAL CHAMBERS LEASE. 31 

offer to erect a mill on the aforesaid bouwerie, the said Thomas shall be preferred 
before all others, on the same condition as others, or as shall then be agreed upon. 
For the summer sowing of the year 1647 shall be given tenths, and therewith be quit. 
The last seed which he shall plant in the bouwerie he is at liberty to thresh without 
payment. 

The tenths of the lease years remain, as on the other bouweries. The risk of the 
houses and barns remain at the charge of Thomas Chamber. The said Thomas 
shall preserve the said house and barns above and around, and within, in firm and 
fast repair, without allowing any damage to befall them, and the land all around, 
as far as is necessary, enclose with fences not over two years old, delivering up and 
transporting to the Lord Patroon, or his resident agent here, free of cost and charges, 
at the expiration of his lease. And the said houses, barns, and fences, shall be the 
Patroon' s rent for the aforesaid five years. 

In case it should happen, which God forbid, that war should break out between us 
and the Indians, and Thomas be obliged to fly from the bouwerie, the time that 
he shall be absent shall be allowed him, and the time begin again when he shall 
return. 

And whereas Thomas Chambers demands assurance that these conditions shall be 
ratified by the Lords Masters without diminution, addition, or annulment, therefore 
do we, in the name of the Lords aforesaid, promise and garanty to the said Thomas 
that there shall be no failure or neglect in whatever is mentioned and agreed upon 
here, but, on the contrary, all shall be maintained even as if our Lords aforesaid 
themselves drew them up. 

Thomas Chambers shall yearly pay, as an acknowledgment, five and twenty 
pounds of butter, during his lease. He shall make use of his pasture above and 
below his bouwerie without let or hindrance. 

Their worships, the presiding officei's aforesaid, agree that he, Thomas, at the 
expiration of the above five successive years, shall cultivate the said bouwerie still 
three further years, provided he pay in addition to the tenths five hundred guilders 
yearly from the produce of the said bouwerie, at a valuation according to the rate 
that grain shall sell for at that time, and in addition to the aforesaid horses, one 
mare and one stud shall be delivered to him, according to agreement. 

Chambers was a fanner of the first class; rich, for those clays, and 
a man of influence. He paid his own expenses over from Holland and 
stocked his own farm. He was ambitious and consequently became 
restless and dissatisfied under the restraint to which he was subjected 
as a simple colonist in the feudal system established b}' the patroon. 
Less than six years after having' obtained his valuable lease he left 
Rensselaerw3'ck with some of his neighbors and removed to Atkarkar- 
ton, or Esopus, he and his companions becoming- the pioneer settlers 
of the count}^ of Ulster. All other traces of the earliest occupation of 
lands within the limits of the count}' of Rensselaer are either de- 
stroyed or are so vague that nothing definite or satisfactory is to be 
gleaned from them. 



32 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



CHAPTER IV. 

The French and Indian War — Cause of the Hostilities — Expeditions Against Canada 
— Origin of Yankee Doodle — English Control of the Colony — The Strife Over the 
Government of the Hampshire Grants — Outrages Committed by the Bennington 
Mob — Temporary Government Organized by the Insurgents. 

The history of the tremendous strtiggle known as the French and 
Indian war, in reality a succession of wars extending over a period of 
about a century and a half, properly exploited, would require volumes 
in the telling. The part which Rensselaer county played in this long 
continued war was not of great importance, still it deserves a place in 
the archives of the county. The struggle was one for the control of 
the continent by three great nations. On the one hand were arrayed 
the Dutch and the English and their Indian allies in New Netherlands 
and New England; opposed to them were the French and their Indian 
allies in the north country, mainly the valley of the St. Lawrence. In 
reality it was the final struggle between France and England for co- 
lonial supremacy on the great American continent. A sense of com- 
mon danger led the colonists on the Atlantic coast in and about New 
York to unite to resist the impending domination of the French. The 
causes of the war were of long standing, but the actual contest did 
not begin until 1754. The territorial claims of the French and English 
conflicted on all sides. The sea coast had been colonized by Holland and 
England, and the Dutch, many years before, had surrendered the gov- 
ernmental functions in New Netherlands to the English and the colony 
had become New York. The interior of the continent had been col- 
onized by France, and England had few inland colonies. The French 
knew that if they could obtain control of the great valley of the Ohio 
they could confine the provinces of Great Britain to the country east of 
the Alleghany mountains. To accomplish this became for the time 
the sole ambition of the French; to prevent the success of the scheme 
became the determination of the English. Thus matters stood at the 
opening of the French and Indian war. 



EARLY FRENCH AND INDIAN STRUGGLES. 33 

The immediate cause of the hostilities was a conflict between colo- 
nists of the two nations on the frontier during the initial attempts to 
colonize Ohio. Each knew, in general, something of the designs of 
the other and there was a hot strife to see which should first success- 
fully occupy the land. 

The troubles in the eastern part of the colony of New York began in 
1665 or 1666. In the latter year two expeditions against the Mohawks 
left Canada. The first was under Governor Courcelle and left Quebec 
January 9, but proved unsuccessful. The second left Fort St. Anne, 
on the Isle La Motte, at the northern end of Lake Champlain, in Octo- 
ber, under Marquis de Tracy, lieutenant-governor of New France, and 
was composed of GOO regular troops. They passed through Saratoga 
county and reached the Mohawk valley not far from Schenectady. 
Their campaign was a triumphant one. Throughout the entire Mohawk 
valley they met with no opposition and they laid waste the Indian 
castles and cornfields, taking possession of the country in the name of 
France. They then returned unmolested to Canada and the savage 
Mohawks, now completely humbled, made no demonstration against 
any of their neighbors for a score of years. 

From 1686 to 1695 the Mohawks and the French continued the strug- 
gle, which had been renewed by the former in revenge for the spoliation 
of their beautiful valley twenty years before. In August, 1689, the 
Mohawks, 900 warriors strong, journeying most of the distance in bark 
canoes through Lake George and Lake Champlain, invaded the very 
stronghold of the French on the island of Montreal, carrying death and 
destruction with them. Late in the following winter the bloody mas- 
sacre at Schenectady occurred, when Lieutenant Le Moyne de St. 
Helene, with a band of French soldiers and their Indian allies from the 
north, swept down upon the little hamlet at midnight on the 8th of 
February, 1690, slaughtered most of the inhabitants and drove the rest 
from their homes. 

The first call for a general congress of the American colonies was 
made by Massachusetts in 1690 in accordance with a popular demand 
that the colonies should organize an armed force for common defence 
against the French and Indians. In accordance with the call commis- 
sioners from the colonies of New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, 
Virginia and Maryland met in the city of New York May 1, 1690, and 
agreed to raise a force of 855 men to repel the French and Indian in- 



34 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

vasion and if possible to wrest Canada from the French. The cam- 
paii^n was a disastrous one. In accordance with the suggestion of the 
congress an expedition was fitted out and placed in command of 
Gen. Fitz-John Winthrop of Connecticut. Winthrop left Hartford 
July 14, 1690, and August 2 met Major Peter Schuyler of Albany at 
Saratoga. They pushed on a short distance north, but finally aban- 
doned the idea of fighting, leaving the first expedition of the united 
forces a complete failure. A short time afterward, however, Capt. 
John Schuyler, brother of Peter, made a raid upon the Canadian settle- 
ment of La Prairie. The year afterward Major Peter vSchuyler at- 
tacked the same place; but the raid was of no practical benefit to the 
united colonies. 

In 1709, during Queen Anne's war, another expedition against Can- 
ada was planned, and June 1 it started out in command of Gen. Nich- 
olson. Divisions of the little army were in command of Peter Philip 
Schuyler, now a colonel, and his brother, John Schuyler, who had be- 
come a lieutenant-colonel. They built several forts along the upper 
Hudson, which they named respectively Fort Ingoldesby, after the 
lieutenant-governor of the province of New York ; Fort Saratoga, Fort 
Miller Falls, Fort Nicholson, in honor of the commanding general ; and 
Fort Schuyler, later called Fort Anne. This expedition also was a 
failure. Aug. 24, 1711, Gen. Nicholson headed another expedition 
from Albany, but returned after reaching Fort Anne and learning that 
the English fleet in the St. Lawrence, which was to co-operate with 
him, had been almost destroyed by severe storms and 1,000 men lost. 
This ended this campaign, which the first continental congress thought 
would be successful, every expedition having accomplished practically 
nothing. 

For over thirty years after Nicholson's last expedition peace reigned 
throughout the valleys of the Hudson river and Lake Champlain. 
The latter had become a province of France and the construction 
by the French of Fort St. Frederick, at Crown Point, was evidence 
that they proposed to defend what they considered their rights in that 
region. The most northerly of the English settlements was at Sara- 
toga when hostilities were renewed, in 1745. The attacking party 
were the French and their northern Indian allies, who, at the dead of 
night on Nov, 15, descended without warning upon the settlement at 
Saratoga, killed and scalped 30 of the inhabitants and took nearly GO 



THE WAR OF 1755. 35 

prisoners. This raid was the sig-nal for general hostilities. For over 
two years massacres followed one another in rapid succession, the 
methods of warfare pursued being- those of the Indians. They usually 
came without a moment's warning, descending upon the settlers with 
a rush, murdering or scalping large numbers in Saratoga, Washington 
and Rensselaer counties and completing the desolation of the country 
by the application of the torch. Peace was once more proclaimed in 
May, 1748, and for seven years thereafter the colonists were allowed to 
clear the land, till the soil and indulge in trade without molestation. 

The greatest of all so-called French and Indian wars, and the last, 
by which French dominion in the colonies came to an end forever, was 
that which began in 1755. The war was simply the culmination of all 
the previous unsettled disputes. Both France and England realized 
that it was the final struggle — the fight to the death. In anticipation 
of the impending struggle, a congress of the colonies, the second con- 
gress of the kind in the history of the country, was held at Albany June 
19, 1754. The objects of the congress were twofold: First, to renew 
the treaty with the Iroquois Indians ; second, to arouse the colonial 
authorities to the necessity of some concerted action against the French. 
It was at this congress that Benjamin Franklin offered his famous 
plan of union, generally called the " Albany plan," by which he pro- 
posed to unite all the English colonies in America under one general 
government, with headquarters in Philadelphia. This was the plan 
most generally favored and it was adopted by the congress; but both 
the colonial legislatures and the British Parliament promptly rejected 
it, and the first attempt at federal union failed. In the mean time -the 
Iroquois had renewed their treaty. England, though refusing to rec- 
ognize the right of the colonies to form a union, even for protection, 
realized that her honor and the welfare of the colonies were at stake, 
and Parliament decided to send an army to America to help the colo- 
nists repel the French invaders. The frontier must be protected against 
further invasions at all hazards, said the English. 

While war had not been declared, it was decided to take immediate 
steps to repel the French on the western and northern frontier. A 
commander was assigned to each colony. Sir William Johnson of 
Johnstown, who had been appointed colonel of the Six Nations in 1744 
by Governor George Clinton, in April, 1755, was placed in command of 
the army in the colony of New York l^y General Braddock and given 
the rank of major-general. He was directed to enroll a force of vol- 



36 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

unteers and Mohawks in British pay, and to capture the French post at 
Crown Point. 

The expedition entrusted to Gen. Johnson was most important. Its 
object was not alone to capture the enemy's fort at Crown Point, but 
also to drive the French from the shores of Lake Champlain. His 
army numbered 3,400 men, including a body of excellent fighters from 
among the Mohawk warriors. The active work of the campaign began 
early in August, when General Phineas Lyman in command of the 
New England troops, proceeded to the Hudson above Albany and built 
Fort Hardy in Old vSaratoga. Further up he built Fort Edward, (ren. 
Johnson, too, constructed several forts. The scenes in this war, how- 
ever interesting they may have been to the early inhabitants of Rens 
selaer county, must be dropped here with this passing mention, as thej^ 
had no bearing, except in a general way, upon the interests of the 
county. 

During the last of the French and Indian wars Major-General James 
Abercrombie, with more than 10,000 British troops, in 1758, encamped 
in the lower part of what is now Greenbush. Soon after sixteen co- 
lonial regiments arrived and a little later four more regiments from 
Connecticut. It was while these troops were in camp at this point that 
the song known as Yankee Uoodle, originally intended as a satire on 
the Connecticut regiments, was composed by Dr. Shackburg, a surgeon 
in the British army. The general appearance of these troops greatly 
amused the well drilled and well uniformed British soldiers, and they 
were laughed at and derided until they became a by-word, not only in 
the camp but in Albany. They were called Yankee Doodles, and the 
song which Dr. Shackburg composed was dedicated to and named after 
them. The music was adapted from an old song written in England 
many years before, and for a long time preserved in rhymes of the 
nursery: 

" Lucy Locket lost her pocket, 

Kitty Fisher found it ; 
Nothing in it, nothing in it, 

But the binding round it." 

Just what Dr. Shackburg's composition was it is impossible at this 
day to tell, for parody after parody has been written since that time. 
The tune, however, is practically the same to-day as it was when the 
original Yankee Doodle was written, except for the interpolation of a 
few notes to fit the increased number of syllables in the stanzas. The 




-i^r^a?' 4!^^£rj!!!I^l>t¥Z£ct.rns eS^j~47. J^-/!-^ 




(L'i^^Oi 





DUTCH CONTROL AT AN END. 37 

purpose of the composition was fulfilled and the Connecticut soldiers, 
who took the joke good-naturedly, called it "Nation Fine." Less than 
a score of years afterward, upon the surrender of General Burgoyne at 
Saratoga October 17, 1777, the captured enemy marched between the 
lines of the victorious Yankees to the tune which a British soldier had 
composed, and which by that time had become the only national air 
which the Americans had. 

It was during the first of the long series of French and Indian wars 
that New Netherlands ceased to exist and New York took its place, 
Dutch control being succeeded, mercifully without resort to blood- 
shed, by English. The story is one familiar to all. The Dutch had 
tired of the narrow, selfish dominion of the Dutch West India Com- 
pany. England and Holland were at peace. March 12, 1664, Charles 
II, king of England, gave to his brother, the Duke of York, two ex- 
tensive patents for American territory. The first of these embraced 
the district reaching from the Kennebec to the St. Croix river, the sec- 
ond included all the territory between the Connecticut and the Dela- 
ware rivers. Thus, with one stroke of the pen, the unsciupulous Eng- 
lish monarch robbed the friendly kingdom of Holland of the great 
American province which it had so hardly earned. The Dutch West 
India Company, through whose efforts the valley of the Hudson and 
the contiguous territory was populated and the development of its re- 
sources begun, was treated with the highest contempt. In order to 
leave no time for the frustration of his designs the Duke of York made 
immediate preparations to take possession of the vast territory granted 
him. Richard Nicolls was immediately placed in command of an Eng- 
lish squadron, which reached Boston in July and proceeded from there 
to New Amsterdam. The fleet anchored in Gravesend bay August 28, 
an English camp was pitched without delay at Brooklyn ferry and be- 
fore the sleepy Dutch were aware of the fact that the supremacy of 
Holland was threatened the whole of Long Island had been subdued. 
Peter vStuyvesant, the brave and loyal governor of the colony, sent 
commissioners to inquire the meaning of the hostile demonstration. 
Nicolls quietly demanded the surrender of New Amsterdam and New 
Netherlands in the name of the King of England and the Duke of York 
and an immediate acknowledgment of the sovereignty of England. 
Stiiyvesant thereupon convened the council of New Amsterdam. The 
burgomasters, who trulj'- represented the spirit of the majority of the 
colonists, decided to surrender. The Dutch had been witnessing the 



38 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

prosperity and development of the English colonies in New England, 
while they themselves were held in check for the sake of enriching the 
West India company. The English colonies had better schools, lighter 
taxes and there were practically no poor among them. From Troy to 
New York, in the Dutch colony, there was not an institution of learn- 
ing worthy of the name. Liberty and personal rights were hardly 
known in the Dutch district, while the English were comparatively 
free men. Everything tended to render the Dutch dissatisfied with 
their lot. Stuyvesant doubtless realized these facts, as did the burgo- 
masters of New Amsterdam, but he was loyal to his countr)' and en- 
deavored to excite those under him to fight. But he was forced to 
capitulate, and Sept. 8, 1664, New Netherlands ceased to exist and New 
Amsterdam became New York. Sixteen days afterward Fort Orange 
surrendered and thereafter was known as Albany, these two principal 
cities receiving their new names respectively from the Duke of York 
and the Duke of Albany. No conquest on American soil was ever 
more complete or more bloodless. English supremacy was established 
at once and for all time. 

The history of New York under the English during the few years 
immediately succeeding their assumption of control is well known. 
Richard Nicolls, the first English governor of New York, began his 
duties by settling the boundaries of his province, a work of a very 
vexatious character. In 1667 he was superseded by Lovelace, a still 
greater tvrant than Nicolls. The Dutch and English colonists were 
always friends, even while England and Holland were at war. The 
reconquest of the colony by the Dutch was little more than a brief 
military occupation of the country, the civil authority of Holland 
never being re-established. The administration of Sir Edmund Andros, 
a miserable failure, witnessed the rapid growth of the popular demand 
for fuller civil rights for the people and a legislative assembly. Thomas 
Dongan, a Catholic, became governor of the province in 1683, with 
instructions to accede to the popular demand and call an assembly of 
freeholders. This was done and for the first time in tlie history of the 
province the people were permitted to have a voice in the selection of 
their rulers and the framing of the laws which were to govern them. 
The new assembly granted all freeholders the right of suffrage. Trial 
by jury was established; taxes should no more be levied, it was de- 
clared, without the consent of the assembly; soldiers should not be 
quartered on the people; martial law was to prevail no more, and 
religious liberties were guaranteed. 



EARLY CAUSES OF THE ANTT-RENT WARS. 39 

In July, 1684, the governors of New York and Virginia met the 
chiefs of the Iroquois and adopted a treaty which provided for a last- 
ing peace. The French Canadians, particularly the Jesuits, made 
desperate efforts to induce the Indians to go back on their word, and 
even invaded the Mohawk valley twice — in 1684 and 1687 — as described 
elsewhere, with the intention of frightening the Mohawks and Oneidas 
into submission ; but without avail. The friendly Iroquois from this 
time on were a bulwark of strength to the English and Dutch, and it 
was through their assistance that the French invaders were finally 
driven back to Canada forever. 

By the surrender of the colony to the English in 1664 the personal 
rights of the colonists were secured and a new charter was granted to 
the patroon, restricting his civil power but confirming the relations 
existing between landlord and tenant. By laws enacted by the colonial 
legislature a few years subsequent to the close of the Revolution the 
feudal tenure was abolished, but the proprietors of manor grants were 
unwilling to relinquish their feudal claims, and continued a form of 
deed by which the grantees agreed to perform certain duties and make 
certain payments precisely similar to those abolished by the laws. The 
people who had settled on these manors had long been dissatisfied and 
restive under the feudal exactions. This dissatisfaction increased as 
the years went by and became the one thing above all others which 
tended to make the inhabitants of the manor discontented with their lot. 
The taxes imposed were not verj^ fiigh but the principle on which they 
were levied and the general plan of land-tenure was one which, though 
originally freely accepted by the colonists, was not in harmony with 
the spirit of freedom which had begun to pervade the new country and 
which was rapidly developing in Rensselaerwyck as elsewhere. It 
was this increasing spirit which finally culminated in the famous Anti- 
Rent Wars, during which the distasteful and unpopular feudal system 
was finally overthrown. 

It is not necessary to trace the history of the manor of Rensselaer- 
wyck through all the subsequent years. The main points of interest 
are found in the brief sketch of the various wars — if they may properly 
be called wars — between the French and Indians of the north and the 
combined forces of the English, Dutch and Iroquois on the south. 
After the English came into control affairs in Rensselaerwyck went on 
much as before. Development on all lines was gradual and marked by 
no event worthy of a prominent place in the annals of the colony. New 



40 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

settlers continued to arrive and trade was gradually expanded in all 
directions. During the long- years of the French and Indian wars the 
inhabitants of Rensselaerwyck were in constant fear that their pros- 
perous colony would become the scene of some conflict such as those 
with which the country to the north of them was afflicted, but their 
fears proved groundless. They were peaceful, contented, happy, till- 
ing the soil, erecting new farms, indulging in trade with the Indians 
and in turn with the inhabitants of the rapidly growing city of New 
York and with English ports. Large ships ascended the river and 
departed richly laden with the wares which constituted the foundation 
of their wealth. There was little poverty. The inhabitants were 
sturdy and resolute and gradually worked their way into the wilder- 
ness surrounding them. They lived simply and in harmony with one 
another. Their houses were humble, but there was no lack of that 
hospitality for which the Dutch were noted in those days. Perhaps the 
fact that many years passed by without events that go to make up sen- 
sational history accounts, more than any other single thing, for the 
conservative spirit which characterized the inhabitants of Rensselaer 
county in succeeding years. 

From the close of the last French and Indian war up to the scenes 
connected with the inauguration of the War of the Revolution little is 
to be said of the progress of Rensselaer county. The population in- 
creased at a satisfactory rate and the natural resources of the county 
were developed, gradually and thoroughly. The inhabitants were too 
busily occupied in attending to their industrial interests to pay more 
than passing attention to the events preceding that memorable struggle 
for independence and which engrossed the attention of the cities and 
more populous communities. When the time came that men and 
money were needed to fight to secure the independence of the colonies, 
Rensselaer county was not found lacking in patriotism, as the annals of 
the county show. Before the actual operations of this great struggle 
were begun the colony of New York, and particularly that portion of 
it now embraced in Washington and Rensselaer counties, were deeply 
agitated over a bitter controversy respecting the title of certain lands 
in the southern part of the " Hampshire Grants." 

The Hampshire Grants constituted practically the present State of 
Vermont, and the ownership of the territory was disputed by New 
York and New Hampshire. New York set up a stout claim to that 
section comprised in the town of Bennington and vicinity. Rensselaer 



THE HAMPSHIRE GRANTS. 41 

count}' still formed a part of the original county of Albany, and Wash- 
ington county was embraced in Charlotte county. The disagreement 
began in provincial times over the boundary line between the provinces. 
In the (xreat Patent of New England granted in 1630 by King James 
thi territory was described as follows: 

" All that circuit, continent, precinct and limits in America, lying 
and being in breadth from forty degrees northerly latitude from the 
equinoctial line to forty-eight degrees of the said northerly latitude, 
and in length by all the breadth aforesaid, throughout the mainland 
from sea to sea, with all the seas, rivers, islands, creeks, inlets, ports 
and havens within the degrees, precincts and limits of the said latitude 
and longitude." 

Charles II, in his grant to the Duke of York, defined the boundaries 
of the province of New York "from the west side of the Connecticut 
river to the east side of the Delaware bay." 

These boundaries, as defined, led to many years of bitter contro- 
versy, which was not terminated until the colony of New York became 
a State at the close of the War of the Revolution. Governor Benning 
Wentworth of New Hampshire and Governor Clinton of New York 
endeavored to settle the boundary in 1649 to allow prospective settlers 
from New Hampshire to take up lands in the disputed territory. Gov- 
ernor Clinton maintained that the Connecticut river was the eastern 
limit of the province of New York, and Governor Wentworth, who had 
sent out a surveyor to mark the line, insisted that a continuation of the 
western boundary of Massachusetts struck -the Hudson about eighty 
poles above the mouth of the Mohawk. Governor Clinton still object- 
ing to having his domain thus narrowed, Governor Wentworth wrote 
that inasmuch as Connecticut and Massachusetts laid claim to the land 
west of the Connecticut river to a line about twenty miles east of the 
Hudson and running about parallel with the stream, he should insist 
upon the same line for the western boundary of New Hampshire, thus 
laying claim for New Hampshire to all the present State of \"ermont. 
To make good his claim he announced that he had already made one 
grant to colonists of about thirty-six square miles of land north of the 
Massachusetts line and about twenty-four miles easterly of Albany. 
This township Governor Benning Wentworth named Bennington in his 
own honor. Governor Clinton asked Governor Wentworth to annul 
the grant he had made, but this the latter executive firmly declined to 
6 



42 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

do. This wrangle was kept up for fourteen years, and in the mean 
time the colony at Bennington continued to flourish. 

With the evident intention of settling officially and for all time the 
controversy, on Dec. 28, 17(53, Cadvvallader Golden, lieutenant-governor 
and commander-in-chief of the province of New York, issued a long 
proclamation declaring the eastern boundary of his province. After 
citing the conditions of the grants issued by King Charles March 12, 
l(i()3-(J4, and June 29, 1674, to the Duke of York, and calling attention 
to the limits of New Hampshire as defined in the letters patent of July 
3, 1741, the ruler of New York declared and ordered: 

And whereas it manifestly appears by the several grants or letters patents above 
recited, that the province of New York is bounded to the eastward by the river Con- 
necticut; that the province of New Hampshire, being expressly limited in its extent 
westward and northward by His Majesty's other governments, is confined to the 
same river as to its western boundary ; and that the said government of New Hamp- 
shire is not entitled to jurisdiction westward, beyond the limits of that river. 

And whereas the said government of New Hampshire, tho" fully apprized of the 
right of this government, under the Letters Patent aforementioned to the Duke of 
York; and sensible also that His Majesty had not been pleased to establish other 
boundaries between his said two provinces, hath granted lands westward of Con- 
necticut river, within the limits and jurisdiction of the government of New York ; 
in virtue whereof, sundry persons, ignorant that they could not derive a legal title 
under such grants, have attempted the settlement of the lands included therein, and 
have actually possessed themselves of soil before granted within this province ; while 
others claiming under the said government of New Hampshire, have endeavored to 
impose on the inhabitants here, by offering to sale at a low rate, whole townships of 
six miles square lately granted by the government westward of Connecticut river. 

To prevent therefore the incautious from becoming purchasers of the lands so 
granted, to assert the rights, and fully to maintain the jurisdiction of the govern- 
ment of this His Majesty's Province of New York; I have thought fit, with the ad- 
vice of His Majesty's council, to issue this proclamation, hereby commanding and re 
quiring all Judges, Justices and other civil officers within the same to continue to ex- 
ercise jurisdiction in their respective functions, as far as to the banks of Connecticut 
river, the undoubted eastern limits of that part of the province of New York, not- 
withstanding any contrariety of jurisdiction claimed by the government of New 
Hampshire, or any grant of lands westward of that river, made by the said govern- 
ment, and I do hereby enjoin the High Sheriff" of the county of Albany, to return to 
me or the commander in chief, the names of all and every person and persons, who 
under the grants of the government of New Hampshire, do or shall hold the posses- 
sion of any lands westward of Connecticnt river, that they may be proceeded against 
according to law. 

On March 13 of the next year Governor Wentworth issued a counter- 
proclamation which, after citing the salient points in the grants re- 



GOVERNOR WENTVVORTH'S COUNTER-PROCLAMATION. 43 

ferred to, with a vastly different interpretation, however, and referring 
in a sarcastic vein to Golden 's proclamation, contained these clauses: 

The said proclamation carrying an air of government in it, may perhaps effect and 
retard the settlement of His Majesty's lands granted by this government, for pre- 
venting an injury to the Crown of this kind, and to remove all doubts that may 
arise to persons holding the king's Grants, they may be assured that the patent to 
the Duke is obsolete, and cannot convey any certain boundary to New York that 
can be claimed as a boundary, as plainly appears by the several boundary lines of 
the Jerseys, on the west, and the Colony of Connecticut on the east, which are set 
forth in the proclamation as part only of the land included in the said patent to the 
Duke of York. 

To the end therefore, that the grantees now settled, and settling on those lands 
under His Late and present Majesty's Charters, may not be intimidated, or in any 
way hindered or obstructed in the improvement of the land so granted as well as to 
ascertain the right and maintain the jurisdiction of His Majesty's government of 
New Hampshire as far westward as to include the grants made, I have thought fit, 
by and with the consent of His Majesty's council, to issue this proclamation hereby 
encouraging the several grantees claiming under this government, to be industrious 
in clearing and cultivating their lands agreeable to their respective grants. 

And I do hereby require and command all civil officers within this province, of 
what quality soever, as well as those that are not, as those that are inhabitants on 
the said lands to continue and be diligent in exercising jurisdiction in their respective 
offices, as far westward as grants of land have been made by this government, and 
to deal with any person or persons, that may presume to interrupt the inhabitants 
or settlers on said lands as to law and justice doth appertain, the pretended right of 
jurisdiction mentioned in the aforesaid proclamation notwithstanding. 

The court at St. James decided the contest in favor of New York by 
an order issued July 20, 1764, in which it was declared that "the western 
banks of the river Connecticut, from where it enters the province of 
the Massachusetts Bay, as far north as the forty-fifth degree of north- 
ern latitude" were " the boundary line between the said two provinces 
of New Hampshire and New York." But the controversy was not to 
end here. Many settlers from Connecticut and New Hampshire had 
entered the disputed territory, built homes and commenced the cultiva- 
tion of the land. In 1768, 138 townships had been laid out in the 
Hampshire Grants with the permission of the governor of New Hamp- 
shire. The colonists organized and desperately resisted the continued 
attempts of the authorities of New York to evict them. They were de- 
termined not to be compelled to pay New York for their land, having 
already paid the government of New Hampshire therefor. In retaliation 
for the efforts of the New York officials to dispossess them they ad- 
ministered many a sound threshing to the colonial agents who visited 



44 LAND^klARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

them for the purpose of enforcing the decree of the English govern- 
ment. Not content with this these sturdy pioneers, goaded to despera- 
tion, organized small bands and invaded Rensselaer and Washington 
counties, killing stock, burning buildings, destroying growing crops 
and committing other depredations. 

They were led in their numerous raids by Ethan Allen, Seth Warner, 
Remember Baker and others — all true patriots during the fight for in 
dependence which followed a few years later — who were referred toby 
the New York authorities as "the Bennington mob." The Walloom- 
sac patent of 12,000 acres, which lay partly in Rensselaer county, 
partl_v in Washington county and partly in Vermont, was the theatre of 
considerable contention. As an illustration of the character of the 
clashes which occurred the following old account will suffice: 

James Breakenridge owned a farm on the Walloomsac Patent, which was situated 
in the town of Bennington, near the line of Hoosick. In July, 1771, Henry Ten 
Eyck, the Sheriff of Albany County, summoned a posse, numbering 200 or 300 of the 
principal citizens of the city, and started to take possession of Breakenridge's farm, 
held under a grant from New Hampshire. The first day they proceeded to Sancoik, 
near North Hoosick, where they remamed over night. The citizens had received 
warning of their approach and had assembled, resolved to defend the rights of their 
neighbor. When the Sheriff's posse arrived at what is now known as the Henry 
Bridge, they were stopped by a small guard placed there for that purpose, while a 
large number were concealed at a little distance, awaiting further developments. After 
a short parley, the Mayor of Albanj' and a few of the most distinguished of the com- 
pany, were allowed to proceed to the house of Breakenridge, which they found bar- 
ricaded, loop-holed and guarded by about twenty armed men. The Sherilf on being re- 
fused admittance caused the writ of possession to be read, but no attention was paid to 
it. A large part of the Sheriff's posse, seeing that they had a resolute band of men to 
contend with and that peaceable possession could not be gained, thought discretion 
the better part of valor, and all finally retreated without any shedding of blood. 
Affidavits of several of the party are found in "Documentary History of New York," 
Vol. 4, among which is that of John R. Bleeker, who says he had "great reason to 
think that if the Sheriff had attempted to break open the said house he would have 
been in the utmost danger of losing his life, and all those that would have assisted 
him in the attempt." 

Among the outrages committed by the Bennington Mob, it was alleged that they 
had " seized, insulted and terrified Magistrates and other civil officers, so that they 
dare not execute their respective functions ; rescued prisoners for debt, assumed to 
themselves military commands and judicial powers; burned and demolished the 
houses and property and beat and abused the persons of many of His Majesty's sub- 
jects, expelled them from their possessions, and put a period to the administration 
of justice, and spread terror and destruction throughout that part of the country 
which is exposed to their oppression." In consideration of these outrages and the 



JURISDICTION OF NEW YORK ESTABLISHRD. 45 

recommendation of the Assembly of the State of New York, the Governor says: " I 
have therefore thought fit with the advice of his Majesty's Council to issue this 
Proclamation hereby strictly enjoining and commanding all Magistrates, Justices of 
the Peace, Sheriffs and other civil officers of the Counties of Albany and Charlotte to 
apprehend and take the before named Ethan Allen, late of Bennington in the County 
of Albany, yeoman, Seth Warner late of the same place, yeoman,. Remember Baker, 
late of Arlington in said County, yeoman, Robert Cochran, late of Rupert in the 
County of Charlotte, yeoman, Peter Sunderland, late of Socialborough in the 
said County, yeoman, Sylvanus Brown, late of the same place, yeoman, 
James Breakenridge, late of Wallumschaick in the County of Albany, yeoman, 
and John Smith, late of Socialborough in the said County of Charlotte, yeoman, 
and them to commit to safe and secure custody in the Gaol of the City and County 
of Albany to answer for the several offenses and to be dealt with according to law." 
The Governor, in the Proclamation, offers a reward of one hundred pounds for 
apprehending each of them the said Ethan Allen and Remember Baker, and the 
sum of fifty pounds for apprehending each and every one of them the said Seth 
Warner, Robert Cochran, Peleg Sunderland, Sylvanus Brown, James Breakenridge 
and John Smith to be paid to the person or persons who shall take and secure the 
said oft'enders that they may be proceeded against as the law directs. 

For nearly a score of years these doiig-hty pioneers terrorized the 
eastern frontier of New York. The authorities of New York, though 
making- a show of attempting- to quell the disorder, were either help- 
less or indifferent. At the close of the war the little rebellion was 
continued. The settlers knew they were legall}^ under the jurisdiction 
of the State, now independent, but they nevertheless refused to recog- 
nize the right of the government to deprive them of their possessions. 
For awhile all was chaos. A temporary government was organized by 
the insurgents, who, to annoy the New York authorities, mockingly 
set up a clairn to jurisdiction over Rensselaer and Washington counties. 
They frequently attempted to serve legal processes in the very heart 
of Rensselaer county, and more than once their officers came within 
sight of the land now embraced in the city of Tro}- on these errands. 
This anarchy — it can hardl}' be called a government — existed under the 
name of New Connecticut, or Vermont, until the territory in dispute 
was admitted as a vState in the Union in 1791, the same year in which 
Rensselaer county was erected from Albany county. Nine years be- 
fore that date the towns of Granville, Cambridge and White Creek, in 
Washington county, which had been induced to join the insurgents, 
withdrew from the outlawed organization and acknowledged the au- 
thority of the State of New York. 

During the early years of the Revolutionary War the inhabitants of 
the east district of the rnanor of Rensselaerwyck were in a state bor- 



46 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

dering on terror on account of the numerous robberies which occurred 
in that section. Complaint was made to the local authorities without 
avail and finally, March 11, 1780, the State Legislature, which had 
been organized September 10, 1777, passed a law directing the super- 
visor of the east district to raise by taxation a sum not exceeding 1,500 
pounds, "together with a sum not exceeding one shilling in the pound 
for collecting the same," to be employed in the payment of " rangers," 
whose duties should be to arrest the freebooters and bring them to 
justice. Many arrests followed under this authority, but the work of 
arresting and punishing the robbers was continued for several years 
before their depredations were finally brought to an end. 



CHAPTER V. 



The War of the Revolution and the Participation Therein of the Colonists of 
Rensselaerwyck — General Schuyler Deposed — Baum's Proclamation — The Famous 
Battle of Bennington and the Events Leading up to It — Fouglit Entirely within the 
Town of Hoosick — The Accounts of General Stark and Lieutenant Glick — Losses on 
Both Sides — Direct Result of the Battle — The Decisive Action at Saratoga. 

We do not think it is possible for any historian to shed any new light 
on matters relating to the participation of the inhabitants of Rens- 
selaer county in the War of the Revolution. One of the greatest 
battles in the history of that memorable struggle for independence 
on the part of the American colonies was fought entirely within 
the limits of the county of Rensselaer — yet all the credit of it, so 
far as the casual student of the present generation ma}' be interested, 
goes to a village in the neighboring State of Vermont! This great 
fight, \vhich is known as the battle of Bennington, should have been 
called the battle of Hoosick or the Battle of Walloomscoick or Wal- 
loomsac or Walloomsack. The fight retains the name of the Battle of 
Bennington, by which it at once became known, for the reason that the 
secret expedition which started out for the Connecticut valley by the 
orders of Gen. Burgoyne, had for its first objective point the little vil- 
lage of Bennington, which fortunately was never reached. 
, The events which preceded this battle may be summarized in a few 



GENERAL BURGOYNE'S CAMPAIGN. 47 

words. Every child knows the causes which led up to the War of the 
Revolution and we will waste no words in a description of them. 

The campaign of Lieutenant-General John Burgoyne is acknowl- 
edged to have been one of the most important events of the whole war. 
This officer, one of the most valiant and distinguished in the British 
service, arrived at Quebec in March, 1777, superseding Sir Guy Carle- 
ton in command of the British forces in Canada. He occupied the first 
two months after his arrival in the organization of a powerful army for 
^he invasion of New York. Early in June his forces numbered over 
ten thousand men. Of these seven thousand were British and Hes- 
sian veterans, and the remainder were Canadians and Indians. It was 
understood to be his plan to move upon Albany by way of Lake Cham- 
plain, Lake George and the Upper Hudson. After reaching Albany it 
was his intention to continue down the river to New York and there 
join the main division of the British army. He hoped by this means 
to cut off New England from the Middle and Southern colonies and 
thus leave the whole country at the mercy of General Howe. He had 
no idea that it was possible for the colonial forces to offer any serious 
resistance to his progress, for his army was one of the strongest Great 
Britain had mustered on American soil. 

Reaching St. John's, at the north end of Lake Champlain, June 1, 
on the 16th of the month he began his journey down the lake to 
Crown Point. This place had been left undefended by the colonial 
forces and a British garrison was left in charge. Three thousand men 
under General St. Clair held Fort Ticonderoga, and Burgoyne, with 
practically his entire army, marched to this point. After capturing 
Mount Defiance the British planted a battery seven hundred feet above 
the American works. Mount Hope was next captured and retreat by 
way of Lake George was thereby cut off. The American forces un- 
doubtedly would have been compelled to surrender had they attempted 
to maintain their position. St. Clair, realizing this fact, decided to 
abandon Fort Ticonderoga, which he did on the night of July 5, leav- 
ing with his garrison by way of Mount Independence and Wood Cre?k, 
Yt. The Americans fled through Yermont until they reached Hub- 
bardton, at the north end of Lake Bomoseen, where they were over- 
taken by the pursuing British forces. A sharp engagement followed, 
in which the Americans were defeated ; but the latter succeeded in 
checking for awhile the progress of the enemy, finally retreating to 
Fort Edward. The British reached Whitehall the next day, where 
they captured a large quantity of baggage, stores and provisions. 



48 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Fort Edward was at this time the temporary headquarters of the 
colonial Army of the North, under command of General Philip Schuy- 
ler. Upon the arrival of vSt. Clair the combined American forces at 
Fort Edward numbered less than five thousand men, most of whom 
were militiamen, while the forces of Burgoyne, now at Whitehall, 
were about double. Furthermore many of Schuyler's men were with- 
out arms and accoutrements. Schuyler felt the weakness of his posi- 
tion and decided to evacuate the fort. He retreated southward through 
the valley of the Hudson until he reached the islands at the mouth of 
the Mohawk river. Upon reaching Van Schaick's, now Adams's island, 
he pitched camp, determined, if necessity compelled it, to prevent 
Burgoyne's army from reaching tlie navigable waters of the Hudson 
river. 

Haver island, the most northerl}- of the group in the delta of the 
Mohawk, was the most advantageous position for defense in the locality 
through which Schuyler believed Burgoyne must pass in order to 
reach New York. It was opposite the fords in the Mohawk river at 
Half Moon point, now the village of Waterford. At this point Gen. 
Schuyler's men, under the direction of Thaddeus Kosciusko, engineer 
of the northern department, a noble Pole who greatly endeared himself 
to the Americans, threw up intrenchments and planted behind them 
several cannon, which commanded the river at this point. These 
small fortifications still exist on either side of the tracks of the Dela- 
ware & Hudson railroad just south of the most northerly branch of the 
Mohawk. 

At this time an event occurred which caused the most profound 
regret among the friends of General Schuyler. The colonial Congress, 
probably not fully cognizant of all the facts in the case, deposed Gen. 
Schuyler and placed the Army of the North in command of the vain 
and incompetent General Horatio Gates. Gen. Schuyler had suffered 
greatly from the intrigues of jealous officers, who represented that his 
capabilities as a warrior had been overestimated. The difficulties 
under which he had labored were not understcjod. On all sides he was 
acknowledged an undoubted patriot with the highest motives, and 
while his bravery was never brought into question Congress was led 
to believe by his jealous rivals that he was not endowed with sufficient 
discretion properly to conduct the important campaign with which he 
had been intrusted. A retrospect of the famous Burgoyne expedi- 
tion leads to the inevitable conclusion that the critics of General 





.^^^ 



COLONEL BAUM'S EXPEDITION. 49 

Schuyler were actuated by selfish motives alone, in all probability, and 
that he acted with good judgment. Had Burgoyne not been inter- 
cepted at Saratoga he eventually must have attempted to cross the 
ford at Half Moon point in his march to New York. The advantageous 
position which Schuyler had selected there, coupled with the fact that 
he could easily have had the entire Army of the North where they 
could perform the most effective service, must have led to the defeat 
of the British forces; and if he had not been superseded by General 
Gates one of the world's decisive battles would have been fought on 
the border of Rensselaer county. Burgoyne had made a boast that 
he would eat his Christmas dinner in Albany ; but he failed to appre- 
ciate the fighting qualities of the men who were determined to stop 
him and the grand generalship of the commanders of the Army of the 
North. 

Colonel Friedrich Baum was a German officer in the service of the 
British, and a valiant soldier. He accompanied Gen. Burgoyne in his 
memorable expedition from Canada into New York, and upon his 
sagacity and military training Burgoyne placed great reliance. Baum 
was in command of a regiment of Hessian dragoons, well drilled, but 
like the Hessians who became an easy prey of the Americans at Tren- 
ton, they were hirelings and they fought like hirelings. There was 
every reason why they should have won an easy victory over superior 
numbers of Americans, for the latter were poorly armed and inexperi- 
enced in the field of battle. Burgoyne's supplies were fast disappear- 
ing and he was obliged to branch out from the path he had outlined in 
order to secure provisions and stores for his army. Leaving Whitehall 
he came on by way of Fort Ann, which the Americans had despoiled 
before leaving it, and thence through the woods and across obstructed 
roads to Fort Edward. He arrived at the latter point July 30 and de- 
cided to wait there with the main body of his troops until he could 
obtain additional supplies, of which he had become in urgent need. 
Accordingly he dispatched Colonel Baum with five hundred picked men 
to Bennington, where he had ascertained there was a large quantity of 
provincial stores. Most of these stores had been brought across from 
the New England provinces. They consisted for the most part of cat- 
tle, horses and wheel-carriages, which were guarded by a small body 
of militia only. In Burgoyne's written instructions to Col. Baum he 
made no mention of Bennington. He wrote that Baum should feel the 
public pulse, or "try the atfections of the country;" that he should 
7 



50 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

" mount the Riedesel dragoons" and "complete Peters's corps;" and 
further that he should obtain large supplies of cattle, horses and car- 
riages. The number of horses to be brought was thirteen hundred at 
the least. " You will use all possible means," he continued, " to make 
the country believe that the troops under your command are the ad- 
vance corps of the army, and that it is intended to pass the Connecticut 
on the road to Boston. You will likewise insinuate that the main army 
from Albany is to be joined at Springfield by a corps of troops from 
Rhode Island." The expedition was practically a big foraging expedi- 
tion. Burgoyne never told what secret instructions he had given to 
Baum, but there is no doubt that his written directions were intended 
to disguise his real plan, and that Bennington was the objective point 
of the expedition which terminated so disastrously. 

Burgone's instruction continued, in epitome, as follows: Baum was 
to go to Battenkill, thence to Arlington, where he was to wait for a de- 
tachment of the provincials under Capt. Sherwood. From there he 
was directed to go to Manchester, a few miles east, and take possession 
of the mountain road to Rockingham, sending the few Indians in his 
command and the light troops toward Otter Creek. If no enemy ap 
peared on the Connecticut river, on their return he was to continue in 
his journey to Rockingham, the limit of his expedition. He was 
directed to use his judgment as to whether he should send his Indians 
and light troops up the Connecticut valley, but if he did on their return 
he was to march to Brattleboro and proceed thence by way of the turn- 
pike to Albany, where he was to join Burgoyne and the main army. 
Burgoyne had planned well, but Baum never reached Rockingham, nor 
Manchester, nor Bennington ; and his superior, who believed his army 
invincible in the province of New York, never came any nearer to 
Albany than half way down Saratoga county. Burgoyne met defeat 
and capture; Baum met death and his force was almost annihilated 
within the limits of Rensselaer county. The battle with Burgoyne at 
Saratoga is now recorded among the decisive battles of the world ; but 
the outcome of that fight might have been different had Baum's mis- 
sion succeeded. 

Baum was especially instructed to sieze everything he could find in 
the way of horses and vehicles, also draught-oxen and cattle fit for 
slaughter. He was directed to give receipts to all persons who had 
complied with the "orders " contained in Burgoyne's proclamation, but 
the property of rebels was to be taken without exchanging vouchers. 



GENERAL BURGOYNE'S PROCLAMATION. 51 

The proclamation to which the commanding general referred was is- 
sued by Burgoyne while at Crown Point. After exhorting all the in- 
habitants of the country through which he expected to pass to remain 
loyal, he offered employment to those who would join his forces and 
pay to all of whom he would demand provisions or stores. The proc- 
lamation concluded as follows: 

If, notwithstanding these endeavors and sincere inclinations to effect them, the 
frenzy of hostility should remain, I trust I shall stand acquitted, in the eyes of God 
and man, in denouncing and executing the vengeance of the state against the willful 
outcasts. The messengers of justice and wrath await them in the field; and devas- 
tation, famine, and every concomitant horror that a reluctant but indispensable 
prosecution of military duty must occasion will bar the way to their return. 

July 10 he issued another proclamation, addressed particularly to the 
inhabitants of Granville, Pawlet, Wells, Rutland, Castleton, Hubbard 
ton and Tinmouth and to the people living in the districts bordering 
on Cambridge, White Creek and Cambden, calling upon them to send 
representatives to Castleton to meet Col. Skene, who would give them 
further encouragement and advice, if they had paid heed to the first 
proclamation ; or, if they had not acknowledged allegiance to Great 
Britain, to learn of the conditions which they must fulfill in order to 
be spared from the righteous wrath with which they had been threat- 
ened. 

Three days after Burgoyne's second proclamation, July 13, General 
Schuyler issued a counter proclamation to the inhabitants of the sa«ie 
locality in which, after reminding the persons interested of the manner 
in which the British in New Jersey had made and broken similar prom- 
ises, he informed them that all persons who gave any assistance to or 
corresponded with the enemy would be treated as traitors and subject 
to punishment as such. 

While, as a rule, Burgoyne's proclamation had an effect directly op- 
posite to that intended, there were a number of persons in the district 
referred to who disregarded the decree of Schuyler and in various 
ways gave evidence of Toryism, But the assistance which this class 
gave to the enemy was not important enough to seriously affect the 
interests of the patriots. 

The universal feeling throughout the country on the eve of the battle 
of Bennington was one of extreme anxiety. This sentiment began to 
be profound upon the surrender of Ticonderoga by St. Clair. The 
gallant General ^Montgomery had failed to carry Quebec, a fortification 



52 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

invulnerable except by strateg'y; Crown Point had been abandoned, 
and the superiority of the British flotilla on Lake Champlain had been 
demonstrated. Mount Independence and Ticonderoga, which were con- 
sidered at that time as almost impregnable, had been lost through our 
negligence in not properly fortifying Mount Defiance, which com- 
manded both points. Mount Defiance, or Sugar Loaf Hill, from its 
height and proximity overlooked all our works at Ticonderoga and 
Mount Independence. It was extremely difficult of access and, prop- 
erly fortified, could have been held by a comparatively small force who 
might have expelled Burgoyne's army with little trouble. The aban- 
donment of the two other points was entirely unexpected and severely 
felt, Washington was greatly depressed by the news of the abandon- 
ment of Ticonderoga. On hearing of the disaster he wrote to General 
Schuyler: "The evacuation of Ticonderoga and Mount Independence 
is an event of chagrin and surprise not apprehended nor within the 
compass of my reasoning;" and he predicted: "As matters are going, 
Burgoyne will have little difficulty in penetrating to Albany." At 
Hubbardton the day had gone against us, and the patriot army, fleeing 
to the southward, had abandoned Skenesborough, Fort Ann, Fort 
Edward, Moses Creek and vSaratoga. 

When the news of these successive disasters reached Albany and 
Rensselaer county the inhabitants were well-nigh distracted, for they 
feared, and with good reason, that the British general and his power- 
ful army would soon be marching victoriously through the valley of the 
lower Hudson, devastating everything in his path. People packed up 
their household goods and sent them to distant points, and many be- 
gan to flee in terror from the awful punishment that had been threat- 
ened by Burgoyne in his proclamation. In Stockbridge, Mass., it is 
recorded that the inhabitants were " greatly burdened with people who 
had fled from the New Hampshire grants." General Howe had de- 
feated us on Long Island and in New York, and obtained a foothold in 
New Jersey and Newport, R. I. Burgoyne's valor was thoroughly 
appreciated and his spirit of enterprise and desire for military glory 
led people to believe he was almost certain to accomplish that which he 
had undertaken. This feeling of insecurity and dread later on was in- 
creased by the murder of Jane McCrea near Fort Edward, July 27, 
1777. Miss McCrea was a young woman, daughter of a Presbyterian 
clergyman of New Jersey. Though she was a m?mber of a patriotic 
family she was betrothed to an officer named Jones in Peters's corps 



THE ADVANCE TOWARD BENNINGTON. 53 

of loyalists. She was a guest at the house of Jones's mother, within 
the British lines near Fort Edward, and started under an escort of two 
Indians to go to the house of Jones's brother, near the British camp about 
four miles distant to meet her betrothed. A barrel of rum had been prom- 
ised to her Indian guides upon their delivering her safely at her desti- 
nation. The Indians quarrelled over the reward and one of them, in 
order to prevent the other from securing any pay for his services, 
buried his tomahawk to the handle in Miss McCrea's skull. This form 
of barbarity at the hands of the Indians who had allied themselves with 
the British frightened the colonists further southward, who feared that 
the scene might often be re-enacted as the British advanced toward the 
ocean. It was while the McCrea case was yet fresh in the minds of the 
inhabitants of Eastern New York and Vermont that Burgoyne issued 
his proclamation threatening to let his Indian forces loose in that section 
should his mandates be disobeyed. 

The people were instantly aroused to action when it was learned that 
Burgoyne, in order to support Col. Baum in case of necessity, had 
stationed Lieutenant-Colonel Breyman at Battenkill, about twenty two 
miles from Bennington, with two large cannon and a strong body of 
Brunswick grenadiers, German regulars, light infantry and chasseurs. 
In order to be himself more advantageously situated to render further 
support with his army, should it be needed, Burgoyne moved his main 
forces to a point on the Hudson river east of Saratoga, and went into 
camp on the east side of the river. 

The country in the vicinity of Bennington was thoroughly aroused 
over the prospects. At a special town meeting in that town a resolu- 
tion had been adopted to " raise ninety dollars as an encouragement to 
those who may enlist in the service of guarding the frontier towns in 
the Grants" — the northern portions of the Hampshire grants being 
then greatly exposed. The feeling of insecurity was augmented by the 
fact that the gallant Colonel Ethan Allen had been taken a prisoner by 
the British and Colonel Seth Warner had been defeated at Hubbardton. 
Great dependence had been placed on these two brave and daring 
patriot leaders, and the capture of Ethan Allen in particular was 
deemed a severe blow. 

Notwithstanding the gloomy and discouraging outlook the inhab- 
itants of a large section of country about Bennington and in Ren.sselaer 
county made the best preparations possible to meet the enemy and try 
the issue as desperately as patriots alone can. All arms found in the 



54 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

possession of Tories were seized without compunction or apology and 
their property was confiscated to the purposes of the patriots. The 
preparatory operations were carried on under the direction of the Ver- 
mont Council of Safety. Massachusetts had presented a stand of 150 
rifles to the sturdy Vermonters and as many more had been purchased 
in Marlborough. Patriots sold the property to procure arms for de- 
fence, and lead and flints were purchased. 

General John Stark, who had been the comrade of Israel Putnam at 
Bunker Hill, a brigadier with Washington at Trenton and Princeton, 
had retired to private life because, while other officers, his juniors and 
inferiors, had been promoted, his services had not been oi^cially recog- 
nized. The name of Stark was to the Green Mountain Boys what the 
name of Schuyler was to Albany. He was their guiding star, whom 
they would have followed to the end of the world without questioning" 
his wisdom or sagacity. When the New Hampshire Legislature oft'ered 
him the command of the forces it had decided to raise, he cast his old 
grievances behind him and announced his willingness to take to the 
field, stipulating, however, that he was not to be bound to join the 
main army, but to lead the forces which volunteered to protect the 
borders of the country. The news of his acceptance of the commission 
was hailed with great joy everywhere, and volunteers rallied to his side, 
pledged to do or die. Almost the first thing that happened was the 
refusal of the doughty Yankee General to submit to orders from Gen- 
eral Schuyler through General Lincoln, who ordered him and his recruits 
to Albany. Congress censured the New Hampshire Assembly for al- 
lowing Stark to take command under the agreement entered into, but 
the matter was finally settled allowing him to remain with his recruits 
to defend "the people of the Grants." General Stark himself first ex- 
pressed the conviction that Bennington was the objective point of Bur- 
gojme's side-expedition. 

On the ninth of August General Stark and his brigade, about 750 
strong, reached Bennington and encamped about two miles west of 
the historic meeting house near the Dimmick place, then the residence 
of Colonel Herrick. The first five days were spent by him in gaining 
information as to the location and plans of the enem3^ The Council 
of Safety and Colonel Warner gave him valuable advice, upon which 
he acted in planning future operations. The Council issued orders, the 
first in the history of the war, for seizing and selling the property of 
Tories and sent numerous messengers' in all directions for men and 



THE SKIRMISH AT VAN SCHAICK'S MILLS. 65 

material. One of these orders, issued August 15, 1777, the day be- 
fore the battle, read as follows: 

Sir: You are hereby desired to forward to this place, by express, all the lead you 
can possibly collect in your vicinity, as it is expected every minute an action will 
commence between our troops and the enemy within four or five miles of this place, 
and the lead will be positively wanted. 

At five o'clock on the morning- of August 12 Baum began his march 
from Saratoga to Bennington. Before he had travelled more than a 
mile he was overtaken by a messenger from Burgoyne who carried 
orders from the latter to post his corps at Battenkill and wait further 
instructions. The next morning, in pursuance of further orders, he 
marched nearly sixteen miles to Cambridge, arriving there at four 
o'clock in the afternoon. On his way, and after he reached the place 
selected for his encampment, he was joined by a considerable number 
of Tories residing in Washington and Rensselaer counties, many of 
whom were under the lead of Colonel Francis Pfister, a half-pay British 
officer of wealth and widespread influence, whp occupied an imposing 
residence built by him on the west bank of the Hoosick near what is 
now known as Hoosick Corners, or Hoosick. While en route Baum dis- 
patched a party of provincials and savages, who took five prisoners 
from an American army guard, and some cattle, horses and wagons at 
Cambridge. General Stark was apprised of the advance as far as 
Cambridge of a band of hostile Indians, but did not know of the ap 
proach of Baum and his little army. He thereupon sent out two hun- 
dred men, under Lieutenant Colonel Gregg, to stop them. Gregg's 
company reached Van Schaick's Mills on the morning of the four- 
teenth and took possession a short time before Baum's forces ar- 
rived. What occurred there is best told in Baum's own words, his 
official report to Burgoyne; 

, San'coik, Aug. 14, 1777, 9 o'clock. 

Sir: I have the honor to inform your Excellency that I arrived here at eight in 
the mornmg, having had intelligence of a party of the enemy being in possession of 
a mill, which they abandoned at our approach, but in their usual way fired from the 
the bushes, and took the road to Bennington. A savage was slightl)- wounded. 
They broke down the bridge, which has retarded our march about an hour. They 
left in the mill about seventy-eight barrels of very fine Hour, one thousand bushels of 
wheat, twenty barrels of salt, and about one thousand pounds' worth of pearl and 
pot ashes. I have ordered thirty provincials and an officer to guard the provisions 
and the pass of the bridge. By five prisoners here they agree that fifteen hundred 
to eighteen hundred men are in Bennington, but are suppo.sed to leave it on our ap- 



56 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

proach. I will proceed so far to-day as to fall on the enemy to-morrow early, and 
make such disposition as I think necessary from the intelligence I may receive. 
People are flocking in hourly and want to be armed The savages cannot be con- 
trolled; they r'lin and take everything they please. I am, etc., 

F. Baum. . 
Beg j^our Excellency to pardon the hurry of this letter; it is written on the head of 
a barrel. 

After the eno-agement at Van Schaick's mills Baum proceeded 
as far as Sancoik withotit serious molestation. On the way his 
company was fired on by the Americans from ambush and sev- 
eral of the advance guard of Indians fell. That night he reached 
"the farm of Walmscott/ about four miles from Sancoik, and three 
from Bennington," where he encamped. The farm was divided by 
the Walloomsac river. 

Meantime General Stark, on the night of the 13th, learned more 
fully of the approach of the Indians, and also ascertained for the 
first that they preceded a larger body of regulars and provincials. 
The next morning he hastily rallied his brigade and the militia at 
Bennington; dispatched a courier to Manchester for the company 
of Colonel Warner, gave orders that all the militia and others bearing 
arms should follow him as rapidly as possible, and without further 
delay he and his brigade left Bennington to meet the enemy. His 
force consisted of three regiments of New Hampshire militia respect- 
ively commanded by Colonels Htibbard, Stickney and Nichols; a sinall 
body of militia from the east side of the mountains, under Colonel 
William Williams of Wilmington; a corps of rangers then forming 
under the authority of the Vermont Council of Safety, commanded by 
Colonel Herrick; a body of militia from Bennington and vicinity, under 
Colonel Nathan Brush, of which there were two companies from Ben- 
nington — one commanded by Captain Samuel Robinson and the other 
by Captain Elijah Dewey; and militia from Berkshire county under 
Colonel Simmons. It has been estimated that the entire force of 
General Stark numbered about 1,800 men. He had proceeded between 
four or five miles when he met Colonel Gregg and his forces, who were 
retreating before Baum. Without further delay Stark drew tip the 
entire force and prepared for battle. It was now the afternoon of the 
fourteenth. Stark was not satisfied with the field chosen for the battle, 
but while he was preparing to change the location of his brigade the 

1 Walluinscoik or Wallocmisack. 



STARK'S PRELIMINARY MOVEMENTS. 57 

enemy appeared on a small hill in front of him. Stark sent out small 
skirmishing- parties, who killed and wounded about thirty men, with no 
loss on the American side. As soon as this little party returned vStark 
moved his entire brigade about two miles back toward Bennington and 
there took his final stand. He had determined to fight the next day, 
but late in the night a heavy rain set in and he decided to delay general 
hostilities until the condition of the ground was more favorable for 
action. It rained nearly all day the 15th, but several small skirmish- 
ing parties were sent out with indifferent success. 

General Stark's plan of battle was as follows: Colonel Nichols, with 
200 men, was to make a circuit northward through the woods and was 
to reach the rear of Baum's left without discovery until the last possible 
moment. Colonel Herrick, with 300 men, was to perform exactly the 
same service to the southward. The attack was to be commenced by 
these two forces of 500 men, leaving 1,300 for the main work in front. 
In order to divert the attention of the enemy from that proceeding 
Colonels Hubbard and Stickney were ordered to get before the breast- 
works which protected the tory volunteers and 100 men were to march 
toward Baum's front. At the proper time General Stark and the re- 
mainder of his army, about half the entire force, was to charge Baum's 
intrenchments in front. How faithfully the plan was carried out is 
told in General Stark's account of the battle. 

During Stark's preliminary movements on the 15th, Baum spent the 
time in strengthening his position. On a small hill to the left of the 
farm of Walmscott he posted his dragoons and threw up small breast- 
works. Bodies of Canadians were sent to occupy a few detached 
houses near by, and these were supported by detachments of grena- 
diers and chasseurs, behind intrenchments of their own construction. 
His main army he kept on the north side of the river, "holding the 
woods upon his flanks, in his front and rear by the Indians." Both 
armies held the positions described when the night of the loth 
caused the suspension of further operations. Baum had not counted 
on such strong opposition as confronted him, and he had been com- 
pelled to make his position as strong as possible. Stark, likewise sur- 
prised by the force of the enemy, had strengthened his position in the 
best manner possible. 

As General Stark gave his orders, which have been outlined, and the 
several companies were about to take the positions assigned them, he 
rose in his saddle and, pointing toward the hill occupied by the enemy, 
8 



58 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

the bold warrior exclaimed: "There are the red-coats, and they are 
ours, or this night Molly Stark sleeps a widow." This laconic address 
has become one of the best known in history. 

The battle which followed on the 16th has been variously described, 
but the accounts given by General Stark himself and Lieutenant Glick, 
one of Baum's officers, giving as they do the two sides of the story from 
totally different standpoints, may be considered the most authentic ac- 
counts extant. Gen. Stark's graphic story is contained in a letter 
which he transmitted to the New Hampshire Committee of Safety two 
days after the battle, August 18. This letter was as follows: 

Bennington, August 18, 1777. 
Gentlemen : I congratulate you on the late success of your troops under my com- 
mand, by express. I purposed to give you a brief account of my proceedings since I 
wrote to you last. I left Manchester on Sunday the 8th inst. , and arrived here the 
9th. The 13th I was informed that a party of Indians was at Cambridge, which is 
twelve miles distant from this place, on their march thither. I detached Col. Gregg, 
with two hundred men under his command, to stop their march. In the evening I 
had information by express that there was a large bod}^ of the enemy on their waj^ 
with their field -pieces in order to march through the country commanded by Gover- 
nor Skene. The 14th I marched with my brigade and a few of this State s militia to 
oppose them, and to cover Gregg's retreat, who found himself unable to withstand 
their superior number. About four miles from this town I accordingly met him on 
his return, and the enemy in close pursuit of him, within half a mile of his rear. 
But when they discovered me, they presently halted on a very advantageous piece 
of ground. I drew up my little army on an eminence in open view of their encamp- 
ments, but could not bring them to an engagement. I marched back about a mile 
and there encamped. I sent out a few men to skirmish with them, killed thirty of 
them, with two Indian chiefs. The 15th it rained all day. I sent out parties to har- 
ass them. The 16th I was joined by this State's militia and those of Berkshire 
county. I divided my army into three divisions, and sent Col. Nichols with two 
hundred and fifty men on the rear of their left wing. Col. Herrick in the rear of their 
right with three hundred men. . . In the mean time I sent three hundred men 
to oppose the enemy's front to draw their attention that way. Soon after I de- 
tached the Cols. Hubbert and Stickney on their right wing, with two hundred men 
to attack that part, all which plans had their desired ei¥ect. Col. Nichols sent me 
word that he stood in need of remforcements, which I readily granted, consisting of 
one hundred men, at which time he commenced the attack, precisely at three o'clock 
in the afternoon, which was followed by all the rest. I pushed forward the re- 
mainder with all speed. Our people behaved with the greatest spirit and bravery 
imaginable. Had they been Alexanders or Charles of Sweden they could not have 
behaved better. The action lasted two hours, at the expiration of which time we 
forced their breastworks at the muzzles of their guns, took two jiieces of brass can- 
non, with a number of prisoners, but before I could get them into proper form again 
I received intelligence that there was a large reinforcement within two miles of us. 



THE BATTLE AT HOOSICK. 59 

on their march, which occasioned us to renew our attack. But, lucky for us, Col. 
Warner's regiment came up, which put a stop to their career. We soon rallied, and 
in a few minutes the action begun very warm and desperate, which lasted till night. 
We used their own cannon against them, which proved of great service to us. At 
sunset we obliged them to retreat a second time. We pursued them till dark, when 
I was obliged to halt for fear of killing my own men. We recovered two pieces 
more of their cannon, together with all their baggage, a number of horses, carriages, 
etc., killed upwards of two hundred of the enemy in the field of battle. The num- 
ber of the wounded is not yet known, as they are scattered about in many places. I 
have one lieutenant-colonel, since dead, one major, seven captains, fourteen lieuten- 
ants, four ensigns, two cornets, one judge-advocate, one baron, two Canadian offi- 
cers, six sergeants, one aide de-camp, and seven hundred prisoners. I almost forgot 
one Hessian chaplam. I enclose you a copy of Gen. Burgoyne's instructions to Col. 
Baum, who commanded the detachment that engaged us. Our wounded are forty- 
two. Ten privates and four officers belonging to my brigade are dead. The dead 
and wounded in the other corps I do not know, as they have not brought in their 
returns as yet. I am, gentlemen, with the greatest regard and respect, your most 
obedient, humble servant. John Stark. 

The account written by Lieutenant Glick, Colonel Baum having- been 
mortally wounded by a rifle ball which penetrated his body, is deemed 
an impartial story of the battle. As will be observed he was very 
complimentary to the skill and sagacity of General Stark and the 
bravery of his troops. In his letter Lieutenant Glick wrote : 

It has been stated that during the last day's march our little corps was joined Vjy 
many of the country people, most of whom demanded and obtained arms, as persons 
friendly to the royal cause. How Col. Baum became so completely duped as to place 
reliance on these men, I know not ; but having listened with complacency to their 
previous assurances that in Bennington a large majority of the populace were our 
friends, he was somehow or other persuaded to believe that the armed bands of 
whose approach he was warned were loyalists on their way to make a tender of their 
services to the leader of the king's troops. . . We might have stood about half 
an hour under arms, watching the proceedings of a column of four or five hundred 
men, who, after dislodging the pickets, had halted just at the edge of the open coun- 
try, when a sudden tramping of feet in the forest on our right, followed by the re- 
port of several muskets, attracted our attention. . . A loud shout, followed by a 
rapid though straggling fire of musketrj', warned us to prepare for a meeting the 
reverse of friendly. Instantly the Indians came pouring in, carrying dismay and 
confusion in their countenances and gestures. We were surrounded on all sides; 
columns were advancing everywhere against us, and those whom we had hitherto 
treated as friends had only waited till the arrival of their support miglit justify them 
in advancing. The column in our front no sooner heard the shout than they replied 
cordially and loudly to it; then, firing a volley with deliberate and murderous 
aim, rushed furiously towards us. Now, then, at length our leader's dreams of 
security were dispelled. He found himself attacked in front and flank by thrice his 



60 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

numbers, who pressed forward with the confidence which our late proceedings were 
calculated to produce, whilst the very persons in whom we had trusted, and to whom 
we had given arms, lost no time in turning them against him. These fellows no 
sooner heard their comrades' cry than they deliberately discharged their muskets 
amongst Riedesel's dragoons, and dispersing before any steps could be taken to seize 
them, escaped, with the exception of one or two, to their friends. 

If Col. Baum bad permitted himself to be duped into a great error, it is no more 
than justice to confess that he exerted himself manfully to remedy the evil and avert 
its consequences. Our little band, which had hitherto remained in column, was in- 
stantly ordered to extend, and the troops lining the breastworks replied to the fire of 
the Americans with extreme celerity and considerable effect. So close and destruc- 
tive, indeed, was our first volley that the assailants recoiled before it, and would 
have retreated, in all probability within the woods; but ere we could take advantage 
of the confusion produced, fresh attacks developed themselves, and we were warmly 
engaged in every side, and from all quarters. It became evident that each of our 
detached posts was about to be assailed in the same instant. Not one of our dis- 
positions had been concealed from the enemy, who, on the contrary, seemed to be 
aware of the exact number of men stationed at each point, and they were one and 
all threatened by a force perfectly adequate to bear down opposition, and yet by no 
means disproportionately large, or such as to render the main body inefficient. All, 
moreover, was done with the sagacity and coolness of veterans who perfectly under- 
stood the nature of the resistance to be expected and the difficulties to be overcome, 
and who, having well considered and matured their plans, were resolved to carry 
them into execution at all hazards, and at every expense of life. 

It was at this moment, when the heads of columns began to show them.selves in 
the rear of our right and left, that the Indians, who had hitherto acted with spirit 
and something like order, lost all confidence and fled. . . This vacancy, which 
the retreat of the savages had occasioned, was promptly filled up by one of our two 
field-pieces, whilst the other poured destruction among the enemy in front as often 
as they showed themselves in the open country or threatened to advance. 

In this state things continued upwards of three-quarters of an hour Though re- 
peatedly assailed in front, flanks, and rear, we maintained ourselves with so much 
obstinacy as to inspire a hope that the enemy might even yet be kept at bay till the 
arrival of Breymann's corps, now momentarily expected, when an accident occurred, 
which at once put an end to this expectation, and exposed us, almost defenseless, to 
our fate. The solitary tumbril which contained the whole of our spare ammunition 
became ignited, and blew up with a violence which shook the very ground under our 
feet and caused a momentary cessation in firing, both on our side and that of the 
enemy. But the cessation was only for a moment. The American officers, guessing 
the extent of our calamity, cheered their men on to fresh exertions. They rushed 
up the ascent with redoubled ardor, in spite of the heavy volley which we poured in 
to check them ; and, finding our guns silent, they sprung over the parapet and dashed 
within our works. For a few seconds the scene which ensued defies all power of 
language to describe. The bayonet, the butt of the rifle, the sabre, the pike were in 
full play, and men fell, as they rarely fall in modern war, under the direct blows of 
their enemies. But such a struggle could not, in the nature of things, be of long 



THE SECOND BATTLE. 61 

continuance. Outnumbered, broken, and somewhat disheartened by late events, our 
people wavered and fell back, or fought singly and unconnectedly, till they were 
either cut down at their posts, obstinately defending themselves, or compelled to 
surrender. Of Riedesel's dismounted dragoons few survived to tell how nobly they 
had behaved. Col. Baum, shot through the body by a rifle ball, fell mortally 
wounded ; and, all order and discipline being lost, flight or submission was alone 
thought of. For my own part, whether the feeling arose from desperation or acci- 
dent I cannot tell, but I resolved not to be taken. As yet I had escaped almost un- 
hurt, a slight flesh wound m the left arm having alone fallen to my share, and, 
gathering around me about thirty of my comrades, we made a rush where the 
enemy's ranks appeared weakest, , and burst through. This done, each man made 
haste to shift for himself, without pausing to consider the fall of his neighbor, and, 
losing one-third of our number from the enemy's fire, the remainder took refuge, in 
groups of two or three, within the forest. 

Neither of these gives a complete description of all the fighting that 
occurred, for a second battle, though not a severe one, occurred. Baum 
and the remnant of his arm}^ were still exchanging shots with the Ameri- 
cans when Col. Breyman, who had been dispatched by Burgoyne, through 
Sir Francis Clark, to relieve Baum, arrived at Sancoik. He was delayed 
by bad roads and did not reach his objective point until about 4.30 
p. m. Very soon after he was fired on by a small body of Americans. 
General Stark's forces had fought desperately and were in no conditioit 
to meet the reserve forces of Breyman. The latter immediately opened 
a steady fire. Stark was at the point of retreating, but he heeded the 
appeals of Colonel Warner and resisted Breyman. But they could not 
hold out for long against the fresh foe and soon began slowly to retreat, 
keeping up a steady fire meantime. Colonel Warner's reinforcements 
soon appeared, in command of Lieutenant-Colonel Saft'ord, and the 
day was saved to the Americans. But not without hard work. Brey- 
man's cannon was taken and retaken and finally remained in possession 
of the Americans. Little by little Stark's forces made gains and Brey- 
man retreated, gradually at first and then with increasing rapidity. 
The British forces were completely routed. .General vStark wrote: 
" Our martial courage proved too hard for them." And again: " We 
pursued them until dark, but, had daylight lasted one hour longer, we 
should have taken the whole body of them." The battle ended prac- 
tically where it began, at the Sancoik mill. Bre3-man"s forces reached 
Cambridge that night, and the next da)', Sunday, August 17, arrived 
at Burgoyne's camp at Saratoga. 

Among the trophies of the two battles were four brass field cannon, 
twelve brass drums, 250 sabres, four ammtmition wagons, several hun- 



62 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

dred stand of arms and 658 prisoners. Two hundred and seven British 
were left dead on the field. Of the prisoners taken by the Americans, 
thirty were officers, thirty-six were British soldiers, 3!)8 were Hessians, 
thirty-eight were Canadians and 155 were Tories, many of whom were 
personally known to their captors. The loss of the Americans in both 
engagements was about thirty killed and forty wounded. Colonel Baum 
and Colonel Pfister were both so badly wounded that they died within 
a couple of days. 

According- to a map made by Lieutenant Durnford, Colonel Baum's 
engineer, and published in Burgoyne's State of the Expedition, the 
land in front of Baum, east of the river, also southward over the Cam- 
bridge (Sancoik) road and in other places, was extensively cleared. 
The breastworks on the hill had woods immediately in front and down 
the river and on the right down the road, " with the exception of a 
cleared lot and an unbroken wilderness on Baum's left to the north- 
ward, and on his rear to the Avestward." The hill occupied by the 
main body of troops was abrupt and of some height, between 300 and 
400 feet. At its base lay the Walloomsack river, which ran nearly 
south. Within the main fortifications on the top of this hill were most 
of Riedesel's dragoons and a body of Canadians, while in front of them, 
further down the hill, were the balance of this corps. Chasseurs held 
the foot of the hill in front. To the right of these, near the river, were 
Canadians and grenadiers, while on the opposite side of the river, about 
a thousand feet ahead, Peters's corps of provincials had been posted 
behind fortifications in command of Col. Pfister, a retired British lieu 
tenant of the French war. Canadians were also posted across the 
bridge and grenadiers held a point a quarter of a mile west of the 
bridge. 

The whole country was electrified by the news of the victory at 
Walloomscoik, as it was then commonly called, for the battle was fought 
entirely in the town of Hoosick and not at Bennington at all. Consid- 
ering the numerical strength of the opposing forces, the raw and un- 
trained troops of the Americans, who were poorly armed, and the 
experience and high training of most of the enemy, whose equipment 
was very much superior to that of the Colonial forces, the victory 
was indeed a great and cheering one. The undisciplined farmers 
with their hunting guns and without bayonets stormed, without 
the slightest hesitancy, entrenchments manned with regular troops 
and defended by heavy cannon. Bancroft, in his review of the 



GENERAL STARK HONORED BY CONGRESS. 63 

battle, refers to it as "one of the most brilliant and eventful of 
the war." The enemy felt the loss of men and material severely. On 
the other hand confidence in the American army had been inspired and 
patriots began flocking from all quarters to the recruiting stations. The 
spirits of the British were correspondingly depressed. Historians now 
agree that the fate of Burgoyne was sealed at Walloomsack. The 
British general had become disheartened and undoubtedly realized that 
his plan of campaign could not possibly succeed with such a widespread 
feeling of patriotism. 

General Stark had been censured by Congress for his refusal to move 
his forces to the west side of the Hudson, as he had been ordered to do 
by General Schuyler; but after the battle at Walloomsack the national 
legislature, determined to make amends for what they now considered 
an injudicious act, on October 4, 1777, unanimously passed the follow- 
ing resolution: 

Resolved, That the thanks of Congress be presented to General Stark of the New 
Hampshire Militia, and the officers and troops under his command, for their brave 
and successful attack upon and signal victory over the enemy in their lines at Ben- 
nington; and that Brigadier Stark be appointed Brigadier-General in the army of 
the United States. 



Two weeks after the adoption of this resolution, October 17. 1777, 
Burgoyne and his army surrendered at Saratoga, an event which was 
made practically certain by the great victory at Wallootusack, or 
Hoosick, and the inspiring effect it had upon the patriots in all sections 
of the coiuitry. 

The two desperate engagements in the town of Hoosick, recorded in 
history as the battle of Bennington, terminated the active operations 
of the War of the Revolution within the limits of what is now known 
as Rensselaer coitnty. As soon as the inhabitants of the northeastern 
part of the county had recovered from the effects of the short, sharp 
and decisive campaign of Colonel Baum, preparations were renewed on 
all sides in anticipation of the threatened invasion of the main army of 
General Burgoyne. The British general, however, was unable to con- 
tinue his march to the southward. He had been compelled to halt at 
Saratoga until he could obtain provisions and stores, and he stood in 
great need of additional supplies of horses, vehicles and cattle for beef. 
The expedition of Baum, which he had firmly believed would result in 
bringing him several hundred horses and large quantities of provisions, 
had failed miserably and he had lost, in killed, wounded and prisoners 



64 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

of war, over one-ninth of his army. Many of his Indian allies had also 
deserted him. He had been obliged to reduce the rations of his sol- 
diers and in an 3^ other circumstances had combined to render his condi- 
tion a critical and disheartening one. To advance would have been 
extremely hazardous under the existing conditions, 5'et he hardly dared 
to risk the loss of another thousand men by sending out another forag- 
ing expedition. The patriot troops under General Gates, who had suc- 
ceeded General vSchuyler immediately after the battle of Hoosick, were 
gradually advancing toward his position and spreading out preparatory 
to surrounding his army. Day by day his position grew critical. He 
could not turn back, for his army could hardly have found means of 
subsistence on the march to Canada. 

A few days after the battle of Hoosick General Burgoyne received 
intelligence of a still greater reverse. In the early days of his invasion 
a large force of Canadians, Tories and Indians under General St. Leger 
had been sent by way of Oswego against Fort Schuyler, at the head of 
navigation on the Mohawk river, which was occupied b}' a small garri- 
son under Colonel Gansevoort. The fort was invested by St. Leger August 
3, 1777, but the gallant General Nicholas Herkimer, at the head of 
militia rallied from the surrounding country, marched to the relief of the 
garrison. While approaching the fort the patriots fell into an Indian am- 
buscade and a desperate hand to hand fight ensued in the woods. Herki- 
mer was defeated, losing 160 men in killed, wovmded and prisoners. 
The Indian loss was but slightly smaller. Hardl)^ had the tumult of the 
conflict died away when the garrison made a sally from the fort and 
carried every thing before them, returning with man}- prisoners. The 
fearless General Benedict Arnold was on his way from Albany with a 
detachment for the relief of the fort, and as soon as it was learned that 
he was near, the treacherous Indians plundered the British camp and 
fled precipitately. In dismay St. Leger abandoned the siege and re- 
treated and Fort Schuyler was safe in the hands of the patriots. 

Burgoyne naturally was dismayed. As the Americans advanced 
from the south he crossed the Hudson, September 14, and encamped 
at Saratoga. On the 19th he attacked the patriot army, but the result 
was a victory for neither side. The patriots were besieging him. In 
desperation, October 7 he hazarded another battle, in which he lost 
about 700 men, including several officers on which he placed the 
greatest reliance. Arnold's wild charge, at the head of the command 
he had resigned, and made without authority, brought a complete 



THE END OF THE WAR. 65 

victory for the American forces. Burgoyne now found himself hemmed 
in on all sides, with but three days' short rations for the soldiers. He 
had been entrapped, and the battle of Hoosick was the first great step 
toward his defeat. On October 17 he agreed to terms of capitulation, 
and his entire army, numbering 5,791 men, became captives of the ex- 
ulting American forces. Among the further fruits of the victory 
were forty-two pieces of splendid brass artillery, nearly 5,000 muskets 
and an immense quantity of ammunition and stores. It was one of the 
most decisive battles in the history of any war. 

Upon learning of the result of the battles of Saratoga the colonists 
of Rensselaerwyck were overjoyed. Knowing that there was nothing 
more to fear from the British, at least for some time to come, prepara- 
tions to abandon their homes and farms ceased as if by magic. The 
timid were emboldened, those who had been secretly dissatisfied were 
overawed, and great numbers of the colonists, many of whom, it must 
be related with sorrow, had belonged to that class known as Tories, 
and others who had been lukewarm in their support of the cause for 
which the patriots were fighting, now openly committed their fortunes 
to the cause of freedom. The proprietor of the manor of Rensselaer- 
wyck, who had been considered by some as inclined to be t3'rannical and 
selfish, showed his devotion and true friendship by extending every 
possible assistance to the distressed families who had been fleeing from 
the path of the invaders. 



CHAPTER VI. 



Division of New York into Counties and Organization of Rensselaer County— \Vori< 
of Developing the Resources of the County Renewed — Act Erecting Rensselaer 
County— The First Judges and other Civil Officers— Description of the County— Its 
Geography and Geological Formation. 

Rensselaer county is in the eastern tier of the counties of New York 
State. It is bounded on the north by Washington county, on the east 
by Vermont and Massachusetts, on the south by Columbia county and 
on the west by Albany and Saratoga counties, being separated from 
the land of the two latter counties by the Hudson river. It is situated 
between latitude 4"^ degrees 25 minutes and 42 degrees 55 minutes 
9 



66 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

north, and longitude 73 degrees 15 minutes and 73 degrees 45 minutes 
west from Greenwich, or 3 degrees 15 minutes and 3 degrees 45 
minutes east from Washington, approximately. Its length from north 
to south is about thirty-two miles and its width from east to west is 
about twenty-two miles. Its area is 690 square miles, and its popula- 
tion, according to the census of 1890, was 124,511. Its estimated 
population in 1896 was 138,000. Th.e county formerly constituted the 
eastern half of the manor of Rensselaerwyck, a patent to which was 
granted the heirs of the first Patroon, Killiaen Van Rensselaer, by 
Governor Andros in 1678. The warrant given by the Duke of York to 
Governor Andros authorizing the latter to make the grant is as follows: 1 

Whereas I have perused y« peticon of y"^ heires of Killian Van Renselaer setting 
forth their right to certaine lands called Renselaers-Wicke (heretofore called William- 
stadt and now Albany) and have heard the opinions of yourselfe and of my Councell 
at Law thereupon: these are to will and require you to cause Letters Patents under 
the Seale of your governm* to be granted to y'^ said Pet" to graunt and confirme 
unto y™ y« Renselaers-Wicke Colony w^^ such privileges and imunities as formerly 
they had (excepting y'' fort called Oranges Fort and its outworkes, if any be, and y« 
lands they stand upon) and whereas dureing y" time they have beene out of posses- 
sion, viz* since y<= yeare 1652. divers persons have built severall houses upon some 
part of the p'misses, you are to take care y' such p'sons and all deriveing und'' y™ 
shall remaine in quiet possession of y" same yeilding and paying dureing the terme 
31 yeares to Commence from y<= date of y^ Lres Patents abovemenconed, unto y" 
said peticoners or their assignes such yearely rent as you w* the advice of yo'' Councell 
shall thinke reasonable, not exceeding y^ value of two Beaver skins for y*" great houses 
and of one Beaver skin for y"^ middle sort of houses, and of halfe a Beaver skin for 
the lesser sort of houses, and from and after y'^ expiracon of y^ said 81 yeares 
the rent for y" future to be agreed on betweene y*-' said partyes themselves, or as you 
or your success™ for y time being, w*'' y*^ advice of your Councell shall judge reason- 
able. All w"^'' y*^ s** Pet™ do assent unto. And further you are to take care y' y*^ 
Pet™ and all y' claime und"" y™ shall from time to time well and truly pay and 
p''form all publique dutyes and impositions as formerly have beene by y™ or their 
p'decess™ and all such as shalbe imposed by my selfe or by you or other my L' 
Govern'" for y<= time being upon y« other persons y' hold and enjoy any part of y 
lands or Colonyes w'''in the territories of New Yorke or Albany or their Depend- 
encyes in America. For all w''' y^ shalbe your Warr'. Given tender my hand & Seale 
at S*. James's y^ 1*^ day of June 1678. 
To S'' Edm** Andros Kn' and Govern'' of ) 

New Yorke and its Dependencyes j- 

in America. ) 

Just sixty years after the Walloons landed at Fort Orange, Nov. 1, 
1683, during the reign of Charles II of England, the colony of New 

' Doc. Colonial History of the State of New York, Vol. 3, p. 2(j'J. 



DIVISION OF NEW YORK INTO COUNTIES. 67 

York was divided into counties for the first time. For a period of 108 
years thereafter all the territory lying- northerly and westerly of the 
division known at that time as Ulster county and adjacent thereto 
formed Albany county. It was a vast expanse of territory, and for a 
long time its northern and western boundaries were vague and indefi- 
nite. The county was again divided by an act of the provincial legis- 
lature March 24, 1772, and from it two new counties in addition to 
Albany were erected. They were the counties of Tryon and Charlotte. 

Tryon county took its name from William Tryon, the last of the 
colonial governors of New York. Within its borders lay all that sec- 
tion of the colony west of a line running from the Mohaw^k river north 
to the Canada line, at a point near the old village of St. Regis and 
passing south to the Mohawk between Schenectady and Albany. From 
north to south its eastern border covered a distance of nearly 200 
miles, while its western limit was Lake Erie. Its seat, or shire town, 
was Johnstown, now the seat of Fulton county and for many years the 
residence of Sir William Johnson. Tryon and Charlotte counties em- 
braced practically the entire northern half of what is now New York 
State. 

Charlotte county, named after Princess Charlotte, daughter of George 
III, was nearly as great in extent as its neighbor on the west. Its 
western boundary was identical with the eastern boundary of Tryon 
county. Its southern boundary was the territory now embraced in 
Saratoga country on the west side of the Hudson, and the Battenkill, 
in the present Rensselaer county. Most of the present State of Ver- 
mont which formed a part of the New Hampshire grants, was then 
claimed by New York, and the western part of this territory also 
formed a part of the county of Charlotte. Its count}' seat was at Fort 
Edward. The southern and eastern boundaries of the county of 
Albany, which was the original county, were unchanged at this time. 

The division of Albany county, briefly stated, w'as as follows: Tryon 
and Charlotte counties were taken ofi^ in 1772, Columbia in 1786, 
Rensselaer and Saratoga in 1791, a part of Schoharie in 1795, a part of 
Greene in 1800 and Schenectady in 1809. The manor of Rensselaer- 
wyck was erected into a district March 24, 1772. The whole of the 
present county, except the towns of Schaghticoke, Pittstown, Iloosick, 
the north part of Lansingburgh and a part of Troy, was comprised in 
the Rensselaerwyck patent. At the time of the division of Albany 
county referred to, the section was formally divided into foiir districts — 



68 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Rensselaerwyck, Hoosick, Pittstown and Schaghticoke. Pittstown had 
previously been organized as a township of Albany county July 23, 
1761. Sixteen years after the formation of these four districts the 
other three were organized as townships of Albany county, and three 
years later, Feb. 7, 1791, the county of Rensselaer was set apart from 
Albany county by act of the legislature of the State of New York and 
named after the old patroon, Killiaen Van Rensselaer. 

As soon as peace had supplanted the excitement caused by the local 
troubles incident to the campaign of General Burgoyne, the farmers of 
the manor of Rensselaerwyck renewed with greater vigor than ever 
the work of developing the resources of their possessions. The exist- 
ing official records of Albany county, in which Rensselaer was in- 
cluded, show many transactions in real estate during that period. The 
war continued for six years more in various parts of the united colonies, 
but its bloody hand was felt no more in the valley of the Upper Hud- 
son. The threatening clouds of war had passed southward from 
Northern New York when Burgoyne had handed over his sword to the 
victorious General Gates, to reappear no more. Long before peace 
was finally proclaimed prosperity began to be seen on all sides in the 
inhabited portions of the county. The superior advantages of the ter- 
ritory adjacent to the Hudson on both sides rapidly became known. 
Immigrants from Vermont and the valley of the Connecticut, hearing 
of the opportunities of trade which presented themselves to the 
settlers in the vicinity of Troy and Albany, and appreciating the ad- 
vantages of a location near such a market as Albany and within a few 
days' sail down the Hudson to New York, began flocking to Rensselaer 
county and purchasing land. New farms were laid out by the dozen, 
substantial new houses were erected and the trade which had been 
languishing under the weak colonial government gradually but surely 
revived. With the advent of farmers came merchants, and these were 
speedily followed by professional men, mechanics and manufacturers. 

The signing of the treaty of peace in 1783 was the signal for great 
rejoicing. It gave a great impetus to trade, and nowhere was its effect 
more felt than in this county. The reorganization of the government 
in all departments was followed by man 3^ changes in the county bound- 
ary lines in New York State. Albany county was divided and re- 
divided, as has been described in a previous chapter. So rapid had 
been the growth of that portion on the east side of the Hudson that it 
was deemed advisable to erect a new county, and on February 7, 1791, 



ACT ERECTING RENSSELAER COUNTY. 69 

the county of Rensselaer was set off, receiving its name from the 
Patroon, who established the first lasting colony therein — Killiaen Van 
Rensselaer. The act erecting Rensselaer county is contained in Chap- 
ter 4 of the laws of 1791 and is entitled: " An act for apportioning 
the representation in the Legislature according to the rule prescribed 
by the Constitution ; and for dividing the county of Albany. " Omitting 
the unessential parts of the law it reads: 

That the towns of Cambridge and Easton in the county of Albany, shall be and 
hereby are annexed to, and shall hereafter be considered as part of the county of 
of Washington. All that part of the residue of the said county of Albany, which 
is on the east side of a line drawn through the middle of the main stream of 
Hudsons river with such variations as to include the islands lying nearest to the 
east bank thereof shall be one separate and distinct county and be called and known 
by the name of Rensselaer. . . And the bounds of the several towns in the said 
respective counties adjacent to and limited by the Hudsons river and Mohawk river, 
are hereby extended to and limited by the bounds of the said respective counties 
herein described, provided nevertheless that the rights and privileges heretofore 
granted to the corporation of the city of Albany by charter shall not be in any wise 
affected or abridged. And the freeholders and inhabitants of the said several 
counties, shall have and enjoy within the same respectively, all and every the same 
rights, powers and privileges as the freeholders and inhabitants of any other county 
in this State and by law entitled to have and enjoy. 

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That there shall be held in 
and for each of the said counties of Rensselaer and Saratoga respectively, a court of 
common pleas and a court of general sessions of the peace, at such suitable and 
convenient place within each of the same counties respectively, as such judges of 
the court of common pleas and such justices of the peace as shall be appointe* for 
each of the same counties respectively, or a majority of them, shall respectively ap- 
point: And that there shall be two terms of the same courts in each of the same 
counties respectively, in every year, to commence and end on the following days, 
that is to say, the first term of the courts of common pleas and general sessions of 
the peace in and for the said county of Rensselaer, shall begin on the first Tuesday 
of May, and may continue to be held until the Saturday following inclusive ; and the 
second term of the same courts in the the same county of Rensselaer shall begin on 
the second Tuesday of November, and may continue to be held until the Saturday 
following inclusive. . . And the said courts of common pleas and general sessions 
of the peace, shall have the same jurisdiction, powers and authorities in the same 
counties respectively, as the courts of common pleas and general sessions in the 
the other counties of this State have in their respective counties. 

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That it shall and may be 
lawful to and for all courts and officers in the said counties of Rensselaer and Sara- 
toga respectively, in all cases civil and criminal, to confine their prisoners in the gaol 
of the county of Albany, until gaols shall be provided in the same counties respect- 
ively. Provided nevertheless that nothing in this act contained shall be construed 
to affect any suit or action already commenced or that shall be commenced before 



70 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

the third Tuesday of May next, so as to work a wrong or prejudice to any of the 
parties therein, or to affect any criminal or other proceedings, on the part of the 
people of this State, but all such civil and criminal proceedings shall and may be 
proceeded to tryal judgment and execution as if this act had never been passed. 

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that this State shall be, and 
is hereby divided into four great districts. The southern district to comprehend the 
city and county of New York, and the counties of Suffolk, Queens, Kings, Rich 
mond and Westchester; the middle district to comprehend the counties of Dutchess, 
Ulster and Orange; the western district to comprehend the city and county of Al- 
bany, and the counties of Saratoga, Montgomery and Ontario ; and the eastern dis- 
trict to comprehend the counties of Columbia, Rensselaer, Washington and Clinton. 
And that the number of senators to be chosen in the said districts shall be as follows: 
In the southern district eight ; in the middle district six ; in the western district five, 
and in the eastern district five. And that John Williams, Alexander Webster, Ed- 
ward Savage and Peter Van Ness shall be considered as senators from the said 
eastern district, and as they respectively go out of office, senators shall be chosen in 
the said eastern district in their places respectively, and at the next annual election, 
another senator shall be cho.sen in the said eastern district in the room of Samuel 
Townsend, deceased. And Stephen Van Rensselaer, Peter Schuyler, Volkert P. 
Douw, Leonard Gansevoort and Jellis Fonda, shall be considered as senators from 
the said western district, and as they respectively go out of office, senators shall be 
chosen in the said western district in their places respectively ; and that no person 
shall be chosen in the southern district in the room of the said Samuel Townsend 
deceased ; and the clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to give give notices of the 
elections accordingly. 

Provision was also made for the election of five members of the 
Assembly from the county of Rensselaer. 

The first judg-es of the new county were Anthony Ten Eyck, who 
had the title of First Judge; John Van Rensselaer, Israel Thompson, 
Robert Woodworth and Jonathan Brown, who were designated simply 
as Judges; John Knickerbocker, jr., John W. vSchermerhorn, Jonathan 
Niles, Benjamin Hicks, Nicholas Staats, Robert Montgomery, Moss 
Kent and John E. Van Allen, known as Assistant Justices. The First 
Judge was the presiding judge. The Assistant Justices were appointed 
by the Governor frotn among the Justices of the Peace. The first 
Justices of the Peace who held office in 1791 were: Anthony Ten Eyck, 
John Van Rensselaer, Israel Thompson, Robert Woodworth, Jonathan 
Brown, John Knickerbocker, jr., John W. Schermerhorn, Jonathan 
Niles, Benjamin Hicks, Nicholas Staats, Robert Montgomery, Moss 
Kent, John E. Van Allen, Levinus Lansing, Jonah Martin, Hosea 
Moffit, Daniel B. Bradt, Joseph Spencer, David Brown, Moses Vail, 
James McKown, Abner Newton, Stephen Gorham, Jacob Van Alstyne, 
Ephraim Morgan, Josiah Masters, Gerrit Winne, Jacob A. Lansing, 



FIRST COURTS AND COUNTY OFFICERS. 71 

Rowland Hall, Hezekiah Hull, William Douglass, Daniel Gra}-, Jonas 
Odell, Benjamin Randall, Benjamin Hanks, Harmon Van Veghten, 
Benjamin Milks, Ebenezer Darling, Jacob Vanderheyden, jr., Jacob C. 
Schermerhorn, Nathaniel Jacobs and Simeon Button. Moss Kent 
was the first surrogate, Silas Weeks was the first coroner, Nich- 
olas Schuyler was the first county clerk, Aaron Lane was the first 
county treasurer and Albert Pawling was the first sheriff, all in 
1791. The first general election of the county, in 1792, resulted in the 
choice of Jonathan Brown, John Knickerbocker, John W. Schermer- 
horn, Thomas Sickles and Moses Vail as representatives in the New 
York State Assembl}' and Robert Woodworth as the first member of 
the State Senate from the new county. The first member of the 
federal Congress was John E. Van Allen, who was elected in 1792 and 
served from 1793 to 1799, and the first presidential elector was Abraham 
Yates, jr., in 1792. 

Tuesday, April 15, 1791, the first officers of the county held their 
first meeting, pursuant to law, in the tavern of Ananias Piatt in Lans- 
ingburgh. The first Court of General Sessions of the Peace and the 
Court of Common Pleas was held the first Tuesday in May, 1791, at the 
same place in which the first county officers held their first meeting. 
It was presided over by the First Judge, Anthony Ten Eyck, associated 
with whom were all the "Judges" and Assistant Judges Hicks, Mont- 
gomery and Kent. At this term of court these persons were admitted 
to practice as attorneys and counselors at law: John Woodworth, Dirck 
Ten Broeck, Moss Kent, John V. Henry, Peter D. Van Dyck, Abram 
Hun, John Waters Yates, Nicholas Funda, Gerrit Wendall, John D. 
Dickinson, Guert Van Schoonhoven, Cornelius Vandenbergh, John 
Lovett, Peter E. Elmendorf, Sanders Lansing and Francis Silvester. 
The court adopted thirty three rules, provided for a county seal — a 
plow, with the words "Rensselaer County Seal " engraved around the 
edge — and after a session lasting three days adjourned to meet at the 
house of Stephen Ashley in Troy. Thereafter the county courts were 
held alternately, until the erection of the court house, at the two 
taverns mentioned. The first Court of Oyer and Terminer and General 
Jail Delivery in the county was held July 5, 1791, at Piatt's Inn in 
Troy. 

The county of Rensselaer is described as follows in the Revised 
Statutes of the State of New York, Section 2, Title I, Chapter II, 
Part I : 



72 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

The county of Rensselaer shall contain all that part of this State bounded easterly 
by the eastern bounds of this State; southerly by the county of Columbia; westerly 
by the middle of the main stream of Hvidson's river, with such variations as to in- 
clude the islands lying nearest to the east bank thereof; and northerly by a line be- 
ginning at the mouth of Lewis' creek or Kill, and running thence south eighty-four 
degrees east, to the middle of Hoosick river; then up along the same imtil it is inter- 
sected by a continuation of the before mentioned line, and then along such continua- 
tion to the east bounds of the State. 

The county is centrally distant from New York north 157 miles and 
from the capital at Albany east a trifle over eleven miles. The east- 
ern portion of the county is broken and hilly and in some places rather 
mountainous and interspersed with fertile valleys. The central and 
western portion is diversified with hills and a gently undulating surface. 
It has extensive valleys and alluvial fiats with a rich soil, and the up- 
lands generally are well adapted to the various purposes of agriculture. 
On the streams there are an abundance of excellent mill sites, and the 
numerous rivers, creeks and brooks irrigate everj^ part of the county. 
The county lies almost in the centre of the great valley extending 
from the mouth of the Hudson northward to the valley of the St. 
Lawrence, and at the eastern end of the valley of the Mohawk. It is 
midway between the Green mountains of Vermont and the Catskill 
mountains of New York. The central part of the county, though over 
1.50 miles distant from the sea, borders upon that part of the Hudson 
river at which the ebb and flow of the tide ceases. Properly speaking, 
however, it is not the tide but the set-back from the tide which causes 
the regular rise and fall of the water at this point. 

The hills in the count)' are a part of the great Appalachian system. 
None of them are very high, except in the eastern part of the county. 
Though they are a part of the Appalachian system and no part of the 
Laurentian system enters into their make-up, their close proximity to 
the Adirondacks, which form the most southerly part of the Laurentian 
system, makes their study highly interesting to geologists. Two ranges 
of hills which connect the Green inountains on the north with the Cats- 
kills on the south, traverse Rensselaer county almost directly north and 
south. They are the Taghkanic mountains on the east and the Peters- 
burgh mountains in the centre and west. Between them flows Kinder- 
hook creek to the south and the Hoosick or Hoosac, and Little Hoosick, 
toward the north, the Hoosick taking a westerly turn in the northern part 
of the county, continuing on its course in a general westerly direction 
until it reaches the Hudson. The Petersburgh mountains occupy the 



GEOLOGICAL FORMATION OF THE COUNTY. 73 

largerpart of the count}- between these rivers and the Hudson, and their 
highest peaks average 1,200 to 1,500 feet above the level of the sea. One 
or two peaks approximate nearly 2,000 feet in height. In some parts of 
the county the tops of the range form plateaus, the land of which in many 
places is unfit for cultivation. The principal peak in the northern part of 
the Petersburgh range is Bald mountain, located partly in Schaghticoke 
and partly in Lansingburgh. In the south the highest is Meshodac, 
located in the town of Nassau. The latter peak is the highest in the 
coimty and reaches an altitude greater than that of any other moun- 
tain between the Catskill and the Hancock mountains. It received its 
name from the river Indian name, Isodac, which means " a burned 
district." 

The Hoosick river, which is the principal stream in Rensselaer county, 
is one ot the principal tributaries of the Hudson river. The latter was 
known by the Mohawk Indians as the Skanektade, which means " the 
river beyond the open pines." Its Algonquin name was Cahotatia, 
meaning "the river that comes from the mountains lying beyond the 
Cahoos falls." As is told elsewhere, the Algonquin name was trans- 
lated by Sir Henry Hudson to mean "River of the Mountains." It 
was also sometimes called the Nassau by the early Dutch settlers, 
and the Mauritius by others, in honor of the reigning family of Holland 
and Prince Maurice, respectively. The Hoosick rises in Berkshire 
county, Mass., entering Rensselaer county in the northeast corner of 
the town of Petersburgh. The Little Hoosick has its source in the 
southeastern part of the county, principally in the town of Berlin, and 
flows almost directly north into the Hoosick. which it joins in the town 
of Petersburgh. Kinderhook creek rises in the town of Berlin and 
flows south through Stephentown into Columbia county. Several smaller 
streams flow westerly into the Hudson, including the Poestenkill, whose 
mouth is in the city of Troy; the Wynantskill, which enters the Hudson 
two or three miles to the south; Valatiekill, which flows south from 
Nassau, and scores of other small streams. 

To describe the geological formation of the count)' properly would 
require more space than can be devoted to it in this work. It has been 
difficult to correlate the various groups in the county, which belong- 
partly to the peculiar development in Western New England and partly 
to the more regular gradations of the New York system. 

Probably most of the rocky strata which forms the ground work of 
Rensselaer county belongs to the Silurian age, or age of inverte- 
10 



74 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

brates, the first age of the Pahcozoic era, coming immediately after the 
first or Archa;an era. The rocks of the Lower vSilurian age are mainly sand- 
stones, shales, conglomerates and limestones. In the early part of the 
age sandbeds, now sandstone, were spread out over wide areas in North 
America, including practically all the territory of what is now Rens- 
selaer county. The earliest Silurian sandstones and shales have the 
layers sometimes marked with ripples, or with mud- cracks, or with the 
tracks of the animals of the era; and they thus show that they were 
not made in deep water, but that they were either the seashores or the 
sand flats or mud deposits off-shore in the age. Part of the time they 
were above the w^ater's level, exposed to the sun and air, or no mud 
cracks or ripples or tracks of animals would now be visible. The lower 
of these rocks are what is known as Potsdam sandstone, next coming 
the calciferous sand-rock. The latter rock crops out in many ])laces 
throughout the county, particularly along the western borders, as in 
the vicinity of Lansingburgh. The only plant forms found among 
these rocks are sea-weeds of that period. As far as has, been discov- 
ered by geological research the only animals which have left their im- 
press in these rocks are marine animals, principally mollusks. 

Along the eastern boundaries of the county are found the talcose 
and chloritic rocks and the limestones, more or less modified in various 
places by metamorphic agencies. In some places the limestone is 
white, crystalline, granular, dolomitic stone ; in others it is yet practi- 
cally the primordial calciferous rocks and the solid blue limestones. 
The character of the slate varies. In some localities it is highly tal- 
cose or chloritic, with common red slate; in other the slate is argilla- 
ceous, the roof slate of commerce. In no part of the county is it firm 
enough or near enough to the surface in large quantities to make it 
valuable commercially. Through the valley of the Little Hoosick river 
are found rocks of the same character in abundance. The surface of 
the Taconic mountains abounds in boulders and milky quartz, with a 
profusion of chlorites. The chlorite is in small bodies of green scales, 
and the quartz is in loose bodies, caused by decomposition and disinte- 
tegration. In many places where the slate rock has been despoiled by 
the action of the elements, quantities of the quartz, which withstands 
the decomposing effect of the atmosphere better than does slate, are 
still found essentially uninjured. On the western descent of the Ta- 
conic range talcose slate predominates, though argillaceous and chlorite 
slate is also to be found. In the Petersburgh valley is found a mixture 



COUNTY GEOGRAPHY. 75 

of chlorite and quartz, and on its western side are distinct traces of 
chlorite slate. 

In some sections of the western half of the county quantities of slate 
and shale belonging to the Hudson river group of the Trenton period 
are found. The Post-Tertiary period is also distinctly characterized 
above the Old Silurian in parts of the county. The first part of this 
period, or the Ice Age, shows in all parts of the county by the sand, 
gravel, cobblestones and boulders which almost everywhere appear; 
while the Champlain and Terrace epochs are conspicuous on the banks 
of the Hudson river, where soft clay beds abound. 

Along the banks of the Hudson river, the western boundary of the 
county, is a stretch of flat, low land varying from a few rods to half a 
mile in width and bounded by a series of bluffs from 100 to 200 feet in 
height. From the summits of these bluffs the surface is a broken and 
hilly upland, composed of the drift deposits, mixed with disintegrated 
slates, clay and sand predominating in different places. Hoosick and 
Little Hoosick rivers and Kinderhook creek flow through the valley in 
the eastern part of the county. The summit level in this valley, be- 
tween the waters flowing north and those flowing south, at South Ber- 
lin, is GOO feet above tide. The streams flowing from the Petersburgh 
mountains westward to the Hudson have worn deep ravines through 
the clay bluffs, forming lateral valleys which extend eastward from the 
valley of the river. Numerous small lakes and ponds are interspersed 
in the wild and rocky region of the Petersburgh mountains, forming 
one of the most beautiful features of the landscape in this section of the 
county. The narrow flats along the streams and a large portion of the 
uplands are adapted to the cultivation of grain and produce excellent 
crops, but the soil generally is better adapted to grazing and dairying, 
especially in the eastern towns of the county, where these occupations 
form the leading pursuits, except in the villages. The manufacturing 
industries are large and constantly growing in Troy, Lansingburgh, 
Hoosick Falls, Valley Falls, Schaghticoke, Greenbush, Castleton and 
some other villages, the city of Troy being known as the greatest cen- 
tre for the manufacture of shirts, collars and cuffs in the world. The 
commerce and leading industries of Rensselaer county, however, are 
fully described in succeeding chapters. 



76 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



CHAPTER VII. 

The Erection of the First County Buildings — Rivalry Between Troy and Lansing- 
burgh as to Which Should Secure the Court House — Formation of New Towns — Rapid 
Development of the County and its Increasing Needs — Organization of the State 
Militia — Appointments for the Rensselaer County Brigade — Its Evolution in the 
Early Days of the Nnieteenth Century. 

The question of the erection of the first court house in Rensselaer 
county was settled in a manner which naturally resulted in locating' 
it in the village of Troy. By an act of January 11, 1793, the sum of 
six hundred pounds was appropriated by the State Legislature for the 
erection of a court house and jail, to which was to be added such amount 
as the inhabitants of the county might decide to give. Troy and 
Lansingburgh were the two principal towns in the county, and they 
were bitter rivals. To avoid the unnecessary increase in the jealousy 
which existed between them the authorities decided that the court 
house and other county buildings which it was decided to build should 
be located in the town subscribing the most money toward their con- 
struction. The people of Troy, with that enterprise which has char- 
acterized them ever since the close of the war of the Revolution, 
quietly went to work to secure the necessary amount of money. A 
paper reading as follows was circulated, receiving the signatures of 
sixty-four Trojans, who pledged themselves to pay the joint sum of 
one thousand pounds, or nearly five thousand dollars: 

To all whom these presents shall come or may concern: Whereas, by an act of the 
Legislature of the State of New York at their present session it was enacted that a 
court house and gaol should be erected and built in the county of Rensselaer, within 
sixty rods of the dwelling house of Stephen Ashley, in the village of Troy in the 
town of Troy, and that the sum of one thousand pounds should be made payable to 
the treasurer of said county for the time being, for the purpose aforesaid, by the in- 
habitants of the said village in the town of Troy. Now therefore know ye, that we 
whose names are hereunto subscribed do respectively promise to pay unto Albert Pawl- 
ing and Christopher Hutton, or to one of them, to their or one of their executors, ad- 
ministrators, or assigns, the sum of money annexed to our respective names on de- 
mand, which money is to be appropriated to the building of the court house and gaol 
as aforesaid. Dated this fourteenth day of January, in the year of Our Lord one 
thousand and seven hundred and ninety-three. 



•J 



THE FIRST COURT HOUSE. 77 

To make doubly sure and hasten the work, on March 22, 1793, Jacob 
D. Vander Heyden, owner of most of the land on which the busi- 
ness portion of the city of Troy is located, deeded to Robert Wood- 
worth, Cornelius Lansing, Jacob A. Lansing, Benjamin Milks, Thomas 
Sickles, Jonas Odell and John Wylie, supervisors of the county, the 
lots on the southeast corner of Second and Congress streets, numbered 
respectively 145, 146 and 147, on which to erect the court house and 
jail which the citizens of Troy had decided should be erected in that 
village. Work on the court house was begun at once, the building 
occupying the site of that which is now occupied by the handsome new 
court house erected in 1895 and 1896. It was a handsome and sub- 
stantial building for its daj^ While it was in course of construction 
Benjamin Gorton, county clerk, on Nov. 11, 1794, advertised for pro- 
posals for the erection of the jail, which was built east of the court 
house. On February 3, 1794, the Legislature passed this law: 

Whereas a court house has been lately erected in and for the county of Rensselaer. 
Therefore 

Beit enacted, etc., That it shall be lawful for judges and assistant justices of 
the same court of common pleas [referred to in the title of the law], who shall hold 
the next court, or the major part of them, and for the justices of the peace who shall 
hold the next court of general sessions of the peace in the same county, or the major 
part of them, on the first day of the next term or sessions of the same courts respect- 
ively, or at any time thereafter, to adjourn the same courts respectively to the said 
court house in the same county, and there to hold the said courts. 

The first court, the court of common pleas, convened in the court 
house the second Tuesday in June, 1794. The jail was completed the 
next year. In addition to its original appropriation, in 1794 the Legis- 
lature voted the further sum of eight hundred pounds, in 1797 it voted 
five thousand five hundred dollars and in 1798 five hundred dollars 
more. The first county clerk's office was in a house in Lansingburgh, 
previously occupied by N. Jacobs, near that of Col. John Van Rensse- 
laer. 

From this time on many events of interest to posterity occurred in 
the county of Rensselaer; but all of these excepting those which relate 
directly to the county as an institution, those which have a local bear- 
ing only, will be found preserved in their proper places, in the history 
of the various towns in which they transpired. 

From time to time in the early days of the county, and even before 
Rensselaer county was set apart from Albany, road improvements were 
provided for by legislative enactment. April 1. 1799, a turnpike com- 



78 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

pany was incorporated " for improving the road from the springs in 
Lebanon to the city of Albany. " At the same time a company was 
incorporated " for improving the road from the village of Bath to the 
Massachusetts line. " The directors of the first named company were 
John Tryon, Eleazur Grant, John W. Schermerhorn, Jonathan Hoag, 
Elisha Gilbert, James McKown, Nathan Hand, Moses King, John 
Darling, Jacob C. Schermerhorn, Nathaniel Brockeway and others, 
who were empowered to "make a good and sufficient road from the 
line of the vState of Massachusetts, where the road from Pittsfield and 
Hancock leads by or near the springs in Canaan, commonly called New 
Lebanon Springs in the nearest and most direct route, as far as cir- 
cumstances will admit by the house of Elisha Gilbert, John W. Scher- 
merhorn, Jonathan Hoag and James McKown, to the ferry near the 
house of John L Van Rensselaer." John Tryon, Elisha Gilbert, John 
W. Schermerhorn, Jonathan Hoag and James McKown were appointed 
commissioners to direct the work. 

By the provisions of the same law Abraham Schuyler, Thomas Hun, 
Teunis T. Van Vechten, Barent Bleecker, John C. Cuyler, David 
Fonda, Barent G. Staats, John Maley, Gerrit W. Van Schaick, John E. 
Van Alen, Daniel Gray and James Main were empowered, under the 
name of "the President Directors and Company of the Eastern Turn- 
pike Road," to make " a good and sufficient road from the village of 
Bath in the county of Rensselaer, in the nearest and most direct route 
to the house of James Main in Petersborough in said county and from 
thence to the line of the State of Massachusetts, where the road from 
Williamstown to the city of Albany crosses the said line," David 
Fonda, John C. Cuyler and Sanders Lansing were appointed commis- 
sioners to direct the construction of the road. The law directed that 
both the roads should be at least four rods wide, " twenty-four feet of 
which shall be bedded with wood, stone, gravel, or any other hard sub- 
stance compacted together, a sufficient depth to secure a solid found- 
ation to the same, and the said road shall be faced with gravel or 
other hard substance in such manner as to secure as near as the ma- 
terials will admit an even surface rising toward the middle by a grad- 
ual arch." The rates of toll which might be charged were fixed by 
the same law. 

It may not be amiss to describe here the formation of the several 
towns. The setting apart of the four districts of Rensselaerwj'ck, 
Hoosick, Pittstown and Schaghticoke, which were made towns of 



ORGANIZATION OF TOWNS. 79 

Albany county March 7, 1788, and the formation of Stephentown from 
Rensselaerwyck in 1784, are described in another chapter. By the 
act which set apart the county of Rensselaer the town of Troy was 
erected from Rensselaerwyck. March 18, 1791, Petersburgh was 
erected from wStephentown. When the first board of supervisors met 
in 1791 there were therefore but seven towns in the county, viz.: 
Rensselaerwyck, Troy, Schaghticoke, Hoosick, Pittstown, vStephen- 
town and Petersburgh. The remainder of the sixteen towns in the 
county were organized thus: 

Greenbush was formed from Rensselaerw5xk April 10, 1792. A 
second act of incorporation bears date of March 17, 1795. In 1812 a 
part of the town of Sand Lake was set off. February 23, 1855, East 
Greenbush was set off under the name of Clinton, and at the same 
time North Greenbush was taken from Greenbush. This left the 
boundaries of the town of Greenbush and the village of Greenbush 
identical, as defined by the act of April 9, 1852, incorporating the 
village. 

Schodack was erected from the remainder of Rensselaerwyck March 
17, 1795, when the name of Rensselaerwyck as a town ceased to exist. 

Berlin was taken March 21, 1806, from parts of Schodack, Stephen- 
town and Petersburgh. 

Nassau was formed on the same date from parts of the same town. 

Brunswick was taken from Troy March 20, 1807. 

Grafton was formed on the same date from Troy and Petersburgh. 

Lansingburgh was also formed in the same way from parts of Troy 
and Petersburgh. In 1819 a part of Schaghticoke was annexed; in 1836 
a part of Troy was set off and added to the town, and three years later 
its size was still further increased by the addition of a part of the town 
of Brunswick. 

Sand Lake was erected June 19, 1812, from parts of Berlin and 
Greenbush. 

Poestenkill was taken from Sand Lake March 2, 1848. 

East Greenbush, originally called Clinton, was set off from Green- 
bush Feb. 23, 1855. Its name was changed from Clinton to East (ireen- 
bush April 14, 1858. 

North Greenbush was set off from (jreenbush at the time Clinton was 
erected, Feb. 23, 1855. 

Troy was formed as a town March 18, 1791. The first village charter 
was granted in the latter part of the same year, a second one March 



80 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

25, 1794, and another in 1798. A part of Brunswick was annexed in 
1814, and two years later, April 12, 181G, Troy received a city charter. 
As the population of the county and the consequent litigation in- 
creased the court house constructed in the latter part of the eighteenth 
century became inadequate to the needs of the county and the demand 
for a more commodious and more convenient building became general. 
At a meeting of the board of supervisors held Nov. 15, 1826, at the 
hotel of William Pierce it was decided to petition the State Legislature 
to pass a law authorizing the county Legislature to raise by taxation a 
sum (together with the money which might be contributed by the city 
of Troy) not exceeding $25,000, for the construction of a new court 
house. The board at the same time decided that, to insure the erec- 
tion of said building, the city of Troy must guarantee the payment of 
two-fifths of the cost of the building- in addition to the cit3''s portion of 
the remainder of the cost. The proposition was accepted by the com- 
mon council of the city of Tro}^ on the understanding that the munici- 
pal authorities should have accommodations in the building and that 
the new court house should be erected not far from the site of the old 
one, and \mder the direction of a joint commission of the board of su- 
pervisors and the common council. The supervisors agreeing to the 
conditions a committee was appointed, consisting of Townsend Mc- 
Coun, Ephraim Morgan, and Jeremiah Dauchy. May 13, 1827, the State 
Legislature, in compliance with the request of the county, passed an 
act authorizing the supervisors to raise by tax a sutn not exceeding 
$15,000, for the work of rebuilding the court house. Work was begun 
at once. The old building was razed and temporary headquarters for 
the courts were engaged in the Methodist meeting house on the north- 
west corner of Fifth and State streets. The foundations of the new 
building were begun in 1829 on the site of the one described. The 
Doric hexastyle order of architecture was followed, the structure being 
of Sing Sing marble and modeled principally after the temple of The- 
seus at Athens. In March, 1831, upon the completion of the building, 
a very handsome and imposing one for its day, the supervisors, in ac- 
cordance with their agreement, set apart two rooms on the north side 
of the first floor, one for the mayor's court and the other for the com- 
mon council. Three rooms in the basement were also assigned for 
the use of the other city officers. The remainder of the building was 
reserved for the use of the county. The total cost of the court house 
was about $40,000. In it the municipal courts and the sessions of the 




MOSES WARREN. 



EARLY PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 8J 

common council were held until October, 1870, at which time the new 
city hall was occupied. 

Even before it was decided to build a new court house the necessity 
for a new jail had become apparent. May 17, 1825, the common coun- 
cil of Troy voted to submit to the board of supervisors of the county a 
proposition to build a more commodious and safer jail, and a committee 
consisting of Ephraim Morgan, Thomas Clowes and Jeremiah Dauchy 
was appointed to confer with a committee from the board of super- 
visors with that end in view. The next spring, April 6, 1826, the 
supervisors presented to the common council a proposition toward the 
same end. The two bodies agreed to the plan in general and it was 
contracted between them that the jail should be erected on lot No. 435 
on the east side of Fifth street on the north side of Ferry street in the 
city of Troy; that the foundation should be constructed of stone and 
the superstructure of brick; that the roofs should be of slate; that the 
city of Troy should give the county a deed to the land on which the 
building was to be erected, and that the city should pay all taxes or 
other charges which should ever be levied or assessed on the property. 
The lot cost the city $1,125, and it also cost $175 for the city to level 
the lot and make the excavations. Upon the completion of the jail the 
common council voted, Aug. 2, 1832, to place the old court house bell 
in the cupola of the jail to be rung in the event of the escape of a pris- 
oner and in case of fire. 

The House of Industry had already been built when the new court 
house and jail were first decided upon. The common council of Troy 
requested the supervisors, Oct. 4, 1821, to raise $1,500 for the construe-, 
tion of the building. The supervisors were in accord with the plan 
and purchased a farm southeast of the cit}-, about a mile from its in- 
habited limits. Its cost was $4,502.28, and the cost of the new build- 
ing and the repairs to the old one and the barn was $3,062.56, making 
the total cost, with other necessary expenses, $9,064.84. To meet this 
expense the city was assessed $4,647.94, the county paying the balance. 

Just when the first regiment of State militia in the county was formed 
is not known. Though it is known that militia companies existed in 
the county very early in the nineteenth century, and possibly some were 
organized during or immediately after the Revolutionary war, there 
are no official minutes on the subject until the year 1802. We have 
knowledge of the action of militia companies in various parts of the 
State during the War of the Revolution, and Rensselaer county, with 
11 



82 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

its increasing population and patriotic spirit, undoubtedly supported one 
or more companies before the days in which official records began to 
be made. However, in the year 1802, on February 28, Sol. Van Rens- 
selaer, the adjutant-general, issued general orders which read: "You 
are requested to deliver the ordnance in your possession to Capt. Joseph 
Alexander, of the Artillery, in the limits of your regiment." That 
there was a militia company in the county at least two years prior to 
that time is shown by the fact that the name of Nathaniel Adams ap- 
pears as brigade quartermaster June 8, 1800. The list of appoint- 
ments for the Rensselaer county brigade of the militia contains these 
names: 

Field and Staff. — February 23, 1803, Michael S. Vandercook, inspector. March 
23, 1806, Hosea Moffitt, brigadier-general. June 8, 1800, Nathaniel Adams, brigade 
quartermaster. 

Captains.— W&xch 7, 1803, Amos Potter (3d); March 18, 1803, Jacob Lansing; May 
34, 1809, Henry Koon — riflemen. 

First Lieutenants. — March 7, 1803, Thomas Osborne; March 18, 1803, George 
Young; May 24, 1809, David Bell— riflemen. 

Second Lietctenants. — March 7, 1803, Joseph Potter; May 24, 1809, James De 
Freest — riflemen. 

ARTILLERY. 

Field and Staff. — March 27, 1805, Francis Saltus, second major. 
Captains. — April 6, 1807, James D. Wallace. 

.Second Lieutenants.— Ay>v\\ 6, 1807, George R. A. Pickctts; April 6, 1807, 
Nathaniel Richards. 

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FIFTH REGIMENT. 

Field and Staff.— March 18, 1803, Abram Ten Eyck, lieutenant-colonel command- 
ing; Stephen Andres, adjutant. April 3, 1803, Dirck Vanderheyden, quartermaster; 
John Loudon, surgeon. April 5, 1805, Adam Yates, lieutenant-colonel commanding; 
Henry T. E. Schuyler, second major. March 23, 1806, Henry T. E. Schuyler, first 
major; Levinus R. Winsor, second major; Gurdon Corning, adjutant. April 6, 
1807, John G. Vanderheyden, paymaster. June 8, 1806, Thomas Davis, second 
major; Barent Schuyler, paymaster; David Butler, chaplain; Hugh W. Henry, 
surgeon's mate; John Sampson, quartermaster. May 34, 1809, Ely Burritt, surgeon. 
March 12, 1810, Barent Schuyler, adjutant; Martin Van Alstyne, paymaster. 

Captains. — March 18, 1803, Abraham Lansing, Francis CoUison, Nathaniel 
Adams; March 16, 1804, Joseph Stead; April 5, 1805, Solomon Buckley, Henry 
Searls, James Adams, John I. Fonda; March 32, 1806, Jonathan Hatch, Daniel 
Simmons, John L Fonda, jr. ; April 6, 1807, Hazard Kimberly, Sylvanus Jenks Pen- 
niman, Thomas Davis; June 8, 1808, William S. Parker, Ebenezer W. Walbridge, 
Guilford D. Young, Amos Salisbury ; November 11, 1808, Guilford D. Young, Will- 
iam S. Parker; May 34, 1809, Frederick G. Bergen, Cornelius Swartwood, John 



RENSSELAER COUNTY BRIGADE. 8a 

Newman; May 31, 1809, Zachariah Curtis; March 12, 1810, John De Freest, jr.; 
April 10, 1811, Ebenezer W. Wal bridge. 

Lieutenants.— March 18, 1803, Daniel Goewey, Patrick Agan. Jonathan Hatch, 
John C. Redmund; April 16, 1804, Daniel Simmons; April 5, 1805, Hazard Kimberly, 
Reuben B. Crowner, Isaac Hasbrouck, John De Freest, jr., Joseph Chambers; 
March 22, 1806, Jacob Bishop, Sylvanus J. Penniman, Amos Salisbury, Joseph 
Sears, John McManus, John Newman ; April 6, 1807, Guilford D. Young, Ebenezer 
W. Walbridge, Zachariah Curtis, W. S. Parker; June 8, 1808, Benjamin Higbee, 
Stephen Warren, Stephen Clark, Frederick Barringer, Elam Lyndes; November 11, 

1808, Benjamin Higbee, Stephen Warren; May 24, 1809, Philip D. Berger, Abraham 
Lansing, Nathan Barber, Oliver Lyon; May 31, 1809, Stephen Clark, Gurdon Corn- 
ing; March 12, 1810, Martin De Freest, William Case, Cornelius Adriance, James 
Giles. 

Ensigns.— M.a.vch. 18, 1804, Samuel Comstock, William Lamport, Jacob Bishop, 
Joseph Chambers; March 10, 1804, John McManus; April 5, 1805, Stephen Chandler, 
John Newman, William P. Rathbun, Martin Van Alstyne, John F. Whipple; March 
22, 1806, Zachariah Curtis, Ebenezer W. Walbridge, Jared Bells, Jacob J. Wager, 
William Schoby, Jacob Wygant ; April 6, 1807, Benjamin Higbee, Stephen Clark, 
Cornelius Adriance, Abraham R. Winne, Stephen Warren ; June 8, 1808, Jedediah 
Tracey, Norman Hickok, Cornelius Swartwout, Samuel P. Hawley, OHver Lyon ; No- 
vember 11, 1808, Samuel P. Hawley, Jedediah Tracey ; March 21, 1809, Luther Eddy. 
Eliphalet King, Nathaniel Challis, Josiah G. Kinne, Cornelius Slyter; May 31, 

1809, Cornelius Adriance; March 12, 1810, William W. Slyter, Richard J. De Freest, 
Luther Bliss. 

Additional appointments in the 155th are as follows: 

Field and Stajf. — Adam Yates, lieutenant-colonel. April 10, 1811, Thomas Davis, 
first major; April 10, 1811, Amos Salisbury, second major. February 29, 1812, 
Thomas Davis, lieutenant-colonel; Amos Salisbury, first major. May 20, 1812, Guil- 
ford D. Young, second major. 

Captains.— At^vW 10, 1811, Oliver Lyons, Philip D. Barringer; June 5, 1811, Cor- 
nelius Adriance, Hiram Reynolds; May 30, 1812, Benjamin Higbee; May 23, 1812, 
Joseph Ballard. 

Lieutenants.— A-prWU). 1811, Roger King, Isaiah G. Kinney, Richard J. De Freest, 
Stephen Clark; June 5, 1811, Artemas Osgood, John North; February 29, 1812, 
Joseph Ballard, Nicholas Coon, Luther Eddy; May 10, 1812, James A. Lander,- 
May 23, 1812, Samuel B. Hedges. 

Ensigns. — April 10, 1811, William Bogardus, Cornelius M. Vanderburgh, Edward 
A. Cook, Cornelius Beekman ; June 5, 1811, Solomon Wilber, jr., Philip Coons; Feb- 
ruary 29, 1812, James A. Lander, Samuel P. Hedges, Jacob P. Barringer, Samuel 
Lockwood, James Swartwout ; May 20, 1812, Abraham W. De Freest, William L. 
Marcy ; May 23, 1812, Nathan Morey. 

FORTY-FIl'TH REGIMENT. 

Fie/d and Stajf. — Febvunry 26, 1803, Gilbert Eddy, lieutenant-colonel command- 
ing; Samuel Douglass, major; William Knickerbocker, second major; Will Van 
Vleck, second major. March 21, 1803, John Brown, adjutant. March 2, 1804, Henry 



84 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Warren, second major; Nehemiah King, surgeon's mate. June 8, 1808, William 
Knickerbocker, first major; Tisdale Eddy, second major; Andrew Ryan, quarter- 
master; Theodore May, surgeon. March 13, 1810, John J. Groesbeck, paymaster. 
February 11, 1811, Thomas Smith, surgeon's mate; Simon Newcomb, surgeon. 
February 29, 1812, Thomas Smith, surgeon. 

Captains. — February 26, 1803, John Groesbeck, Benjamin Agan ; March 2, 1804, 
Bethel Mathers, Darius Thurber, Stephen Gasten ; April 3, 1804, Tisdale Eddy; 
March 22, 1806, Amaziah Herrick; April 6, 1807, Samuel S. Storm, Myndert Groes- 
beck, George Bruce; June 8, 1808, Courtland Elliot; May 24. 1809, Jonathan Row- 
land, Daniel Kiser; February 11, 1811, Munson Smith; April 10, 1811, Burwell Betts. 
David Bryan, James Anderson; February 29, 1812, John Fake, John Downing. 

Lieutenants.— FobrnSiVY 26, 1808, Tunis Viele, Asahel Marvell; March 2, 1804, 
Amaziah Herrick, James Mallery, Stephen Cushman, John I. Filkins; April 3, 
1804, Andrew G. Weatherwax; March 22, 1806, Jonathan Rowland, Courtland 
Elliot, Samuel Wilson ; April 6, 1807, Henry S. Vandercook, David Bryan, Daniel 
Kiser; June 8, 1808, John Downing; May 24, 1809, Charles Lounsbury, James An- 
derson, Burrell Betts; February 11, 1811, Peter Vandenbergh ; April 10, 1811, Adam 
Clum, John W. Groesbeck, John Fake; February 29, 1812, Stephen Yates, Matthew 
De Graff, Jacob Williams; April 1, 1812, Richard Bryan. 

Ensigns.— ¥e\>rua.vy ^-i, 1803, Daniel Cadwell, John Agan ; March 21, 1803, Myn- 
dert Groesbeck ; March 2, 1804, Jonathan Rowland, Ira Hawley, James Van Name, 
William Rice, Noah Levins ; April 5, 1805, Courtland Elliot, Charles Lounsbury, 
Samuel Storm; March 2, 1806, James Anderson, John Downing, Nathan Burden; 
April 6, 1807, Samuel Cole, Cornelius Yates, James Anderson, Burrell Betts; June 
8, 1808, Matthew Graff, William Groesbeck; May 24. 1809, Jacob Williams, John 
Fake, Adam Clum, John W. Groesbeck, Thomas Weatherwax; February 11, 1811, 
Joseph Reed; April 10, 1811, James Morrison, Jacob Backman, Stephen Yates; 
February 29, 1812, Stephen L. Viele, John Lamport, Richard Bryan, Peter I. Yates; 
April L 1812, Isaac Talmadge. 

EIGHTV-SlXTH RECIMENT. 

h'ield and Staff. — April 5, 1805, Randall Spencer, lieutenant-colonel commanding; 
David Wilcox, paymaster. June 9, 1807, Zebulon Scriven, lieutenant-colonel com- 
manding; Samuel McChesney, first major; Jonathan Irish, second major. May 24, 

1809, Samuel McChesney, lieutenant- colonel commanding; Thomas Reynolds, first 
major; Matthew Randall, second major; Asa Maxon, quartermaster. March 12, 

1810, William Clark, paymaster; Eben Moffitt, adjutant. April 10, 1811. Thomas 
Reynolds, lieutenant-colonel commanding; Matthew Randall, first major; Gideon 
Palmer, second major. June 11, 1811, Elijah Brown, chaplain; Jeffrey W. Thomas, 
surgeon's mate; Thomas W. Phillips, paymaster. February 29, 1812, William H. 
Murray, adjutant. 

Captains.— M.2SQ\i 18, 1803, Thomas Reynolds; April 5, 1805, John Nichols, James 
Allen, Benjamin Lee; March 22, 1806, James Godfrey; June 9, 1807, Josiah Hall, 
Rufus Waite, Gideon Palmer, Matthew Randall ; June 8, 1808, Joseph Crandall, Enos 
Larkin, Daniel Arnold, Aaron Sedgwick; May 24, 1809, Aaron Worthington, Ben- 
jamin Rogers, Asa Stillman, Asa Prosser, William C. Barber; March 18, 1810, David 



RENSSELAER COUNTY BRIGADE. 85 

Mattison, Joseph Burdick, Munson Smith, Benjamin Babcock ; June 10, 1811, EHsha 
Coon, Hezekiah Hull, jr., Oliver Wellman ; February 29, 1812, Reuben Babcock. 

Lieutenants. — March 18, 1803, Solomon Root; April 5, 1805, Josiah Hull, jr., 
Joseph Crandall, James West, George Stillman, Asa Stillman, James Godfrey, Caleb 
Wells, jr. ; March 22, 1806, Benjamin Rogers, Gideon Palmer, Daniel Arnold ; June 
9, 1807, John Enos, Andrew Whipple, Elisha Coon, Asa Maxon, jr., Aaron Worth- 
ington ; June 8, 1808, Edward Whitford, William C. Barber, Samuel Hulton, David 
Mattison, Elisha Eggleston ; May 24. 1809, George Brimmer, Joseph Burdick, 
Thomas S. Harvey, Sanford Hewitt, Benjamin Babcock, Pliny Miller, jr. ; March 12, 
1810, Hezekiah Hull, Solomon Smith, jr., William Childs, Peter Vandenburgh (of 
Riflemen), Elisha Burdick; April 10, 1811, Robert Davis, Rodman Thomas, Reuben 
Babcock, jr. ; June 11, 1811, John Brimmer; February 29, 1812, Joseph Amidon. 

Ensigns.— M-Qxch 18, 1803, Caleb Wells; April 5, 1805, Stephen McChesney, 
Eliphalet Johnson, Benjamin Rogers, Gideon Palmer, Thomas S. Harvey, Daniel 
Arnold, Aaron Worthington ; March 22, 1806, Joseph Burdick, Elisha Coon, David 
Mattison; June 9, 1807, William C. Barber, Robert Davis, Asa Prosser, George 
Brimmer; June 8, 1808, Sanford Hewitt, William Childs, Hezekiah Hull, Pliny Mil- 
ler; May 24, 1809, Joshua M. Scriven, William Coon, Elisha Burdick, Thomas Phil- 
lips, jr., Robert Godfrey; March 12, 1810, Jarvis Green, Zebulon Scriven, John Hut- 
ton, Joseph Reed, John Brimmer; April 10, 1811, John Worthington, William H. 
Murray, Jonathan Barry, Joseph Amidon; June 11, 1811, Archibald Jones, Daniel 
Palmer; February 29, 1812, Otis Gould, Asa Burdick, jr. 

FIFTH REGIMENT. 

Field and Staff. — April 5,1805, Hosea Moffitt, lieutenant-colonel commanding ; Jon- 
athan Dennison, second major; William L. Gardner, adjutant; Rufus Sweet, pay- 
master; Willet Vary, quartermaster; Joshua Griggs, surgeon; Joab H. Gardner, 
surgeon's mate. April 3, 1806, Elisha Stewart, lieutenant-colonel commandilig; 
Caleb Kerr, first major; Adil Swan, second major; Matthew Jones, paymaster. June 
9, 1807, Barnet Van Vleck, quartermaster; June 8, 1808, John Younglove, chaplain. 
March 12, 1810, Caleb Carr, lieutenant-colonel commanding; Eliphaz Spencer, first 
major; Rufus Sweet, second major; Eben Moffitt, adjutant; William K. Scott, sur- 
geon. April 10, 1810, Nathan Howard, paymaster. May 23, 1812, George Forsyth, 
quartermaster. 

Captains. — March 25, 1803, Elisha Adams, Bernard Hix, William Vary; April 5, 
1805, Charles Dennison, Eli Vickery; April 3, 1806, Benjamin Chase, Richard H. 
Vary, Eliphaz Spencer; June 9, 1807, Fenner Palmer. Amos James, Rufus Sweet, 
Henry Tucker; May 24, 1809, Cyrus Spencer, Willet Vary; March 12, 1810, James 
Jones, Abner Bull, Bernard Hix, Samuel E. Gibbs; April 10, 1811, Simon Tifft. 
Pliny Miller, Josiah Humphrey, Nathan Gale; May 23, 1812, Pliny Miller. 

Lieutenants. — March 25, 1803, James Hempstead, Nathan B. Gardner, Eliphalet 
Reid, Silas Thomas (Grenadiers); April 5, 1805, Paul Brayman, Henry Tucker, 
Eliphaz Spencer, Benjamin Chase; April 3, 1806, Amos James, Willet Vary, Rufus 
Sweet; April 4, 1806, Stephen Benton; June 9, 1807, Darius Phillips, Abner Bull, jr., 
Ebenezer Martin, Cyrus Spencer; June 8, 1808, John Blaney; May 24, 1809, James 
Jones, Josiah Humphrey; March 12, 1810, Thomas L. Adams, Samuel Post, Solomon 



8'6 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

W. Lawrence, Chauncey Foster; April 10, 1811, John B. Adsit, Martin Field, Benja- 
min Rogers, Cornelius W. Schermerhorn, Henry Reynolds, jr. ; May 23, 1812, John 
Curtis. 

Ensigns. — March 25, 1803, Minor Jones, Benjamin Chase, Eliphaz Spencer, Will- 
iam Lamport Gardner (Grenadiers); April 5, 1805, Daniel Arnold, Aaron Sedgwick, 
Stephen Boughton, Matthew Jones, Daniel Greene; April 3, 1806, Cyrus Spencer, 
Jeremiah Marks, James Jones, Abner Bull, jr. ; June 9, 1807, William Sheldon, Sam- 
uel Coleman, Samuel Post, John Blaney; June 8, 1808, Jacob P. Heermance; May 
24, 1809, Chauncey Goold, Simon Tifft, Thomas P. Adams; March 12, 1810, William 
Jones, Henry 'Reynolds, John Adsit, jr., Daniel St. John, Benjamin Sweet; April 10, 
1811, Daniel M. Gregory, Sylvester Howard, W^illiam Kittle, jr., Henry J. Dusen- 
bury ; May 23, 1812, David Tifft, David Brainerd, jr. 

FORTY-THIRD RECIIMENT. 

Field and Staff. — March 30, 1803, Nicholas Staats, lieutenant-colonel command- 
ing; John Billings, adjutant; Joachim N. Staats, quartermaster. April 5, 1805, 
Philip Staats, lieutenant-colonel commanding; Cornelius J. Schermerhorn, first 
major; Nicholas J. Kittle, second major; John J. Kittle, adjutant; Benjamin Rowe, 
surgeon; Nicholas B. Harris, surgeon's mate. April 6, 1807, Daniel Van Buren, 
paymaster; John W. Van Vechten, quartermaster. June 8, 1808, John L. Zabriskie, 
chaplain; Nicholas B. Harris, surgeon; Cornelius Heermance, surgeon's mate. June 
13, 1808, Jacob G. Vandenburgh, quartermaster. March 12, 1810, Cornelius J. Scher- 
merhorn, lieutenant-colonel; Nicholas J. Kittle, first major; John J. Miller, second 
major. April 10, 1811, John J. Miller, first major; Joshua Griffiths, second major; 
John S. Miller, surgeon's mate. January 25, 1813, James Elliot, quartermaster. 

Captains.— lsia.vch. 30, 1803, Silas Welmoth, John J. Miller, Joshua Griffith, Zach- 
ariah Faller; April 5, 1805, Garret Yates, Jacob Barhite; April (i, 1807, James G. 
Myers, John H. Van Rensselaer; June 8, 1808, Abraham Herrington, William N. 
Staats; May 24, 1809, Jonathan J. Witbeck, James Livingston; March 12, 1810, 
Stephen J. Miller, Erastus Lyman; February 11, 1811, Joel Bristol; April 10, 1811, 
Hugh Gordon, Abraham Huyck, Jonas Miller, David E. Gregory, Samuel Myers; 
February 29, 1812, Bradman Yates, Manasseh Knowlton. 

Lieutenants. — March 30, 1803, Samuel Hammond, Samuel Comble, John W^itbeck, 
Henry Row, Henry Dunspoe; April 5, 1805, Eber Wilcox, Jonathan J. Witbeck, 
John H. Van Rensselaer, Samuel R. Campbell, William Crandall; April 6, 1807, 
Abraham Huyck, Jonathan J. Witbeck; June 8, 1808, Manasseh Knowlton, Anthony 
Breese, Aretus Lyman, Peter Ostrander; May 24, 1809, Joel Bristol, Hugh Gordon; 
March 12, 1810, Bradman Yates, David E. Gregory, Simeon Welch; February 11, 

1811, William Carmichael ; April 10, 1811, Martin Witbeck, John Carpenter, Samuel 
Myers, Henry Livingston, Stephen Cole, Abraham V. D. P. Gregory; February 29, 

1812, Abraham P. Staats, Almon R. Bostwick, James Elliot. 

Ensigns. — March 30, 1803, Abner Wilcox, John W^eaver, jr., Jonas Miller, David 
Cravour; April 5, 1805, Pownal Hitchcock, Anthony Breese, jr., Stephen J. Miller, 
Abraham Huyck; April 6, 1807, John Carpenter, Joel Bristol; June 8, 1808, Nathan- 
iel Paine, James Livingston, David E. Gregory, Simeon Welch; May 21, 1809, Sam- 
uel Myers; May 31, 1809, William Van Schaick ; March 12, 1810, Abraham L Staats, 



EENSSELAER COUNTY BRIGADE. 87 

Abraham V. D. P. Gregory, Adam Smith; February 11, 1811, Stephen Tripp; April 
10, 1811, John N. Kittle, James Elliot, Stephen Cole, Abraham P. Smith, Thomas 
Phillips JohnLadue; February 29, 1812, Henry Vandenburgh, Adam Smith, An- 
drew Gibson, Jacob H. Harrington, Matthew Conklin. 

SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT. 

F/e/d and StaJ'.—AyrW^, \S0^, Jacob A. Fort, lieutenant-colonel commanding; 
Asher Armstrong, surgeon ; Aaron D. Patchin, surgeon's mate. March 22, 1806, 
John Carpenter, adjutant; Jeremiah Schuyler, paymaster; Jacob Lansing, quarter- 
master. June 8, 1808, Sylvester Noble, second major. March 12, 1810, Joseph Dorr, 
lieutenant-colonel commanding; Sylvester Noble, first major; John Haynes, second 
major; Charles H. Wetmore, surgeon's mate. June 5, 1811, James Olmstead, first 
major; Samuel Wilson, second major; Abrani Hallenbeck. surgeon's mate; James 
Glass, chaplain; Nathaniel Cole, junior quartermaster. February 29, 1812, Samuel 
Wilson, first major; John H. Haynes, second major; Russell Dorr, surgeon; Archi- 
bald Ball, quartermaster. 

Captains. — April 2, 1808, Henry Van Ness, John Mattison; April 5, 1805, Nathan- 
iel Bishop, Gideon Gifford, Azariah Haskins; March 22, 1806, Daniel Rogers; April 
6, 1807, Darius Thurber; June 8, 1808, Samuel Fanson, Russell Chase; May 24, 1809, 
Henry Warren, Samuel Faxon, John Haynes, Royal Abbott; March 12, 1810, James 
Olmstead, John H. Haynes, John Spicer, Lemuel Sherwood, Samuel Wilson, Abra- 
ham Keach; June 5, 1811, George R. Davis, Abraham Van Wart, Russell Granger, 
Allen Spicer; February 29, .1812, Moses Wright, Jesse Holmes. 

Lieutenants. — April 2, 1803, Henry Hartsough, Nathaniel Bishop, Charles Shep- 
herd; Aprils, 1805, Joseph Stearns, Gilbert Barnes, James Olmstead, Samuel Wil- 
son; March 22, 1806, Barnet Salisbury, John H. Haynes; April 6, 1807, Samuel Wil- 
son; June 8, 1808, Aaron Baldwin, Lemuel Sherwood, Royal Abbott; May 24, 1809, 
John Spicer, Abraham Keach; March 12, 1810, Abraham Van Wort, John Wallace, 
jr., Allen Spicer, Garret Hallenbeck, Conrad Raymond, John B. Ryan; June 5, 1811, 
Joseph L Northrup, Reuben Williams, Jesse Holmes, Earl Pearce, Moses Wright; 
February 29, 1812, Daniel Halstead, Samuel Van Surdam, Noah Baker. 

Ensigns. — April 2, 1803, Samuel S. Munroe, Sherman Baker, Royal Abbott; April 
5, 1805, John H. Haynes, Samuel Faxon, Isaiah Austin, Nathan Burden; March 22, 
1806, Russell Chase, John Spicer, John Wallace, jr.; April 6, 1807, Nathan Burden; 
June 8, 1808, John Manchester, Jonas Halstead, Garret Hallenbeck; May 24, 1809, 
Conrad Raymond, Allen Spicer, John B. Ryan; March 12, 1810, Reuben Williams, 
Moses Wright, Earl Pearce, Rix Green, Roswell Halstead, Daniel Delavan ; June 5, 
1811, James Van Surdam, David S. Wing, Stephen Hunt, Rufus Sturges, Clark 
McGowan, Noah Baker, Daniel Rogers, jr. ; February 29, 1812, I.srael T. Holmes, 
Levi Cronkhite, George R. Keach. 

THIRD REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 

Field Officers. — March 12, 1810, Herman Knickerbocker, major. February 11, 
1811, John Chester, chaplain ; Moses Burt, surgeon's mate. February 29, 1812, David 
Kittle, second major; Theodore Romeyn Beck, .surgeon; John M. Bradford, chaplain ; 
Henry Jones, paymaster. 



88 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Captai?!s.—Ma.vc\\ 12, 1810, Wooster Brookins; June 5, 1811, Everet Van Men; 
February 29, 1812, Joseph Rogers. 

Lfei/tenants.— March 12, 1810, Braddock Hall, Alanson Clark, Richard Yates, 
Martin Overocker; April 10, 1811, Braddock Hall, Alanson Clark; June 5, 1811, 
Martin Overocker, Alanson Brookins, Charles Doughty, Gilbert Riley ; February 29, 
1812, Paris Green, Jonathan Carpenter, James Rogers, John Coons. 

Cornefs.—Ma.rch. 12, 1810, Joseph Amidon, William Dunn; April 10, 1811, Paris 
Green; June 5, 1811, John Pellet, George W. Staats; February 29, 1812, Israel Piatt, 
Simeon Cranston. 

FIRST BATTALION ARTILLERY, SECONI) BRIGADE, SIXTH REGIMENT.^ 

Field and Staff. — June 5, 1811, Joshua Hamden, paymaster; Levi Cooley, first 
major; Cornelius Holmes, surgeon's mate. 

Captains. — February 11, 1811, Rapine Andrews, David St. John; June 5, 1811, 
Stephen C. Miller; May 20, 1812, James Vanderpool; May 23, 1812, John Blakesly ; 
August 11, 1812, Ruggles Hubbard (flying artillery). 

First Lieutenants. — February 11, 1811, Mordecai Bull, Lewis Finch, Joseph Bene- 
dict; June 5, 1811, Nathaniel Payne; May 20. 1812, Freeman Fellows; May 23, 1812, 
Gideon Keed, Daniel Gordon, Elias Worden, Thomas Stevenson; August 11, 1812, 
Richard M. Livingsto \. 

Second Lieutenants. — February 11, 1811, Isaac Woodle, Gideon Reed, Joshua 
Phillips; June 5, 1811, Adam Smith, Moses Younglove; May 20, 1812, Ira Stone, 
Caleb Ward, Samuel T. Vary, Samuel GifTord, John C. Conklin, Philo Doane ; Au- 
gust 11, 1812, WiUiam McManus (flying artillery), Jacob vSpringer (cornet). 

The next official order, as far as can be ascertained, issued to a com- 
manding officer of the Rensselaer county brigade, is found in an order 
dated March 15, 1808, in conformity to "an act of Congress authoriz- 
ing a detachment from the militia of the United States," and pur- 
suant to a requisition of the President of the United States, Thomas 
Jefferson, calling for 14,389 men from the State of New York. Gen- 
eral Moffitt, in command of the Rensselaer county brigade, was di- 
rected to furnish 411 men. How long General Moffitt had been in 
command of the brigade and who his predecessors were cannot be 
ascertained. In the following year Michael S. Vandercook was ap- 
pointed inspector and major of the brigade; Francis Adincourt was 
appointed adjutant of the battalion of infantry which formed a part of 
the brigade, and John E. Wool was appointed quartermaster of the 
squadron of cavalry in the brigade. In pursuance of a law passed 
March 29, 1809, general orders were issued providing for the Third 
Regiment of Cavalry from Rensselaer and Columbia counties, to con- 
sist of two squadrons, one from each county. May 27 of the same 

' Counties o£ Rensselaer and Columbia. 




;erritvan schaick quac ken bush 



THE MILITIA REORGANIZED. 89 

year A. Lamb, Lieut. -Col. and Aid-de-Camp, sent out the following 
general orders under direction of the commander in-chief: 

" The company of Trojan Greens in the village of Troy having been 
organized into a rifle company pursuant to the thirty-third section of 
the militia law of the State, but their vmiform not having been pre- 
scribed, the commander-in-chief directs that the uniform of said com- 
pany shall be green short coats, with black facings trimmed with yel- 
low cord; caps of the description heretofore worn by the company, 
with green or white underclothes." 

In pursuance of general orders issued May 10, 1810, a rifle com- 
pany was organized in Lieut. -Col. Cornelius J. Schermerhorn's regi- 
ment in this county. Joel Bristol was as.signed as captain, William 
Carmichael as lieutenant and Wallace St. John as ensign. The orders 
directed that the uniform should be " green rifle frocks and plantations, 
with yellow fringe and buttons, black gaiters, round black hats, with 
yellow buttons, black loops and short green feathers." A company of 
artillery was organized in accordance with general orders issued Sep- 
tember 15, 1810, with Daniel St. John as captain, Joseph Benedict as 
first lieutenant and Nathan Durry as second lieutenant. Another com- 
pany of artillery was organized in pursuance of orders issued July 24, 
1810, with Brevet Martin \^an Alstyne as captain, Nathan Payne as 
first lieutenant and Rinier Van Alstyne as second lieutenant. 

The early militia of Rensselaer county evidently had excellent stand- 
ing at the headquarters in Albany, for the following highly compli- 
mentary order was issued by the commander in-chief April 6, 1811: 

The commander-in-chief has heard with much satisfaction of the enterprising 
spirit and military ambition which prevails among the officers and soldiers of the 
companies of riflemen in the county of Rensselaer, and it having been represented 
to him that there are already three companies in the brigade of militia in said 
county, each of which contains more than thirty men uniformed and equipped ac- 
cording to law, he does hereby direct that the rifle companies in the said brigade be 
henceforth organized into a battalion of riflemen, to be commanded by Major Wil- 
liam S. Parker, of Troy. 

In pursuance of these orders the three companies were at once or- 
ganized into a brigade with the following officers: William S. Parker, 
First Major, Commandant; Henry Coon, Second Major; Stephen War- 
ren, Captain; David Bell, Captain; Joel Bristol, Captain; Jedediah 
Tracy, Lieutenant; James De Freest, Lieutenant; William Carmichael, 
Lieutenant; Sidney Dole, Ensign; Stephen Tripp, Ensign; Abraham 



90 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

H. Lansing, Junior Ensign. Pursuant to general orders issued June 18, 
1812, there was a general reorganization of all the militia of the State, 
in anticipation of their employment in the war of 1812. In this reor- 
ganization Tisdale Eddy of Rensselaer county was appointed Second 
Major in the Ninth Regiment of the Third Brigade, and Michael Van- 
dercook was appointed Brigade Major and Inspector in the Second 
Brigade. 

On the 13th of April, 1812, the Rensselaer county brigade formed a 
part of the Third Division, which was in command of Major- General 
Henry Livingston. The brigade was called the Eighth Brigade of 
Infantry and was under the command of General Jacob A. Fort, The 
six regiments comprising it were commanded respectively as follows: 
First, Colonel Caleb Carr; Forty-third, Colonel Cornelius J. Schermer- 
horn ; Forty-fifth, Colonel Gilbert Eddy; Seventy- eighth. Colonel 
Joseph Dorr; Eighty-sixth, Colonel Thomas Reynolds; One hundred 
and Fifty-fifth, Colonel Thomas Davis. 

The war in which this country and Great Britain had become in- 
volved in 1812 had now assumed threatening proportions and new 
militia companies were organized all over the country. Rensselaer 
county promptly fell in line, and another rifle company was organized, 
pursuant to orders issued by the commander-in-chief December 4, 1812. 
It consisted of forty-two persons and was officered as follows: Junior 
Captain, Reuben Babcock; Lieutenant, Ellis Foster; Ensign, Henry 
Tracey. 

It will be seen from the roster of officers of the militia of Rensselaer 
county in the early years of the nineteenth century that this county 
had more than its quota of soldiers prepared to assist in repelling any 
invader that might attempt to desecrate American territory. It is a 
matter of keen regret that those intrusted with the duty of keeping a 
record of the vState guard did not more carefully keep and preserve the 
minutes of the Rensselaer county militia. 



THE ANTI-RENT WAR. 91 



CHAPTER VIII. 

The Famous Anti-Rent Troubles in Rensselaer County and Vicinity — The Cen- 
tres of the Scenes of Disturbance — Anti-Rent Associations — Refusals of the Occu- 
pants of Farms to Pay Rent — The Murder of Griggs — Arrest, Trial and Acquittal of 
Witbeck, the Alleged Murderer. 

The anti-rent troubles, which culminated in the organization of the 
Anti-Rent Party and the inauguration of what was known as the Anti- 
Rent War, form one of the most exciting chapters in the history of 
Rensselaer county. These troubles were not confined to Rensselaer 
county alone but affected thousands of farmers and landowners through- 
out the eastern and southeastern parts of the State of New York. 
The Anti-Rent War grew out of a series of disputes between landlords 
and tenants over leasehold tenures. As we have said the original grant 
of the manor of Rensselaerwyck was made by the Dutch in 1630. The 
grant extended from the Mohawk river at the Cohoes falls on the north 
twenty four miles down the Hudson river, and had a width of sixteen 
miles, eight miles each east and west from that stream. When the 
Dutch were succeeded by the English and New Netherland became 
New York, Thomas Dongan, governor of the colony of New York from 
1683 to 1688, was instrumental in causing another grant to be made by 
the English government. This second grant was called the Dongan 
Patent and extended the manor of Rensselaerwyck twenty-four miles 
east and west of the Hudson, thus taking in the whole of what 
is now Rensselaer county, with the exception of the northern tier of 
towns. Under this system the occupants of the lands could not own 
their farms or homes but leased them for a long term of years from the 
proprietors, paying an annual rental therefor — " groimd rent, " as it was 
called. Nearly all the county was occupied by husbandmen under per- 
petual leases, which were executed by General Stephen Van Rensse- 
laer, a descendant of the first patroon, Killiaen Van Rensselaer, who 
received the estate by entail. Under the constitutional provisions the 
entail ended with him. 

General Van Rensselaer was respected and beloved by all his tenants. 



92 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

He never adopted any oppressive methods, and every farmer in the 
county looked upon him as his personal friend. When he came into 
possession of the vast estates the leases previously held by the tenants 
were surrendered and others given in their places. The rents were re- 
served in wheat, fowls and services with horses and wagons, in addi- 
tion to " quarter sales, " which entitled the landlord to one-fourth of 
the proceeds of every sale ; but no rights from descent were granted. 
General Van Rensselaer died in 1830, leaving the west manor, which 
embraced Albany county, to Stephen Van Rensselaer, his oldest son by 
his first marriage ; and the east manor, most of Rensselaer county, to 
William P. Van Rensselaer, his oldest son by his second marriage. 
Fearing that these young men would enforce the quarter-sale forfeiture, 
which had never been enforced by their ancestor, the tenants of the 
land sent a delegation to negotiate, if possible, a purchase of all the 
reservations in the leases and terminate their tenure. But they were 
too late. While this doubtless could have been done during the life of 
Stephen Van Rensselaer, his sons refused to consider any proposition, 
and the tenants in all localities at once organized to oppose the enforce- 
ment of the lease tenure. Anti-Rent associations were organized 
everywhere, and though some of the tenants were conservative men 
they dared not oppose the powerful enemies of the landlords; neither 
did they dare to pay ground rent to the Van Rensselaer brothers. 

The condition of affairs in Rensselaer county, as well as in Albany 
and other counties, especially in the rural districts, soon became very 
exciting. Conflicts constantly occurred between the Anti- Renters and 
the authorities. Parties of the former went about the country in dis- 
guise and committed many depredations, often becoming a terror to 
the community in which they existed. Asa rule the members of these 
bands were unknown to those not interested in the raids made. Finally 
the crimes committed by them became so numerous that laws were 
passed making it a felony for any person to wear a disguise over the 
face. 

The first conflict between the anti-renters and the authorities which 
resulted in a fatality occurred in the town of Grafton, where a band of 
the most lawless of the anti-renters killed a man named vSmith on the 
public highway. The affair was investigated but the authorities were 
unable to ascertain the authors of the crime. 

The next important step on the part of the anti-renters was the or- 
ganization of a political party, whose policy should be to elect to office 



THE WITBECK MURDER CASE. 93 

none but sympathizers with the cause if possible. The result was that 
during- the five years from 1S42 to 1847 the Anti-Rent party succeeded 
in electing about one-eighth of the members of the Legislature. Some 
of the most able men in the constitutional convention of 1846 were 
friends of the cause of the anti-renters, and through their influence 
there was inserted in the new constitution a clause abolishing all feudal 
tenures and prohibiting the leasing of agricultural lands for more than 
twelve years. After this the condition of the tenants was ameliorated 
by the passage by the Legislature from time to time of laws bearing- 
heavily upon landlords. 

No sensational incidents developed after the year 1847 or 1848, the 
principal efforts of the anti renters being- extended toward testing in 
the courts the validity of titles to lands held by landlords. In 1854 
Col. Walter S. Church of Albany, who already had obtained con- 
trol of large tracts of land, purchased the rights of Stephen and Will- 
iam P. Van Rensselaer, subsequently bringing over one thousand suits 
in ejectment on a forfeiture of his leases for non-payment of rent, 
and recording judgments in about every case, in Rensselaer county 
alone. The courts sustained the contracts in every case. Three offi- 
cers of the law were killed in the efforts to serve processes, but the 
work was prosecuted to the end, until every case was settled. 

The most famous incident in the fight between Colonel Church and 
the tenants of his lands was the Witbeck murder case, in which the 
Hon. Martin L Townsend of Troy took a prominent part. In the Troy 
Press of December 10, 18!»0, Mr. Townsend related the story of the 
murder and trial as follows: 

Colonel Church was in his day a very notable man in the county of Ren.sselaer. 
In 1834 or 1835 a great excitement arose in the county in regard to the rents re- 
served upon lands in the central and more southern part of the county to the Van 
Rensselaer family in deeds made varying in time from the middle of the eighteenth 
century to 1834 or 1835. It was said that the Van Rensselaers had never received 
any proper grant for the lands they had obtained from the Netherlands, and that 
the then existing family of Van Rensselaers, claiming lands and rents growing out 
of them, were not the true heirs of those to whom the Netherlands had originally 
granted lands on the right and left banks of the Hudson. 

It was also claimed that the attempt to hold them was mere usurpation, and that 
it was a rule of law that has been proved under the English common law that a man 
who took leases from others should be held to have assented to the ownership of his 
landlord. When the Van Rensselaers came to claim rent, they argued that they had 
the right to prove not only that the tenant had agreed to pay rent, but that the lessor 



94 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

really was possessed of the land he agreed to lease. The courts held otherwise, and 
there was great excitement in Albany and Rensselaer counties. 

Hundreds of farmers, bound by an agreement to resist the payment of rents, 
turned out disguised and armed to prevent the sheriff from levying-' on personal 
property to pay the rent demanded. A large number of residents of Rensselaer, as 
well as Delaware and other counties, were resisting the enforcement of these laws. 
Troops from Rensselaer county were called to the Helderberg mountains in Albany 
county to join the troops of that county in resisting the efforts of the rebels, and 
over and over again the sheriff and a posse of police sent by him were driven back 
in attempts to pass into the eastern and southern parts of Rensselaer county for the 
collection of rents and the enforcement of processes for that purpose. 

The result of these acts was a great reduction in the value of the Van Rensselaer 
rents, and they became scarcely available at all to their owners. Under these cir- 
cumstances Colonel Church and others associated with him became large purchasers 
of these reserved rents. Colonel Church was among the most prominent in seeking 
to enforce their collection. Controversies arose everywhere and sheriffs met with 
great difficulty in serving processes. There were many men in Rensselaer, Albany 
and Columbia counties who became frantic on the subject of resistance of rents and 
to feel inspired almo.st to do great work in resisting the collection, or in the lan- 
guage of that day, " putting down rents." 

One of the most resolute of these men was W. W. Witbeck of Greenbush, who was 
a large holder of land inherited from his father. With Colonel Church he had a 
great deal of trouble, incurring large expense and setting up such defenses as were 
always overruled by the courts. Judgments accumulated and his property, originally 
very abundant, was largely swept away by these judgments for unpaid rents. Colonel 
Church finally had a judgment issued turning Witbeck from one of his farms. The 
deputy sherilYwho held the writ was Willard Griggs of Alps, in the town of Nassau. 
The land was in Greenbush, a couple of miles from the Bath ferry. It was next to 
impossible to get a posse of citizens in Greenbush to aid the deputy, and the law 
required that the posse .should be summoned from among the citizens of the county. 
But Col. Church and Griggs collected twenty-one roughs in Albany and went to 
Witbeck's farm to dispossess him. Witbeck, his two sons and a hired man were 
found on the place with a few neighbors, who seemed to have been there accident- 
ally. When the attempt was made to get possession of the farm open resistance 
was offered. Pistols were fired, clubs used and missiles thrown. Mr. Griggs was 
badly hurt and was taken to a neighboring house. Col. Church and the rest of the 
posse left. Griggs died the next morning. Pistol wounds were found on him, but 
the cause of death was a blow on the head, fracturing the skull. Witbeck. his sons 
and the hired man were arrested on the charge of murder and indicted. The trial 
was at Ballston, Saratoga county, a change of venue being had owing to the intense 
condition of public opinion in Rensselaer county. The judge was Hon. A. B. James 
of Ogdensburg, and the lawyers for the people were: Hon. T. S. Banker, district 
attorney of Rensselaer county ; Hon. William A. Beach of Troy, and Hon. Matthew 
Hale of Albany. For the defense there were Hon. Henry Smith of Albany and 
Hon. E. L. Fursman and myself of this city. All of the defendants were acc[uitted. 
This was the most important struggle in which Church ever was engaged and re- 
sulted very much to his pecuniary disadvantage. But he kept up the fight and there 
are now in the courts twenty-five or thirty cases in which he is plaintiff. 



IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 95 



CHAPTER IX. 

Rensselaer County in the War of the Rebellion — Organization in Troy of the First 
Regiment of Volunteer Soldiers Who Served in the War — History of the Second 
Regiment — Operations of the Thirtieth, One-hundred and Sixty-ninth, and One 
Hundred and Twenty-fifth Regiments — The Twenty-first New York, or theGriswold 
Cavalry. 

To the county of Rensselaer, and particularly to the city of Troy, 
belongs the credit of organizing the first volunteer regiment of Union 
soldiers which served in the War of the Rebellion. Months before the 
inauguration of hostilities by the firing upon Fort Sumter the patriotic 
citizens of Troy resolved to offer their services to the government to 
assist in the preservation of the Union; for the air was full of portent- 
ous rumors and many predicted that a resort to arms would be neces- 
sary before the rebellious believers in the right of secession could be 
induced to lay down their arms Three months before the first gun of 
that bloody war had been fired at Charleston the Freeman cadets were 
organized, the first formal meeting being held at the Mansion house 
in Troy on the evening of January 11, 1861'. Five days later organiza- 
tion was perfected by the election of John W. Armitage as captain, 
George A. Hitchcock as first lieutenant and Charles H. Woodruft' as 
second lieutenant. There is no record in history of the organization 
of any military company for this express purpose before this date. 

The day on which the bombardment of Fort Sumter occurred, April 
12, 1861, the news was carried to Troy by telegraph and the wildest 
excitement prevailed. Nothing but talk of w'ar was heard on ever}' 
side. One company having already been organized, the loyal citizens 
at once took steps to form a regiment for the aid of the government. 
Within the next two or three days the national colors floated to the 
spring breezes from all the public buildings in the city and from busi- 
ness houses and dwellings. A martial feeling pervaded the whole at- 
mosphere. On the evening of Monda}- April 15, a largely attended 
mass meeting of citizens was held in Harmony hall for the purpose of 
endorsing the attitude of the national administration and to tender it 



96 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

the support of Trojans in its efforts to crush the rebelHon. The Hon. 
John A. (iriswokl was chairman of the meeting and he and the Hon. 
Martin I. Townsend and the Hon. Isaac McConihe, jr., made addresses 
which voiced the patriotic sentiment of the meeting. Resohitions were 
adopted pledging vohmteers and money for the aid of tlie government 
and condemning the Southern vStates for their treason in seceding from 
the Union. So great was the crowd in the hall and in the streets, where 
thousands of men waited while the meeting was in progress, that it was 
deemed advisable to make an early iidjournment and repair to some 
place where the multitude could be accommodated. 

The meeting accordingly reconvened in the Union depot, where an- 
other strong and patriotic speech was made by Mr. Townsend, who 
pictured in eloquent phrases the great danger that menaced the nation 
through the ill-advised course pursued by the rebel States. Speeches 
were also made by Clarence Buel and George W. Demers, who urged 
upon those present the necessity of tendering immediate assistance to 
the nation in its critical hour. 

The two mass meetings had the desired effect, if indeed they were 
needed to arouse the patriotism of the men of Troy. The next day en- 
listing offices were opened at the following places: At No. 2 Second 
street, by Captain John W. Armitage; at the Troy Citizens Corps's 
armory, by William A. Olmstead; at No. 132 Riv^er street, b}' John 
Arts; at No. 4 Chatham square, by Michael Cassidy; at the corner of 
Adams and Fourth streets, b}' William McConihe; at the Troy City 
Artillery's armory, by Captain Sidney A. Park; at the Rendezvous, by 
George H. Otis; at No, 123 Congress street, by William B. Tibbits; at 
Lansingburgh, by (George W. Wilson; and at Green Island, by Joseph 
G. McNutt. The rec^uired number of men having been enlisted by 
Captain Armitage April 18, he went that day to the State capital and 
tendered the services of his command to Governor Morgan — the first 
company offered to and accepted by the State in response to the call of 
President Lincoln. On that evening the Troy Common Council appro- 
l)riated the sum of $10,000 for the support of the families of the enlisted 
men while they were engaged in the war; and at the same time a mass 
meeting was held in Harmony hall to provide means for the same pur- 
pose. The citizens quickly responded to the call, and within two days 
the fund amounted to more than $26,000. 

The Rensselaer County Agricultural and Manufacturers' society hav- 
ing offered the use of its buildings and grounds to the volunteer com- 




.•i^^^ j^j£t. ^^. J>tlSS^^njs iS^^a A/j-^ 




^t^ MJJU^^-^ 



ORGANIZATION OF THE SECOND REGIMENT. 97 

panics, on the following Monday, April 22, the four companies organ- 
ized by Captains Armitage, Olmstead, Otis and Wilson, all under 
command of Colonel Joseph B. Carr, marched to the fair grounds of 
the society, there to rendezvous until the completion of the organiza- 
tion of the regiment. The next day the remaining companies en- 
camped there with them. April 24 Lieutenant George L. Willard, U. 
S. A., then on the staff of General John E. Wool, was chosen colonel; 
Joseph B. Carr was chosen lieutenant-colonel, and R. Wells Kenyon 
was chosen major. Through a clerical error made in the order of fil- 
ing the papers in the office of the adjutant-general the regiment was 
designated as the vSecond Regiment of New York State Volunteers, 
while it should have been called the First Regiment, as it in reality 
was. On the same day Colonel Willard appointed Captain Timothy 
Ouinn of the Republican Guards to the office of adjutant of the regi- 
ment, and Charles L. MacArthur of the Troy Citizens Corps to the 
office of quartermaster. 

When Colonel Willard was appointed to the command of the regi- 
ment he accepted the honor conferred upon him, with the proviso that 
the War Department would allow him, an officer in the Regular Army, 
to retain the position. But the regiment was doomed to disappoint- 
ment, for soon after he received orders from headquarters in Washing- 
ton to resign his command as an officer of volunteers, which order he 
obeyed May 6; and May 10, Joseph B. Carr was elected colonel, R. 
Wells Kenyon, lieutenant-colonel and Richard D. Bloss major. Dr. 
Reed B. Bontecou was appointed surgeon and Dr. Le Roy McLean 
assistant surgeon. The regiment now numbered thirty-seven com- 
missioned officers and 725 enlisted men, and organization having been 
perfected it was mustered into the service of the United States for two 
years May 14, 1861, by Captain L. Sitgreaves of the Topographical 
Engineer Corps of the United States Army. The company officers 
on the day on which the regiment was mustered in were as follows: 

Company A. — Captain John W. Armitage, First Lieutenant Calvin W. Link, 
Second Lieutenant George A. Hitchcock. 

Company B. — Captain William A. Olmstead, First Lieutenant T. Clement Had- 
dock, Second Lieutenant Lee Churchill. 

Companj' C. — Captain George H. Otis, First Lieutenant S. D. Perkins, Second 
Lieutenant, William H. Pitt. 

Company D. — Captain Michael Cassidy, First Lieutenant John Maguire, Second 
Lieutenant John McCaffrey. 
13 



98 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Company E. — Captain George W. Wilson, First Lieutenant John H. Ouackenbush, 
Second Lieutenant Edgar T. Wilson. 

Company F. — Captain Sidney W. Park, First Lieutenant James A. Cross, Second 
Lieutenant Henry Harrison. 

Company G. — Captain William B. Tibbits, First Lieutenant James A. Savage, 
Second Lieutenant Thomas Sullivan. 

Company H. — Captain Jo.seph G. McNutt, First Lieutenant Thomas O'Brien, 
Second Lieutenant William McPheters. 

Company L — Captain William McConihe, First Lieutenant Joseph Lafuira, Sec- 
ond Lieutenant George Taffe. 

Company K. — Captain John Arts, First Lieutenant Henry Jansen, Second Lieu- 
tenant August Kolbe. 

The scene of the departure of the vSecond Regiment for the seat of 
war on the morning' of vSatiirday, May 18, was one of the most memo- 
rable incidents in the history of Troy. Practically the entire popula- 
tion turned out and the streets were wellnigh impassable to all except 
the brave volunteer soldiers. The regiment left the fair grounds, 
which had been named Camp Willard in honor of the first commanding 
officer, and marched through River street to Washington square, 
thence down vSecond street to the court house, where the Hon. George 
Gould presented a beautiful regimental flag to the command, in behalf 
of a number of the women of Troy; and the Rev. J. T. Duryea pre- 
sented to Colonel Carr, in behalf of the Rensselaer County Bible So- 
ciety, a handsomely bound Bible. The regiment was escorted by Do- 
ring's band, sixty police officers, the Troy Citizens Corps, the Troy 
City Artillery, the Irish Volunteers, the Columbian Guards, the Jack- 
son Guards, the Wool Guards, Washington Volunteers, Premier En- 
gine company, Torrent Engine company, Niagara Engine company. 
La Fayette Engine Company, Rough and Ready Engine company, 
Trojan Hook and Ladder company, Franklin Hose company, Joseph 
C. Taylor Hose company, and the members of the Common Council. 
At the wharf at the foot of Albany street the regiment embarked on a 
barge for Albany, under the escort of the Troy Citizens Corps and 
Boring's band, from which city it left Sunday evening for New York 
on the steamboat New World. William Kemp was appointed pay- 
master of the regiment by Governor Morgan June 7, filling that office 
until the government discharged the paymasters appointed by the 
various States. 

During its stay in New York the regiment was quartered at Devlin's 
building on Canal street. May 21 knapsacks, canteen, haversacks and 



THE FIRST TASTE OF BATTLE. 99 

camp equipage were provided, and the next day the command em- 
barked on the steamer James Adger, which arrived at Fortress Mon- 
roe May 24. After disembarking the regiment marched that noon to 
the main land, where tents were pitched and pickets thrown out. This 
encampment was the first in Virginia outside of Fortress Monroe of 
volunteer troops in the service of the United States after the com- 
mencement of the war. The camp was named Camp Troy by Colonel 
Carr, but it was soon changed to Camp Hamilton by order of General 
Pierce. 

Soon after the arrival of the Troy regiment at Camp Hamilton, five 
other regiments arrived and camped near" by. June 7 companies E 
and G, of the 2nd Regiment, under Major Bloss, were ordered to pro- 
ceed by land to Hampton, three miles away, on a reconnoitering expe- 
dition. The next day a small force was met near New Market Bridge, 
where one of the Union soldiers was captured. This was followed by 
a skirmish, when the Union forces retreated to camp. 

As soon as it was learned at the fort that a rebel force was so near, 
the remaining companies of the regiment marched beyond Hampton, 
two field-pieces being carried by Company F. On the evening of June 
9 Company F, in command of Lieutenant Cross, marched to Hampton 
with the two field pieces. Part of his men were left there with the 
artillery, and soon after midnight the remainder, twenty-seven in num- 
ber, took two twelve-pound howitzers and proceeded. toward Big Bethel 
in company with the Third New York Vols. Before it was yet day- 
break they were met near Little Bethel by the Seventh New York 
Vols, under Colonel Bendix who, mistaking them for the enemy, opened 
fire upon them. The fire was returned and a hot fig'ht had just begun 
when the two bodies recognized each other and a useless slaughter of 
friends by friends was averted. The forces then united and proceeded 
toward Big Bethel under command of General Pierce. As they were 
approaching this place they were fired upon by partially masked rebel 
artillery. After recovering from their surprise they placed their artil- 
lery in position and returned the fire. The battle then commenced 
continued for nearly five hours, from nine o'clock in the morning till 
nearly two in the afternoon. As soon as this engagement began 
the remaining comjianies of the Second Regiment and the First Regi- 
ment left Camp Hamilton and proceeded toward the scene of action. 
Lieutenant Greble at once brought into action the piece of artillery 
brought with the reinforcements, but after it had been fired the third 

LofC. 



100 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

time he was struck by a cannon ball and instantly killed. During the 
engagement but one other man was wounded. 

July 6, after examination of the regiment by a medical board, 118 
men were reported as discharged and soon afterward were returned 
home. Many of these were unquestionably in good health and the 
majority of those relieved of duty re-enlisted. August 5 the regiment 
broke camp and was taken by water to Camp Butler at Newport News. 
Lieutenant-Colonel Kenyon and Major Bloss had resigned soon after 
the battle of Big Bethel, and August 7 announcement was made of the 
appointment of Captain Olmstead of Company B to be lieutenant- 
colonel and Captain Otis of Company C to be major. 

An incident occurred at Camp Hamilton August 15 which for a time 
threatened the peace of the little military colony. The men had re- 
ceived no money since the first pay day, June 15, when they had been 
paid by the State. When the morning of August 15 arrived, therefore, 
the camp was a scene of disorder, the arms of the regiment having 
been stacked in the company streets and the men themselves having 
refused to perform further duty. A score or so of men who were sup- 
posed to have led the insurrection were at once sent as prisoners to the 
" Rip-Raps," a fortified prison on a small island at the mouth of the 
James River. In the afternoon about eighty-five more men who had 
refused to perform guard duty in the morning were likewise impris- 
oned. To the men who were left General Phelps explained the duty 
of the soldier and the rights of the government and gave all till the 
following morning to make up their minds whether they would be 
obedient or not. So great was the determination of the men, how- 
ever, that on the following day 210 still refused to perform the duties 
to which they were assigned and they, too, were sent as prisoners to 
the " Rip-Raps." After a week's imprisonment most of the men sent 
in a request that they might be allowed to return to their regiment. 
Their request was promptly granted by General John E. Wool, then 
in command of Fortress Monroe, and August 23 all the prisoners except 
a dozen or thereabouts, leaders who were held for trial, were taken 
back to their regiment. 

It having become evident that many more men would be needed to 
put down the rebellion, August 28 Lieutenant-Colonel Olmstead, ac- 
companied by a non-commissioned officer, was detailed to return to 
Troy and recruit the regiment to the maximum strength allowed — 
1,046 men. September 23 Captain Arts and an enlisted man were 



THE MONITOR AND THE MERRIMAC. 101 

sent to Troy to assist him. As a result of their labors 181 men, 
besides Boring's band of Troy, consisting of sixteen musicians, enlisted 
and were sent to the camp. The regiment was still further increased 
in numbers, at various times, by the transfer thereto of volunteers 
from other regiments. Still more men being needed Captain William 
McConihe, Lieutenant James A. Cross and four enlisted men were de- 
tailed to go to Albany on recruiting service Januar}' 1, 1862, but they 
succeeded in securing the enlistment of only seventeen men. 

After the spring of 1862 this section became the theatre for more 
stirring and important incidents. Captain John Ericsson of New York 
had invented and built an entirely novel war-vessel with a single round 
tower of iron exposed above the waterline. It was called the Monitor. 
The Confederates, meanwhile, had raised the United States frigate 
Merrimac, one of the sunken ships at the Norfolk navy yard, and had 
plated its exposed surface with iron. As soon as this vessel was ready 
it was dispatched to attack the Union fleet anchored off Fortress Mon- 
roe. Reaching this point about ten o'clock on the morning of March 
8 she began the work of destruction. Before nightfall the Cumberland 
and the Congress, two of the most valuable vessels in our navy, were 
sent to the bottom with a heavy loss of life. After the surrender of 
the Congress an effort was made to remove the prisoners on her by a 
small steamer sent out from the Merrimac, but the sharpshooters on 
shore kept up such a hot lire upon the craft that it was obliged to re- 
turn without having accomplished its mission. The ironclad again 
opened fire on the Congress and after setting her afire moved away. 
Soon after most of the ofificers and crew of the Congress were taken 
ashore. The Cumberland, meantime, had gone down with the Union 
flag flying. During these naval battles a detachment from the Second 
Regiment under Lieutenant George Gould of Company B was engaged 
with artillery in trying to assist the federal warships to drive the iron- 
clad away, but their shots did little or no injury to their antagonist. 
During the night the Monitor arrived from New York and on the fol- 
lowing morning the two strange monsters fought each other for five 
hours — the strangest naval battle that had ever been fought. At the 
end of the engagement the Merrimac, badly crippled, was obliged to 
give up the contest and return to Norfolk. 

April 24, 1862, was the anniversary of the organization of the regi- 
ment. On this day the regiment, excepting Company F, was stationed 
near Newport News. The day was celebrated by a full dress parade 



102 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

and review by General Mansfield and addresses by Quartermaster 
MacArthur, General JMansfield and Colonel Carr and others. The 
gains and losses of the regiment were reported to l)e as follows on the 
anniversary of the day on which the regiment was mustered into the 
service of the United States, May 14: 

Okkileks. — Mustered into the United States service with the regiment May 14, 18G1, 
37; appointed from civil life, 10; appointed from enlisted men of the regiment, 9; 
promoted out of the regiment, 2; resigned, 19; belonging to the regiment May 14, 
1862, 35 ; total 56. 

Eni-isted Men. — Mustered into the United States service with the regiment May 
14, 1861, 742; others enlisted before the regiment left New York State, 60; enlisted 
Oct. 11, 1861, band in New York State, 16; enlisted by recruiting parties in New 
York State, 198; enlisted with the regiment in Virginia, 6; transferred from Second 
Maine, Thirteenth, Nineteenth, and Twenty-first New York Vols., 130; total, 1,152. 
Appointed commissioned officers of regiment, 9; transferred to the Tenth Infantry, 
First Mounted Rifles, New York Vols., 6; discharged July 6, 1861, result of medical 
examination, 118; discharged at other times for physical disability caused by disease, 
67; discharged by special order, musician, 1; discharged for incompetency, 3; dis- 
charged for refusing to take the oath of allegiance, 9; discharged for crime, and by 
sentence of court martial, 4; died, accidentally killed, 1 ; died of disease, 7; deserted 
before leaving New York State, 39; deserted after reaching Virginia, 13; belonging 
to regiment May 14, 1862, 875. 

One year after the departure of the regiment from Troy, on May 
18, 18G2, it once more broke camp and embarked at Fortress .Monroe 
for Portsmouth, on the opposite side of the mouth of the James river. 
Thence it proceeded to the famous battlefield of Fair Oaks. The 
battle which had been fought here a few days before had left this spot 
in a sickening condition. The heat, following a rain, was extreme, 
and the stench from the decomposing bodies of men and horses that 
had been killed in battle and only half buried was extremely nauseat- 
ing, even to the most hardened. 

The brigade was placed in command of Colonel Carr and the regi- 
ment in command of Lieutenant-Colonel Olmstead June 12, Brigadier- 
General Patterson being absent on account of sickness. On the morn- 
ing of the Kith, the enemy having made an attack on the Union picket 
line, Companies D and E were sent to reinforce the regiment on duty, 
and forced the Confederates back without any loss to the Second, 
June 21, about 6 f. m., the regiment, then occupying a redoubt near the 
Williamsburg road, was attacked but after a sharp engagement repulsed 
the rebel forces, losing in the fight one man killed and six wounded, 
the onl}' loss occurring during the entire engagement at Fair Oaks. 



iMALVERN HILL. 103 

On the afternoon of the 30th, just after the regiment had entered a 
piece of woods to rest and escape from the direct rays of the sun, the 
sound of fiorhting was heard near by and orders were given to proceed 
to the left of General Sickles's Brigade, where Company F, without 
loss of men, captured Lieutenant-Colonel Marge, four line officers and 
about 40 men, with their arms and equipments, also a battle flag, all 
belonging to the Sev^enteenth Regiment, Virginia Vols. During the night 
the company captured several more of the enemy, losing one man 
killed and one officer and two men prisoners. 

The next engagement into which the regiment entered occurred July 
1 at Malvern Hill, where it gave splendid support to a body of artillery. 
Early in the evening, after fighting all day, the enemy made a desperate 
assault, being repulsed with considerable loss after a hard fight of 
nearly three hours. Colonel Carr resumed command of the regiment 
on the 6th, General Patterson having recovered from his sickness. 

During the next few days the Brigade was increased by other regi- 
ments which had been ordered thence, and August 4, at 6 p. .m., the 
Second Regiment proceeded toward Malvern Hill. After manoeu- 
vring for a position, the intention being to surround and capture the 
enemy on the hills by storm, everything was about ready for an assault 
when General Patterson unwisely sounded a bugle call. This alarmed 
the Confederate camp and the Union forces for the time abandoned 
the contemplated attack. This was August 5. That evening General 
Patterson was relieved, Colonel Carr was given command of the Brig- 
ade and the Second Regiment was placed in charge of Captain Wilson. 
More skirmishing followed and on the 7th the Confederates were driven 
from their position on Malvern Hill, the loss of the vSecond Regiment 
in the action being one man, taken prisoner. 

Exhaustion, disease and accident had thinned the ranks of the Second 
during this trying campaign of the earh^ summer. It was calculated 
about July 1 that by these means the effective strength of the regiment 
had been reduced about 250 men, which, with eleven casualties in the 
engagements that occurred and ten desertions, left about 400 men who 
might be depended upon for active service. Consequently Com])any 
H was detailed as division provost guard and Captain Boutelle, Lieu- 
tenant Harrison and ten enlisted men were detailed as a recruiting 
party. The latter left at once for Troy and entered upon their duties. 
October these officers were relieved by Captain Quackenbush and 
Lieutenant Dickie, who were recovering from wounds they had re- 



104 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

ceived, and returned to their regiment. Of the 80 men who enlisted 
on this recruiting tour but 36 joined the regiment at the front. 

Captain George W. Wilson of Compan}' E, then in command of the 
regiment, was promoted August 12 to the position of major, made 
vacant by the resignation of George H. Otis. Three days later Harri- 
son's Landing was vacated by the Army of the Potomac. The occupa- 
tion of this point had been a terrible experience for the army, and the 
Troy regiment suffered with the rest. The excessive heat, bad water, 
poor food, constant exposure and lack of rest or recreation, added to 
the disgusting experiences at Fair Oaks, had rendered many of th& 
men useless as soldiers, having caused a large number of cases of 
chronic disease. No less than 108 members of the regiment, who but 
a short time before had been in perfect health, were transported to 
hospitals, the majority of them finally being discharged for disability. 

About three o'clock m tlie afternoon, the 27th, the eneni}' was found 
near Bristoe Station near the railroad. Colonel Carr was then in com- 
mand of the brigade. Soon afterward another regiment of the brigade 
joined the vSecond, and the enemy opened a brisk fire by both artillery 
and musketry. In the sharp battle that followed a large number of 
our men were either killed or wounded. Included among the latter 
were Captains Ouackenbush, Maguire and Perkins, and Lieutenants 
Egolf, Kirker and Temple. Captain Park, who had been placed in 
temporary command of the Second on account of the prostration of 
Major Wilson by the heat of the day, seeing that the regiment was un- 
supported and that it would not be able to maintain its position, ordered 
a retreat to the edge of the woods in the rear, where the regiment re- 
mained until the close of the engagement. Roll call that night revealed 
the fact that ten men in the regiment had been killed, and six officers 
and forty-nine men wounded. 

About 11 A. .\r. of the 29th the Second Bull Run battle field was 
reached while that bloody fight was in progress. Line was formed and 
at 2 1'. M. the brigade was ordered to the front and given a dangerous 
position to maintain. Regiment after regiment broke and retreated, 
but the Second maintained its position until the supporting regiment 
next on its left gave way. Then the enemy were seen both on its left 
and in its rear and the order to fall back was given, the Second firing 
as it retreated in good order. The loss during the battle was found to 
be one killed, three wounded and nine prisoners. Action was renewed 
about two o'clock on the afternoon of the 30th. At twilight Colonel 




S^ A-^£"Z^P*i2£i™s i3,^r-t, A/'y 



THE WINTER'S CAMPAIGN. 105 

Carr, in response to orders, moved the brigade in retreat towards Cen- 
treville, where it arrived completely tired out soon after midnight and 
bivouacked. 

September 10 Lieutenant-Colonel Olmstead, having recovered from his 
long sickness, returned and resumed command. Three days later Colo- 
nel Joseph B. Carr, on the recommendation of Major-General Hooker, 
received his commission as brigadier- general of the the United States 
Volunteers. Several other changes among the commanding officers 
took place about this time. In addition to the promotion of the brave 
General Carr, he was, on September 24, relieved of the command of 
Third Brigade and assigned to that of the First Brigade, Second Divis- 
ion. September 27, Brigadier-General Daniel E. Sickles succeeded 
General Grover in the command of the Second Division. September 
30 Brigadier-General F. E. Patterson assumed his old command, that 
of the brigade of which the Troy regiment formed a part. October 15 
General Carr was assigned to the command of the Second Brigade, 
formerly General Sickles's command. October 17 Captain Sidney W. 
Park of Company F, having been appointed colonel of the Second 
Regiment on the recommendation of General Carr, received his com- 
mission and assumed command. 

On the morning of November 1 orders were received to be ready to 
move at a moment's notice. The regiment proceeded to near Fairfax 
Seminary, there joining the rest of the division; thence moving to a 
point about six miles back of Alexandria. The next day it proceeded 
past Centre ville and Bull Run, and that night bivouacked near Black- 
burn's Ford. On the 9th, while the regiment was encamped at Manas- 
sas Junction, Lieutenant-Colonel Olmstead was relieved of duty with 
the Second Regiment and given the command of the One-hundred and 
Fifteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. On the 10th announce- 
ment was made of the promotion of Captain William B. Tibbits of 
Company G to be major, to succeed Major Wilson resigned. 

December i, while the regiment was encamped on the road between 
Boscobel and Falmouth, its officers presented to their late commanding 
colonel, Brigadier-General Joseph B. Carr, a fine set of cavalry equip- 
ment, as a token of their remembrance of him and the high esteem in 
which he was held. On the morning of the same day the entire Second 
Division was tendered a reception by General Hooker. 

The great battle of Fredericksburg began on the morning of Decem- 
ber 11 . Early on the afternoon of the i;}th the Third Brigade followed 
14 



106 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

other bodies of men to the support of Franklin's Division, the left wing 
of the army. Crossing the pontoon bridge the Second Regiment led 
the brigade to the front of the scene of action, near the first line of 
battle. The only loss to the Second Regiment during this engagement 
was four prisoners, all stragglers. 

Christmas day brought another surprise to the soldiers, when Briga- 
dier-General Joseph W. Revere was transferred to the command of the 
Second Brigade, and Brigadier-General Gershom Mott assumed com- 
mand of the Third Brigade. 

Little of importance transpired after this until April 30, when word 
was received that the Union forces had succeeded in crossing the 
Rappahannock above Fredericksburg, at the United vStates Ford, and 
had turned the enemy's left. The brigade at once proceeded towards 
this point, crossing the ford May 1 and going at once on picket duty. 
Two days later firing became general and several men in the regiment 
were either killed or wounded. Captain McConihe received a severe 
wound in the breast, and while the regiment was advancing to the front 
line Colonel Park was shot in the knee, the injury being so great that his 
leg was amputated at once. Lieutenant-Colonel Olmstead succeeded 
Colonel Park to the command, and the regiment changed its position 
and opened fire on the enemy. But ammunition soon became scarce 
and the brigade was ordered to the rear. While Lieutenant-Colonel 
Olmstead was looking for ammunition he learned that the brigade had 
been ordered to return to the United States Ford, and consequently he 
hastened to rejoin his regiment. It was on this occasion that the good 
judgment of Brigadier-General Carr doubtless saved a great and un- 
necessary loss of life. Colonel Olmstead's information was correct. 
The entire division had been ordered back to the ford by General 
Revere, who had assumed command on the death of General Berry, 
and the Second Brigade had started to obey; but General Carr, in 
command of the First Brigade, had refused to recognize the order and 
had at once communicated the same to General Sickles. The result 
was that the foolhardy Revere was placed under arrest while Genera] 
Carr was ordered to take command of the entire division. 

When Lieutenant-Colonel Olmstead arrived at the fort he reorgan- 
ized the regiment and started for the front. Soon after the rebels 
attacked the left flank, but were repulsed and driven back beyond 
their breastworks by the Third Brigade, which were held by that 
body as a shelter. After nearly an hour's continuous fighting in this 



THE SECOND RETURNS TO TROY. 107 

position a heavy body of the Confederates advanced. The Second 
regiment was kept well under cover until the enemy had reached the 
right point, when our men opened a severe flanking fire upon them. 
Many of the enemy vi-ere driven within the lines of the brigade and 
hundreds of men and seven or eight flags were captured. Following- 
this temporary victory a large force of the enemy were massed in 
front and attacked our lines, which were soon driven back to a second 
line which had been formed while the Third Brigade had been fighting 
in front. Before daybreak on the morning of the 8th the regiment 
jomed in the retreat of the whole army. Fifty men of the Second 
were killed, injured and taken prisoners in the engagement, as follows : 
Three enlisted men were killed ; three officers were severely wounded 
and two slightly; two enlisted men were mortally wounded, twelve 
severely wounded and twenty-six slightly wounded; one enlisted man 
was wounded and taken prisoner, and one man capable of service was 
captured. 

But little more remains to be told concerning the work of the Sec- 
ond Regiment. On the morning of May 14 orders were received from 
General Sickles, in command of the Third Corps, directing that the 
regiment should start that day for Troy and there be mustered out of 
the service of the United States. Those who had enlisted for three 
years, however, were transferred to the Seventieth New York Vols, 
to serve out the balance of their time. In General Sickles's orders he 
called attention to the fact that the regiment had shared with Hooker's 
veteran division "the honors and perils of the campaign before Rich- 
mond. It served with credit under General Pope in front of Rich- 
mond, and with increased distinction under General Hooker in the 
recent operations on the Rappahannock. Fair Oaks, Glendale, Mal- 
vern Hill, Bristoe, Manassas and Chancellorsville should be borne on 
the regimental colors and ever remembered by the officers and soldiers 
of the regiment." 

The regiment arrived at Jersey City on the afternoon of the loth, 
where it was met by a committee of the citizens of Troy, accompanied 
by Boring's band, and escorted to New York, where it embarked on 
the steamer Cornelius Vanderbilt for Troy. On the morning of May 
14, about seven o'clock, the troops arrived home, where a rousing 
demonstration of welcome awaited them. The wharf and the streets 
were filled with friends of the returning soldiers, including the wives 
and sweethearts of many of them ; and when at eight o'clock the regi- 



108 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

ment took up the line of march through the principal streets, escorted 
by the Common Council, the Twenty-fourth Regiment, N. G. S. N. Y., 
the Fire Department and the Young Men's and Moulders' Associations, 
the enthusiasm was intense on all sides. The regiment was welcomed 
home in a speech by Mayor William L. Van Alstyne, to which Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Olmstead responded, when the parade was continued 
until it was dismissed at noon. The arms and accoutrements were 
deposited in the State armory and the men were dismissed with orders 
to report May 19, on which date it was announced they would be mus- 
tered out of the service. But many of the regimental and company 
records having been lost or destroyed the muster-out rolls were not 
completed until May 26. On the afternoon of that day the regiment 
made its final appearance upon the streets of the city, after which, at 
the armory. Captain C. H. Corning of the Seventeenth Infantry, 
United States Army, performed the brief service by which the reg'i- 
ment, consisting of 36 officers and 437 enlisted men, was mustered out 
of the service of the United States. Two days later the regiment pre- 
sented to the Common Council, for the city, the flag received on the 
day it left Troy for the front, which flag is now in the State military 
museum in Albany. 

The official statement of the gains and losses of the Second Regiment 
during its second year's service is as follows: 

OiFiCERS — Belonging to the regiment May 14, 1862, 35; appointed from civil lite, 
3 ; appointed from enlisted men of the regiment, 18 ; promoted out of regiment, 4 ; 
■ honorably discharged by War Department on account of disability caused by wounds 
received in action, 2; resigned, 11; died of wounds received in action, 1; dishonor- 
ably dismissed from the United States service by order of the War Department, 2; 
mustered out of United States service with regiment, 36; total, 56. 

Enlisted Men. — Belonging to regiment May 14, 1862, 874; enlisted by recruiting 
parties in New York State, 36; appointed commissioned officers of regiment, 18; 
transferred back to Second Regiment Maine Volunteers, 52; transferred to Seven- 
tieth New York Volunteers, May 11, 1863 (three years' men), 120. Discharged. — 
Appointed commissioned officer in Third New York Volunteers, 1 ; enlisted in regu- 
lar army, 4; expiration of service, 1 ; for physical disability caused by wounds, 17; 
for physical disability caused by disease, 117/ by sentence of court martial, 2; total 
discharged, 142. Died. — Killed and died of wounds received in action, 24; killed 
accidentally, 1; died of disease, 14; total died, 39. Deserted, 90; reported on 
muster-out roll as killed, but was taken prisoner (three j'ears' man), 1 ; mustered 
outof United Statesservice byorder, July 22, 1862 (band), 11 ; mustered out of United 
States service with regiment, May 26, 1863, 437; total enlisted men, 910. 



GROVETON, BULL RUN AND CHANTILLY. 109 

' Record of the Thirtiejh Regiment. 

The Thirtieth Regiment, New York vState Volunteers, ranked second 
to none in Rensselaer county in faithfulness of service and valorous 
deeds in the time of war. It was composed of Co. A of Lansingburgh, 
Co. B of Troy, Co. C of Schenectady, Co. D of Saratoga, Co. E of 
Poughkeepsie, Co. F of Saratoga, Co. G of Saratoga county, Co. H of 
Hoosick, Co. I of Troy, and Co. K of Valatie and Kinderhook. Co. D 
of Lansingburgh enjoyed a unique distinction, being composed of 
members of the village fire department, which was mustered in with 
the recruits attired in firemen's uniforms, consisting of red shirts, black 
trousers and regulation fire hats. The organization of the regiment 
was completed June 1, 1801, when it was mustered into the service of 
the United States for the term of two years. 

June 26, they left Albany for the front. The regiment consisted of 
ten companies which had been sent to Albany to await organization, 
and were afterward transferred to the Rensselaer county fair grounds 
between Troy and Lansingburgh. Edward Frisby of Albany was 
colonel of the regiment and led it in the various marches in front of 
Washington to Fredericksburg and along the line of the Rappahannock 
under McDowell and then under Pope, fighting at Groveton and Bull 
Run, and losing his life in the battle of Chantilly, August oO, 1862, in 
front of Stonewall Jackson's division of Lee's army, which was fight- 
ing protected by a railroad cut. The regiment, whicli went into thfe 
battle with 500 men, could scarcely muster half that number on the 
following day. Captain Samuel King and Lieutenant Frank Dargen 
of Co. A, Lansingburgh, were killed in the engagement. Captain 
Harrison Holliday of Poughkeepsie died in a few days from wounds 
received and Lieutenant Philip Rice of Co. G, Saratoga, was killed in 
the night attack at Groveton, August 29. Charles E. Brintnall of Troy, 
who had been influential in recruiting Cos. I and B, went out as lieu- 
tenant-colonel of the regiment. Col. Brintnall subsequently resigned 
and Major William M. Searing, who was appointed to fill the vacancy, 
became colonel of the regiment when Colonel Frisby was killed, and 
remained in command until the close of the term of enlistment in June, 
1863. Richard C. Bentley of Albany was adjutant; Charles E. Russ, 
also of Albany, quartermaster; Francis L. R. Chapin of the same city, 
now of Glens Falls, surgeon; Dr. Julius A. Skilton, assistant surgeon; 
Robert W. Cross, sergeant-major; Bernard Gilligan, quartermaster- 



no LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

sergeant, and Thomas Tilley, standard bearer. The regiment went to 
the front via the Hudson River and was armed with Enfield rifles. 

After the first battle of Bull Run the command marched across the 
Potomac river into Virginia. When brigades were organized under 
General McClellan the Thirtieth was brigaded with the Twenty-second 
and Twenty fourth regiments and the Fourteenth Brooklyn militia, 
forming the First Brigade of the First Army Corps under Gen. Mc- 
Dowell. This brigade participated in several heavy engagements and 
became known as Hatch's iron brigade or foot cavalry, being highly 
complimented for their behavior under fire. After the battle of Bull 
Run the regiment went over into Maryland and took part in the battles 
of South Mountain and Antietam. 

October 16, 1862 they went into camp near Harper's Ferry. At that 
time the regiment, by hard fighting and marching, had been depleted 
to seventv-five men. They afterwards served under General Hooker 
in the army of the Potomac. The regiment came home at the end of 
its term and was formalh' mustered out of the service of the United 
States at Albany a few days before the battle of Gettysburg. A num- 
ber of the men subsequently joined Colonel Chrysler in organizing the 
Second Veteran Cavalry. 

The Thirtieth was organized under the first call of President 
Lincoln for 75,000 men to serve two years. The proclamation was 
issued in April and the quota from this State, consisting of thirty-six 
regiments, was organized and on the way to the front within two 
months. The line officers of the several companies of the Thirtieth 
were as follows: 

Co. A, Lansingburgh. — Captain Samuel King, Lieutenants John H. Campbell 
and Francis Dargen. 

Co. B, Troy. — Captain Walter L. Lanning, Lieutenants Philip Casey and Sey- 
mour Scott. 

Co. C, Schenectady. — Captain H. M. Van Vorst, Lieutenants M. V. V. Smith and 
Edward Van Vorst. 

Co. D, Saratoga. — Captain Miles 1). Hliven, Lieutenants Mervin G. Putnam and 
John H. Marston. 

Co. E, Poughkeepsie. — Captain Harrison Holliday, Lieutenants Edgar S. Jen- 
nings and Nathaniel Palmer. 

Co. F, Saratoga. — Captain Albert J, Perry, Lieutenants Andrew M. Franklin 
and James M. Andrews, jr. 

Co. G, Saratoga county. — Captain Morgan H. Chrysler, Lieutenants William T. 
Conkling and Asa L. Gurney. 



THE IRON BRIGADE. Ill 

Co. H, Hoosick. — Captain Walter P. Tillman, Lieutenants Lemuel Ball and F. 
W. Barnes. 

Co. I, Troy. — Captain John M. Landon, Lieutenants vSamuel W. Potts and 
Alonzo Alden. 

Co. K, Valatie and Kinderhook. — Captain Bartholomew Pruyu, Lieutenants Gil- 
bert W. Becker and Albert Lampman. 

The regiment participated in the following battles: Falmouth, April 
9, 1862; Massapomax, August 6, 1862; Rappahannock Crossing, 
August 21, 22 and 23, 1862; Sulphur Springs, August 26, 1862; Gaines- 
ville, August 28, 1862; Groveton, August 29, 1862; Bull Run, August 
30, 1862; South Mountain and Antietam, September 4, 1862; Freder- 
icksburg, December 13, 14 and 15, 1862; Chancellorsville, April 29 to 
May 6, 1863. A permanent organization of the regiment was effected 
at Saratoga June 28, 1886 and the name " Thirtieth Infantry New 
York State A'olunteer Association " was adopted. 

The controversy which for years existed as to which brigade was en- 
titled to be called the iron brigade, was decided in favor of the brigade 
to which the Thirtieth regiment belonged and it is so recorded in his- 
tory. The Western regiment which claimed the title is now known as 
the "Western iron brigade." 

On the official list giving the percentage of losses incurred at the 
battle of Bull Run the Thirtieth stands third with nineteen per cent. 
The regiment is one of the few which received from the United vStates 
government a flag of merit. 

Operations of thk One Hundred and Sixty-ninth, 

The nucleus of the One Hundredth and Sixty-ninth N?w York Vol- 
unteers was one of the companies recruited for service with the 125th 
Regiment. When the latter regiment was organized eleven companies 
reported for duty, one too many. It being necessary to drop one com- 
])any out the War Committee of the county did not assign this company 
to a position and when the 125th Regiment left for the front this com- 
pany, nameless and without official standing, was left home. The 
company had been recruited by Captain James A. Colvin, First I^ieu- 
teuant Jerome B. Parmentcr and Second Lieutenant Bernard N. Smith 
for the 125th Regiment. Wlien it was found that the company's serv- 
ices would not be needed by the latter regiment no time was lost in 
securing from the adjutant-general of the State ^n order directing that 
the company should be mustered into service and giving its officers 



112 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

tlieir proper rank. The determination of the men comprising- the 
company to go to the front created great enthusiasm throughout the 
county, and as recruiting was still in progress and the war spirit ran 
high, the war committee decided to organize still another regiment. 
Company A, Captain Colvin's original compan}', remained in barracks 
at Batestown, near the city of Troy. August 2!», 18<i2, the field officers 
and a part of the staff were named, and by September 20 the remain- 
ing nine com])anies were organized. September 25 Companies A and 
E were mustered in by Captain Hager of the United States army, but 
the mustering in of the rest of the companies was prevented by the 
great difficulty experienced in keeping the men together. Few of the 
recruits, patriotic though they were, had gained a proper idea of the 
true position of a soldier and the officers of the new regiment experi- 
enced difficult}' in maintaining the proper discipline. Finding it prac- 
tically impossible to muster in the entire organization in Troy it was 
determined to change the base to New York, where it was believed the 
men could be kept under better restraint. Accordingly September 25 
the regiment left Batestown and proceeded by cars to New York, going 
into quarters at the Park Barracks. But city life offered too many 
temptations to the new soldiers, many of whom were young and fond 
of diversion, and it was decided to make still another change. The 
regiment therefore was ordered to New Dorp, Staten Island, where it 
remained for sixteen days while its ranks were filled up, and the work 
of mu.stering in was completed October 6, 1862. Nine days later the 
IGOth Regiment, fully equipped for war, proceeded to Washington, 
where it arrived r)ctober 18, and was quartered at the wSoldiers' Rest, 
near the Baltimore &■ Ohio Railroad depot. The next day it crossed the 
Potomac into Virginia and bivouacked near Fort Ethan Allen. Four 
days afterwards it went into camp near the chain bridge, which was 
called Camp Abercrombie, so named in honor of the general command- 
ing the post and the division. Here drills were at once begftn by Col- 
onel Clarence Buel, commanding the regiment. The officers' roster of 
the regiment at this time was as follows: 

Colonel Clarence Buel (Captain H. L. Cavalry August 14, 1^61); commissioned 
September 11, 1862; mustered October 8, 1862. 

Lieutenant-Colonel John McConihe (Captain 1st Nebraska Volunteers June 30, 
1861), commissioned September 17, 1862; mustered October 6, 1862. 

iVIajor Alonzo Alden (second-lieutenant June 1, 1861, and first-lieutenant and ad- 
jutant May 28, 1862, 30th Regiment New York Volunteers); commissioned Septem- 
ber 20, 1862; mustered October 6, 1862. 



OFFICERS OF THE 169th. 113 

Adjutant William E. Kisselburgh ; commissioned September 1, 1862; mustered 
September 1, 1862. 

Quartermaster Sidney N. Kinnej-; commissioned .September 1, 1862; mustered 
September 2, 1862. 

Surgeon John Knowlson; commissioned September 3, 1862; mustered September 
3, 1862. 

First Assistant Surgeon Joseph T. Skinner; commissioned .September 18, 1862; 
mustered September 19, 1862. 

Second Assistant Surgeon Porter L. F. Reynolds; commissioned September 22, 
1862; mustered September 22, 1862. 

Chaplain Joel W. Eaton ; commissioned September 23, 1862 ; mustered October 6, 
1862. 

Captains. — James A. Colvin, A; commissioned August 21, 1862 ; mustered Septem- 
ber 25, 1862. Nathaniel Wood, B; commissioned September 13, 1862; mustered 
October 6, 1862. Joseph H. Allen, C; commsisioned September 16, 1862: mustered 
October 6, 1862. Warren B. Coleman, D; commissioned September 17, 1862; mus- 
tered October 6, 1862. L. M. Wright, E; commissioned September 17, 1862; mus- 
tered .September 25, 1862. Augustus D. Vaughn, F ; commissioned October 11, 1862; 
mustered October 6, 1862. John T. McCoun, G; commissioned September 20, 1862; 
mustered October 6, 1862. William H. Wickes, H ; com.missioned September 20, 1862; 
mustered October 6, 1862. Michael Murnaue, I; commissioned September 20, 1862; 
mustered October 6, 1862. Daniel Ferguson, K; commissioned September 20, 1862; 
mustered October 6, 1862. 

First Lieutenants. — Jerome B. Parmenter, A; commissioned August 21, 1862; 
mustered September 25, 1862. David P. Benson, B; commissioned September 13, 
1862; mustered October 6, 1862. Frank W. Tarbell, C; commissioned September 

16, 1862; mustered October 6, 1862. Robert O'Connor, D; commissioned September 

17, 1862 ; mustered October 6, 1862. John F. Croft, E ; commissioned September 17, 
1862; mustered September 25, 1862. James F. Thompson, F; commissioned Sep- 
tember 25, 1862; mustered October 6, 1862. George H. Gager, G; commissioned 
September 20 1862; mustered October 6, 1862. William S. Hartshorn, H; commis- 
sioned September 20, 1862; mustered October 6, 1862. Spencer W. Snyder, I; com- 
missioned September 20, 1862; mustered October 6, 1862. Daniel J. Carey, K; com- 
missioned September 20, 1862; mustered October 6, 1862. 

Second Lieutenants. — Bernard N. Smith, A; commissioned August 21, 1862; mus- 
tered September 25, 1862. Michael Holmes, B; commissioned September 13, 1862 
mustered October 6, 1862. Charles E. Morey, C; commissioned September 16, 1862 
mustered October 6, 1862. John H. Hughes, D; commissioned September 17, 1862 
mustered October 6, 1862. Charles H. Palmer, E; commissioned September 17, 
1862; mustered September 25, 1882. Thomas D. Jellico, F; commissioned Septem- 
ber 23, 1862; mustered October 6, 1862. Thomas B. Eaton, G; commissioned Sep- 
tember 20, 1862; mustered October 6, 1862. William H. Lyon, H; commissioned 
September 20, 1862; mustered October 6, 1862. Patrick Connors, I; commissioned 
September 20, 1862; mustered October 6, 1862. Edwin R. Smith, K; commissioned 
September 20, 1862; mustered October 6, 1862. 

The boys of the 169th Regiment .soon realized that army life was not 

15 



114 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

one round of pleasure. Though they were located on the ver}' edge of 
scenes of some of the bloodiest conflicts of the war in which they were 
soon to participate, the officers of the regiment experienced the great- 
est difficulty in bringing them down to the stern realities of the situa- 
tion and in enforcing discipline and a proper amount of respect for 
their superiors. Soon after the regiment went into camp the War De- 
partment directed Colonel Buel to designate Major Alonzo Alden reg- 
imental referee, with powers similar to those of a court-martial. His 
decrees often seemed to be unnecessarily severe and for a time the 
major, who had seen more than a year's service in the 30th Regiment 
and was familiar with all the details of discipline, was more or less 
unpopular with the majority of men; but later on, when they began to 
see what active service meant, this feeling of antagonism turned to ad- 
miration and respect and the major was as popular before the regiment 
returned home as he had been unpopular in the early days of camp 
life. 

Little occurred to break the monotony of camp life during the sum- 
mer and early winter aside from a few changes in the personnel of the 
officers. Major Alden was appointed as a member of the court-martial 
for the trial of Colonel Doubleday of the 4th Heavy Artillery, and after 
serving three weeks he was put in command of the regiment and Col- 
onel Buel was made president of a new court. Upon its dissolution 
the latter was given the command of the brigade, then composed of the 
IGOth, the 118th and the 152d New York Yohmteers. Adjutant Kissel- 
burgh was assigned to Colonel Buel's staff and Lieutenant Jerome B. 
Parmenter succeeded Adjutant Kisselburgh. February 12, 1863, the 
lG9th Regiment was ordered to Washington for provost guard duty, 
about two weeks later making its headquarters in the new Martindale 
barracks. Soon afterward Lieutenant-Colonel McConihe, who had 
been absent since November on account of illness caused by the break- 
ing out of an old wound received at Shiloh, returned to the regiment 
and Colonel Buel was appointed on a military commission at the Old 
Capitol prison, Captain Jerome B. Parmenter acting as judge advocate 
on the same body. About the same time Major Alden was assigned to 
the command of the district of Georgetown, remaining in that capacity 
until the regiment left Washington. 

April 15, 1863, the regiment left the capital for Suffolk, Va., for the 
defense of that place. It was there assigned to the brigade commanded 
by Colonel Robert S. Foster, of the 13th Indiana Regiment, which was 



THE BATTLE ON THE EDENTON ROAD. 115 

a part of the division commanded by Brigadier-General Michael Cor- 
coran. April 24 General Corcoran started with 3,000 troops, artillery 
and infantry, including- the 169th regiment, to ascertain the position 
and test the strength of the enemy on the Edenton road. The artillery 
opened upon the rebel forces, strong in numbers and firmly intrenched, 
and forced the enemy's skirmishers behind the breastworks. The 
Union artillery had been at work some time when it was deemed best 
to pass through the woods in front to a position in sight of the Con- 
federate breastworks. That position was at once occupied by three 
pieces of artillery in Major Alden's command, and immediately after- 
ward Colonel Buel received a bad wound in the hand, which compelled 
him to leave the field. An hour later the position was abandoned and 
the artillery was withdrawn and sent to support the other forces. 
During this brief engagment Major Alden was wounded in the left thigh 
by a shell and his horse was shot from under him. One of his men 
was also killed and several wounded. Colonel Buel's wounds were 
found to be so severe that he was sent to his home in Troy, where he 
remained for three months before he could return to his command, 
then stationed at Folly Island. The day following the engagement, 
April 25, Colonel J. C. Drake, commanding the 2d Provisional Brigade, 
issued a special order presenting his thanks "to the 169th Regiment 
New York Volunteers for their good behavior in the action of yesterday, 
and his sympathy to those who sustained injuries." 

About this time General Robert E. Lee was making his great march 
into Pennsylvania — the campaign which resulted in the awful battle of 
Gettysburg and a victory for the Union. There being no further 
necessity for a concentration of troops about Suffolk the 169th Regi- 
ment, with others, was sent to Hanover Court House July 4, under 
command of General Getty. An unsuccessful attempt was made to 
destroy the bridge over the vSouth Anna river at that point, but the 
enemy's force was too strong to permit of any protracted assault. 
That night the regiment, nearly exhausted on account of the heat, fell 
back to Taylor's Farm and rested. From that point it marched back 
to Bower's Hill, near Portsmouth, Va. , enduring many hardships on 
the way. The peninsula, then as now, was covered with luscious 
blackberries, which grew wild along the roadside. The men, tired 
and hungry, devoured the berries as fast as they could pick them, 
many of them being made sick by the imusual feast. The greatest 
raid made during this brief expedition was upon the blackberries, and 
from this fact it has always been known as the " Blackberry Raid." 



116 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

August 2 the reg-iment left Portsmouth for Folly Island, a few miles 
south of the entrance to Charleston Harbor, S. C. The troops were 
transported on the steamer Nelly Pentz. The voyage was a stormy 
one and most of the men were seasick. Folly Island was reached on 
the evening of August 5 and the regiment proceeded at once to go into 
camp with the rest of Foster's brigade, where it remained for six 
months, doing little but routine camp duty. At the capture of Fort 
Wagner the regiment occupied the trenches near the fort and shared 
with honor in the reduction of that stronghold. 

Colonel Buel having recovered from his wounds and returned to his 
command, Lieutenant-Colonel McConihe, who had taken his place, was 
relieved and went back to his old position. A few days later Colonel 
Buel was stricken with a fever and returned to Troy. Too feeble to 
continue fighting he resigned his command February 13, 1864. In the 
mean time Major Alden had been assigned to command the station at 
Pawnee Landing and Adjutant Kisselburgh had been detailed as aid- 
de-camp on the staff of General Vogdes, which position he held until 
he left the service in March, 1865. Colonel Buel was by no means the 
only sufferer at Folly Island. Many men were stricken before Charles- 
ton, but the 169th probably lost fewer men than any other regiment 
stationed there. Several men died of disease, however, and a few 
were killed and wounded during the summer. December 20, 1863, 
Major Alden was relieved from his post at Pawnee Landing to take 
command of the regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel McConihe leaving that 
day for the north with a recruiting detail. Nothing of moment oc- 
curred after this tmtil February 8, 1864, when the regiment joined a 
force ordered to make a demonstration towards the flank and rear of 
the defenses of Charleston. Nearly two weeks after this, or on Febru- 
ary 23, the 169th started in light marching order with other regiments 
to assist General Seymour at Jacksonville. The regiment embarked 
on a transport, reaching Jacksonville the next day, where it assisted in 
constructing extensive earthworks just outside the city. After these 
were completed the regiment went into camp in a beautiful grove of 
oaks on the opposite side of a creek which emptied into the St. John's 
river, where it remained for about a month. 

April 1 the pleasures of camp life were brought to a sudden termina- 
tion when the regiment was ordered out to meet the enemy. Skirmish- 
ing began on the King's road about two miles from Jacksonville, but 
as soon as it was found that the enemy had a much superior force and 



THE ADVANCE ON RICHMOND. 1 17 

were strongly fortified our troops returned to Jacksonville. Ten days 
later Lieutenant-Colonel McConihe returned to his command with a 
number of recruits, bringing also his own commission as colonel, one 
for Major Alden as lieutenant-colonel and one for Captain James A. 
Colvin as major, all direct promotions caused by the retirement of 
Colonel Buel. 

The stores left behind on Folly Island and sent on by the steamer 
Maple Leaf were all lost when that vessel was sunk by a torpedo in 
the St. John's river and it was necessary at this time to equip the regi- 
ment again. As soon as this had been done the 169th left Jacksonville 
April 20 for Fortress Monroe, where it arrived six days later. In the 
evening it disembarked at Gloucester Point and joined the forces under 
command of General Butler. May 4 a portion of the troops, the 169th 
included, quietly sailed for Bermuda Hundred, thence marched seven 
miles towards Petersburgh, where they constructed rifle pits at Foster's 
Plantation. A short time later movements were begun against the 
rebel lines of communication between Richmond and Petersburgh. 
May 7 there was a brisk action with the enemy, in which the 169th 
lost a few men. Three days later the regiment, supporting two pieces 
of the 1st New Jersey Battery, engaged the rebel troops between Rich- 
mond and Petersburgh, the 13th Indiana holding a position on their 
left. The rebels soon massed for action and firing began by both bat- 
teries and the infantry. An attempt was made to break the centre of 
the 169th, the rebels attacking in a force vastly superior to our regi- 
ment. A flanking movement was also tried on the right of the 169th; 
but was repulsed by Lieutenant-Colonel Alden in a hot engagement. 
Rebel reinforcements were then thrown forward, overlapping the right 
wing of the regiment, and our men found themselves fighting a force 
superior to themselves. Shortly after this a part of Company A were 
captured and it was necessary to order a retreat. The men continued 
firing as they retreated, doing good work and maintaining the best of 
discipline, though they saw at once that they were overpowered. The 
rebels captured one field piece and our men continued to retreat; but 
soon reinforcements came up and all returned to the charge, recaptur- 
ing the gun and gaining a material advantage over the enemy. Colo- 
nel McConihe had a horse shot under him and several wounded men 
were burned to death in the underbrush, which caught fire during the 
fight. After continuing the action some time firing ceased, neither 
side being able to claim a victory. 



118 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

May 14 about a thousand men, including' the 109th, in command of 
Brigadier-General Ames, was dispatched to the left flank of the army, 
then operating against Drury's bluff on the James river. The follow- 
ing day most of the command were sent to join the forces operating 
against Fort Darling, the IGOth remaining. On the morning of the 
16th word was received that the rebels were close at hand. Firing soon 
began, Sanger's Battery, situated in the rear of the 169th, opening the 
battle for the Union forces. This was quickly returned by the other 
side and a sharp fight was inaugurated at once, in which Lieutenant W. 
S. Birdsall was killed. But here, too, it was soon found that the rebels 
outnumbered our force and the Union outpost retired slowly. Soon 
the entire regiment fell back, crossed a ravine and halted on its crest, 
when reinforcements arrived. Our forces then advanced to their 
former position, where the}' drove the rebel line back to the railroad. 
In this action the 169th lost in killed, wounded and missing, 36 officers 
and men. Again, in the three rebel attacks upon the Bermuda Hun- 
dred front, which occurred May 18, 20 and 22, the 169th lost 27 more 
men, but the rebels were repulsed in every attack. 

The next important move of the regiment occurred May 27 when, 
with the rest of the 3rd Brigade, it embarked for West Point, whence it 
marched to White House, Va. , reaching there May 30. It had been 
ordered there to support General Grant and was at once assigned to the 
3rd Division of the 18th Corps, commanded by General Charles Devens. 
Cold Harbof \Vas reached about 5 o'clock on the afternoon of May 31 
and before there was any time to rest, which the troops sorely needed, 
having been on a hard march, they were ordered to attack a wooded 
height crowned with a strong rebel rifle pit flanked and supported by 
equally strong batteries. In response to the order to "double-quick, 
march," the 169th, with its division, sprang forward with a cheer. 
They had to cross a level open field half a mile wide, during which 
they were subjcted to a terrible fire of shot and shell, grape and canis- 
ter; but they never faltered. Men fell by the dozen but their comrades 
stayed not. When the foot of the hill was reached and while the ranks 
were being closed up preparatory to the final grand charge the slaugh- 
ter was terrible. Colonel McConihe, one moment full of life, cheering 
his men to press forward, fell with a bullet through his heart, and Colo- 
nel Drake, in command of the brigade, received a mortal wound. 
Privates and other officers fell by the score under the deluge of leaden 
hail. Still undaunted the regiment, under the encouraging shouts of 



DISASTER TO THE REGIMENT. 119 

Lieutenant-Colonel Alden, who had assumed command, rapidly ascended 
the hill and mounted the intrenchments, driving the enemy wildly be- 
fore them. At this point Captain Allen was shot through the arm and 
compelled to retire; and the gallant Lieutenant Colonel Alden was 
badly wounded in the head when, seizing the regimental color from its 
bearer, who had fallen, he mounted the parapet and planted the staff 
in the fortifications which had been so hardly won. It was first thought 
his wound was mortal, but he recovered. The regiment was a heavy 
loser in this awful charge, 103 officers and men having shed their blood 
for the victory — one of the most brilliant of its class in the history of 
the war. The troops held the ground they had taken. A number of 
prisoners were captured by the 169th, and with them some of the knap- 
sacks bearing the mark of Company F, 169th Regiment, which had 
been lost on the day of the battle at Drur3''s Bluff. 

For several days the regiment remained at Cold Harbor. June 13 
it marched with the 18th Corps to White House to help carry out 
General Grant's plan of operation. The advance on Petersburgh was 
made June 15, line of battle having been formed on Petersburgh 
Heights. Just after sundown the order to charge was given and the 
line swept forward with a rush. The rebels behind the fortifications 
made a sharp, but short and useless resistance, and almost in the 
twinkling of an eye the rifle pits and earthworks were captured, with 
several pieces of artillery. The loss to the 169th was very small. Im- 
mediately after the charge the rebel rifle pit was reversed in front of 
its position and preparations were made to capture Petersburgh itself. 

General Lee, at Richmond, had been informed at once of the result 
of the action in front of Petersburgh and he made rapid preparations 
to avert the catastrophe which he realized was impending. All that 
night the rattling and rumbling of trains and the screeching of loco- 
motive whistles told our men that the gallant commander-in-chief of 
the Confederate army was hurrying his troops to Petersburgh. The 
next morning found Lee in front in full force and the long siege of 
Petersburgh began. The history of that siege is well known. General 
Grant had changed his base to the James River with a view to the cap- 
ture of Petersburgh and the conquest of Richmond from the southeast. 
General Butler had already moved with his strong division from For- 
tress Monroe, and May 5 had taken Bermuda Hundred and City Point 
at the mouth of the Appomattox. Advancing against Petersburgh he 
was met on the 16th by the Corps of General Beauregard and driven 



120 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

back to his position at Bermuda Hundred, where he was obliged to in- 
trench himself and act on the defensive. Here, on June 15, he was 
joined by General Grant's whole army, and the combined forces, as has 
been told, moved against Petersburgh. 

Before Petersburgh fighting was of frecjuent occurrence, generally 
consequent u])()n an attempt of the Union forces to change their posi- 
tion. June ;30, during a demonstration for the purpose of diverting the 
attention of the Confederates from the main attack, the lOOth was 
ordered forward and while attempting to change its position it was met 
by the most deadly fire it had encountered during the whole war. The 
men fell like grass before a summer hurricane. The foe was close and 
a wholesale slaughter was inevitable from the moment the men left 
their trenches. After standing the deadly fire a few moments the men 
fell back to their old position — what there were left of them — and 
awaited further orders. Fortunately for the little handful left they 
were not ordered to expose themselves in this manner again. Only 
150 men were available when this last move was made, and in the few 
minutes that the men were outside their protecting trenches the regi- 
ment lost of this number 74 killed and wounded — one half of the entire 
fighting force of the regiment! 

During the following month the regiment remained in the trenches, 
losing an average of three men every day, though its efficiency was 
fairly well maintained by the return of some of the soldiers who had 
been in the hospitals. July 30 it again went into action in one of the 
most thrilling battles of the campaign — the dashing charge which fol- 
lowed the explosion of a mine under one of the forts in front of 
Cemetery Hill. This daring attack w^as planned to be made early on 
the morning of July 30. The night previous the regiment was or- 
dered to the rear, and the next morning was sent forward to the rear 
of the works fronting the mine. The rebels, unconscious of the awful 
fate that was to overtake them, began their usual duties. The mem- 
bers of the 169th were ordered to lie down behind their works and 
remain quiet until they received orders, no matter what might happen. 
Our siege batteries were fully manned and loaded and the men ready 
for instant action. Suddenly there was a great roar and a violent 
earthquake, and the rebel fort with all its contents, which a moment 
before had stood so trim and defiant, was thrown high in the air as 
from the crater of some volcano. Hardly had the debris, with the 
human victims, settled back to earth, when the Union batteries opened 




BENJAMIN ALLEN TILLINGHAST. 




JOSEPH J. TILLINGHAST. 



BATTLE OF CEMETERY HILL. 121 

upon the enemy with a cannonading- such as is seldom heard, even in 
the thickest of war. As the whole line of our artillery sent forth the 
first awful challenge our troops sprang to the front with loud cheers 
and the carnage was increased two-fold. But surprised as they had 
been the brave Confederates were already in action in response to the 
"grim invitation of our guns and the battle now so prominent in history 
was under way in all its fury, with a suddenness that can hardly be 
comprehended except by those who participated in the dreadful event. 
The 169th regiment was brought almost immediately to the head of 
General Turner's division. At the word of command the brave men 
dashed over the breastworks and crossed the space between the two 
lines. The rebel defenses were easily reached, but the masses of men 
in front who had charged and occupied the inside of the enemy's rifle 
pits prevented further progress. The regiment succeeded in holding 
its position, though the charge as a whole was not successful, the Con- 
federates finally regaining their defenses. The loss of the regiment in 
this engagement was twenty-three men, including Captain Vaughn of 
Company F, who was killed. 

Two da3^s after the unsuccessful assault upon Cemetery Hill, August 
1, 1864, the regiment returned to Bermuda Hundred. Lieutenant- 
Colonel Alden, having recovered from the injuries he received at Cold 
Harbor, once more assumed command. At this time General Butler 
was busily engaged in digging Dutch Gap, the historic canal which cut 
off a long bend in the James river about half way, by the water course, 
between Bermuda Hundred and Richmond, and by means of which 
it was hoped the Union gunboats would be able to pass up the river to 
Richmond and evade the strong rebel batteries located at the sharp 
turn in the river a few miles to the south. August 10 the regiment 
was assigned to duty at this point to defend the parties engaged in 
cutting the canal. Early on the morning of the 13th the regiment, 
which was encamped on the plateau beside the gap, was attacked by 
rebel gunboats and batteries, and in the action which instantly fol- 
lowed the lG9th lost twenty-two men. Lieutenant Crippen was killed, 
Assistant vSurgeon Mandeville was badly wounded and Lieutenant 
Swartwout had his left arm shot off. The rebels were repulsed and 
the work was continued with slight delay. August 20 the regiment 
returned to Bermuda Hundred and thence, five days later, left for 
Petersburgh, where it assisted in the siege until September 28. 

Soon after the regiment arrived at Petersburgh Lieutenant-Colonel 
16 



122 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Alden was sent to Troy for a detail of drafted men, with wliom he returned 
October 1, rejoining the 169th at Chapin's Farm. At this point an im- 
portant battle was fought, and the famous assault on Fort Gilmer was 
made September 29. The vigorous assault made on this occasion by 
the Troy regiment was too much for the body of Confederates attacked, 
and the latter were compelled to flee to their intrenchments for pro- 
tection. Immediately after this bold charge the troops were reorganized 
and without wasting a moment made the attack upon Fort Gilmer, one 
of the defenses of the Confederate capital. It was a risky thing to do, 
considering the disparity in the forces, and after a gallant charge the 
brigade was compelled to fall back, being subjected all the time to a 
heavy fire from the enemy's guns. The lG9th lost 30 men all told, in- 
cluding the brave Captain Henry Mulhall, who was severely wounded 
by a canister shot which passed through his thigh. After the retreat 
the regiment constructed a formidable line of breastworks. At this 
time a few changes were made among the officers of the regiment. 
Lieutenant-Colonel Alden was mustered in as colonel, Major Colvin 
was promoted to succeed him as lieutenant-colonel, and Captain J. H. 
Allen was promoted to succeed Major Colvin. Nothing of importance 
occurred after this until October 8, when the enemy made a charge on 
the right. They were repulsed with no fatalities to the lG9th Regi- 
ment. 

After the fight at Chapin's Farm and the charge on Fort Gilmer the 
regiment had a long time with little to do but recuperate from the try- 
ing campaign of the summer. After two months of comparative rest 
it started December 8, 1864, under command of General Butler, on the 
famous expedition against Fort Fisher, N. C. Hampton Roads was 
reached by steamer, where the troops were transferred and carried by 
another steamer to a point about 25 miles from the objective point of 
the expedition. The first attack, by both land and naval forces, which 
continued through the 24th and 25th of the month, was unsuccessful, 
though the 169th captured 260 of the enemy. General Butler believing 
that the fort could not be carried by storm, orders v/ere given to re- 
turn to Chapin's Farm. January 3, having remained at the latter place 
three days, during which the attacking force was increased by troops 
under command of General A. H. Terry, all were ordered to return to 
Fort Fisher. The entire body of troops, under command of General 
Ames, arrived on the 13th and landed about four miles north of the 
fort. 



ANOTHEE REVERSE TO THE 169th. 123 

At three o'clock on the afternoon of the 15th the g-rand charge against 
the fort was made by the 2d Division, in which the 169th Regiment 
was stationed. Colonel Alden having been assigned to the command 
of the 3d Brigade, which formed a part of the division, the regiment 
was commanded on this occasion by Lieutenant-Colonel Colvin. Once 
inside the men fought their way inch by inch, the enemy offering a 
stubborn resistance. One gun platform after another was captured, 
the Union forces gradually but surely winning at every turn. Soon 
Lieutenant-Colonel Colvin discovered a white cloth waving from the 
entrance to one of the subways under the platforms and traverses. 
Thereupon firing was ceased and 170 prisoners were taken in charge 
by a squad of the regiment. But after this sinall capture fighting was 
continued until 10.30 p. m., when the entire rebel force began to flee 
from the fort. The loss to the lG9th in this assault was about 50 killed 
and wounded, including Lieutenant Ryan, who was killed, and Ma- 
jor Allen, wounded. 

This victory was followed by a great catastrophe to the regiment. 
Having been ordered with its brigade to take charge of the fort, it had 
bivouacked about six rods from the large magazine therein. Early on 
the morning of the next day, the 16th, this magazine exploded with 
terrific force, killing Captain Ferguson and ^Lieutenants Cipperly and 
McCiregor, wounding Colonel Alden and killing and injuring about 
eighty other men. Colonel Alden was found under heavy timbers and ' 
sand and at first was supposed to be dead, but finally rallied, though 
for six weeks afterward he remained totally unconscious. This was 
one of the worst blows the regiment received during the entire war. 

The next movement of the regiment was directed upon Fort Ander- 
son. The regiment remained in Fort Fisher until February 11, one 
week later crossing Cape Fear river in company with other troops, 
capturing Fort Anderson with a large quantity of arms and ammuni- 
tion. It next advanced on Wilmington, N. C, occupying that place 
February 22. Two days later it marched to North East and took 
charge of about 15,000 exchanged prisoners, retaining custody of them 
until March 1, when it returned to Wilmington. During this time, 
since the capitulation of Fort Fisher, Lieutenant-Colonel Colvin had 
been in command of the 2nd Brigade of the division and Captain James 
H. Dunn had had charge of the regiment. INIarch 13 Lieutenant-Col- 
onel Colvin resumed his old command. April 11 the regiment joined 
its old division under General Terry at Faison's Station. From there 



124 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

it marched to Benton ville, where on the 12th news was received of the 
surrender of General Robert E. Lee to General Ulysses S. Grant. All 
knew that this practically ended the war, and the rejoicing in camp 
over the victory was of a character that defies description. 

The details of the operations and movements of the 169th from this 
time on are of little interest. A few days later Colonel Alden, still in 
a feeble condition as a result of the terrible injuries he had received in 
the magazine explosion in Fort Fisher, returned to his regiment, acted 
as president of a court-martial and military commission and took 
charge of brigade alid post of Raleigh. Upon recommendation of Gen- 
eral Terry and in recognition of his faithful services at Cold Harbor 
and Fort Fisher, he had been commissioned brevet brigadier-general. 
Peace soon being declared orders were received July 6 mustering out 
the 169th Regiment, which was accomplished July 19, with the under- 
standing that the term of service would expire on the day of final pay- 
ment in Albany. Before leaving camp orders were received from 
Brigadier-General J. S. Littell, of the 2d Division, 10th Corps, and 
from Brigadier-General Alonzo Alden, commanding the 3d Brigade of 
that division, paying the highest compliments to the officers and 
privates of the regiment for their gallant conduct during their trying 
service of three years. In Brigadier-General Littell's orders attention 
was called to the fact that the regiment had participated in twenty- 
eight battles, " and on every occasion your conduct has been not only 
unimpeachable, but such as to secure complimentary notice from your 
commanding generals." 

July 20, 1865, the regiment started for home, arriving in Troy early 
on the morning of the 24th, where an immense throng waited to wel- 
come it. After a brief parade, in which the most intense enthusiasm 
reigned, a formal reception of the regiment occurred at Washington 
Square, After an invocation by the Rev. Dr. Baldwin, Alderman 
Smart introduced the Hon. John A. Griswold, who in an eloquent ad- 
dress told in brief the story of the regiment's career since the organ- 
ization and gave it a renewed welcome. William A. Merriam, formerly 
a lieutenant in the regiment, also made an address, after which the 
men marched to Harmony hall, where luncheon was served. In the 
evening the command marched to the barracks five miles away and 
remained there until the men were paid off August 3 and were allowed 
to return to private life. 

The twenty-eight engagements in which the 169th participated dur- 



THE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH REGIMENT. 125 

ing its service of nearly tliree years were as follows: Edenton Road, 
Carrsville, Blackwater Ford, Zimi, Providence Church, Nansemond, 
Hanover Junction, Fort Sumter, Fort Wagner, Rantoul Bridge, vSiege 
of Charleston, Cedar Creek, Walthall Junction, Chester Station, 
Drury's Bluff, Hatcher's Run, Foster's Plantation No. 1, Foster's 
Plantation No. 2, Cold Harbor, Petersburgh Heights June 15, Peters- 
burgh June 30, Petersburgh Mine July 30, siege of Petersburgh, 
Dutch Gap, Deep Bottom, Malvern Hill, Chapin's Farm, Fort Gil- 
mer, Darby town Road, Siege of Richmond, Fort Fisher No, 1, Fort 
Fisher No. 2, Wilmington, North East and Raleigh. In his last gen- 
eral orders General Alden made the following official statement: 

October 6, 1862, this regiment was organized with an aggregate of 915 officers and 
men, since which time it has gained, by recruits, transfers and otherwise, an aggre- 
gate of 953, making 1,868 officers and men connected with it since its organization ; 
and the regiment has lost by casualties in battle, disease, etc., 963 officers and men. 
Since its organization there have been connected with the regiment 87 commissioned 
officers. Because of resignations, casualties in battle and other causes, 52 officers 
have been dropped from the roll. 

The One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Regiment. 

A history of the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth regiment. New 
York Volunteers, would almost necessitate the compilation of the en- 
tire record of the war, as that regiment participated in nearly all thp 
great battles that contribute to make up that most memorable conflict 
of modern times. The regiment was mustered into the United States 
service August 27, 1862, and left Troy under command of Colonel 
George Lamb Willard, on the 30th of the same month, for New York. 
From New York it went to Martinsburg, Va., arriving September 3. 
The regiment had 1,255 men all told. After a brief stay it left Mar- 
tinsburg and went to Harper's Ferry, where it arrived September 12. 
Here the members of the regiment had their first engagement and 
upon the surrender of the Union forces were taken prisoners of war on 
September 15. On the 16th of the same month they took up the line 
of march for Camp Parole at Annapolis, Md. They left there Septem- 
ber 20 for Camp Douglass at Chicago, where they remained until No- 
vember 28, when they were exchanged. They left for Washington 
and soon were again on the march to the front, arriving at Union Mills 
December 3. In the afternoon of the same day the regiment marched 
to Wolf Run Shoals. Here a battery of artillery and a company of 



12G LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

cavalry were placed in command of Col. Willard. Rumors were rife 
that the enemy was at hand but the report proved groundless. The 
men had a rough time, being compelled to pitch their tents in the 
snow. 

December 11 the regiment was again on the move, this time with 
Woodyard Ford as the objective point. The regiment remained there 
four days, and on the loth marched to Union Mills. It reached there 
at night, and owing to the non-arrival of the tents was obliged to camp 
on the ground during the prevalence of a heavy snow storm. January 
23, 1863, the regiment was transferred to Fairfax Court House, Va. 
February 1 orders were received to proceed to Centreville, Va., where 
the men arrived the same day and remained until June 23. 

June 24 the command took up the line of march for Gum Springs, 
where the Second army corps. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock commanding, 
was joined. The One Hundred and Twenty-fifth was in the Third 
division, commanded by Brig. -Gen. Alexander Hayes. Col. Willard 
commanded the brigade. On the 26th of June the 125th crossed 
the Potomac at Edward's ferry and went into camp the next 
morning. From there the command went a distance of thirty-three 
miles to Uniontown, Md., and the next day to Gettysburg, arriving 
there July 1. That morning the rebel army was in the vicinity of 
Ciettysburg The 125th participated in the memorable three days en- 
gagement. On the evening of July 2 there was fierce fighting in Devil's 
Run, below Round Top, and the 125th was ordered to fall in to the 
support of its corps. In company with the 111th and 126th New York 
regiments they repulsed the rebels under General Longstreet, who 
withdrew to Peach Orchard. During this brief engagement Col. 
Willard, the idolized commander of the regiment, was struck by a 
shell and instantly killed. On the third day the 125th formed part of 
the Third brigade of the Second corps, which repulsed Pickett's famous 
charge. 

July 18 the regiment crossed the Potomac to Harper's Ferry, passed 
up Loudon Valley to Manassas Gap, from there through Warrenton, 
and arrived at Elkton July 31. Here they supported Gen. Kilpatrick in 
his expedition on the lower Rappahannock and returned to camp Sep- 
tember 10. On the 14th they again crossed the Rappahannock and 
assisted in several engagements around Culpepper, in which the enemy 
was driven across the Rapidan The regiment crossed the Rappahan- 
nock October 10, skirmished at Auburn Hills, October 14, and fought 




WALTHR A. WOOD. 



THE RAPPAHANNOCK CAMPAIGN. 127 

at the battle of Bristow Station. During this engagement the 12oth 
captured a battery of five guns. 

The command left Bristow on the night of the 14th and on the fol- 
lowing day skirmished at Blackburn's Ford. November 7 they assisted 
in routing the enemy at Rappahannock. On the 2()th they crossed the 
Rappahannock at Germania Ford, and on the 37th and 28th skirmished 
near Robinson's tavern. November 29 and 30 and December 1, they 
were engaged in skirmishing at Mine Run and December 2 they turned 
to the north side of the Rapidan. December 7 they went into winter 
quarters near Martinsburg. 

On the morning of February 6, 1864, the regiment marched to Mar- 
tin's Ford on the Rapidan at which place they led the charge across the 
river, waist deep under fire. On landing they deployed two officers 
and twenty-five men as a skirmish line and advanced under heavy fire 
until within sixty rods of the breast\vorks. They were then ordered to 
fall back to the brow of a hill and await reinforcements. None came, 
and at 10 o'clock a. m., they were ordered to retreat. Under a heavy 
fire they recrossed the river without the loss of a man. They then 
camped near Stevensburg and remained there until March 30, 1864. 

After that the regiment participated in the following engagements: 
Chancellorsville, May 1 to 5, 1863; Spottsylvania, May 8 to 21; North 
Anna, July 23; Cold Harbor, May 31 to June 12; Petersburgh, June 
10, 1864, to April 10, 1865: Ream's Station, June 22, 29 and August 
25, 1864; Hatcher's Run, March 31, 1865; Appomattox Court house, 
April 9, 1865, being the occasion of General Lee's surrender. During 
its term of service the regiment lost in killed 26; wounded 104; miss- 
ing 9. 

The survivors of the 125th, 111th and 126th regiments have a monu- 
ment at Gettysburg, on one of the tablets of which is the following in- 
scription : 

One Hundred and Twenty-fifth New York Infantry, Third brigade, Third division. 
Second corps. Recruited in Rensselaer county, New York. Mustered in at Troy, 
N.Y., August 37, 1863. Engaged in twenty-three battles. Mustered out at Albany, 
N.Y., Junes, 1865. 

As first organized the regiment comprised the following officers : 

Field and Staff. — Colonel George Lamb Willard, Lieutenant Colonel Levin Cran- 
dell. Major James C. Bush, Adjutant Elias P. Sheldon, Quartermaster L. 
Chandler Ball, Chaplain Joseph L. Barlow, Surgeon W. S. Cooper, Assistant Sur- 
geons H. E. Benedict, Washington Akin. 



128 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Company A. — Captain D. E. Cornell, First Lieutenant E. A. Hartshorn, Second 
Lieutenant W. H. Hakes. 

Company B. — Captain A. B. Myer, First Lieutenant Charles H. Taylor, Second 
Lieutenant John Ouay. 

Company C. — Captain F. S. Esmond, First Lieutenant W. H. Plumb, jr.. Second 
Lieutenant David Comeskey. 

Company D. — Captain S. C. Armstrong, First Lieutenant T. F. Sheldon, Second 
Lieutenant P. Carden. 

Company E. — Captain William Dimond, First Lieutenant Calvin Bush, Second 
Lieutenant Egbert Jolls 

Company F. — Captain Nelson Penfield, First Lieutenant Frank Chamberlain, Sec- 
ond Lieutenant W. D. Taylor. 

Company G. — Captain George E. Lemon, First Lieutenant W. K. Nevvcomb, 
Second Lieutenant L. H. Stevens. 

Comj^any H. — Captain Ephraim Wood, First Lieutenant Joseph Hyde, Second 
Lieutenant D. Hagadorn. 

Company L — Captain E. P. Jones, First Lieutenant A. Buchanan, jr.. Second 
Lieutenant E. Fink. 

Company K. — Captain J. V. W. Vandenburgh, First Lieutenant Charles A. Pickett, 
Second Lieutenant M. G. Steele. 

The Griswold Cavalry. 

The 21st New York Cavalry, known as the Griswold Cavalry, was 
oro;anized in the summer of 18G3, and was composed of men mustered 
from various sections of the State. It was due principally to the efforts 
of Colonel William B. Tibbits, formerly of the Second Regiment, that 
the regiment was organized. For a long time he struggled to obtain 
enough mounted men to present a formidable appearance in the field, 
and his labors were finally rewarded. Many of the men enlisted from 
Rensselaer county, though there were representatives of various locali- 
ties, some many miles distant. Colonel (later Brevet Major-General ) 
Tibbits received his commission as colonel of the Twenty-first New 
York Cavalry January 5, 1864. The field and staff officers from Troy, 
besides Colonel Tibbits, were: Major, George V. Boutelle, formerly 
captain of Company A of the Second Regiment; adjutant, James F. 
Hill; quartermaster, William B. Laithe; surgeon, Benjamin S. Catlin, 
M. D. The company officers from Troy were: Company A — Captain 
Charles G. Otis, afterwards colonel ; First Lieutenant William H. 
Mitchell, Second Lieutenant Thomas Maxwell. Company D — Captain 
William G. McNulty, First Lieutenant Henry E. Snow. Company E — 
Captain Edwin N. Wright, Second Lieutenant H. G. Hickok. Com- 
pany F — Captain Francis McCue, First Lieutenant Andrew Smith, 




EDGAR LUYSTER FURSMAN, 



CAREER OF THE GRISWOLD CAVALRY. 129 

Second Lieutenant James H. Ronalds. Company I — First Lieutenant 
Nelson B. Holcomb. 

As soon as a company was formed it was promptly sent to Staten 
Island, when it awaited orders to move to the front. The first com- 
pany raised for the regiment was organized by Captain Charles G. Otis, 
afterwards colonel. It left T^-oy, on the steamer Vanderbilt, for Staten 
Island, August 30, 1863. Through the influence of Colonel Tibbits the 
regiment was named the Griswold Cavalry in honor of that staunch 
patriot, John A. Griswold, who devoted a great share of his time, 
energy and personal influence toward placing the organization in the 
field. 

From the day the Griswold Cavalry reached the front it was almost 
continuously on the move. It participated in many battles, and some- 
times met with heavy losses. In the valleys and mountains of Virginia, 
the passes and natural fortifications of the Blue Ridge, the brave men 
from Rensselaer county fought desperately for their country. The 
battles in which they were called into action were those of Newton, 
Piedmont, Waynesburg, Lynchburg, Leesburg, Bucklestown, Solo- 
mon's Gap, Frederick, Purcellville, Snicker's Gap, Ashby's Ford, Kearns- 
town, Winchester and Charlestown. 

The regiment left Troy so suddenly, and its movements in the field 
were so rapid, that the presentation of a stand of colors was delayed 
for some time. But finall}^, in October, 1864, a beautiful set of colors 
was presented to the brave body of men at Cumberland, INIaryland. 
Mr. Griswold, who was the giver, was not present, but the following 
patriotic letter from him was read on the occasion : 

Troy, N. Y., October 11, 1864. — To the officers and soldiers of the Griswold 
Cavalry: Since your organization as a regiment I have entertained the hope of be- 
ing with you and in person asking your acceptance of the colors which I desire now 
to place in your charge. The constant duties you have been called upon to perform, 
and the changes of locality incident to those duties, have prevented the consumma- 
tion of this desire, and I am forced to greet you from a distance when I would be 
with you face to face. You need not be assured that I have watched with anxious 
solicitude your progress since entering the service, and that I feel a grateful pride 
in the history of your military career. Already your record is one that may safely 
challenge comparison. In this consideration of the great cause for which you are 
contending, and in behalf of the communities of which you are a part, I desire to 
thank you. If the colors which are now placed under your ownership and keepmg 
were to be re-embellished, there would be emblazoned on their their folds — New 
Market, Piedmont, Lynchburg, Leesburg, Ashby's Gap, Kearnstown, Winchester, 
Martinsburg, Charlestown — a long array, showing that your place has been where 
17 



130 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

the fight was the thickest. How well you have borne yourselves in these conflicts is 
attested in the reports of your commanding officers and their commendation of your 
gallant services. Of those who went from our city marshalled in your ranks, many, 
very many, have fallen by the way, and are now sleeping undisturbed alike by the 
falling leaf and the tramp of armed hosts. The valley of the Shenandoah has been 
moistened by the blood of your comrades, and bitter tears for their memory have 
fallen on the soil of their homes. Remember that upon you, the army, now hang 
the destinies of our country. The front of the rebellion must be broken by your 
prowess that the avenues of peace may again be opened. God speed the day of this 
achievement, when you and your companions in arms may be welcomed again to 
your homes in a land no longer stricken by war. Till that time, be true to your own 
reputation and the colors which I now have the pleasure to present by the hands of 
your gallant colonel. John A. Griswold. 

The ranks of the Griswold Cavalry were greatly thinned during its 
campaign. It remained in service until the close of the war, and on 
the occasion of its return home from the front it received a rousing 
demonstration of welcome. 



CHAPTER X. 



Closing Days of the Nineteenth Century — New County Buildings — History of the 
Railroads — Rensselaer County's Citizens Who Have Held High Public Office — The 
Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument — Statistics of the Development of the County. 

The corner stone of the handsome memorial to the deceased soldiers 
and sailors of Rensselaer county was laid in the city of Troy with im- 
posing ceremonies on Memorial day, Friday, May 30, 1890, by Colonel 
Charles L. MacArthur, president of the Rensselaer County ^Soldiers' 
and vSailors' Monument association, which had been incorporated No- 
vember 12, 1886. The site selected for the monument was Washing- 
ton square in Troy. The city conveyed the title to the ground on 
which the shaft stands to the society in 1887. Two years later the 
Legislature authorized the supervisors of the county to appropriate 
$25,000 toward the monument, which they did. The design offered 
by Fuller & Wheeler, architects of Albany, was accepted August 7, 
1889, and February 24, 1890, a contract for the erection of the memorial 
was awarded to Frederick c'<: Field of Ouincy, Mass. At the laying of 
the corner stone Colonel MacArthur delivered a historical address, and 



SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MONUMENT. 13 L 

other speeches were made by the Rev. Peter Havermans and the 
Rev. Dr. J. W. Thompson. The exercises of the day included a 
great parade, under the direction of General Joseph B. Carr. 

On September 15, 1891, the dedication of the magnificent memorial 
took place, in a manner well befitting its noble and patriotic purpose. 
But few times before in the history of the city had there been a public 
demonstration equal to that of this day. One of them was fifteen 
months before, when the corner-stone was laid. The early morning 
trains brought large crowds of people to the city from surrounding- 
towns and villages. Many of the mills and factories gave their em- 
ployes a holiday. All the business houses and most of the residences 
along the route of the parade and also on other streets were elaborately 
decorated. Many portions of the business district were bowers of gay 
colors, including many large and handsome portraits of the nation's heroes 
in war — Grant, Lincoln, Sherman, Sheridan, Hancock, Logan and 
others. 

The parade, a large and imposing one, started at 11 a. m. Colonel 
Lee Chamberlain acted as grand marshal, and his staff was composed 
of Col. Charles S. Francis, Lieut. -Col. John Don, Col. D. M. Greene, 
Col. George H. Gillis, Col. M. H. Burton, Col. W. H. Lawton, Col. 
Marcus D. Russell, Col. Francis N. Mann, Jr., Col. Edward L. Gau], 
Col. George P. Lawton, Lieut. -Col. Harry M. Alden, Lieut. -Col. J. A. 
McDonald, Ma^or C. H. Stott, Jr., Major E. M. Green, Major W. G. 
Carr, Major Isaac F. Handy, Major Arthur MacArthur, Major A. W*. 
Hoysradt, Major H. W. Thompson, Major Le Grand C. Tibbits, Capt. 

E. R. Thompson, Capt. Charles G. Cleminshaw, Capt. I. W. Copeland, 
Lieut. J. L. Thompson, and Major Waldo K. Chase. The first division 
was commanded by Col. James W. Cusack, and acted as escort to the 
veterans. It was headed by Doring's band and comprised the Troy 
Citizens Corps, Tibbits Cadets, 12th Separate Company, New York 
National Guard, and the National Guard companies from Cohoes, Hoo- 
sick Falls, Schenectady and the 10th Battalion of Albany. Next came 
in carriages Col. Charles L. MacArthur, Gen. Daniel E. Sickles, Gen. 
Stewart L. Woodford, Gen. Henry Slocum, Gen. Alonzo Alden, Capt. 
John Palmer, Col. Frederick Phisterer, and other well known military 
men. The other divisions were in command of James M. Snyder, Col. 
Levin Crandall, Capt. E. F. Ormsbie, Edwin A. Frear and Cornelius 

F. Burns. 

The line of march was down First street to Liberty, to Second, 



132 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

around Washington park, to Third, to State, to Fifth avenue, to Jacob, 
to King, to River, to Third, to Broadway, to the monument, where 
the parade passed in review and was dismissed. It is estimated that 
there were fully 10,000 people about the monument when the parade 
reached that point. Col. C. L. MacArthur, president of the monument 
association, had charge of the exercises. After prayer by the Rev. 
J. W. Thompson, a telegram was read from Gen. Joseph B. Carr, who 
was detained in New York by illness, in which he said he was " present 
in spirit if not in person." Col. MacArthur then made the opening ad- 
dress, in which he said: 

We have put an insignia on this monument to commemorate the bravery of the 
men of Rensselaer county in the Mexican war. We were first in the field. In 1812, 
when we had a war with Great Britain, a Troy man was the first to capture a flag 
in that war. I refer to Hon. William L. Marcy. When troops were called for in 
the late war Troy was the first to raise a regiment and send it to the Adjutant- 
General's office. A Troy man, Frank Brownell, was the first to shed blood when he 
shot Jackson at Alexandria. 

The next address was made by General Daniel E. Sickles, who spoke 
in glowing terms of the part taken by Troy soldiers in the Civil war. 
Among other things he said : 

One of the earliest regiments to take the field was the Second New York Infantry, 
organized in Rensselaer county by your townsman, General Carr. This regiment 
was for some time in the Third Army Corps and often fell under my personal observa- 
tion. Carr raised his standard here on the 17th of April, 1861, while the echoes 
from Sumter filled every ear and stirred every loyal heart. All troops reflect, sooner 
or later, the character and qualities of their commanding officers. Therefore, I 
need not tell you, who know General Carr so well, that the Second New York was an 
admirable regiment. It was not long, however, before the signal abilities shown by 
General Carr proved his fitness for higher command. He always enjoyed, and still 
enjoys, the confidence and respect alike of his troops and of his superior officers. 
Always ready to obey orders with alacrity, he taught his commands that discipline 
makes good soldiers. An earnest patriot, he inspired his men with his own zeal for 
the cause of the Union. Fearless and calm in battle, his example made his battalion 
trustworthy under all circumstances. 

The next speaker was Captain John Palmer of Albany, commander- 
in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic of the United States, and 
his address was listened to with the closest attention. Rain began 
falling at 1.30 p. m. and the exercises at the monument were necessarily 
shortened, an adjournment being taken fifteen minutes later. 

At three o'clock the ceremonies were resumed in Music hall, Colonel 
C. L. MacArthur, presiding. After prayer by the Rev. Dr. George C. 



EARLY COUNTY BUILDINGS. 133 

Baldwin, Benjamin H. Hall read an original poem, written by Captain 
William B. Gordon, of the Watervliet arsenal. The Troy Vocal Society 
sang "On, Gallant Company," after which the dedicatory address was 
delivered by General Stewart L. Woodford, of Brooklyn. It was a 
masterpiece of oratory and was frequently interrupted b}" applause. 
General Sickles and Colonel MacArthur followed with brief addresses. 
At the conclusion the Troy Vocal Society sang "The Star Spangled 
Banner," the immense assemblage rising and making the walls of the 
big building ring as they joined in the chorus. Rev. Father John 
Walsh of St. Peter's church closed the exercises with the benediction, 
and the large audience slowly dispersed. 

The first almshouse in the county was known as the house of indus- 
try. It was built in the winter of 1821 and 1822 by the county and the 
city of Troy jointly, at a total cost of $9,004,84. It was located about 
a mile and a half southeast of Troy. A wooden building was erected 
in 1860. As the limits of the city were extended the property became 
a part of the citj^. In 1882 the brick buildings were erected, including 
two apartment buildings, two hospitals, the keeper's house, a dining 
hall, a kitchen and a laundry. 

The Marshall Infirmary, founded in 1850 by Benjamin Marshall, a 
gingham manufacturer of Troy, is one of the most worthy institutions in 
the county. In that j^ear the first buildings were erected by him at a 
cost of over $30,000. June 20 of the next year the institution was in-, 
corporated, the management of its affairs being placed by its charter 
in the hands of twenty-seven governors, to be elected annually. The 
articles of incorporation provide that every person contributing ten 
dollars to it and paying at least three dollars per annum towards its 
maintenance, is a member of its corporation ; and every person con- 
tributing one hundred dollars, and paying five dollars per annum may, 
in addition to being a member, recommend one sick person to be cared 
for at the infirmary for six weeks in each year, free of charge. Every 
person contributing one thousand dollars becomes a life member, and is 
also allowed to recommend one sick person to be cared for an entire 
year free of charge; and every person paying ten dollars a year may 
recommend one sick person to be cared for four weeks free of charge. 
Before the death of the founder he had given to the institution money 
and property valued at $70,000. 

The three story brick building on the south side of the infirmary was 
erected by the county for an insane asvlum in 1859. Two vears later 



134 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

the county built another structure beyond the hill east of the infirmary 
buildin^t;', for exclusive use as a, lunatic asylum. In 1880 still another 
building-, for the care of refractory patients, was erected south of the 
insane asylum. In 1896 sixteen acres of ground were occupied by the 
institution. 

In an earlier chapter the establishment of the Rensselaer & Saratoga 
railroad, the Troy & Greenbush railroad, the Schenectady & Troy rail- 
road, the Hudson River railroad, the Troy and Boston, afterward the 
Fitchburg railroad, and the Troy Union railway has been described. 
Since those early days the development of the railways running through 
Rensselaer coimty has been rapid and extensive. The Hudson River road 
has become a ]:)art of the greatest system in the world; the Rensselaer 
& vSaratoga, like the Hudson River, by absorption into another system, 
has a great and rapidly increasing- patronage; the Fitchburg and the 
Boston & Albany, too, have grown until their business requires the 
constant attention of thousands of employes. 

The New York Central & Hudson River railroad was organized No- 
vember 1, 18(i!), by the consolidation of the New York Central Railroad 
company and the Hudson River Railroad company. The Hudson 
River Railroad company was chartered May 12, 184G, and the road 
opened through its entire length from New York to East Albany 
(Greenbush) October 3, 1851. Previous to the consolidation referred 
to the Hudson River road had leased the Troy & Greenbush road, 
which was chartered in January, 1845, and leased to the Hudson River 
road June 1, 1851, for seven per cent, on $275,000 capital stock. On 
consolidation the lease was assumed by the New York Central & Hud- 
son River Railroad company. 

The New York & Albany Railroad company was incorporated April 
17, 1832, but the extension from Albany to Troy was not constiucted 
until 1840 and 1841. These directors of the northern extension of the 
road were chosen in February, 1844: Stephen W. Dana, Le Grand 
Cannon, Jonas C. Heartt, Thaddeus B. Bigelow, Horatio Averill, John 
L. Thompson and Alsop Weed, Troy; William P. Van Rensselaer, 
Greenbush; with four Boston men. The officers elected were: Presi- 
dent, vStephen W. Dana; vice-president, Jonas C. Heartt; secretary, 
Thaddeus B. Bigelow. 

The Troy & Boston Railroad company, chartered April 4, 1848, was 
consolidated with the Fitchburg Railroad compan}^ May 4, 1887, under 
the laws of the vState of New York and the Commonwealth of Massa- 



RAILROAD LINES. 135 

chusetts. By this consolidation the following leases, in force with the 
Troy & Boston Railroad company, were assumed: 

Southern Vermont railroad, New York line to Massachusetts State 
line, owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, leased in perpetu- 
ity to the Troy and Boston Railroad company at an annual rental of 
$12,000; 

Troy & Bennington railroad, Hoosac Junction to Vermont State 
line, owned by the Troy & Bennington Railroad company, a corpora- 
tion of the State of New York, leased at an annual rental of $15,400. 
Lease expires May 27, 1901; 

The Boston, Hoosac Tunnel & Western railway, and its leased line, 
the Troy, Saratoga & Northern railroad, were purchased June 1, 1887. 
The Troy, Saratoga & Northern was incorporated September 2, 1886. 
The western terminus of the Fitchburg railroad is in Troy ; the eastern 
terminus is in Boston. 

The consolidation of the Troy & Boston and the Fitchburg Railroad 
companies was ratified by the directors of the Fitchburg January 25, 
1887, and by those of the Troy & Boston March 28 of the same year. 

The Castleton (N. Y.) & West Stockbridge (Mass.) Railroad com- 
pany was incorporated by the State of New York May 15, 1834, and 
work was begun soon after. The name was changed to Albany & 
West Stockbridge Railroad company May 5, J836. November 11, 
1841, a permanent contract of transportation was made by the Western 
Railroad company (incorporated in Massachusetts March 15, 1833,) 
and the Albany & West Stockbridge Railroad company for the opera- 
tion of the latter by the former. By an act of the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts passed May 24, 1867, the Boston & Worcester Railroad 
corporation was consolidated with the Western Railroad corporation 
under the name of the Boston & Albany Railroad company. In May, 
1869, the Boston & Albany Railroad company and the Albany & West 
Stockbridge Railroad company were united and consolidated and all 
became known as the Boston & Albany Railroad company November 
2, 1870. The western terminus of this road is in Albany, via Green- 
bush, and the eastern terminus is in Boston. 

The Greenwich & Johnsonville Railroad company was chartered 
September 10, 1879, and soon after the construction of a railroad be- 
tween Johnsonville, in Rensselaer county, and Greenwich, in Wash- 
ington county, was begun. The road was originally known as the 
Johnsonville & Union Village Railroad company. August 30, 1879, the 



136 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

property was sold under foreclosure, suit having been brought by the 
holders of the first mortgage bonds, and was purchased by a committee 
representing the bondholders, who organized the new company. Since 
that time there have been no changes in the company, except in the 
cases of some of its officers.- 

The New York Central, Hudson River & Fort Orange Railroad 
company was formed on or about September 1, 1884, tn pursuance of 
an act of the Legislature, for the purpose of carrying freight to and 
from the Fort Orange Paper company's works, situated near Castleton, 
Prior to the 1st day of September aforesaid the bed way of the New 
York Central, Hudson River & Fort Orange Railroad Company be- 
longed to the Fort Orange Paper company, and the New York Central 
& Hudson River Railroad company loaned and furnished the ties and 
rails for a railroad track over the same from the eastern line at a point 
near Castleton to works of said company under an agreement that in 
consideration thereof the Fort Orange Paper company should deliver 
all their freight to be transported to the New York Central 8z Hudson 
River Railroad company for transportation. The object of the incor- 
poration of the New York Central, Hudson River & Fort Orange 
Railroad company was to do business as an independent corporation 
and to carry all of said freight over its line under contract with the 
New York Central & Hudson River Railroad company and the Fort 
Orange Paper company. 

The Rensselaer & Saratoga Railroad company was organized and 
chartered April 14, 1832, to run from Troy to Ballston, a distance of 
twenty-five miles. The present length of road now owned and leased 
by the company is about 200 miles. In June, 18G0, the Rensselaer & 
Saratoga Railroad company leased the Saratoga & Schenectady rail- 
road and the Albany & Vermont railroad. In 18(55 the company 
leased the Saratoga & Whitehall railroad and the Rutland eSj Wash- 
ington railroad. In 186S it leased and became owner of all the capital 
stock of the Glens Falls railroad. In February, 1870, it leased the Rut- 
land &■ Whitehall railroad. May 1, 1871, the Rensselaer & Saratoga 
Railroad company leased all its roads and leased lines to the Delaware 
& Hudson Canal company, which are now operated by the latter 
corporation. 

The Troy & New England Railroad company opened a part of its 
line, from Albia to Averill Park, in the winter of 1895. The motive 
power is electricity. The road connects with the Troy City Railroad 
company's lines at Albia. 




J 



c.&'T^riJj^^^ 



COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 137 

The Rensselaer County Agricultural society dates from 1819, its 
organization having been perfected June 3 of that year, in the court 
house, by the election of George Tibbits, president; Herman Knicker- 
bocker, first vice president; Simon Newcomb, second vice-president; 
Edmund C. Genet, third vice-president; Philip Heartt, treasurer; 
George R. Davis, corresponding secretary ; and Henry Hoyle, record- 
ing secretary. The first managers, elected at the next meeting, July 
14, 1819, were: Thomas Clowes, Stephen V. R. Schuyler, John P. 
Cushman, Stephen Ross, Thomas Turner, Hugh Peebles, Troy; Jacob 
C. Lansing, Wooster Brookins, Smith Germond, Lansingburgh; Bethel 
Mather, Schaghticoke; Moses Warren, John Carpenter, jr., Hoosick; 
Burton Hammond, Berlin; Henry Piatt, Stephentown; Fenner Palmer, 
Nassau; Asa Gardner, Samuel J. McChesney, Martin Springer, Bruns- 
wick; Michael S. Vandercook, Pittstown; Joseph Case, Petersburgh; 
Ziba Hewitt, Grafton; William Carmichael, Sand Lake; Cornelius 
vSchermerhorn, Schodack; John Briere, Greenbush. October 12 and 
13 following the first annual fair was held on the society's grounds in 
Troy, south of Hoosick street. From that time on fairs were held 
annually, generally in Troy, sometimes in the meadows in the southern 
part of the city, sometimes on the bank of the Hudson between Troy 
and Lansingburgh and sometimes in the southern part of Lansing- 
burgh. The grounds at the intersection of Market and Canal streets, 
east of Lansingburgh, were purchased in 1857 of George Vail and 
others, and for three years thereafter fairs were held there. In 1860 
new grounds in the southern part of Lansingburgh, on Vail avenue, 
were purchased, commodious buildings were erected and a driving 
track laid out. During the two latter years of the war the society 
leased its grounds and buildings to the United States government for 
use as a convalescent hospital, at the rate of $300 per month. When 
the government relinquished possession the society improved the 
grounds and purchased some of the buildings. From time to time 
large expenditures for further improvements continued to be made 
until 1874, when the society, finding itself deeply involved financially 
and with income entirely too small for its maintenance, released the 
grounds upon foreclosure of heavy mortgages, and the property was 
sold by the sheriff. 

One of the most thriving county associations, the Rensselaer County 
Sunday School union, was established in 1832 under the auspices of 
and auxiliary to the American Sunday School union. The union was 
18 



138 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

made up of representatives of numerous evangelical churches, all Sun- 
day schools in the county connected with evangelical churches being 
admissible as members. The union does much commendable mission- 
ary work, and under its directions Bibles are distributed at intervals 
throughout the county. The union regularly corresponds with the State 
association and with the various town unions in the county, all of which 
are in close sympathy with one another. 

The Rensselaer County Bible society was organized July 11, 1815, 
in the court-house, by the election of these officers: Rev. Jonas Coe, 
president; Rev. Ralph Westervelt, first vice-president; Rev. Samuel 
Blatchford, second vice-president; Daniel Buel, Jr., corresponding 
secretary; Rev. Francis Wayland, recording secretary ; Derick Lane, 
treasurer: Rev. Parker Adams, Tobias Spicer, Rev. John Younglove, 
Jr., Rev. Justus Hull, Dr. Ely Burrett,' Hon. Josiah Masters, Jacob A. 
Fort, Hon. Hosea Moflfitt, and James L. Hogeboom, board of managers. 
The society's chief work is to supply Bibles to the needy. 

The Mohawk and Hudson River Humane society was originally in- 
corporated as the Albany County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty 
to Children, which was organized April 27, 1887. The original title 
was changed to the existing one May 3, 1889, the change being made 
as the title indicates, for the double purpose of enlarging its territorial 
scope and including suffering brutes in its humane endeavors. March 
7, 1892, the executive committee of the society was formally incorporated 
in Albany county as the Mohawk and Hudson River Humane Society 
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. April 13, 1894, a special 
act of the Legislature took effect, which consolidated the two societies 
under the title now held. This constituted the first combined society 
in the State of New York uniting the care of children and animals. 

One of the most memorable storms which ever fell upon the county 
was that occurring on the afternoon of August 27, 1891. For several 
days the streams had been swollen by heavy rains. During the day 
many of the small streams overflowed their banks and the Hudson 
river rose rapidly. This immense raging torrent was still further in- 
creased late in the afternoon by a disastrous cloudburst, the result being 
the total destruction of a number of bridges and dams, heavy damage 
to many mills, hotels and dwellings, and the loss of one life. The 
valley of the Wynantskill was the scene of the greatest destruction, 
and here many cattle were drowned, besides which thousands of dollars' 
worth of property was devastated. The bridges destroyed were val- 



EFFORT TO DIVIDE THE COUNTY. 139 

tied at $25,000. At Poestenkill William McChesney, aged twenty-one, 
was carried away on a bridge, with four other men, and was drowned. 
His companions were saved. The greatest damage w*as sustained in 
the city of Troy and the towns of Sand Lake, Poestenkill, Berlin and 
Petersburgh. 

November 30, 1895, the New York State board of assessors rendered 
a decision favorable to the city of Troy and against the towns in the 
matter of the equalized valuation of the city. The decision took off 
from the equalized assessed valuation of the city the sum of $2,280,064 
and divided it among the country towns. It made the total valuation 
of the city $42,187,813 and the total city and county valuation about 
$72,000,000. Complaint had been made by the people of Troy that the 
city had been paying more than its share of the taxes, and the State 
assessors upheld this contention. The total real and personal equaliza- 
tion, as corrected by the State assessors, was: 

Troy, $43,886,522; Berlin, $472,851 ; Brunswick, $2,553,631 ; East Greenbush, $1.- 
523,233: Grafton, $295,204; Greenbush, $3,525,496; Hoosick, $6,056,914; Lansing- 
burgh, $6,589,375; Nassau, §823,409; North Greenbush, $2,004,626; Petersburgh, 
$514,408; Pittstown, $2,738,712; Poestenkill, $552,828; Sand Lake, $868,376; Schagh- 
ticoke, $3,123,176; Schodack, $3,770,455; Stephentown, $523,413. 

As a result of the strained relations between the inhabitants of the 
city of Troy and of the country towns over the question of taxation, an 
effort was made by the latter in the years 1895 and 1896 to divide the 
county, setting off all the towns under the name of Morton county, in 
honor of Governor Levi P. Morton, and leaving the city of Troy identi- 
cal in its limits with the county of Rensselaer. The matter was brought 
up on several occasions in the board of supervisors and an effort was 
made on the part of the advocates of division to secure the co-operation 
of State Senator Le Grand C. Tibbits and the county's representatives 
in the State Assembly; but the movement came to naitght. 

An agitation, covering a period of several years, in favor of free 
roads in the county, finally culminated in 1895 and 1890 in an endeavor 
to secure legislation abolishing all the toll gates within the limits of the 
county. It was argued that the existence of the toll gates was detri- 
mental to the interests of Troy, Albany and the villages along the Hud- 
son, as well as to the farming interests. No legislation to the end 
had been obtained as late as 1896, but in this year the advocates of free 
roads were still agitating the subject in a spirited manner which event- 
uallv doubtless will be ereeted with success. 



140 



LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



The population of Rensselaer county at the close of each decade dur- 
ing the nineteenth century is given as follows in the eleventh census 
of the United States: 

1800,30,351; 1810,36,309; 1820,40,114; 1830,49,424; 1840, 60,259; 1850.73,363; 
1860, 86,323; 1870, 99,549; 1880, 115,328; 1890, 124,511. 

The population of the county in 1890, by towns, including the prin- 
cipal villages, was as follows: 



Rensselaer county - - - 

Berlin town 

Brunswick town - 

East Greenbush town 

Grafton town 

Greenbush town, coextensive with Greenbush village 

Greenbush village 

Hoosick town, including Hoosick Falls village 

Hoosick Falls village. 

Lansingburg town, including Lansingburg village 

Lansingbui-g village — 

Nassau town, including Nassau village 

Nassau village 

North Greenbush town, including Bath on Hudson village... 
Bath on Hudson village 

Petersburg town — 

Pittstown town 

Poestenkill town ._ 

Sandlake town - — - 

Schaghticoke town, including Schaghticoke village 

vSchaghticoke village 

Schodack town, including Castleton village 

Castleton village . 

Stephentown town - • 

Troy city - - 

Ward 1- 3,693 

Ward 2_ ...4,744 

Ward 3 2,664 

Ward 4 -- 4,504 

Ward 5 6,023 

Ward 6 - - 4,825 

Ward 7 ---- 5,785 

Ward 8 ...--- 3,865 

Ward 9 --- 4,375 

Ward 10 6.175 

Ward 11 -- 4,056 

Ward 12 - --- 5,024 

Ward 13.... -- 5,222 



1890 
124,511 



1,704 
3.654 
2,171 
1,457 
7,301 
7,301 

10,471 
7,014 

10,871 

10,550 
2,273 
356 
4,768 
2,399 
1,461 
4,056 
1,602 
2,555 
3,059 
1,258 
4,388 
1,127 
1,764 

60,956 



1880 
115,328 



2,202 
3,402 
2,127 
1,676 
6,743 
3,205 
7,914 
4,530 
7,759 
7,432 
2,629 
449 
4,131 
2,046 
1,785 
4,095 
1,672 
2,550 
3,591 



4,319 

912 

1,986 

56,747 



According to the same census these interesting figures are gleaned : 
Native born — males, 46,514; females, 50,291. Foreign born — males, 
13,228; females, 14,478. Total native white— males 46,171; females. 



CENSUS STATISTICS. 141 

49,860. Native white, native parents — males, 26,444; females, 28,635. 
Native white, foreig-n parents — males, 19,727; females, 21,225. For- 
eign white — males, 13,203; females, 14,475. Total colored, including 
persons of negro descent, Chinese, Japanese and civilized Indians — 
males, 368; females, 434. 

The foreign born population of the county, according to the census 
of 1890, was 27,706, representing the following countries: Canada and 
Newfoundland, 2,218; South. America, 18; Cuba and West Indies, 25; 
Ireland, 14,000; England, 3,390; vScotland, 895; Wales, 151; Germany, 
4,570; Austria, 130; Holland, 175; Belgium, 30; Switzerland 91; 
Norway, 144; Sweden, 267; Denmark, 516; Russia, 312; Hungary, 
20; Bohemia, 6; Poland, 326; France, 153; Italy, 150; Spain, 6; 
China, 13; Australia, 20; Europe (not specified), 13; born at sea, 12; 
other countries, 55. 

The total number of dwellings in the county in 1890 was 20,236; the 
total number of families, 27,731 ; the number of persons to a dwelling, 
6.15, and the persons to a family, 4.49. 

Following is a complete list of the inhabitants of Rensselaer county 
who have served in the important offices in the county: 

County Judges.— February 18, 1791, Anthony Ten Eyck ; March 9, 1803, Robert 
Woodworth; March 19, 1805, James L. Hogeboom ; March 10, 1808, Josiah Masters; 
February 7, 1823, David Buel, jr. ; February 2, 1828, Harmon Knickerbocker; March 
17, 1838, George R. Davis; June, 1847, Charles C. Parmelee; November, 1855, 
Archibald Bull; November, 1859, Gilbert Robertson, jr.; November, 1867, Jeremiah' 
Romeyn; January 31, 1871, E. Smith Strait; September, 13, 1881, James Forsyth; 
November, 1883, Edgar L. Fursman; January 1, 1890, Lewis E. Griffith. 

Surrogates. — 1791, Moss Kent; 1793, John Woodworth; 1803, Jeremiah Osborne; 
1806, Alanson Douglass; 1813, David Allen: 1815, William McManus; 1818, Benja- 
min Smith; 1820, Nicholas M. Masters; 1821, Thomas Clowes; 1827, Philip Viele; 
1835, Job Pierson; 1840, Cornelius L. Tracy; 1844, Stephen Reynolds; 1847, George 
T. Blair; 1855, Robert H. McClellan; 1863, Moses Warren ; 1867, E. Smith Strait; 
1871, Moses Warren; 1883, William Lord; 1889, James Lansing; 189(5, Albert C. 
Comstock. 

District Attorneys.— 1818, William McManus; 1821, Job Pierson; , Samuel 

Cheever; 1824, Job Pierson; 1833, Jacob C. Lansing; 1836, John Coon; 1839, David 
L. Seymour; 1842, Martin I. Townsend; 1847, Robert A. Lottridge; 1853, Anson 
Bingham; 1856, Robert A. Lottridge; 1859, George Van Santvoord ; 1862, John H. 
Colby; 1865, Robert A. Lottridge; 1869, Timothy S. Banker; 1872, Francis Rising; 
1873, John C. Greene; 1875, Albert E. Wooster; 1878, Samuel Foster; 1881, La Mott 
W. Rhodes; 1887, Lewis E. Griffith; 1889, John P. Kelly. • 

Sheriffs. — 1791, Albert Pawling; 1795, William Guilliland; 1798, James Dole; 
1800, Moses Vail; 1801, Michael Henry; 1806, Thomas Turner; 1807. Levinus Lans- 



142 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

ing; 1808, Thomas Turner; 1813, Gerrit Peebles; , Jeremiah Schuyler ; 1815, 

John Breese; 1819, Michael Vandercook ; 1821, Moses Warren ; 1825, H. Vanden- 
burgh; 1828, William P. Haskin ; 1831, Ebenezer C. Barton; 1834, Augustus Filley; 
is;57, Cornelius Schuyler; 1840, Volney Richmond; 1843, Gideon Reynolds; 184(i, 
Gilbert Cropsey; 1849, Abraham Witbeck ; 1852, John Price; 1855, William Wells; 
1858, Gerothman W. Cornell; 1861, Joseph F. Battershall ; 1864, Gerothman W. 
Cornell; 1867, Matthew V. A. Fonda; 1870, James McKeon ; 1878, John A. Quack- 
enbush; 1876, Albert L. Hotchkin; 1879, James H. Ingram; 1882, Eben C. Reynolds; 
1885, James Keenan ; 1888, Shepard Tappen ; 1891, Hammond Harrington. 

County Clerks. — 1791, Nicholas Schuyler; 1806, Ruggles Hubbard; 1813, James 
Dole; 1815, Benjamin Hiby; 1818, Joseph D. Selden ; 1821, Benjamin Smith; 1825, 
Archibald Bull; 1832, Henry R. Bristol; 1838, Leland Crandall; 1841, Charles 
Hooper; 1844, Ambrose H. Sheldon; 1850, Henry A. Clum ; 1853, Ambrose H. Shel- 
don; 1856, John P. Ball; 1859, J. Thomas Davis; 1862, Edwin Brownell; 1865, J. 
Thomas Davis; 1869, E. W. Greenman ; 1872, William Lape; 1875, E. C. Reynolds; 
1878, James Keenan; 1884, Shepard Tappen; 1887, Daniel E. Conway; 1892, Charles 
C. Greenman; 1893, Francis Riley; 1896, Richard H. Van Alstyne. 

County Treasurers. — 1791, Aaron Lane; 1801, Benjamin Smith; 1826, Daniel 
Paris; 1831, Isaac McConihe; 1834, Thomas Clowes; 1836, Waters W.Whipple; 1844, 
Russell Sage; 1851, Horace Herrington; 1854, Myron Hamblin ; 1857, Henry E. Weed; 

, Charles Warner; 1860, Oliver A. Arnold; 1863, Roger A. Flood; 1864, Samuel O. 

Gleason; 1873, Albert L. Hotchkin; 1876, Edmund Fitzgerald; 1879, Franklin P. 
Harder; 1888, Thomas Dick.son ; 1891, David Morey; 1894, George H. Morrison. 

County Sui'erintkndknts of Schools (krom 1843 to 1847). — Zebulon P. Burdick, 
Philander H. Thomas, Alexander H. Thompson, J. B. Wilkins. 

School Commissioners. — First district, E. C. Reynolds, William S. Buckley, War- 
ren W. Knovvlton, James C. Comstock, Amos H. Allen, Edward Wait, J. Russell 
Parsons, jr., Thomas H. Belts, Byron F. Clark. 

Second district, J. W. Boyce, Allen Barringer, Jabez F. Oilman, William L. 
Cottrell, George W. Hidley, Gardner Morey, Lewis N. S. Miller, 
■ Rei'reskntaiives in Congress from Rensselaer County. — 1793-1799, John E. Van 
Alen; 1799-1803, John Bird; 1803-1805, George Tibbits ; 1805-1809, Josiah Masters; 
1807-1809, James I. Van Allen; 1809-1811, Harmon Knickerbocker; 1813-1817, Hosea 
Moffit ; 1817-1819, John P.Cushman ; 1819-1821, John D. Dickinson ; 1823-1825, James L. 
Hogeboom; 1825-1827, William McManus; 1831-1835, Job Pierson ; 1835-1843, Hiram P. 
Hunt; 1837-1839, Henry Vail ; 1843-1845, David L. Seymour; 1845-1846, Richard P. 
Herrick ; 1845-1847, Thomas C. Ripley ; 1847-1851, Gideon Reynolds ; 1851-1853, David 
L. Seymour; 1853-1857, Russell Sage; 1857-1863, Abram B. Olin; 1863-1871, John A. 
Griswold; 1871-1873, Joseph M. Warren; 1875-1879, Martin I. Townsend; 1879- 
1883, Walter A. Wood; 1887-1889, Edward W. Greenman; 1889-1893, John A. 
Quackenbush; 1895-1897, Frank S. Black. 

United States Senator. — Edward Murphy, jr. , January 17, 1892, to the present 
time. 

Justices of the Sutreme Court, Thikd District, from Rensselaer County. — 
George Gould, November 6, 1855; Charles R. Ingalls, November 3, 1863; Edgar 1,. 
Fursman, January 1, 1890. 

Circuit Judue. — John P. Cushman, February 9, 1838. 



PROMINENT OFFICIALS. 143 

Regents of the University from Rensselaer County. — March 28, 1796, Rev. 
Jonas Coe; February 18, 1808, Charles Selden ; April 2, 1830, John P. Cushman; 
February 18, 1839, Joseph Russell; March 24, 1842, David Buel ; April 29, 1869, John 

A. Griswold; April 24, 1873, Martin I. Townsend. 

United States Officials Residing in Rensselaer County. — William L. Marcy, 
secretary of war in the cabinet of President Pierce, and secretary of state in the 
cabinet of Pi-esident Buchanan. John M. Francis, minister to Greece 

United States District Attorney. — 1879-1885, Martin I. Townsend. 

State Officers Residing in Rensselaer County. — 1793, Robert Woodworth, 
council of appointment; 1704, Zina Hitchcock, council of appointment; 1798, Moses 
Vail, council of appointment ; 1804, John Woodworth, attorney-general; 1821, 1823, 
William L. Marcy, adjutant-general; 1823, William L. Marcy, comptroller; 1825, 
1831, Joseph D. Seldon, canal appraiser; 1829, William L. Marcy, puisne judge; 
1829, 1831, William L. Marcy, justice of the supreme court; 1830, George R. Davis, 
bank commissioner; 1832, 1834, 1836, William L. Marcy, governor: 1836, Caleb 
Briggs, geological survey, 1836, James Hall, geological survey; 1848, George V, 
Huddleston, surgeon-general; 1850, John C. Mather, canal commissioner; 1853, 
Gardner Stow, attorney general; 1859, Thomas Clowes, State assessor; 1860, Thomas 

B. Carroll, canal appraiser; 1868, James S. Thayer, new capitol commissioner; 1874, 
Francis S. Thayer, auditor canal department; 1874, Adin Thayer, canal commis- 
sioner; 1879, Henry L. Lamb, acting superintendent of banking; 1880, Joseph B. 
Carr, secretary of state; 1882, Charles E. Patterson, speaker of the assembly; 1889, 
Edward Hannan, superintendent of public works; 1890, Martin I. Townsend, mem- 
ber of judiciary commission; 1888, John Sherry, manager Hudson River State hos- 
pital at Poughkeepsie ; 1891, Martin Schenck, state engineer and surveyor; 1893, 
Gilbert Robertson, jr., member of State board of mediation and arbitration; 1895, 
Francis N. Mann, manager of Hudson River State hospital at Poughkeepsie; 1894, 
David M. Green, member of commission to devise charters for cities of the third 
class. 

Members of Conventions to Revise the Constitution. — 1801, Cornelius Lansing. 
Jonathan Niles, William W. Reynolds, Jonathan Rouse, John Ryan, Jacob Yates. 
1821, Jirah Baker, David Buel, jr., James L. Hogeboom, John Reeve, John W. 
Woods. 1846, William H. Van Schoonhoven, Perry Warren, Abram Witbeck. 
1867, Jonathan P. Armstrong, David L. Seymour, Martin L Townsend, John M. 
Francis. 1872-1873 (commission), Cordelius L. Tracy, George C. Burdett. 1894, 
William J. Roche, John M. Francis. 

Following is a complete list of the representatives in the State As- 
sembly from Rensselaer coimty, from the first session of the Legislature 
to the present time : ^ 

1792. — Jonathan Brown, John Knickerbacker. John W. Schermerhorn, Thomas 
Sickles, Moses Vail. 

' Rensselaer county remaining a part of Albany county until the fifteenth session of the State 
Legislature in 1791, the representatives from this county are included in the Albany county list 
up to the close of that year. The names are copied from the New York State Civil List, 



144 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

1792-1793. — Benjamin Hicks, Christopher Hutton, Josiah Masters, Jonathan Niles, 
Nicholas Staats. 

1794. — Jonathan Brown, Benjamin Hicks, Hosea Moffit, Jonas Odel, Thomas 
Sickles. 

1795. — Jonathan Brown, Daniel Gray, Benjamin Hicks, Hosea Moffit, Jacob C. 
Schermerhorn. 

179(5. — John Bird, David Gray, Rowland Hall, John Knickerbacker, jr. 

1796-1797. — John Bird, John Carpenter, Jacob A. Fort, Daniel Gray, James Mc- 
Kown, Hosea Moffit. 

1798. — John Bird, Jacob Fort, Daniel Gray, Jonathan Hoag, Ho.sea Moffit, Israel 
Thompson. 

1798-1799. — Jacob A. Fort, Daniel Gray, Jonatlian Hoag, Cornelius Lansing, John 
W. Schermerhorn, John I. Van Rensselaer. 

1800.- -Jacob A. Fort, Daniel Gray, James McKown, Josiah Masters, John W. 
Schermerhorn, George Tibbits 

1800-1801. — Jonathan Brown, John Lovett, James McKown, Josiah Masters, Hosea 
Moffit, John E. Van Alen. 

1802. — John Carpenter, Jacob A. Fort, John Green, Burton Hammond, John Knick- 
erbacker, jr., John Stevens. 

1803. — John Green, Jonathan Rouse, John Ryan, John Woodworth. 

1804. — Asa Mann, Jonathan Rouse, Charles Selden, William Steward, Samuel 
Vary, jr. 

1804-1805. — Jonathan Burr, James L. Hogeboom, Nehemiah King, Asa Mann, 
John Ryan. 

180(i. — Jonathan Niles, William W. Reynolds, John Ryan, Nicholas Staats, Jacob 
Yates. 

1807. — Gilbert Eddy, A.sa Mann, William W. Reynolds, Robert \Voodworth, Adam 
Yates. 

1808. — James L. Hogeboom, Ebenezer Jones, Adam Yates, Jacob Yates. 

1808-1809. — Derick Lane, Henry Piatt, Cornelius I. Schei-merhorn, Israel Shepard. 

1810. — Timothy Leonard, Henry Piatt, Cornelius I. vSchermerhorn, Jeremiah 
Schuyler. 

1811. — William M. Bliss, Daniel Hull, jr., Cornelius I. Schermerhorn, Cornelius 
Van Vechten. 

1812. — George Gardner, Stephen Gregory, Abraham L. Viele, Stephen Warren. 

1812-1813. — David Allen, James H. Ball, John Carpenter, jr., John Stevens. 

1814. — William Bradley, Burton Hammond, Bethel Mather, Barent Van Vleck. 

1814-1815.— David Allen, Henry A. Lake, Jacob A. Ten Eyck, Zebulon Scriven. 

1816. — Job Greene, David E. Gregory, Herman^ Knickerbacker, Samuel I. McChes- 
ney, Samuel Milliman. 

1816-1817. — Daniel Carpenter, John D. Dickinson, Burton Hammond, Henry Piatt, 
Ebenezer W. W^albridge. 

1818. — Abijah Bush, Andrew Finch,- Myndert Groesbeck, Cornelius I. Schermer- 
horn, Munson Smith, Thomas Turner. 

' Occasionally spelled Harmon in the old record.s. 
2 Contested by Cornelius I. Schermerhorn, who succeeded February 2. 




JOHN A. CIPPERLY. 



ASSEMBLYMEN FROM THE COUNTY. 145 

1819. — George R. Davis, Andrew Finch, Henry Piatt, Daniel Simmons, Stephen 
Warren. 

1820.— John Babcock, David Doolittle, William C. Elmore, George Tibbits, Ebe- 
nezer W. Walbridge. 

1830-1821.— William C. Barber, Richard P. Hart, William B. Slocum, Calvin 
Thompson, John Van Alstyne. 

1832. — Daniel Gray, James Jones, Harper Rogers, Levi Rumsey, Gardner Tracy. 

1833. — Joseph Case, Gilbert Eddy, Chester Griswold, Stephen Warren. 

1824. — Caleb Carr, Henry Dubois, Martin Van Alstyne, Stephen Warren. 

1825, — John Carpenter, Jacob C. Lansing, Fenner Palmer, John G. Van Alstyne. 

1826. — Robert Collins, Augustus Filley, John F. Groesbeck, William Pierce. 

1827. — Jeremiah Dauchy, John Defreest, jr., Reuben Halstead, Henry Piatt. 

1838.— Samuel S. Cheever, Alonzo G. Hammond, William Peirce, Joseph Wads- 
worth. 

1829. — -Nathaniel Barnett, jr., Martin Defreest, William P. Heermans, Henry 
Mallery. 

1880. — Abial Buchanan, George R. Davis, Ziba Hewitt, Abraham C. Lansing. 

1831. — George R. Davis, Chester Griswold, Martin Springer, Aaron Worthington. 

1832. — Hosea Bennett, Henry J. Genet, John C. Kemble, Nicholas M. Masters. 

1833. — William P. Haskins. Alonzo G. Hammond, John L Kittle, Seth Parsons. 

1834. — Archibald Bull, Smith Germond, Nicholas B. Harris, James Yates. 

1835. — Chester Griswold, Jacob W. Lewis, Daniel Simmons, Martin Springer. 

1836. — David L. Seymour, Alexander O. Spencer, John J. Viele, Nathan West. 

1837. — Randall Brown, Alexander Bryan, Abraham Van Tuyl. 

1838. — Hezekiah Hull, Jacob A. Ten Eyck, James Wallace. 

1839.— Richard P. Herrick, Day O. Kellogg, Gideon Reynolds. 

1840. — Garrardus Deyoe, Samuel W. Hoag, William H. Van Schoonhoven. 

1841.— Claudius Moffit, John Tilley, William H. Van Schoonhoven. 

1842. — George R. Davis, Martinus Lansing, Silas W. Waite. 

1843. — George R. Davis, Samuel Douglas, Henry Vaudenburgh. 

1844. — John L. Cole, George B. Warren, Jonathan E. Whipple. 

1845. — Henry Betts, Ryer Heermance, William H. Van Schoonhoven. 

1846. — Henry Z. Hayner, Samuel McClellan, Ju.stus Noltou. 

1847. — Joseph Gregory, Amos K. Hadley, David S. McNamara. 

1848.1— Amos k. Hadley, ^ George T. Denison, George W. Glass. 

1849.— Amos K. Hadley, Benajah Allen, William H. Budd. 

1850. — George Lesley, Edward P. Pickett, Lansing Sheldon. 

1851. — George Lesley, William Russell, Oliver C. Thompson. 

1852.— Jonas C. Heartt, ■' Albert E. Richmond, William H. Herrick. 

1853.— Jason C. Osgood, Charles B. Stratton, Peter G. Ten Eyck. 

1854. — Jonathan Edwards, Lyman Wilder, George Brust. 

' Under the constitution of 1840 tbe county was divided into districts, from each of which one 
member of Assembly was elected. The names of the members given after the above date are 
arranged to correspc^nd with the districts in their numerical order, 

2 Also speaker of the Assembly. * Also speaker. 
19 



146 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

1855. — Jonathan Edwards, Nicholas M. Masters, Edmund Cole. 

1856. — George Van Santvoord, Augustus Johnson, Sanford A. Tracy. 

1857. — Darius Allen, Volney Richmond, Ebenezer S. Strait. 

1858.— J. C. Osgood, Daniel Fish, Martin Miller. 

1859. — Thomas Coleman, Henry B. Clark, Anson Bingham. 

1860. — Thomas Coleman, James Culver, Anson Bingham. 

1861. — Charles J. Saxe, L. Chandler Ball, Anson Bingham. 

1862. — Charles J. Saxe, David G. Maxon, Sylvester Waterbury. 

1863. — James McKeon, John A. Quackenbush, Ebenezer S. Strait. 

1864. — James McKeon, George W. Banker, James Dearstyne. 

1865.— George C. Burdett, Robert M. Hasbrouck, Matthew V. A. Fonda. 

1866.— James S. Thorn, Marshall F. White, Eleazer Wooster. 

1867.— William Gurley, Marshall F. White, Eleazer Wooster. 

1868.— John L. Flagg, Jared A. Wells, Harris B. Howard. 

1869.— John L. Flagg, Edward Akin, Harris B. Howard. 

1870. — John L. Flagg, Eugene Hyatt, J. Thomas Davis. 

1871. — John L. Flagg, Horace C. Gifford, Sylvester Waterbury. 

1872.— Jason C. Osgood, John L. Snyder, Castle W. Herrick. 

1873.— William V. Cleary, John L. Snyder, Castle W. Herrick. 

1874.— William V. Cleary, Robert Dickson, Jacob M. Whitbeck. 

1875.— William V. Cleary, William F. Taylor, Jacob M. Whitbeck. 

1876. — William V. Cleary, William F. Taylor, Thomas B. Simmons. 

1877.— John H. Burns, John J. Filkin, William H. Sliter. 

1878.— John H,. Burns, Solomon V. R. Miller, William H. Sliter. 

1879. — Francis N. Mann, Jr., Eli Perry, Thomas B. Simmons. 

1880.— La Mott W. Rhodes, Albert C. Comstock, Barnis C. Strait. 

1881.— Charles E. Patterson, Richard A. Derrick, Barnis C. Strait. 

1882.— Charles E. Patterson, i Richard A. Derrick, Rufus Sweet 

1888.— William V. Cleary, Richard A. Derrick, Rufus Sweet. 

1884.— James P. Hooley, Sylvanus D. Locke, William T. Mills. 

1885. — James P. Hooley. Eugene L. Demers, Charles C. Lodewick. 

1886. — Michael F. Collins, Eugene L. Demers, Thomas Dickson. 

1887.— Michael F. Collins, J. Irving Baucus, James Ryan, jr. 

1888. — George O'Neil, J. Irving Baucus, James Ryan, jr. 

1889.— George O'Neil, Joseph S. Saunders, James Ryan, jr. 

1890.— James M. Riley, Joseph S. Saunders, John W. McKnighl. 

1891.— James M. Riley, Levi E. Worden, John W. McKnight. 

1892.— James M. Riley, Levi E. Worden, John J. Cassin. 

1893. — William M. Keenan, John M. Chambers, John J. Cassin 

1894.— William M. Keenan, John M. Chambers, John J. Cassin. 

1895. — John T. Norton, John M. Chambers, John J. Cassin. 

1896. — John T. Norton, Edward McGraw, George Anderson. 

State Senators from Rensselaer County. — 1793-1796, Robert Woodworth; 
1797-1798, Moses Vail; 1799-1802, Ebenezer Foote ; 1802, Christopher Hutton; 1804- 
1807, John Woodworth; 1808-1811, Charles Selden; 1812-1815, Ruggles Hubbard; 

' Also speaker of the assembly. 



SENATORS FROM THE COUNTY. U7 

1815-1818. George Tibbits; 1820-1822, Thomas Frothingham; 1834-1836, John C. 
Kemble; 1841-1844, Henry W. Strong; 1846-1847, W. H. Van Schoonhoven ; 1848- 
1849, Albert R. Fox; 1850-1851, Thomas B. Carroll; 1852-1853, W. H. Van Schoon- 
hoven; 1854-1855, Elisha N. Pratt; 1856-1857, Amos Briggs; 1858-1859, John D. 
Willard; 1860-1864, Volney Richmond; 1864-1865, Frederick H. Hastings; 1868- 
1871, Francis S. Thayer; 1874-1875, Roswell A. Parmenter; 1876-1877, Thomas 
Coleman; 1880-1881, Lsaac V. Baker, jr.; 1882-1883, Charles L. MacArthur; 1884- 

1887, Albert C. Comstock; 1888-1895, Michael F. Collins; 1896 , Le Grand C. 

Tibbits. 

Following' is a statement of the several incorporated companies liable 
to taxation in Rensselaer county in the year 189G: 



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154 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XI. 

BENCH AND BAR OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
Reviskd 1!Y Hon. Maktin I. Townsknu. 

The legal profes.sion i.s venerable with age and illustrious with honor. 
Every civilized nation, every state has produced lawyers of renown, 
some for their profound learning in legal lore, some for their brilliancy 
in, oratory; some both for great knowledge and masterful eloquence. 
It may truthfully be said of the bar of Rensselaer county that its repre- 
sentatives have attained prominence in all these spheres. It has sent 
to the bench of the Supreme Court some of the most profoundly 
learned and wisest judges; and it has produced some of the most elo- 
quent pleaders who ever stood before the bar of justice in this county. 

The history of the bench and bar of Rensselaer county dates back to 
the earliest days of the county. In an address delivered by the Hon. 
Martin I. Townsend, on the occasion of the celebration of the hundredth 
anniversary of the naming of the city of Troy, held in that city in 
January, 1889, that distinguished lawyer said: 

Troy was a mere hamlet at the beginnmg of the nineteenth century, althougli her 
population was steadily growing and the intellectual fibre of her lawyers strengthen- 
mg and preparing to vindicate in the third decade their right to take rank with the 
foremost minds in the State. Before 1820 John Woodworth had been called to 
Albany to fill the office of attorney-general, and at about that time William L. Marcy 
was also called there to fill the position of adjutant-general. 

Under the constitution of 1821, which continued in force until 1847, John Wood- 
worth and William L. Marcy were justices of the Supreme Court, then the only court 
of review below the court for the correction of errors. John P. Cu.shman and Nathan 
Williams, who had studied law and commenced its practice here, but who had removed 
to Utica, held the office of circuit judge under the same constitution. William L. 
Marcy was also United States senator, governor of the vState, secretary of war and 
secretary of state. Under the constitution of 1847 George Gould and Charles R. 
Ingalls have been justices of the Supreme Court. 

The first judges of our Court of Common Pleas under the constitution of 1821 were 
David Buel, jr., from 1825 to 1828; Herman Knickerbocker from 1828 to 1838, and 
George R. Davis from 1838 until the constitution of 1847 took effect. Isaac McConihe, 
Archibald Bull, Francis N. Mann and Jeremiah Romeyn were judges of that court. 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 155 

The judges of our Court of Common Pleas before the constitution of 1821 were 
Anthony Ten Eyck, Robert Woodworth, James L. Hogeboom and Josiah Masters. 

Our count}' judges since 1847 have been Charles C. Parmele, Archibald Bull, Jere- 
miah Romejm, Gilbert Robertson, jr., E. Smith Strait, James Forsyth and the pres- 
ent incumbent, Judge Edgar L. F'ursman. The surrogates of the county have been 
Moss Kent, John Woodworth, Jeremiah Osborne, David Allen, William McManus, 
Thomas Clowes, Philip Viele, Job Pierson, Cornelius L. Tracy, Stephen Reynolds, 
George T. Blair, Robert H. McCiellan, E. Smith Strait, Moses Warren and William 
Lord, the present incumbent. 

The legal profession of Troy has furnished the following members of Congress: 
Moss Kent, John Bird, John P. Cushman, William McManus, John- D. Dickinson, 
Job Pierson, Hiram P. Hunt, David L. Seymour, Abram B. Olin and Martin I. 
Townsend. Of State senators the lawyers of our city have furnished the following: 
Moss Kent, Robert Woodworth, John Woodworth, Henry W. Strong, Ruggles Hub- 
bard, John D. Willard, William H. Van Schoonhoven, Roswell A. Parmenter, and 
we probably have the right to include amongst us the Hon. Albert C. Comstock, who 
has recently filled that position. Our profession has furnished the following mem- 
bers of assembly: John Bird, John Woodworth, Robert Woodworth, George R. 
Davis, Archibald Bull, David L. Seymour, William H. Van Schoonhoven, Henry Z. 
Hayner, Amos K. Hadley, George Van Santvoord, John L. Flagg, Francis N. Mann, 
jr.. La Mott W. Rhodes and Charles E. Patterson. Of these George R. Davis was 
three times speaker, and Amos K. Hadley and Charles E. Patterson once each. 
The Hon. Miles Beach is a judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the city of New 
York. The Hon. Abram B. Olin was for many years judge of the Su^jreme Court of 
the District of Columbia, and Henry Z. Hayner was chief justice of the territorj' of 
Minnesota from its organization until its admission as a vState. 

In his review of the life, services and characteristics of the Hon. 
David L. Seymour, one of the lawyers of the county who stood in the 
fore front of his profession, Mr. Townsend said: 

His birthplace was Wethersfield, in the State of Connecticut. . . . He pur- 
sued a full course of study at Yale college, and graduated with high honor in the 
class of 1826. ... In 18:50 he removed to Troy and commenced the practice of 
law in partnership with the Hon. John P. Cushman, the distinguished jurist of our 
city. That tireless labor so characteristic of Mr. Seymour's life, aided by a clear, 
forcible, dignified and eloquent manner of discussion, soon gave him a prominent 
])osition at the bar, and in a few years he came to take rank with the leading lawyers 
of the country. . . . He was a distinguished member of the Legislature of 18H6, 
and was elected a member of Congress in 1842. In the Congress to which he had 
been chosen he was selected from the State of New York to represent that State on 
the committees on ways and means, and as a member of that committee he won a 
high character for industry, erudition and statesmanship, and secured for himself a 
very i)rominent position in our great national council.' . . . Mr. Seymours sym- 
pathies were essentially democratic. So strongly was he imbued with such senti- 
ments that in the fall of 1846, when the proposition was before the State to extend 
the right of suffrage to colored men, irrespective of property qualifications, he voted 



156 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

for that measure, although his so doing was deemed disadvantageous to the Demo- 
cratic party, with which he acted, and it was on that occasion that he uttered the 
expression: "I will not stand up before my God and deny to any other man any 
right which I claim for myself." . . . Mr. Seymour was essentially a great man ; 
great not only in his persuasive and effective oratory and the gifts of God, but great 
from the acquisitions of a diligent and studious life. As an erudite and tireless 
lawyer he had few equals. . . . Mr. Seymour, although well aware of his own 
powers, as he must have been from the knowledge which he acquired in comparing 
himself with others in the conflicts in which he from time to time was necessarily 
engaged, never for a moment became over-confident, and never, on any occasion, 
obtruded himself or his opinions when not fairly called to do so by duty or propriety. 

In his private relations of life he has left a name without a moral stain. 

Mr. Seymour was a scholar as well as a lawyer and politician. . . . At the 
time of Mr. Seymour's death, which occurred in the fall of 1867, he was a member 
of the convention called to revise the constitution of the State. He occupied a very 
prominent position in that body, and but for the severe labor he imposed upon him- 
self there he might have been long spared to his city and to his family, whom he 
idolized and who idolized him. He had nearly attained the age of 64 years. His loss 
was felt most severely by his friends, by the profession and by the State at large. 
But he passed from us in the full maturity of his powers, and before time had tar- 
nished the brilliancy of those faculties which have rarely been equalled — very seldom 
surpassed. 

Of the Hon. William Learned Marcy, Benjamin H. Hall, on the 
same occasion, said: 

Brightest and highest among those whom Troy claims as her own stands the name 
of William Learned Marcy. He was the son of a farmer and born at Southbridge, 
in the southern part of Worcester county, Mass., December 12, 1186. Plis studies 
were wisely conducted, and, after pursuing a preparatory course, he was admitted a 
student at Brown university, whence he was graduated in the year 1808. In the 
same year he came to Troy and commenced the study of law in the office of William 
M. Bliss, who at that time was the best informed lawyer in the village, and who 
several years after continued to be, as he had been for some time before, the 
fountain of legal practice in the county of Rensselaer. . . . Mr. Marcy sub- 
sequently read law with John Russell, another lawyer of repute, in the early days of 
Troy, and was admitted to the bar in 1811. An interest in the politics of the nation 
was developed in his youth ; his approval of the foreign policy of Jefferson and 
Madison was pronounced and open, and he became a warm and eager defender of 
their administration of public affairs. Fully believing it to be his duty to defend by 
his sword the principles maintained in discussion, he, with many other citizens of 
Troy, volunteered his services to Governor Tompkins to repress the insolent aggres- 
sions of Great Britain. ... A Democratic Council of Appointment, in January, 
1815, removed De Witt Clinton from the mayoralty of the city of New York, as a 
political measure, and now Mr. Clinton, having attained the ascendancy in the 
Council of Appointment, caused the removal of Mr. Marcy from the recordership of 
Troy on similar grounds, and designated one of his friends to fill that position on 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 1 57 

June 16, 1818. . . . About this time Mr. Marcy formed a law partnership with 
the late Jacob L. Lane, which continued during the remainder of his abode in Troy. 
On February 21, 1831, he was made adjutant general of the State, which position 
he held for two years. In the spring of 1821 he was again appointed recorder of the 
city of Troy, and served as such for two years also. On February 13, 1823, he was 
appointed comptroller of the State, and soon after removed from Troy and took up 
his residence in Albany. He continued in the office of comptroller for six years, and 
during the same period was a regent of the University. During 1829 and 1880 he 
was an assistant justice of the Supreme Court of this State; was appointed United 
States senator on February 1, 1881, and held this position until December 31, 1831, 
when he resigned it in order to become governor of the State. For three terms, and 
until the end of 1838, he served in this capacity, having been defeated for a fourth 
term by William H. Seward. He was secretary of war during the presidency of 
James K. Polk, and secretary of state under President Franklin Pierce. 

It may be safely said that the American republic has produced few minds, if any, 
superior to that of our Trojan statesman, William L. Marcy. 

Mr. Hall in referring to the work of John Paine Cushman, said: 

Born at Pomfret, in Connecticut, on March 8, 1784, and springing from an ances- 
try that blossomed in this land from the Mayflower of the Pilgrims, he was true to 
the heritage of worth which was his own peculiar possession. Having graduated at 
Yale college in 1807, he soon after began the study of law at the celebrated law 
school at Litchfield, Conn., . . . and after remaining there about a year was 
admitted to practice law in the courts of his native State. He subsequently read 
law in the office of the venerable Abraham Van Vechten of Albany, but finallv fixing 
his residence in Troy in the year 1809, spent a brief period in legal study in the office 
of William M. Bliss, and soon after commenced practice in the courts of this State. 
. ■. . At the age of thirty-two, having received a nomination as representative in 
Congress from the Rensselaer district, he was elected to that position and held it 
from March 4, 1817, to March 4, 1819. . . . His knowledge of the law received 
recognition in his election as recorder of Troy in 18'!3, which position he held until 
1838, when he was appointed circuit judge of the third circuit. ... In addition 
to the offices held by him already named, he was a regent of the University of the 
State of New York from 1830 to 1834, and was a trustee of Union college. 

Roswell A. Parmenter, in commenting- upon the services of the Hon. 
William A. Beach, said: 

In his professional career William A. Beach survived tliree epochs. While, com- 
paratively speaking, a young practitioner, he attained the leadership of the Saratoga 
bar. In his mature years and more perfected judgment he selected the city of Troy 
as the theatre of his local practice of the law, where, by common consent, he became 
the trusted oracle of the Troy bar. Subsequently he removed to the city of New 
York, then, as now, the commercial metropolis of the western hemisphere. There, 
also, in the midst of giants of the profession, he again took a front rank and main- 
tained it with undimmed lustre for fifteen years, when he retired from the arena of 
professional contest with colors still flying at masthead, but with a clear forecast of 



158 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

his own early demise. . . . Whatever fame now belongs or shall be hereafter 
awarded to William A. Beach was acquired by him in his private capacity, and in the 
ordinary practice of his professional life when engaged in establishing or defending 
the legal rights of others and not of himself. . . . He demonstrated the great 
truth that man at times makes the circumstances under which he acquires distinction 
among his fellow men. . . . He possessed in a large degree quick perception, 
sound judgment, critical discrimination and an analytical mind. . . . He never 
lagged behind when duty called him to the front. That characteristic was eminentlj' 
displayed by him in the celebrated trial of Theodore Tilton against Henry Ward 
Beecher. . . . On either side the array of eminent counsel was formidable, but 
their .strength and courage had become exhausted, so great had been the labor, 
strain and responsibility imposed upon them. One of them, however, faced the 
closing ordeal with unparalleled heroism and undaunted resolution. That man was 
William A. Beach. . . . Not unmindful of the responsibility here assumed, or 
of the criticism it may invoke, I shall in this presence firmly contend, as I do sin- 
cerely believe, that as an orator in the judicial forum William A. Beach was the 
peer of Demosthenes or Cicero, or both combined. 

Of David Bull, jr , Benjamin H. Hall .said: 

He was born in Litchlield, Conn., on October 22, 1784, and came to Troy when he 
was fourteen years old, with his father. Here he prepared himself for college, and 
was graduated at Williams in 1805. His legal studies were pursued in Troy in the 
office of his brother-in law, John Bird, and subsequently at Albany, first with Daniel 
Jones, then with Mr. Beers, and then with the great lawyer, long beloved as the 
" Father of tlie Bar," Abrajiam Van Vechten. With the latter he remained as a 
student until he was admitted to the bar as an attorney of the Supreme Court in 1808, 
soon after which he began the practice of his profession in Troy. ... In 1818 
he was appointed a judge of the County Court of Rensselaer county, and on the 
death of Josiah Masters in 1823, was made first judge of the same court, and con- 
tinued in this position until his resignation in 1828. His high social position, coupled 
with his studious life, and his recognized ability, made him the trusted friend and 
adviser of the most prominent citizens in this portion of the State, and his advice and 
direction were eagerly sought. . . . The tribute paid to his great worth, his 
scholarly attainments and his unsullied career, is thus recorded by one of his sons, 
who for many years was a member of our profession and an honored citizen of this 
municipality: " The united expression of the community, in the midst of which he 
passed a long and honorable life, was one of veneration and regard for a citizen, 
whose life was distinguished by its purity and integrity, not less than by its high 
intellectual achievements." 

Of George Gould, Franklin J. Parmcnter said : 

George Gould was the son of that eminent jurist and legal instructor, James 
Gould, LL. D., who kept the famous school in Litchfield, Conn. Here, under the 
paternal roof, George Gould was born on the 2d of September, 1807. . . . Gould 
graduated with distinction at Yale college in 1827. . . . Sixty years ago our 
city was not so beautiful and attractive as it is to-day, nevertheless at that time 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 150 

thither came George Gould, then a handsome young man with twenty-two years 
sitting gracefully upon an ample white brow surrounded by a profusion of irresistible 
black curls. . . . He formed his first law partnership with the late Hon. George 
R. Davis, a gentleman whom the past generation held in affection and esteem for his 
pleasant, genial companionship and for his sterling qualities as a lawyer and legis- 
lator. . . . Judge Gould continued in active practice at the Troy bar for about 
twenty-five years, though for some years before he left the bar to assume the duties 
of a justice of the Supreme -Court, his labors as treasurer and legal adviser of the 
Troy and Boston Railroad company, the management of the large estate of his 
father-in law [George Vail], and various other matters drew him away from the 
courts. But during the period named his industry, his classical scholarship, his 
quick perception of legal principles, his readiness to turn them against an adversary, 
combined with his great natural abilities, had brought him to the front rank of his 
profession. . . . He held various oifices, more of trust than of profit. Our 
citizens in 1852 gave proof of their esteem and confidence by electing him for their 
mayor. . . . When elevated to the bench of the Supreme Court in 1855, Gould 
was an active member of the American party, to which he was indebted for his 
nomination. . . . As a judicial officer Judge Gould has had few superiors. He 
brought to the discharge of his duties a mature judgment, a ripe scholarship, a 
more than ordinar}' acquaintance with the literature of Greece and Rome, a 
thorough knowledge of law in its multifarious bearings and a quick application of 
its principles. ... In 1860 he conferred an enduring favor on the bar of our 
State by editing and adapting to our code his father's celebrated "Treatise on the 
Principles of Pleading." ... In the full vigor of his great mental powers, in 
the sixty-second year of his age, at his residence in Troy, on the 6th day of Decem- 
l)er, 18()8, this eminent and much loved man, peacefully and quietly and with hope 
that springs from a blameless and useful life, passed to a higher court than ours. 

John Woodworth was born at Schodack November 12, 17G8; was' 
o^raduated from Yale colleoe at the age of 20 years ; immediately began 
tlie study of law in Albany and was admitted to the bar in 1701, when 
he removed to Troy to ])ractice his profession. In 1703 he was ap- 
pointed surrogate and held that of^ce until his appointment as attorney- 
general of the State of New York in 1804. He was postmaster for Troy 
from 1707 until 1700 and was one of the most influential of the organ- 
izers of the Troy library. Comparatively early in life he became one 
of the most distinguished lawyers in the vState, and on March 27, 1810, 
he was honored by an appointment to the Supreme Court bench. In 
later life he removed to Albany, where he died July 1, 1858, at the age 
of 00 years. He was the auth(jr of a historical work on Troy, which is 
considered about the most valuable of the earliest compilations of facts 
and reminiscences of prominent men and things of the city. 

John Bird was the son of Dr. Seth Bird of Litchfield, Conn., and a 
graduate of Yale college. He commenced the study of law in 178G and 



160 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

was admitted to practice in his native State. In 1794 he removed to 
Troy and practiced his profession there with g;reat success until his 
death, which occurred in 1806, His integrity was never questioned 
and his character was in all ways above reproach. Although he died 
at the early age of 37 years, his reputation as a lawyer was very high. 
He was a genius of high order, a brilliant and impressive orator, a 
sharp debater and reasoner and frecjuently " charming in his display 
of eloquence." 

John D. Willard, the son of a clergyman, was born at Lancaster, N. 
H., November 4, 1799, was educated at Dartmouth college, where he 
was graduated at the early age of 19 years. He began the study of 
law in Chenango county. New York, and completed it in Troy with 
Judge McConihe, being admitted to the bar in 1826. A year later he 
was appointed surrogate of Rensselaer county by Governor De Witt 
Clinton, but the Senate refused to confirm the appointment for politi- 
cal reasons. In 1834 Governor William L. Marcy appointed him judge 
of the Court of Common Pleas, an office in which he served for six 
years. At the end of this time he voluntarily retired to private prac- 
tice. He was a prominent Mason and grand master of the Grand 
lodge of the State of New York at the time of the memorable division 
of the order. He also edited the Troy Sentinel before he became judge 
of the Court of Common Pleas. In 1857 the Democrats sent him to the 
State Senate, where he served with ability. He died October 9, 18G4. 

Samuel G. Huntington was the son of Rev. Enoch Huntington and 
was born May 21, 1782, at Middletown, Conn. He was also a nephew 
and namesake of Samuel Huntington, one of the signers of the Decla- 
ration of Independence, president of the colonial congress and after- 
wards governor of Connecticut. He was graduated from Yale college 
at the age of eighteen years and a few years later was admitted to the 
bar in Middlesex county, Connecticut. In 1806 he removed to Water- 
ford, Saratoga county, N. Y., and in 1825, then a distinguished law- 
yer, he removed to Troy. He was an authority on real estate law 
and his counsels were largely sought by his contemporaries. During 
the term of office of Governor Clinton he was made judge of the Court 
of Common Pleas for Rensselaer county. He died July 5, 1854. 

Rufus Marsh Townsend was born August 1, 1806, at Hancock, Mass., 
the son of Nathaniel and Cynthia Marsh Townsend, and a brother of 
Martin Ingham Townsend. With his two brothers he was fitted for 
Williams college in his father's house under private instructors. He 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 161 

was graduated from Williams in 1830. After teaching in an academy 
at Stockbridge, Mass., for one year he removed to Troy and studied 
law with John P. Cushman and David L. vSeymour, and at the end of 
three years began what proved to be a very successful practice. His 
death occurred January 14, 1888. 

Francis Norton Mann was a native of Milton, Saratoga county, where 
he was born June 19, 1802, the son of Jeremiah Mann and Lydia Nor- 
ton. He was educated at the Lansingburgh academy and Union col- 
lege, being graduated from the latter institution in 1825. The follow- 
ing fall he began the study of law in the office of Ashley Sampson and 
John Dickson in Rochester, then with Daniel Cady in Johnstown, com- 
pleting his studies with Samuel G. Huntington in Troy. He was ad- 
mitted to the bar in 1828 and immediately opened an office in Troy. 
After serving as supervisor and alderman, he was a judge of the Court 
of Common Pleas from 1840 to 1845, and in 1847 was chosen mayor of 
Troy, being re-elected three times by increasing majorities. During 
his long career he was distinguished for his integrity in his professional, 
his official and his business life. He died February 8, 1880. 

Robert Henry McClellan was born in Schodack December 28, 1826, 
and was graduated from Union college in 1845. He began the study 
of medicine in the office of his father. Dr. Samuel McClellan, but aban- 
doned it for the law, and was admitted to the bar in 1848. In 1849 he 
went to California, and in 1852 returned and located at Nassau. In 
1854 and 1855 he served that town as supervisor, and in the fall of the 
latter year was elected surrogate as the candidate of the American 
party. In 1800 he resumed his private law practice, in Troy, and 
seven years later formed a partnership with James Lansing. Mr, Mc- 
Clellan was the author of a legal guide for executors, and also a treatise 
on practice in the Surrogate's Court, and the duties of executors, ad- 
ministrators and guardians. His death occurred April 21, 1893. 

James Forsyth was born in the town of Peru (now Ausable), N. Y., 
September 8, 1817. He was educated at the Keeseville academy and 
the University of Vermont, from which he was graduated in 1839. He 
was admitted to the bar at Keeseville in 1842, and came to Troy the 
following year and formed a law partnership with Hiram P. Hunt, 
then member of congress. Three years later he began to practice 
alone, but subsequently became associated consecutively with Charles 
R. Richards, Sewall Sergeant, Edgar L. Fursman and Esek Cowen. 
Governor Morgan made him chairman of the war committee of Rens- 
21 



162 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

selaer county in 1861, and by appointment of President Lincoln he was 
provost marshal of this district from July 1, 1864, to the end of the 
war. In 1868 and 1869 he was United States collector of internal 
revenue in this district. Among the other important offices he filled 
were those of attorney and then secretary and treasurer of the Rens- 
selaer and Saratoga railroad and the Troy Union railroad; director, 
attorney and counsel of the Commercial bank of Troy and of the Troy 
City National bank ; president of the Troy and West Troy Bridge com- 
pany; trustee of the Union Trust company of New York; trustee of 
the Troy Female seminary and of the Rensselaer Polytechnic institute, 
and president of the latter institution from 1868 to 1886. His career, 
which was in all respects an honorable one, ended August 10, 1886. 

Giles B. Kellogg, who in his declining years has removed to Ben 
nington, Vt. , may properly be classed among the members of the 
Rensselaer county bar, for in this county his legal career began, and 
we might say ended. He is the Nestor of the Rensselaer county bar. 
Mr. Kellogg was born at Williamstown, Mass., March 28, 1808, and 
was graduated from Williams college in 1820. He studied law at 
Salem, removed to Troy in 1830 and was admitted to the bar two years 
later. For ten years he was editor of the Troy Northern Budget; and 
before the abolition of the Court of Chancery he was for several years 
a master and examiner therein. He has also held other positions of 
trust. From 1868 to 1878 he was a trustee of Williams college, and 
for many years was an influential member of the Third Presbyterian 
church of Troy. He gave up the practice of the law February 4, 1883, 
having removed to Bennington, Vt., his present home, two years 
previous. 

Ebenezer Smith Strait was a native of Stephen town, Rensselaer 
county, where he was born May 28, 1824, the son of Meshach Strait 
and Aphia Smith. In 1849, after a three years' course of study, he 
was admitted to the bar, and soon after removed to Nassau to practice. 
He represented his district in the Assembly in 1857 and 1863; in 1867 
he was elected surrogate of Rensselaer county and removed to Troy, 
where he resided until his death. February 1, 1871, he resigned the 
surrogateship to become county judge to succeed the Hon. Jeremiah 
Romeyn, who had died, and the next fall was elected to succeed him- 
self. At the expiration of his term of office in 1877 he was re-elected 
by a large majority. Jndge Strait was always regarded as a pains- 
taking lawyer and a faithful and devoted servant to public interests. 
He died September 7, 1881. 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 16;{ 

Isaac Grant Thompson was born in Rensselaer county in 1840. 
Early in life he taught school, but later studied law and was admitted 
to the bar in 1865. In 1869 he became city editor of the Troy Daily 
Press, at the same time beginning the compilation of some of his legal 
treatises. In 18T0 he founded the Albany Law Journal and the year 
following began the publication of the American Reports. He contin- 
ued to edit the Albany Law Journal and American Reports up to the 
time of his death, which occurred at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., August 
;}0, 1879. In the mean time he wrote a treatise on the Law of High- 
ways, a treatise on Provisional Remedies, edited an edition of Warren's 
Law Studies, supplying a chapter on the study of Forensic Eloquence; 
compiled a volume of National Bank Cases, a manual for supervisors, 
assessors, town clerks and collectors; wrote a digest for the first 
twenty-four volumes of the American Reports, assisted in editing the 
Supreme Court Reports of New York, which effected a revolution in 
the court reporting system in this State; and at the time of his death 
was engaged upon the most important law treatise of his life, which he 
left unfinished, 

Irving Browne, now a resident of Buffalo, is the son of Rev. Lewis 
C. Browne and Harriet Hand, and was born at Marshall, Oneida 
county, N. Y., September 14, 1835. In 1853 he began the study of 
law in Hudson, N. Y., and was graduated from the Albany Law vSchool 
in 1857. After spending six months as a law clerk in New York city 
he entered into partnership with Rufus M. Townsend and Martin I 
Townsend in Troy. These relations ceased in 1878 and for over a year 
Mr. Brown practiced alone. In the fall of 1879, upon the death of 
Isaac Grant Thompson, he became the editor of the Albany Law Jour- 
nal, a position he has filled until recently with great credit to himself 
and to the benefit of thousands of lawyers in every State in the L^nion 
and in about every other civilized country. He has since removed to 
Buffalo. 

Thomas Clowes was born at Marblehead, Mass., August 5, 1791. In 
1808 he went to live with an uncle in the town of Brunswick and later 
removed to Troy and entered the law office of Ross & McConihe as a 
law student For several years he was owner and editor of the Troy 
Northern Budget. He was appointed postmaster of Troy by President 
Taylor, and served fifteen months. He was subsequently appointed 
to the office by President Lincoln, and then by President Johnson, but 
died April 9, 1866, before he entered upon the duties of his office. Mr. 



164 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Clowes was surrogate from 1811 to 1827, recorder from 1823 to 1828, 
county treasurer in 1832 and State assessor in 1849 and 1850. He also 
held several other offices. 

Levi Smith was born in Richford, Vt. , in 1823, and after a brief 
career as school teacher and clerk, he entered upon the stud}^ of law 
in Potsdam, N. Y. He came to Troy in 1845, was admitted to the 
bar the following year, forming a partnership with Job Pierson. In 
1851 William A. Beach entered the firm, but subsequently both with- 
drew and Mr. Smith associated with him Edgar L. Fursman, Esek 
Cowen and Charles D. Kellum. Mr. Smith and the firms with which 
he was connected enjoyed a large and lucrative practice and were widely 
known. Mr. Smith's death occurred March 24, 1892. 

John L. Flagg, born at Nashua, N. H., September 11, 1835, died in 
Troy Ma}^ 11, 1874, had the distinction of being the youngest man ever 
elected mayor of Troy. He was chosen to this position in 1866, at the 
age of 31 years, and was re-elected the following year. He was grad- 
uated from Harvard in 1857. and was admitted to the bar in 1858, after 
having studied law in the office of David L. Seymour of Troy. In 1868, 
1869, 1870 and 1871 he represented his district in the Assembly. 

John H. Colby was a native of Troy, and was born March 27, 1835. 
Upon his admission to the bar he became a member of the firm of Olin, 
Geer & Colby. He succeeded in his chosen profession, being appointed 
city attorney of Troy early in his career, and at the age of 26 years was 
elected district attorney of Rensselaer county. He wrote Colby's 
Criminal Law and Practice, and also published a commentary upon the 
law practice governing the disposition of surplus funds arising upon 
sales of land under mortgage foreclosures. Mr. Colby died January 4, 
1886. 

Hon. Gilbert Robertson, jr., came from the best Scotch ancestry, his 
grandfather, William Robertson, having emigrated from Scotland in 
1772, and settled in Washington county, N. Y., where he purchased a 
large tract of land and resided until his death in 1823. William Rob- 
ertson married Mary Livingston of Greenwich in 1775, and among 
their issue \\as Gilbert Robertson, father of the subject of this sketch. 
He married Elizabeth Dow, a native of Scotland, in 1802. Gilbert 
Robertson, jr., after attending the common school, prepared for col- 
lege at the academy in Cambridge, Washington county, and at the 
academy in Herkimer m charge of Dr. Chessel, then a celebrated 
teacher, and entered Union College in 1833, whence he was graduated 



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^^'^ i^^j^'^jct.^/ia'^s ASr-u A.^y- 




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THE BENCH AND BAR. 165 

in 1837. After leaving colleg-e young Robertson taught school at 
Chatham, Columbia county, N. Y., for two years, and in July, 1839, 
entered the law office of Crary & Fairchild at Salem, and continued in 
it until November, 1840, when he removed to Troy and studied law 
with Hayner & Gould, then a distinguished firm of attorneys and 
counsellors in that city. He was admitted to the bar in 1843, and at 
once began the practice of his profession with Judge Isaac McConihe, 
and ever since continued in it. 

In 1843 Mr. Robertson was elected a trustee of the public schools of 
Troy, and served for three years, originating many reforms in the svs- 
tem then in operation, and by his earnest advocacy securing an appro- 
priation for the promotion of the cause of education twice as large as 
that which heretofore had been devoted to that purpose. Mr. Robert- 
son was one of the earliest members of the Young Men's Association 
of Troy, and by his counsel and efforts contributed much to its success- 
ful development. He served with great usefulness as corresponding 
secretary and president of the association. In 1847 the governor ap- 
pointed Mr. Robertson a justice of the Justice's Court in Trov. In 
the following year the office was made elective, and he was twice suc- 
cessively chosen to the position, holding the office five years, during 
four of which he also served as police magistrate, leaving a record be- 
hind him of official integrity and stern administration of justice. In 
1851 he was elected Recorder of Troy for four years, by virtue of 
which office he was judge of the Recorder's Court and a member of the 
Common Council. As a member of the council he exercised a com- 
manding degree of influence in all matters of importance, and was the 
warm friend and advocate of all local improvements calculated to beau- 
tify the city or promote the health and happiness of its inhabitants. It 
was in the position of police magistrate and recorder that he first dem- 
onstrated the possession of those qualities of unyielding firmness, 
combined with judicial fairness and impartiality, and intelligent a])pre- 
ciation of the law, which he subsequently exhibited in an eminent 
degree while gracing the office of judge of Rensselaer county, to 
which he was elected in 1859, and re-elected in 1863. He discharged 
the duties of this position with scrupulous fidelity to every public and 
private interest, holding the scales of justice with equal poise between 
man and man, lending a personal dignity and charm of manner to the 
office which few men have ever surpassed, and winning the respect and 
confidence of the community by the uprightness of his course, the hon- 



166 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

esty of his purpose, the clearness of his decisions, and his mastery of 
the principles of the law and their application to the rules of evidence 
and the practice of courts. Judge Robertson also had a long and hon- 
orable political career. In December, 1869, President Grant appointed 
him United States assessor of internal rev'enue for the fifteenth dis- 
trict of New York State. In 187o he was appointed postmaster of Troy 
by General Grant, was reappointed by President Hayes in 1877, and 
was again reappointed in 1881 by President Arthur. During his in- 
cumbency of the office he spared no pains to make its administration 
acceptable to the people, introducing many improvements and giving 
greatly increased facilities to its patrons. So great was the public con- 
fidence in his integrity and the public appreciation of his intelligent 
service, that on both occasions when his term was about to expire 
almost every business firm and prominent citizen of Troy, irrespective 
of party, petitioned for his reappointment. 

Judge Robertson was originally a Whig. Upon the formation of the 
Republican party he joined that organization, and held many respon- 
sible trusts under it. He was made chairman of the first Republican 
committee of Rensselaer county ever formed, and with the exception 
of one year, retained the position for twenty-one years continuously. 
He was a member of the Republican State committee for several 
years, and for three years a member of the executive committee of 
that body. His influence extended throughout the Stat?, and his coun- 
sel and judgment were invoked in deciding some of the most important 
(questions relating to party management and the enunciation of political 
principles. He attended, either as a delegate or spectator, almost every 
convention of his party held in the State within the past twenty-five 
years, and the same may be said of his attendance upon national con- 
ventions. Judge Robertson was true to every official and personal 
relation of life. His professional brethren respected his legal abilities 
and attainments as greatly as the people honored him for his faithful- 
ness to all the interests committed to his hands. As a politician it 
may be said of him that the offices he held were in no sense commen- 
surate with his merits. In 1880, on the passage by the Legislature of 
the State of New York of the law creating a State l^oard of Arbitra- 
tion, Judge Robertson was appointed a member of said board by the 
governor and vSenate. In 1887, under an act passed by the Legislature 
creating a State Board of Mediation and Arbitration and enlarging the 
powers of the board, Judge Robertson was reappointed, which position 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 167 

he held until a few weeks before his death. Judge Robertson married, 
in 1852, Angeline Daggett, daughter of Dr. Joseph Daggett of Troy, 
by whom he had three children — -Gilbert Daggett, Mary Elizabeth, and 
John Livingston Robertson. He died April 23, 189G. 



CHAPTER XII. 

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 
Compiled by Reed B. Bontecou, M. D. 

The Rensselaer Medical society was organized July 1, 1806. The 
minutes of the first meeting were as follows: 

In conformity to an act of the Legislature of the State of New York entitled "An 
act to incorporate medical societies for the purpose of regulating the practice of 
physic and surgeiy in this vState," passed April 4, 180b, the physicians and surgeons 
of the county of Rensselaer to the number of twenty, viz., Benjamin Woodward, 
Aaron D. Patchin, Benjamin Rowe, Abner Thurber, Moses Willard, Asher Arm- 
strong, Eli Burritt, J. M. Wells, Hezekiah Eldridge, Samuel Gale, John Loudon, 
David Gleason, Edward Davis, Alexander Rousseau, U. M. Gregory, Sanford Smith, 
Edward Ostrander, David Doolittle, Moses Hale and James H. Ball, convened in 
the court-house of Troy and proceeded by ballot to elect their officers, when the fol- 
lowing gentlemen were declared duly elected: President. Dr. Benjamin Woodward; 
vice-president. Dr. John Loudon; treasurer. Dr. Samuel Gale; secretary. Dr. J. M. 
Wells; censors. Dr. Eli Burritt, Dr. Moses Willard, Dr. Hezekiah Eldridge, l^r. 
David Doolittle and Dr. Benjamin Rowe; delegate to the Medical Society of the 
State of New York, Dr. Moses Willard. 

Benjamin W^oodw.\rd, Secretary pro tem. 

The following resolutions were passed: 

Resolved, That a committee of five be a^jpointed to draft a code of by-laws for 
the use of the Rensselaer County Medical societ5% and Dr. Eli Burritt, Dr. Hezekiah 
ICldridge, Dr. Moses Willard, Dr. Moses Hale and Dr. Aaron D. Patchin to be the 
committee. 

Rcsoh'ed, That the annual meeting of the society be the first Tuesday of July at 
tiie court-house. 

Resolved, That a tax of twenty-five cents be levied on each member for the use 
of the society. 

Resolved, That the president direct the treasurer to purchase two books, one for 
the secretary and one for the treasurer. 



168 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Resolved, That the committee on by-laws report the same on the second Tuesday 
of January next, to which time this meeting is adjourned. 

Resolved, That the adjourned meeting be held in the court-house at Troy at ten 
o'clock A. M. 2d Tuesday of January next. 

Rcsohu'd, That the secretary publish the adjourned meeting in the Northern 
Budget three weeks previous thereto. 

J. M. Wei.ls, Secretary. 

The following have been the presidents of the society, which in re- 
cent years has been known as the Medical Society of the County of 
Rensselaer: 

David Doolittle, 1820; Moses Hale, 1821, 1824, 1825; Samuel McClellan, 1822, 
1823; James W. Ball, 1826; Asaph Clark, 1827, 1828; John Van Namee, 1829, 1880; 
Robert Collins, 1831, 1832; Simon Newcomb, 1833; Amatus Robbms, 1834; Daniel 
Haines, 1835, 1836; John Wheeler, 1837, 1838; Samuel McClellan, 1839; Thomas W. 
Blatchford, 1S40, 1841; Simeon A. Cook, 1842, 1843; Alfred Wotkyns, 1844, 1845; 
Frederick B. Leonard, 1846, 1847; Thomas C. Brinsmade, 1848, 1849; J. W. Richards, 
1850, 1851; Caspar V. W. Burton, 1852; Avery J. Skilton, 1853, 1854, 1855; William. 
P. Seymour, 1H56; Edward Hall, 1857, 1858; Philander H. Thomas, 1859, 1860; 
James Thorn, 1861, 18C2; Francis B. Parmelee, 1863; Eber W. Carmichael, 1864; 
Henry C. Carrington, 1865; William S. Cooper, 1866; Henry B. Whiton, 1867; George 
H. Hubbard, 1868, 1869; M. H. Burton, 1870; John Squire, 1871; D. W. Hiscock, 
1872; W. N. Bonesteel, 1873; W. L. Cooper, 1874; C. L. Hubbell, 1875; C. H. Bur- 
beck, 1876; R. H. Ward, 1877, 1878; F. B. Parmelee, 1879, 1880; Jos. D. Lomax, 
1881; J. C. Hutchinson, 1882; E. W. Capron, 1883; R. D. Traver, 1884; Z. Rous- 
seau, 1885; C. E. Nichols, 1886, 1887; M. Felter, 1888; Hermon C. Gordinier, 1889; 
R. B. Bontecou, 1890, 1891; Le Roy McLean, 1892, 1893; W. Akin, 1894; R. Brins- 
made Bontecou, 1895; O. F. Kinloch, 1896. 

Up to 1812 Dr. Mellen, Dr. Gale and Dr. Ball were the physicians of 
Nassau. Dr. Rowe practiced in Schodack and was succeeded by Dr. 
Samuel McClellan. Dr. John Miller commenced practice in East 
Greenbush about 1815 and Dr. Ebenezer D. Barsett at Nassau about 
the same time. Some years later Dr. Harris commenced practice in 
South Sand Lake, and Dr. Graves in Stephentown. At Dr. Gale's 
death Dr. John H. Haynes succeeded to his practice at East Nassau 
and a few years later Dr. George W. Strait also opened an office there. 
Dr. Hogeboom was practicing in Castleton about that time, and was 
succeeded by his son, who is also dead. About 1840 Dr. McClellan 
took Dr. Beckwith in with him, having previously had Drs. Simpson 
and Coventry until their removal from the county. Dr. Beckwith con- 
tinued his practice there until his death in 1870, Dr. McClellan having 
died meanwhile, Drs. Miller, Harris, Gale and Ball died before 1850. 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 169 

Dr. Harris was succeeded by his son-in-law, Dr. Elliott, and afterwards 
by Drs. Anson and Boyce of Sand Lake. Dr. Eber W. Carmichael 
was in practice in Sand Lake since 1843. Dr. Philander H. Thomas 
practiced a long time at West Sand Lake and was succeeded at his 
death by Dr. Hull, whose son is practicing in Poestenkill. Dr. Hoge- 
boom was succeeded by his son at Castleton. Dr. John Squire prac- 
ticed at Schodack Landing- since 1830. Dr. Neher settled at Nassau 
and later Dr. Samuel McClellan, the grandson of the elder and cele- 
brated physician. 

At Lansingburgh Dr. Willard was practicing before 1800. Some- 
what later Dr. Timothy Cone practiced there until his death. Dr. 
John Taylor was a prominent physician there for over thirty years. 
Dr. Michael Henry was cotemporary with Dr. Willard and practiced 
there about 1800. Dr. Brinsmade also practiced there a few years prior 
to his removal to Troy. Since these. Dr. Frederick Leonard practiced 
from 1830 to 1845, and Dr. C. V. W. Burton, for several years a part- 
ner of Dr. Leonard, practiced for some years after, until his death. 
Since his time Drs. E. W. Capron, E. H. Davis, Daniel D. Bucklin 
and his son, Aubry C. Bucklin, A. D. Hull, Milton H. Lamb and D. 
Newcome have been practitioners. Dr. Leonard was graduated from 
Yale, was a scholar and dignified gentleman, and a first-class physician. 
He was fond of the natural sciences and was for some time professor of 
natural history at the Rensselaer school under Prof. Amos Eaton. He 
became wealthy, probably by inheritance or marriage, and finally gave 
up practice. He was president of the county society in 1846 and 1847. 
Dr. Burton was president in 1852 and Dr. Capron in 1883. All of these 
at one time or another resided on State street in Troy, the main street 
of the village at the time. 

At Hoosick Falls, Dr. Salmon Moses practiced for over fifty years, 
until he attained great age, dying in 1874. Dr. Fowler was one of the 
early physicians of prominence, and his sudden death in a railway ac- 
cident was con.sidered a public calamity. Dr. H. K. McLean has been 
a prominent practitioner there for many years, a good physician and 
much esteemed by the community. Dr. S. A. Skinner has had a large 
practice there and in the surrounding country for the last twenty years, 
and has great ability and ingenuity. He has invented fracture beds and 
appliances for fractured limbs and improvements in various machines, 
which have been a source of income. He resides in a fine residence 
with his wife and two daughters, and is held in high esteem by the com- 
22 



170 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

mimity. He has been a member of the county society since 187S. 
Dr. H. D. C. Hanners was for several years a practitioner there, until 
his death. Dr. J. C. Hannon for many years has been a very popular 
practitioner of Hoosick Falls, is a member of the American Medical 
association, fellow of the New York vState Medical association and mem- 
ber of the Rensselaer County society, and is regular in his attendance 
at the meetings of these associations. Dr. T. C. Hannon has, for the 
last few years, enjoyed quite an extensive practice there and is a mem- 
ber of the Rensselaer County Medical society. Dr. R. H. Green, a 
graduate of Dartmouth college and later a medical officer in the United 
States navy, settled in Hoosick and had an extensive practice all about 
that country. He was fond of the study of natural history and spent 
much time collecting plants and objects of interest in that department. 
He was a most amiable and genial man, and a practical Christian. He 
was a member of the County Medical society since 1872. His death a 
few years since was deeply regretted by the community. Drs. r^ishoj), 
Blan chard and Ashton each practiced there some years ago, but all are 
dead. Dr. Ashton died of diphtheria contracted from a patient he 
was attending. Dr. Cahill is in the practice there yet. Dr. Mayberry, 
a very excellent young physician, has been in practice there for some 
years, and is highly esteemed. Dr. Hewett is also practicing there. 
Dr. John Warren, now dead, was one of the old practitioners at 
Hoosick Corners. He was a graduate of Bowdoin college, and a mem- 
ber of the Rensselaer County Medical society since 1841. Dr. P. A. 
Armstrong was another of the old and honored physicians of that 
locality, and was a member of the county society since 1828. He is 
also dead. Dr. John H. Haynes, another of the old physicians of that 
region, is also dead. He was a member of the county society since 
1834. Dr. Curtis and Dr. Clark also practiced there. Dr. Curtis is 
dead. Dr. Stewart practiced at Eagle Bridge for a number of years. 
He was killed at a railroad crossing by the cars one evening while 
returning from a sick call. Dr. Rider has been in practice some time 
at Buskirk's Bridge, succeeding Dr. Stewart. Dr. Fox has been for 
some years past the principal physician of North Hoosick. 

Dr. Samuel Leonard lived near Nassau in the early part of the nine- 
teenth century and had an extensive practice. Dr. Ebenezer Balen- 
tine succeeded him. He moved away and his departure was much 
regretted by the people. Dr. Joseph Shirts succeeded him, but died 
in two years of typhus fever. Drs. Henry P. and Cornelius Vandyke 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 171 

were in practice at Muitzes Kill about eight years later. Dr. John Van 
Biiren practiced in Castleton about sixty-five years ago, but removed 
to Albany, where he died. Dr. James Hogeboom was a contemporary 
of Dr. Van Buren. He was succeeded by his son, James L. Hogeboom, 
who has since died. Dr. John S. Reynolds practiced in Schodack in 
1857, and Dr. John S. Miller was a leading physician of that town for 
half a century. Dr. A. Boyce also practiced there. Dr. J. Reed 
Davison and Dr. McLaughlin practiced in Castleton. Dr. Pruyn, Dr. 
Willis and Dr. Peasley were in practice at vSchodack Landing about 
four years. Dr. Barkman, Dr. Schaft'er, Dr. Bulkley and Dr. Jenks 
have since been in practice there. 

In North Greenbush, Dr. Henry Downs was one of the earliest prac- 
ticing physicians, seventy years ago. He was succeeded by Obadiah 
E. Lansing, who practiced over fifty years ago. Dr. Anthony Ten 
Eyck succeeded him. Dr. Tappan was the first to practice at Bath-on- 
the Hudson. Dr. Yates practiced and died there. Dr. Harrison, Dr. 
Rulison, Dr. Abbott and Dr. Haskell have succeeded since. Dr. Aseph 
Clark practiced at Wynantskill, and was followed by Dr. Alonzo 
Streeter, both in turn postmasters. Dr. Roswell Kinne}^ was in prac- 
tice there at one time. 

Of the later physicians of the county who have passed away the lead- 
ing ones were the following : 

Dr. Hiram Moses was born at Norfolk, Litchfield county, Conn., 
September 9, 1800. He was graduated from the Yale Medical school 
March 1, 1825, and commenced practice in Petersburgh, Rensselaer 
county, in the fall of the same year. His practice extended over many 
towns of this county, Vermont and Massachusetts. It is estimated 
that he annually rode ten thousand miles for a long series of years. 
He married Abalina Worthington March 30, 1828, and had five sons, 
of whom one. Dr. Hiram Moses, jr., succeeded to his practice. 

Dr. Simon Newcomb was a prominent physician in Pittstown for 
several years. Removing to Troy he engaged in the drug business. 
He was fond of scientific pursuits, and made conchology a specialty, 
acquiring a large and very valuable collection of shells. He was prom- 
inent as a public man. 

Dr. Theodore E. May and his son, Dr. John May, were for many 
years the most prominent physicians in Pittstown and vicinity. They 
enjoyed a large practice and were greatly esteemed by the community 
and the profession. 



172 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Dr. John Van Namee was a highly educated and very popular physi- 
cian residing- near Raymertown. He took great interest in the county 
medical society and was quite regular in attendance at its meetings. 
He was its president two successive years, 1829 and 1830. He was 
born at the homestead in Pittstown in 1789, was a licentiate of the 
Columbia County Medical society and received a diploma from the 
Rensselaer County Medical society on parchment, dated June 10, 1811, 
signed by N. Schuyler, president. He died October 22, 1859, after 
four years' illness resulting from sunstroke, at the age of seventy 
years. 

Dr. Ezekiel Baker and Dr. Nicholas B, Harris were physicians in 
Stephentown a hundred years ago, and are remembered by some of the 
older inhabitants as wearing buckskin knee breeches and carrying im- 
mense saddlebags. Specific information concerning them is not ob- 
tainable. They were both members and organizers of the county med- 
ical society. 

Dr. Emerson Hull practiced in the town of Berlin in 1819. He was 
a native of the town and remained in practice there until his death 
March 20, 1831. His two sons, A. D. Hull of Lansingburgh and A. E. 
Hull of Berlin, both became medical men and successful practitioners. 

Dr. A. E. Hull was born in Berlin in 1844 and received his prelimi- 
nary education at Sand Lake academy. At the age of sixteen years he 
commenced the stvidy of medicine with his father, Dr. Emerson Hull, 
and three years later attended a free course of lectures at the Albany 
Medical college. One 3^ear later he was licensed to practice by the 
Rensselaer County Medical society and commenced to practice with 
his father. Later on he attended a course at Bellevue Medical college 
in New York and finally received a diploma from the Albany Medical 
college. On the death of his father he succeeded to his practice, which 
he still carries on. He married Miss Brimmer and has one son. 

Dr. Salmon Moses came from Norfolk, Conn., studied medicine and 
was graduated from Yale College Medical school, beginning the prac- 
tice of medicine in Petersburgh, N. Y., in 1816. Two years later he 
removed to Hoosick Falls and became associated with Dr. A, D. 
Patchin, and at the death of the latter in 1820 he succeeded to his 
practice, which became very extensive all about that section. Dr. 
Moses was a lifelong supporter of Christian institutions and a member 
and warden of St. Mark's church from its organization in 1833 to his 
death in 1874. During the last few years of his life he was quite blind, 
but his faithful saddle-horse carried him safely about the country. 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 173 

Dr. H, M. Reynolds was born in Washington county, Vt., Aug-ust 
23, 1821. He received his preliminary education in the common schools 
and for ten years followed teaching. In 1845 he commenced the study 
of medicine and in 1848 was graduated from Castleton, Vt., Medical 
college. He first practiced in La Salle, 111., and in 1854 commenced 
practicing in Castleton, N. Y., where he had a successful career. He 
was twice married, but leaves no children. 

Dr. Samuel Gale, jr., was fitted for his profession by the Medical 
Society of Vermont, graduating May 9, 1792, and was licensed to prac- 
tice in Troy April 12, 1798. He removed to the West Indies, where 
he practiced for a short time, and returning to Troy he abandoned the 
profession to become an apothecary and druggist. He was postmaster 
of the village of Troy from 1804 to 1828, and died July 1, 1839, at the 
age of sixty-seven years. His father. Dr. Samuel Gale, was a graduate 
of Yale, practiced medicine in Connecticut and in 1775 was a captain in 
the Continental army. John B. Gale of Williamstown, Mass., and E. 
Thompson Gale of Troy were sons of Dr. Samuel Gale, jr. 

Dr. John Loudon announced his coming to Troy February 14, 1793 
by an advertisement in the American Spy, then published in Lansing- 
burgh, as follows: "The subscriber having finished the studies of 
physics, surgery and man midwifery at the University of Edinburgh 
and practiced in Europe for some years past, now offers his services to 
the citizens of Troy. John Loudon." Dr. Loudon enjoyed quite a 
large practice and acquired wealth, leaving a valuable property on the 
northeast corner of Second and Ferry streets. He was licensed to 
practice in Troy October 14, 1797. He died in the winter of 1819-20. 
He was one of the charter officers of the city on its incorporation April 
12, 181G. 

Dr. Moses Hale, one of the earlier practitioners of Troy, was more 
generally known in Troy and its vicinity than any of the other physi- 
cians of his time, on account of his reputation as a surgeon, and all 
important cases were seen by him. He was born July 12, 1780, 
studied medicine with Dr. Josiah Kitridge of Walpole, N. H., and 
afterward was a pupil of the celebrated Dr. Nathan Smith. He was 
licensed July 12, 1804, and commenced practice in Troy in that year. 
In 1818, with Prof. Amos Eaton and Ira M. Wells, he perfected the in- 
corporation of the Troy Lyceum of Natural History, which was the 
first society of the kind in this country. He was also deeply mterested 
in the establishment of the Rensselaer school, now the Rensselaer 



174 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Polytechnic institute, and was its secretary at the time of his death. 
He was several times president of the County Medical society, and was 
a delegate and afterward a permanent member of the State Medical 
society. The University of Vermont conferred on him the honorary 
degree of M.D. in 1835. He died January 3, 1837, of disease of the 
heart and aneurism of the aorta. 

Dr. Amatus Robbins was educated at Williams college and studied 
medicine with Dr. Eli Burritt, then an eminent physician of Troy. 
Dr. Robbins was licensed July 9, 1818, and after the death of his pre- 
ceptor succeeded to his practice. He married a daughter of Dr. Bur- 
ritt and her early death cast a gloom over his life from which he seemed 
never to rally. He was tall and very slim in figure, which gave him the 
appearance of melancholy. He, however, continued in practice until 
his death, June 15, 1854, enjoying the confidence and esteem of a large 
and select clientele. His ofifice and residence was for many years and 
up to the time of his death at 35 First street. 

Frederick Baldwin Leonard, A.M., M.D., was born in Sharon, Litch- 
field county. Conn., July 13, 1804. He was the son of Timothy and 
Mary (Baldwin) Leonard. He was graduated from Yale college in 
1824. He afterwards studied medicine and was in practice in 1835, 
when he married Margaret Caroline Nichols, who died March 16, 1851, 
leaving seven children October 12, 1852, he married Ann Maria 
Stewart. Dr. Leonard was a highly educated and accomplished man 
and physician. He was a member of the Rensselaer County Medical 
society since 1828 and its president in 1840 and 1847. He was pro- 
fessor of botany and zoology in the Rensselaer in.'-titute from 1845 to 
1848. He had made extensive collections of plants and minerals. His 
plants were many of them in papers stored in a closet, and an ignorant 
servant used them for kindling fires for some time before the doctor 
discovered it, greatly to his sorrow and grief. He was a trustee of the 
institute from 186(i to 1869. He died in Lansingburgh February 9, 
1872. 

Charles R. Cook, C.E., M. D., son of Rice and Ann Cook, was born 
August 20, 1820, at Stillwater, N.Y. He served as engineer on the 
Genesee Valley canal for about four years, studied medicine with his 
uncle. Dr. Simeon A. Cook, of Buskirk's Bridge, and was graduated 
at the Albany Medical college in 1847. He located in Troy at 111 
Fourth street and practiced there until his death, August 5, 1851. 

Dr. John Wright was born in Troy February 2, 1811, the son of John 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 175 

Wright and Hannah Dawson Wright. His preliminary education was 
received at Allen Fisk's school in Troy, where he was prepared for 
admission to the Rensselaer institute, which he entered in 1828 and 
was graduated therefrom. His education was further completed at Yale 
college, where he was graduated in 1834. He was also graduated from 
the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. He was an 
ardent student and a great lover of natural history. At one time he 
had quite a museum of birds and animals which he had procured and 
mounted himself. Rafanesque and Audubon were his friends, and 
each visited him at Troy. He always spoke in after years of Mount 
Rafanesque, which he named in honor of his friend (it is known now 
as Bald mountain, about five miles northeast of Troy). Dr. Wright 
had a pet raccoon, a remarkably fine specimen, of which Audubon made 
a sketch while on his visit to Troy, reproducing it in his great work 
on the Animals of North America. Dr. Wright was professor of nat- 
ural history in the Rensselaer Polytechnic institute from 1838 to 1845. 
He published a flora of Troy and vicinity, and was associated with 
Prof. Amos Eaton in publishing the North American Botany. He was 
appointed to the State survey of Michigan in 1837 as State botanist, 
and continued in that work about two years. He was for several years 
associated in practice with Dr. Thomas C. Brinsmade of Troy, a com- 
bination of talent that gave them the best class of practice. Dr. Wright 
attending to the surgical cases. He was amiable in disposition, unobtru- 
sive and kind in manner, and was loved by all who knew him. He was 
married April 11, 1838, to Mary Cottrell, who died April 10, 1841. They 
had one son, who died Sept. 18, 1841. He was again married to Miss Cath- 
erine Wyant Decembers, 1844. He died of phthisis pulmonalis April 
11, 184G, at Aiken, S. C. In 1874 a handsome memorial window was 
placed in the east end of the institute hall by Mrs. James Gardiner of 
Lansingburgh, in memory of her brother. Dr. John Wright. Dr. 
Wright was a member of the Rensselaer County Medical society since 
1834. 

Caspar \'an Wie Burton was the son of Mathew and Mrs. (Van Wie) 
Burton, natives of Columbia county, N. Y., and was born in Albany 
July 15, 1810. His education was received under the instruction of an 
English tutor. At the age of seventeen he learned the business of 
l:)ookbinding and subsecpiently removed to Troy, where he afterwards 
became engaged in publishing imder the firm of Tuttle, Belcher & 
Burton. Part of this time he was connected with the editorial depart- 



176 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

ment of the Troy Morning Mail. He afterwards began the study of 
medicine with Dr. Thomas C. Brinsmadc, and attended lectures at the 
Albany Medical college and was graduated from there in 1842. His 
graduating thesis was " Dissecting Wounds — their Nature and Treat- 
ment." He had been a victim of the disease by making an autopsy of 
a fellow student who had died in conseciuence of infection by making a 
post mortem examination of a case of puerperal peritonitis. Burton 
had pricked his thumb with a rose bush that day and thus carried the 
infection into his circulation, which laid him up for three mouths and 
nearly cost him his life. He remained in Troy about one year after 
graduating, and removed to Lansingburgh to practice, associated with 
Dr. F. B. Leonard, who was then the most distinguished physician 
there. His professional labors were pursued with success here for 
seventeen years. During this time he was one of the faculty of the 
Lansingburgh Female seminar}', deliveriug lectures there on physiology 
and hygiene. He also contributed articles to the medical journals. 
The degree of A. M. was conferred upon him by the Rochester univer- 
sity in 1853. He was a member of the county medical society since 
1848, was its president in 1857 and the same year was elected per- 
manent member of the State Medical society, also an honorary member 
of the New York Chirurgical society. He died September 23, 1860, 
of diphtheria infection contracted from patients under his care, in his 
fiftieth year. He left four sons and three daughters, Dr. M. H. Bur- 
ton of Troy being the eldest son. 

Dr. Alfred Wotkyns was born at Walpole, N. H., September 7, 1798, 
and was educated at his home by private tutor. Li 1818 he came to 
Troy and commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Moses 
Hale, and in 1821 was admitted to the practice and became a partner 
with Dr. Hale. He subsequently went to Philadelphia and attended 
the University of Pennsylvania, receiving his degree of M.D. In 1822 
he was appointed assistant surgeon in the United States army and after 
two years' service resigned and returned to Troy and resumed practice 
here until his death, December 24, 187(). He had an uncommonly 
commanding physique and enjoyed a large and lucrative practice for 
nearly fifty years, acquiring great wealth. He was twice married, first 
to Mary Williams, by whom he had three children, all of whom are 
dead. His second marriage was with Eliza Breaky, daughter of Dr. 
Lsaiah Breaky of Greenbush, bj' whom he had one daughter and three 
sons, who have moved to Chicago. Dr. Wotkyns was mayor of the 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 177 

city of Troy in 1857 and 1858; was president of the County Medical 
society and a permanent member of the New York State Medical 
society. He was one of the governors of the Marshall infirmary and 
for some years one of the attending physicians therein. He was also 
president of the State bank of Troy and was possessed of great busi- 
ness sagacity. 

Dr. Thomas Clark Brinsmade was born June 16, 1802, at New Hart- 
ford, Litchfield county, Conn. He was the third son of Dr. Thomas 
Brinsmade and received his primary education in the academy at Har- 
winton, near New Hartford, where he was fitted for college. He pur- 
sued his medical studies with his uncle. Dr. Peet, a distinguished 
physician at New Marlboro, Berkshire county, Mass., where he com- 
pounded medicines, attended the office practice and frequently rode 
with Dr. Peet to visit patients. He attended a course of lectures at 
Yale Medical school and in March, 1823, was licensed to practice by 
the State Medical society. The honorary degree of M. D. was con- 
ferred on him by Yale college and in 1857 he was elected an honorary 
member of the vState Medical society. Dr. Brinsmade came to Lans- 
ingburgh in the fall of 1823 and commenced practice. He was a close 
student and soon acquired the confidence of the community. On the 
death of Dr. Sheldon of Troy, in 1832, he removed to that city and 
practiced medicine with an energy, industry and success never excelled 
for a period of thirty-five years, and will long be remembered as the 
beloved physician by many thousands. He married Miss Elizabeth 
Walsh of Lansingburgh December 24, 1838, and had three chil- 
dren. One died an infant, and his son, Horatio Brinsmade, died 
at the age of twenty-one, having graduated from Yale college. He 
was at the time of his last sickness attending the medical college at 
Albany. His amiable and accomplished daughter Jennie died in 1860, 
leaving her parents childless. In January, 1824, Dr. Brinsmade joined 
the county medical society, was its president two years, and on retir- 
ing delivered an elaborate address on the medical topography of Troy 
and vicinity. He served as delegate and became a permanent member 
of the State Medical society of New York; in 1857 and 1858 was its 
vice-president and delivered an address on the registration of diseases, 
furnishing the society with an accurate record of his practice for 
twenty-one consecutive years, carefully tabulated and covering 300 
pages of the society's transactions. It comprised statistics of 37,873 
cases. In I860 he presented another paper on registration, containing 

23 



178 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

statistics of 2,05G cases treated in 1858 and 1859. Dr. Brinsmade for a 
number of years was health officer of Troy and chairman of the board 
of health. He was also for many years a vestryman of St. Paul's 
Episcopal church and a governor and attending physician of the Mar- 
shall infirmary. He was a trustee of the Rensselaer Polytechnic insti- 
tute and from 1865 to 1868 its vice-president. In the latter year he 
became its president. While delivering- an address in behalf of the 
institute at Athen.cum hall on the evening of June 22, 1868, he sud- 
denly expired. An autopsy revealed a diseased heart. Dr. Brinsmade 
had an amiable disposition and his presence in the sick room was pleas- 
ant and assuring. He was generous and gave away to benevolent pur- 
poses more money during his life than he left at his death. 

Dr. Eber W. Carmichael was born September 14, 1812. He was 
educated at Sand Lake and Nassau academies and at Oberlin college, 
Ohio. He commenced the study of medicine with Dr. James Thorn 
of Troy in 1836, and in 1837 with Dr. Samuel McClellan of Schodack, 
until 1840, attending meanwhile a course of lectures at Castleton, Vt., 
and at Albany. He commenced practice at Greenwich, Washington 
county, and in 1845 located at Sliters Corners in Sand Lake. May 10, 
1841, he married Miranda Butz and had six children. He was active 
in reformatory movements and was assaulted by a gang of masked men 
for his energetic support of the law against intemperance. He was a 
member of Rensselaer County Medical society and its president in 
1864. 

Dr. Alexander H. Hull was born at Berlin Centre in 1812 and had 
an academic education. He commenced the study of medicine at the 
age of twenty-two with Dr. Philander H. Thomas, then of Hancock, 
Mass., but subsequently of West Sand Lake, remaining with him three 
years, meanwhile attending the Berkshire Medical college at Pittsfield 
and graduating there in 1838. Soon after he was appointed to the 
Marine hospital at Boston, Mass., remaining over two years. His 
health failed and for a change he got appointed assistant surgeon on a 
government war vessel commissioned to transport marines to Rio 
Janeiro, from where he returned in six months and took up his resi- 
dence in his native town, Berhn. Finally he located in practice at 
Petersburgh from 1842 to 1860, when he removed to West Sand Lake 
and in company with his former preceptor. Dr. Thomas, practiced 
there. Three years afterward, on the death of Dr. Thomas, he suc- 
ceeded to the entire business. His son, Dr. Wm. H. Hull, is a prac- 
ticing physician in Poestenkill. 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 179 

Dr. Robert Collins of Brunswick was one of the oldest and most re- 
spected physicians of the count}', and was a member of the Rensse- 
laer County society, and its president in 1831 and 1832. He had two 
sons, one of whom became a prominent and wealthy merchant of Troy. 
Further particulars of the good old doctor are not obtainable. He had 
a large practice, was a good physician and a most estimable man and 
citizen. He was succeeded by Dr. Daniel Bucklin and later by Drs. 
Burbeck and St. John. At Eagle Mills in the same town. Dr. Schriven, 
Dr. Holsaple, Dr. Westervelt and Dr. Winship were successors to some 
of his practice. 

Dr. Mathew Moody was one of the early practitioners at Poestenkill 
and was succeeded by Dr. Peter S. F. Westervelt, who in turn was 
succeeded by Dr. Luther H. Barber, who remained there in practice 
many years. Later he associated with Dr. Sabins. Dr. Wm. H. Hull 
succeeded those and a cotemporary, Dr. Elmer, was in practice at 
Barberville, a hamlet adjoining. 

Dr. Henry B. Whiton was born in Lee, Mass., September 24, 1827; 
was graduated from Union college in 1851; commenced practice in 
Elmira, but removed to Troy in 1856, where he was a respected and 
successful practitioner until his death. He was a member of the county 
society and its president in 1867, and at times its secretary. He was a 
permanent member of the New York State society and one of the cura- 
tors of the Albany Medical society. He was for eight years one of the 
governors and attending physician of the Marshall infirmary. He 
served four years in the army during the late war as assistant surgeon 
and surgeon. He had two sons and a daughter. 

Dr. Matthew Henry Burton was born in Albany, March 17, 1833, 
and was the eldest son of Dr. Caspar Van Wie Burton. His early ed- 
ucation was obtained in Lansingburgh, where his family resided during 
his youth and later. He studied medicine with his father, who was 
a prominent physician in Lansingburgh, and attended the Albany 
Medical college from 1850 to 1853, where he was graduated, and came 
to Troy, taking the position as resident assistant physician at the Troy 
hospital. He subsequently opened an office on the northeast corner 
of Congress and Tliird streets and became one of the attending physi- 
cians and surgeons to the Troy hospital, which position he held for 
fifteen years. He was elected coroner three successive terms, 1858 
1859 and 1860, and for nine years was health officer of Troy. He was 
also surgeon to the Third division National State Guard. In 1858 he 



180 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

married Fannie L. Seiler of Troy, by whom he had three sons and two 
daughters. One son, Dr. H. B. Burton, succeeded to his father's office 
and practice. Dr. Burton was a member of the Rensselaer County 
Medical society and in 1870 its president. He was a permanent mem- 
ber of the New York State Medical society, fellow of the New York 
State Medical association and of the American Medical association. He 
was very popular in the community and had a very extensive and lu- 
crative practice, by which he secured wealth, notwithstanding his lux- 
urious and expensive mode of life. He was remarkable for his faultless 
personal appearance, for the neatness and elegance of his house, office, 
and equipages, which doubtless influenced his patronage. The doctor 
was prominent in the Masonic fraternity and one of the oldest and most 
constant members of the Troy club. He died in 1895. 

Dr. Avery Judd Skilton was born February 2. 1802, at Watertown, 
Litchfield county. Conn. His father's name was James Skilton and 
his mother's maiden name Chloe Steele. He was educated in the dis- 
trict schools of Connecticut, Ensign's academy at Morris, Conn., and 
at the Yale Medical school. From 1822 to 1823 he studied medicine 
with Dr. Christopher C. Kiersted of Saugerties, N. Y. , also with Dr. 
Conant-Catlin at Bethlehem. He was licensed by the Connecticut 
State Medical society March 9, 1827, became a member of the Rensse- 
laer County Medical society in 1828 and continued in arduous practice 
until the fall of 1857. He died in March, 1858. He was a man of in- 
defatigable industry and perseverance, fond of science, and devoted 
much of his leisure to the subjects of geology, mineralogy, conchology 
and botany. He had a large conchological collection and the writer of 
this sketch has on many occasions been kept up until 2 a. m. helping him 
in arranging and labeling specimens. His mind never seemed at rest, 
always busy with something of a scientific nature, notwithstanding the 
fact that he was overrun day and night with calls. He refused no one 
and performed more work, received more blame and less money than 
any one of his confreres, and when smitten on one cheek would turn 
the other also to his assailant. He was a consistent and practical 
Christian and for upwards of forty years was a faithful steward of the 
State Street Methodist Episcopal church. He was for some years 
curator of the Troy Lyceum of Natural History, member of the Amer- 
ican Association for the Advancement of Science, and of the Massachu- 
setts Genealogical society, a subject in which he took great interest. 
The names of his children are James Avery, Mary Tabitha, Julius Au- 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 181 

g-ustiis, Charles Candee, Julia Augnsta, Juliette Aug-ustine, George 
Steele, Kitty Josephine and Mar}' Ella. One of his sons is a lawyer and 
one a physician. 

Dr. Thomas W. Blatchford was born July 20, 1794, in Topsham, 
Devonshire county, England. His father was a clergyman and re- 
moved to this country in 1804, and had charge of the Presbyterian 
congregations of Lansingburgh and Waterford. The doctor in 1813 
attended medical lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 
New York and was appointed in 1814 resident physician of the prison 
in New York city. In 1815 he visited Europe and attended two courses 
of medical lectures at Guy's and St. Thomas's hospitals. In 181G he 
returned to New York and graduated at the College of Physicians and 
Surgeons in 1817. After practicing for some time in New York city 
he went to Jamaica, Long Island, and practiced there nine years. He 
removed to Troy in 1828 and continued in practice here until his death, 
January 7, 1866. He was interested in the schools of the city and for 
seven years was presiding officer of the Board of Education. He was 
also for several years a trustee of the Rensselaer Polytechnic institute 
and the Tro}- Female seminary. He was an elder in the Presbyterian 
church and was punctual and faithful in attendance at church. He 
was president of the county medical society and of the New York 
State Medical society and was author of several excellent papers and 
essays. He was a widower for many years and has two sons and one 
daughter still living. 

Dr. Jeremiah Van Rensselaer was born at the old manor house in 
1793 and was the third son of John J, Van Rensselaer of Greenbush. 
After graduating at Yale college he went to New York city in 1813 
and commenced the study of medicine with his uncle, Dr. Archibald 
Bruce, professor of materia medica and mineralogy in the Universitv 
of the City of New York. He was graduated in New York in 1817 
and went abroad to attend lectures and hospitals in Edinburgh, London 
and Paris. In 1819 he and Dr. Howard of Baltimore, Md., were the 
first Americans to ascend Mont Blanc. On his return to New York 
he engaged in extensive practice there and was for many years cor- 
responding secretary of the New York Lyceum of Natural History. 
During the winter of 1825 he delivered a course of lectures on geology 
before the New York Athcxneum. In 1840 he again went to Europe for 
three years and in 1842 he resumed practice in New York. In 1852 he 
returned to Greenbush and died in October, 1870, shortly after another 



182 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

three years' tour in Europe. He was a founder and senior warden of 
the Episcopal Church of the Messiah at Greenbush. 

Dr. vSamuel McClellan was born in Colerain, Mass., June 1-i, 1707. 
He was the son of Hugh McClellan and Sarah Wilson. His father was 
an officer in the Colonial army of the Revolution. He commenced the 
practice of his profession in Schodack in 1812 near the village of Nassau, 
where he always lived. He married Miss Laura Cook in 1816 and they 
had six children. He never sought political honors, but he was a dele- 
gate to the Whig National convention at Baltimore in 1844, which nom- 
inated Henry Clay for president. He was supervisor of his town in 
1845 and member of assembly from Rensselaer county in 184G. He 
was one of the early members of the county society and its president 
in 1822, 1823 and again in 1839. For nearly forty years he was a 
regular attendant of- its meetings and was in the front rank in his pro- 
fession. 

Dr. James Thorn was born July 20, 1802, at Colchester, England. 
He graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons, London, August 
6, 1824, and commenced practice in Troy in 1832, where he had a large 
practice for thirty years and enjoyed the reputation of being a surgeon 
of skill. He was twice elected mayor of the city and was one of the 
governors and attending physician to the Marshall infirmary, where he 
made his home, after being disabled by paralysis, until his death, No- 
vember 27, 187G. 

Dr. George H. Hubbard was born at Hopkinton, N. H., June 8, 
1823; .studied medicine under the direction of Dr. D. Davis of Sutton, 
N. H., and was graduated from the Vermont Medical college in 1845. 
From that time to 1849 he practiced at Bradford, N. IL, and from 1852 
to 1855 at East Washington, N. H., where he represented that place 
in the Legislature. He was editor of the New Hampshire Journal of 
Medicine from 1853 to 1859. In 18G1 he was commissioned surgeon of 
the Second N. H. Vols., and remained in the service tmtil the close of 
the war, the last year or more of which was passed in charge of the U. 
S. Army hospital at Troy. In 1868 the honorary degree of A. M. was 
conferred on him by Dartmouth college. He died January 19, 1876, 
from blood poison, the result of injury to his knee. He was president 
of the county medical society two successive years, 1868 and 1869. 

Dr. Chas. L. Ilubbell was bt)rn in Williamstown, Mass., September 
16, 1827. He was graduated from Williams college in 1846 and from 
Berkshire Medical college in 1848. He commenced practice in Will- 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 183 

iamstown but removed to Troy in 1854 and enjoyed quite a large prac- 
tice for many years, during which time he became attending physician 
to the Troy hospital and also to the Marshall infirmary. He was also 
attending surgeon to the Watervliet arsenal for several years. He 
served during the War of the Rebellion as surgeon to the Black Horse 
Cavalry and later to the 12th N. Y. Volunteers. He removed from 
Troy to Williamstown some years since and died there. He was presi- 
dent of the Rensselaer Coimty Medical society in 1875. In September, 
1852, he married Juliette E. Bulkley of Monroe, Mich., by whom he 
had two sons and one daughter. 

Dr. William Pierce Seymour was born in Troy October 17, 1825, and 
was one of the three sons of Israel Seymour and Lucinda Pierce, who 
were among the early settlers of Troy. In 1841 he entered Williams 
college at the age of sixteen years. Dr. Seymour was very popular at 
school and college and had a high sense of honor. During his last 
year at college he entered his name with Dr. John W. Bulkley of Wil- 
liamstown, Mass., and after graduating from Williams college he en- 
tered the office of Dr. Alfred Wotkyns of Troy. After several years 
of study there he entered the University of Pennsylvania and was 
graduated from there in 1848, but before commencing- practice he re- 
turned to Philadelphia and served six months as junior assistant to the 
Obstetric institute. In 1849 Dr. Seymour opened an office on Second 
street in Troy, opposite where Music hall now stands. Cholera pre- 
vailed in New York and before it should reach Troy he went to New 
York with the writer and visited the cholera hospitals to learn the dis- 
ease and its treatment adopted there. He soon had abundant oppor- 
tunit}^ to practice on cholera patients on his return as the disease re- 
mained in Troy some weeks. Dr. Seymour devoted all his leisure 
hours to study, becoming the best read and most learned of the profes- 
sion. He was professor of materia medica and therapeutics in Castle- 
ton Medical college from 1857 to 1862 and in 1858 he occupied the same 
position in the Berkshire Medical college. From 1863 to 1865 he was 
professor of obstetrics and gynecology and in 1870 was professor of 
obstetrics and gynecology in the Albany Medical college, remaining 
there until 1875. He was a member of the Rensselaer County Medical 
society and its president in 1856, a member of the Union Medical soci- 
ety, a permanent member of the New York State Medical society and 
fellow of the New York State Medical association and of the American 
Association for the Advancement of Science. He was commissioned 



184 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

in 1802 as one of the auxiliary corps of volunteer surgeons of the State 
of New York, under which he reported for duty and served at Freder- 
icksburg in May, 18f34, taking charge at the request of Dr. Elisha Har- 
ris of the White House marine hospital. In many of his views Dr. 
Seymour was in advance of his profession b}^ nearly a generation. In 
1857 he suffered with an attack of typhlitis, now known as appendicitis, 
and he charged the writer to open his abdomen and remove the appen- 
dix, should it recur. He also advocated that procedure ever afterwards 
in his lectures. He was a fluent speaker and his manner was kind 
and gentle. May 13, 1852, he was married to Helen Hughes Wotkyns, 
daughter of Dr. Alfred Wotkyns, and had two sons — William Wotkyns 
Seymour, M. D., and Alfred W. Seymour of Chicago. Dr. Seymour 
died April 7, 1893, conscious to the last, and when about to take his 
last breath, with his own hands he drew the sheet over his own head 
and expired serenely. 

Dr. Francis B. Parmele was born at Richmond, Va., January 1, 1815, 
graduated at Albany Medical college in 1842 and commenced to prac- 
tice in Greenbush. He was a member of the Rensselaer County Medi- 
cal society, president in 1863, 1879 and 1883 and a permanent mem- 
ber of the New York State society. He was an active Episcopalian 
and one of the organizers of the church of the Messiah in Greenbush. 
He married Orrilla S. Smith and after her death in 1840 married Eliz- 
abeth R. Brown August 9, 1853. Dr. Parmele had five children, four 
girls and one son. 

Dr. Herman Heinrich Julius (juadendorff was born in Landsburg, 
Germany, August 28, 1824, and was the son of Herman Gnadendorff 
and his wife Caroline Gnadendorff. His early education was received 
in Germany. He commenced the study of medicine in Germany in 
1840 and soon after removed to New York, where he attended the Uni- 
versity of the City of New York, and graduated from the medical de- 
partment in 1855. He at once commenced the practice of medicine in 
that city and after seven years removed to Schenectady. He removed 
to Troy nine years later, where he had for fourteen years a large prac- 
tice among the German population, and also in connection with his 
brother and son carried on a pharmaceutical establishment. Pie died 
in his chair while attending a case on the night of December 13, 1879. 
He was an Odd Fellow, Turner and Knight Templar. He was a mem- 
ber of the Rensselaer County Medical society since 1867. His father 
was a professor of music and gave his son a thorough musical educa- 



MASONRY IN RENSSELAER COUNTY. 185 

tion. He became an expert performer on the piano and had liberal 
offers to conduct the choir in one of the churches in Troy, which he 
was obliged to decline on account of his professional business. 



CHAPTER Xni. 

MASONRY IN RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

The history of Free Masonry in Troy begins with the institution of 
Apollo lodge No. 49, Free and Accepted Masons. Among the five 
hundred inhabitants of Troy in 1796 there were about twenty-five 
members of the Masonic fraternity. Hiram lodge of Lansingburgh 
being too remote for their convenience, a number of them assembled 
in the month of May to deliberate on the utility of establishing a new 
lodge at Troy. The project meeting with favor, a petition was drawn, 
and thirty-three signatures obtained, praying that the Grand lodge of 
the State of New York grant a charter for Apollo lodge to the nomi- 
nated officers, John Bird as master, John Woodworth as senior warden 
and Samuel Miner as junior warden. A charter was issued June 19 to 
Apollo lodge No. 49. The officers duly installed December 12, 1796, 
at the lodge chamber in Moulton's Coffee House, a frame structure 
situated on the lot adjoining the southeast corner of vSeminary park. 
Second street, were John Bird, master; John Woodworth, senior war- 
den; Samuel Miner, junior warden; Marvel Ellis, treasurer; Jesse 
Bacon, secretary; Lyman Ellis, senior deacon; Chester Truesdell, 
junior deacon; Howard Moulton and Benjamin Gorton, stewards. Of 
the twenty-three applicants for a charter seventeen were then enrolled 
as members. The names in addition to the officers were Samuel Gale, 
Jeremiah Pierce, David B. Lynsen, John Efnor, John Weller, William 
White, David Squire and Nicholas M. Servat. 

Active lodge work began with the commencement of the new year, 
John D. Vanderheyden being the first initiate. The secretary reported 
a membership of forty-two to the Grand lodge in June, 1798. The 
earliest record of death in the lodge was that of Dr. Samuel Gale, Jan- 
uary 9, 1799. He was buried with the honors of Masonry. 

During the winter of 1799 the lodge removed to the inn owned by 
24 



186 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Jonas Morgan at the southeast corner of Third and Elbow (now Fulton) 
streets, where they were located until February, 1824, when, having 
obtained a ten year lease of rooms on the fourth floor of the Troy House, 
they were provided with more convenient quarters. It was in this 
building that the lodge continued to hold meetings during the anti- 
Masonic agitation. At the great fire of June 20, 1820, the record book 
and many valuable papers of the lodge were lost, they being in posses- 
sion of Henry Stockwell, the secretary. 

The lodge took part in the public reception given La Fayette and 
suite by the citizens of Troy in 1824. In January, 1835, rooms in the 
Mansion House were leased and one year later they took possession 
of the rooms, No. 1 Washington square, formerly occupied by the Troy 
Citizens Corps. The anti-Masonic excitement then having subsided. 
Free Masonry experienced a revival ; the lodge, chapter and encamp- 
ment were receiving additions to their ranks, which necessitated a re- 
moval to the Prescott building, 279 River street, in March, 1840. In 
December, 1853, they again removed and occupied the rooms in the 
Mutual Bank building, corner of First and State streets, until the com- 
pletion of the present Masonic Temple, which was dedicated April 2, 
1872. This elegant structure was erected and is owned by the Masonic 
fraternity of Troy. When completed and furnished it cost nearly 
$100,000. At the renumbering of the lodges in the State in 1839 
Apollo was renumbered 13. 

Apollo lodge was the third regularly organized society in Troy, and 
during its long and prosperous career has been closely identified with 
the interests of Troy. Among its members were many distinguished 
citizens whose services and means were generously bestowed in pro- 
moting and sustaining its various enterprises and public institutions. 
For many years the lodge contributed to the maintenance of the schools 
and from 1809 until 1846 was an annual contributor to the Troy 
library. 

Its Masonic record is second to none in the Empire State. One of 
her most distinguished members, the Hon. John D. Willard, was for 
several years grand master of the Grand lodge of this State and retired 
with a brilliant record. The lodge is now rounding the century mark 
of its existence with a membership of six hundred good and true crafts- 
men who are justly proud of the achievements of Apollo lodge No. 13. 

In 1873 the lodge started a fund to' be used to meet the expenses of 
the proper observance of its centennial in 1896, the plan being to set 



MA.SONRY IN RENSSELAER COUNTY. 187 

aside one dollar of each initiation fee for the centennial fund. In De- 
cember, 1877, the treasurer reported that all the outstanding bonds 
against the lodge had been paid, that the lodge was out of debt and 
that it owned $16,000 of stock of the Troy Masonic Hall association. 
The date fixed for the celebration of the centennial of the lodge is Sep- 
tember 22, 1896. 

Of the twenty- three charter members of King Solomon's Primitive 
lodge, thirteen were originally members of Apollo lodge, which united 
with the applicants for a charter for the new lodge in asking the Grand 
lodge to grant the petition. The new lodge received its charter June -i, 
1842, and its first meeting under that instrument was held in St. John's 
hall June 30 of that year. The charter members were Nathaniel T. 
Woodruff, Horace K. Smith, L. McChesney, Caleb Wright, Joseph A. 
Wood, A. J. Rousseau, Samuel G. Huntington, John S. Perry, John 
Conkey, Edward Chapin, George R. Davis, Archibald Bull, Richard 
S. Bryan. John B. Colegrove, Ebenezer Prescott, Oliver Boutvvell, 
Henry W. Holton, Franklin Belcher, George H. Bull, John Blass, 
Benjamin Cheney, Richard Bloss and Nathan Taylor. The officers 
named in the charter were: W. M., Achille J. Rousseau; S. W., John 
S. Perry; J. W. , Joseph A. Wood. The following were the first offi- 
cers appointed by the lodge: Treasurer, Samuel G. Huntington ; secre- 
tary, George H. Bull; senior deacon, Nathaniel T. Woodruff; junior 
deacon, Horace K. .Smith; masters of ceremonies, George R. Davis, 
William Perkins; stewards, John B. Colegrove, Benjamin Cheney. 
July 31, 1850, the lodge held exercises commemorative of the death of 
General Zachary Taylor, which included the erection, in the Third 
street Baptist cemetery, of an urn t-o the memory of the deceased 
president and warrior. Masons were in attendance from many sections 
of the State and the proceedings were very imposing. December 27, 
1853, the lodge participated in the ceremony of dedicating St. John's 
hall. February 23, 1871, it subscribed for 560 shares of stock of the Troy 
Masonic hall association, valued at $14,000. August 2 of the same 
year it participated in the ceremony of laying the corner stone of the 
temple. The committee from King Solomon's lodge having a part in 
making the arrangements for this great event was composed of Frank 
A. Andros, William R. Hyde and Thomas Caldwell. The committee 
representing King Solomon's lodge on the general committee on 
ways and means, composed of representatives of all the Masonic bodies 
in Troy, formed to raise $20,000 to pay the floating debt on the hall, 



188 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

was composed of William Kemp, J. Crawford Green and George B. 
Smith. An account of these ceremonies will be fovmd in another part 
of this chapter. The lodge leased rooms in the new temple Februar}'- 
8, 1872, at an annual rental of $-360, and held its first meeting there 
April 4. At the meeting held February 8 the Masonic Board of Relief 
was reorganized and Alexander B. King, Jesse B. Anthony and Charles 
W. Peoble were elected to represent the lodge on the board. At the 
dedication of the new temple April 2, 1872, described elsewhere, King 
Solomon's lodge took a prominent part. Its delegation in the com- 
mittee of arrangements consisted of Alexander B. King, Jesse B. 
Anthony and Charles W. Peoble. 

King Solomon's lodge was highly honored June 3, 1880, when 
Brother Jesse B. Anthony was elected, by acclamation, to the exalted 
office of M. W. grand master of the Grand lodge of the State of 
New York, then in session in New York city. September 26, 1881, the 
lodge participated in memorial funeral ceremonies over James A. 
Garfield, president of the United States, which were held in Beman 
park. October 26, 1886, the lodge sent a check for $2,109.70 to Grand 
Master Frank R. Lawrence, as payment of its proportionate share in 
the indebtedness on account of the New York Masonic Hall and Asylum 
fund. April 24, 1889, the lodge celebrated the release of the hall and 
asylum from debt, when addresses were made by Jesse B. Anthony and 
Rev. J. W. Thomson of Greenwich, N. Y. 

The semi-centennial of the lodge was appropriately celebrated Octo- 
ber 6, 1892. Addresses were delivered by W. Joseph A. Leggett, mas- 
ter; M. W. Jesse B. Anthony and M. W. James Ten Eyck. In his re- 
sume of the work of the lodge for tlie half century Bro. Anthony stated 
that the total number of petitions received had been 1,184, of which 
846 were accepted. The gains were as follows: Charter members, 2;J; 
raised, 797; affiliations, 156; restorations, 48; total, 1,024. The losses 
had been : Deaths, 165; demitted and withdrawn, 191; unaffiliated for 
non-payment of dues, 226 ; suspended and expelled, 8 ; total, 590 ; leav- 
ing the membership at that time 434, besides six available entered 
apprentices. At the banquet which followed there were over 300 
brethren and guests. W. Bro. Joseph A. Leggett presided, and toasts 
were responded to by M. W. James Ten Eyck, grand master; W. Bro. 
Gilbert Geer, jr., senior past master: W. Bro. Alexander B. King, past 
master; W. Bro. Charles W. Peoble, W. Bro. Frank A. Andros, W. 
Bro. Charles M. Austin, W. Bro. Frank M. Fales, W. Bro. Frank C. 



MASONRY IN RENSSELAER COUNTY. 189 

Hartwell, R. W. Solomon Strasser, grand steward of the Grand lodge 
and past master of Mount Vernon lodge of Albany; and M. W. Jesse 
B. Anthony. 

Mt. Zion Lodge, No. 311, F. & A. M., was chartered June 13, o8o3, 
and instituted July 11, 5853, with the following charter members: John 
S. Perry, P. L. Jones, John C. House, A. Fisher, De Witt C. Cram, 
S. C. Dermott, Reed B. Bontecou, Timothy Mann, William E. Potter, 
Leonard Haight, W. A. Tomlinson, L. Van Valkenburgh, Elias Ross, 
R. W. Kenyon, John B. Colgrove, James S. Keeler, John Price, Wal- 
ter J. Seymour, William P. Seymour, Walter L. Kipp, John Oliver, 
Russell Sage, Samuel Dascam, jr., George L. Garlick, O. A. Arnold, 
E. H. Virgil, Marcus Ball, H. V. Barringer, George Bontecou, Amery 
Felton, H. S. Benedict, R. L Moe, Jacob Young, George S. Kenyon, 
Burrows Cure, George T. Blair, Alanson Cook, Job S. Olin, A. B. 
Moore, J. A. Pullin and H. P. Filer. The first officers elected were: W. 
M., J. S. Perry; S. W., J. S. Keeler; J. W., R. W. Kenyon; secretary, 
P. L. Jones; treasurer, E. H. Virgil; S. D., D. W. C. Cram; J. D., W. 
J. Seymour. The lodge held its first meeting in the Masonic Temple 
on River street, moving from there in December, 1853, to the temple 
on State street, thence to the present Masonic Temple on Third street. 
Of the past masters living, all still active members of the lodge, there 
are the following: H. M. Heller, 1868-'G9-'70; Fred A. Plum, 1871; 
Julius R. Pettis, 1874-75; James Knibbs, 1876-'88-'89; Charles R., 
Hicks, 1879; David M. Rankin, 1880; E. W. Wood, 1881; J. R. Tor- 
rance, 1882; Arthur MacArthur, 1883; John H. Tappin, 1884; Charles 
E. Wilson, 1885; G. A. Van Burgan, 1886; N. L. Hull, 1891; Charles 
H. Anthony, •1892-'93; Robert W. Porter, 1894-95; Perry J. Heinck, 
1896. Mount Zion lodge has participated in all the notable Masonic 
events in this locality since its institution. 

The first Masonic lodge in Lansingburgh was instituted in 1787 un- 
der the name of Hiram lodge No. 35. It went out of existence in 1810. 
For twelve years thereafter there was no Masonic lodge in Lansing- 
burgh. In 1822 a dispensation for a new lodge was granted Brothers 
Benjamin W. Horr, Chauncey Ives, Nathan Morey, Alvan Hawley, 
Samuel H. Mulford, Samuel S. Bingham, David Reading, Ephraim 
Goss, B. B. Stearns and Jonathan Choat, and September 26 of the same 
year the first meeting was held under this dispensation. At the annual 
communication of the Grand lodge in 1823 a warrant was issued to the 
lodge under the name of Phoenix lodge No. 361, bearing date of June 



190 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

23, 1823. January 6, 1836, the charter was surrendered, and the lodge 
was reorganized June 14, 1838, under the name of Phoenix lodge No. 
58. Since that time the lodge has prospered. The whole number who 
have been members of the lodge up to the summer of 1896 since organ- 
ization is 543, of whom 173 are still members in good standing. The 
masters of Phoenix lodge have been: 

Benjamin W. Horr, 1 822-' 23-' 24 ; Ephraim Goss, 1825-'26-'27 ; Alexander McCall, 
1828-'29-'30-'31-'32; Samuel S. Bingham, 1833-'34-'38-'39- 40-41 ; A. L. Lansing, 
1835; Daniel King, 1842-' 43-' 44-' 49 -'50-' 51 -'53; A. Whipple, 1845; N. Weaver, 
1846-55; James M. Austin. 1847-48; D. N. Van Pelt, 1852; "John Gilmore, 1854; A. 
G. Mitchell. 1856-57; J. H. Weaver, 1858; William J. Newman, 1859; Samuel King, 
1860-61; Charles Weaver, 1862; Alexander King, 1863; Eugene Hyatt, 1864-'65; 
Charles S. Holmes, 1866-67; Charles W. Derrick, 1868; D. P. Chesbrough, 1869; 
E. A. Skillman, 1870-'71-'79-80; R. A. Derrick, 1872-1873; E. A. Van Pelt, 1874- 
•81; John R. Engle, 1875; Charles E. Derrick, 1876; P. A. Brewster, 1877-78; 
James Gillespie, 1882; R. B. Stiles, 1883-84; F. W. Esmond, 1885-86; L W. 
Abbott, 1887; G. H. Davey, 1888-'89; John Giles, 1890; P. R. Chapman, 1891; C. J. 
Barker, 1892-93; W. H. Derrick. 1894-'95; A. C. Rousseau, 1896. 

Jerusalem lodge, No. 355, F. & A. M., of Lansingburgh, held its 
first communication in the rooms of Rising Sun* lodge, I. O. O. F., 
November 18, 1854, acting under a dispensation granted by the Grand 
lodge, signed by Joseph D. Evans, grand inaster, and James M. Austin, 
grand secretary. The following were the charter members: R. J. 
Ojers and Daniel vSweeny of Apollo lodge, John Gilmore, B. G. Hath- 
away, N. P. Jones, John B. Leke, C. V. W. Burton, A. G. Mitchell, 
Alfred vShumway, A. D. Wallace and James Vincent of Phoenix lodge 
The first officers were elected and installed December 14, 1854, as 
follows: John (iilmore, W. M. ; B. G. Hathaway, S. W. ; N. P. Jones, 
J. W. ; Daniel Sweeny, treasurer; R. J. Ojers, secretary; James Vin- 
cent, S. D. ; Alfred Shumway, J. D. ; John B. Leke, tiler. During the 
forty-two years of the existence of the lodge 384 have received Masonic 
lioht and knowledge within its walls, some of whom have gained i)rom- 
inence both on the battlefield and in the halls of our legislature. At 
present there are 147 members on the roll, and 120 have died. The 
masters of Jerusalem lodge have been: 

John Gilmore, 1854 and '55; B. G. Hathaway, 1856 and '58; Alfred Shumway, 
1857 and '60; Charles Lapham, 1859; Stephen Lavender, 1861; Daniel Ferguson, 
1862; Felix Fountain, 1863 and '64; John B. LeVe, 1865 and '66; William H. Shum- 
way. 1867; Edward Burliugame, 1868; E. J. Evans, 1869; Lee Chamberlin, 1870; 
J. G. Neal, 1871 and '72; John M. Chambers, 1873, '79, '80 and '81 ; James M. Snyder, 
1874 and '75; George E. Shumway, 1876; D. C. Sippell, 1877 and '78; John F. Smith, 



MASONRY IN RENSSELAER COUNTY. 191 

1883 and '84; Adolph Roberts, 1883 and '94; L. G. Flack, 1885 and '86; William Gil- 
more. 1887, '88 and '93; John H. Franklin, 1889 and '90; William N Smyth, 1891 
and '92; Edward W. Wolf, 1895 and '96. 

Greenbush lodge, No. 337, F. & A. M., of (jreenbush, was instituted 
February 20, 1854, with nine members, viz. : Norman D. Andrews, 
master; John C. Roy, S. W. ; Martin Miller, J. W. ; Francis C. Tucker, 
treasurer; John Dunbar, secretary'; Edwin F. Lewis, S. D. ; E. Henry 
Ford, J. D. ; William Townsend, tiler, and Nathaniel P. Layton. The 
lodge was chartered June 7, 1854, with the following charter members 
in addition to the above named: John L. Dyer, Thomas R. Mather, 
Oliver Herbert, Stephen V. R. Goodrich and Charles M. Traver. In 
December, 1860, James H. Miller was elected treasurer and has con- 
tinued in that office to the present time. The masters in the order of 
their election have been : 

Norman D. Andrews, Martin Miller, Thomas R. Mather, Job A. Estabrook, Charles 
Melius, Frederick S. Fairchild, William H. Wallace, William H. Lewis, John S. 
Hamlin, John G. Cooper, Wilson A. Orcutt, Luke Slade, E. C. Crocker, George H. 
Russell, Alfred D. Crandall, George M. Lowrie, Charles C. King, Thomas B. Pur- 
ves, jr., Stephen Taylor, J. P. Barr, Peter G. Rockefeller, Thomas Penney, T. Al- 
mern Griffin and James I. Miles, with Charles A. Belden and C. S. Wheeler, mem- 
bers of this lodge but past masters of other lodges. 

Tlie life members of Greenbush lodge are: 

E. Henry Ford, Griswold Denison, Garrett M. Van O'Linda, James H. Miller, 
William Seaton, Charles Melius, William H. Lewis, Sewall W. Craig, Henry L. 
Jauss, Robert J. White, James A. Morris, William H. Collins, Robert C. Blackall, 
Albert P. Traver, Stephen Williams, George H. Harden, John L. Dyer, George T. 
Diamond, E. C. Crocker and Jeremiah Fouler. 

The lodge was incorporated October 16, 1801, and has had 238 mem- 
bers up to June, 1896. 

Van Rensselaer Lodge, No. 400, F. & A. M., of Hoosick Falls is the 
offspring of Federal lodge No. 33, and has kept alive its memories and 
preserved its records. In 1856 Hezekiah Munsell, jr., Seneca Dorr and 
David Ball, who were members of Federal lodge No. 33 at the time 
its warrant was forfeited, with Charles Grover, Sidney Smith, Edwin 
Corbin, Samuel Crosbee and Robert Lord, obtained a dispensation to 
open and hold a lodge at Hoosick Falls. The first meeting was held 
under this dispensation February 26, 1856. The officers named in the 
dispensation were Charles Grover, master; Samuel Crosbee, senior 
warden; David Ball, junior warden. A. C. Parsons, M. F. White, 
Charles Byers, William M. Cranston and J. L. Crosbee were initiated at 



VJ2 LANDMARKS OF RENSSP^LAER COUNTY. 

the first meeting' of the lodge, and A. C. Parsons and Charles Byers 
were the first to receive the third degree. The lodge was known as 
Hoosick lodge, U. D., until July 1, 1856, when a warrant was granted 
it under name of Van Rensselaer lodge, No. 400. August 21, 1850, an 
emergent Grand lodge was organized by R. W. John S. Perry, D. D. 
G. M., when the new lodge was constituted and its officers installed in 
ample form. The lodge held its meetings in the old Phoenix hotel un- 
til it was destroyed by fire in 1876. In the summer of that year it 
made arrangements with Hon. Walter A. Wood which resulted in the 
lease of the present lodge room for a term of years. The membership 
of the lodge since has steadily increased and at present excels in good 
standing any secret organization in the town of Hoosick. During the 
latter part of the year 1856 W. Charles Grover, who was first master of 
the lodge, moved away from Hoosick Falls and at the first annual meet- 
ing in December of that year.W. Bro.W. M. Cranston was chosen mas- 
ter and served from 1857 to 1858 The following have been masters 
of the lodge since then : 

John L. Crosbee, 1859-1860; Marshall F. White, 1861-1866; John G. Darroch. 1867- 
1870; James Waddell, 1871-1872; J. Leavitt Lambert, 1873-1874; Isaac A. Allen. 
1875-1876; M. V. B. Peters, 1877-1878; James W. Allen, 1879-1880; Warren F. 
Peters, 1881-1882; James M. Carpenter, 1883-1884; James E. Estabrook, 1885-1886; 
James A. Beckett, 1887-1888; George D. Edmans, 1889-1890; P. McKearin, 1891- 
1892; James G. Byers, jr., 1893-1894; M. J. Early, 1895 . 

A memorable occasion in the history of the lodge was the celebration 
of the 100th anniversary of Free Masonry in Rensselaer county August 
16, 1887. The lodge has at present about 170 members. 

Homer lodge, No. 76, F. & A. M., was the first Masonic lodge in 
vSchaghticoke. It was organized June 3, 1799, the charter being signed 
by John Adams, grand secretary, which authorized Josiah Masters, to 
act as master, James S. Masters as senior warden and James Mallory 
as junior warden. The officers were installed by a delegation from Troy. 
The lodge met for some time in a building which was south of the 
Presbyterian parsonage, where the residence of James E. Pinkham 
now stands, and was destroyed by fire in 1867. In 1824 the Masons 
offered to put in an attic story in the old Schaghticoke house at their 
own expense, which they were allowed to do. The lodge held meet- 
ings there until 1847, when it forfeited its charter. 

November 13, 1867, Victor lodge, F. & A. M., was organized in 
Schaghticoke, the first officers being: W. H. Steele, W. M. ; George 



MASONRY IN RENSSELAER COUNTY. 103 

W. French, S. W. ; Charles A. Pickett, J. W. ; John A. Baucus, treas- 
urer; and Chauncey B, Slocutn, corresponding secretary. This lodge 
held meetings in the old lodge rooms until the big fire which occurred 
Friday, September ;3, 1880, when the records and paraphernalia were 
destroyed. This fire destroyed the Schaghticoke house. Barker's Opera 
house, and the residences of Mrs. J. D. Richard and Morgan Congdon. 
wShortly after this the present rooms in the Congdon block were rented 
and taken possession of September 4 of the same year. Preparations 
were begun for a thorough renovation of the rooms, the purchase of 
new furniture and many other improvements. The lodge is in a 
flourishing condition, its present membership being 144. The records 
of the lodge up to the year 1880 were burned September 1, 1880. The 
masters of the lodge since that time have been: 1880-1882, George 
W. Finch; 1883, R. C. Gunner; 1884, George B. Burton; 1885-1888, 
Edward Burlingame; 1889-1891, George W. Finch; 1892-1893, Ed- 
ward Buchanan; 1894-1896, E. Newton Beale. 

Sunnyside lodge, No. 731, F. & A. M., of Castleton, is a branch of 
the old Schodack Union No. 87 and was organized December 17, 1872. 
Through the efforts of Franklin P. Harder, Charles Van Buren, Henry 
Vandenburgh and several others the Masonic spark which had existed 
in the village for some time was blown into a flame. A meeting was 
held on the night of December 17, 1872, and the lodge was instituted 
by Jesse B. Anthony of Troy. The charter members were John D. 
Smith, John W. McKnight, Frederick Hill, Franklin P. Harder, 
Charles Van Buren, Henry Vandenburgh, Charles H. Smith and George 
Fisher. At the meeting the following ofiicers were chosen: Franklin 
P. Harder, W. M.; Charles Van Buren, S. W. ; John D. Smith, J.W. ; 
Henry Vandenburgh, treasurer; John W. McKnight, secretary; Fred- 
erick Hill, S. D. ; Charles H. Smith, J. D. ; George Fisher, tiler. From 
its incipiency the organization has been prosperous and at present has 
seventy-eight members in good standing. Regular communications 
of the lodge are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month 
at the temple on River street. 

The masters of Sunnyside lodge since its organization have been: 

1872-1878, F. P. Harder; 1879. Frederick Hill; 1880, John W. McKnight; 1881, 
Frederick Hill; 1882, Osborne Earing; 1883, Frederick Hill; 1884, Peter G. Clark ; 
1885-1889, F. P. Harder; 1890, Wm. H. Clapper; 1891, Thomas J. Lape; 1892-1894, 
George Porter; 1895 , Charles Van Buren. 

Star lodge No, 670, F, and A. M., is one of the pioneer lodges of this 
25 



194 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

country, its early history dating- back into Revolutionary times. At 
that time the lodge was formed in the town of Petersburgh and existed 
for a number of years. Its charter was revoked, but in a short time 
another was secured. This was subsequently recalled and it was not 
until 1868 that the charter under which the present lodge exists was 
obtained. July 6, 1868, a meeting of ten prominent residents of the 
town was called and the lodge was instituted. The charter members 
were Rev. Caleb C. Bedell, H. Moses, sr., O. D. Thurber, E. Craw- 
ford, G. I. Harmon, M. L. Powers, H G. Jones, A. Manchester, S. H. 
Hand and L. Coon. The first officers were: W. M., C. C. Bedell ; S. W., 
M. L. Powers; J. W., H. Moses, sr. ; S. D., H. G. Jones; J. D., E. 
Crawford; treasurer, O. D. Thurber; secretary, G. I. Harmon; tiler, 
L. Coon. The present officers of the lodge are: W. M., Elmer Lam- 
phere; S. W., Le Grand Babcock; J. W., Byron Meithew; treasurer, 
Edwin Manchester; secretary, E. W. Gilford; masters of ceremonies, 
M. F. Stewart and Andrew Carr. 

Patriot lodge No. 39, F. & A. M., existed in Pittstown in the early 
days of the town. Most of the records of the organization are missing. 
Those which have been preserved show that in 1795 James McClung 
was master, Lyman Ellis secretary, Elias Randall treasurer, Herman 
Van Veghten S. D., Joseph Fish J. D., William Brown and James 
Fairbairn stewards and the Rev. Robert Campbell chai)lain. Mr. Mc- 
Clung was master until 1797. He was succeeded in 1798 by Herman 
Van Veghten, from 1799 to 1801 by Robert Van Tyne, in 1802 and 
1803 by Andrew Brown, in 1804 and 1805 by Robert Van Tyne, and in 
1806 by John Kinnicut. The lodge probably ceased to exist about this 
time. 

The first Masonic lodge organized in the town of Schodack was the 
old Yates lodge, whose hall was located at the "Brick hotel" at Scho- 
dack Centre; This organization was effected under a dispensation 
granted by Governor De Witt Clinton in 1808, he being grand master 
of the Masonic fraternity at that time, and Christopher C. Yates, a dep- 
uty grand master, was empowered to organize the Schodack lodge, 
which received the name of Yates lodge of Ancient York Masons. The 
charter members were John Herrick, Nicholas Drum, jr., Abraham 
Lansing, John wS. Miller, Obadiah Yates, Frederick Miller, Nathan 
Burton, John Burton, James Wilson, Eli Chadwick, Charles K. Strong, 
James Gardner, Michael Van Deusen, David Bell, John J. Miller and 
George H. Birch. The first officers were: Master, John S. Miller; sen- 



MASONRY IN RENSSELAER COUNTY. 196 

ior warden, John Herrick: junior warden, Charles K. Strong; senior 
deacon, John Burton; junior deacon, Abraham Lansing; treasurer, 
George H. Birch ; secretary, Nathan Burton ; tiler, Obadiah Yates. 
It appears from the minutes of Yates lodge that another lodge existed 
somewhere in the town, by the name of Schodack lodge, which may 
have been in existence when Yates lodge was organized. Yates lodge 
continued its sessions until I80I, when the record ends. 

Schodack Union lodge No. 87, F. & A. M., was organized about the 
year 1841. The first regular meetings were held at the "old brick 
tavern." Soon after the meeting place was removed to the old tavern 
at Schodack Centre, known as Masonic hall, and several years later the 
headcjuarters was again changed to Scott's Corners. A large number 
of lodges have sprung from Schodack Union, including Greenbush 
lodge, Valatie lodge, Sunnyside lodge at Castleton, and Gratitude lodge 
at Nassau. Among its first masters were James Van Alen of Nassau, 
and David Booth of Scott's Corners, 

Gratitude lodge No. G74, F. & A. M:, began its career under the 
name of Nassau lodge, under a dispensation granted in 18G7, with D. 
P. Davis as W. M., Aaron Gifford as wS. W. and George L. Eighni}- as 
J. W. The first regular session was held at Nassau, wSeptember 2G of 
■that year, but the organization was not duly chartered until the follow- 
ing summer, when, June 19, 1868, its received its charter and rank as 
Gratitude lodge No. 674. The first officers were: W. M., George L. 
Eighmy; S. W., James Van Alen; J. W., George B. Mitchell. Many 
of the first members came from vSchodack Union lodge of Schodack. 
Among the early masters of the lodge were D. P. Davis, (leorge L. 
Eighmy, James Van Alen, jr., John H, Kane, John L. Holt and Aaron 
Gifford. 

Apollo Commandery, No. 15, Knights Templar, came into existence 
August 12, 1839, by dispensation, under the title of Apollo encamp- 
ment, and its first commander was Sir Thomas T. Wells. Work under 
dispensation was continued until June 4, 1841, when a warrant was 
granted by the Grand encampment of the State, and Apollo encamp- 
ment. No. 15, was duly constituted, and the officers were installed (Sir 
Joel (i. Candee, commander) in the following August. It had a mem- 
bership at that time of thirty-eight. In 1858 the name was changed 
to Apollo commandery, No. 15. November 27, 1880, Apollo Drill com- 
])any was organized. From this has developed the now famous Apollo 
Drill corp.s, which under the able leadership of Sir James H. Lloyd, its 



106 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

commander, in recent years has won for itself many laurels, an envia- 
ble position and a national reputation. The record of the command-' 
ery is replete with interesting incidents and notable occasions and its 
fame has spread far and wide. During- its entire history Apollo has 
maintained a reputation of being composed of men active and ener- 
getic in Masonry and zealous to promote the cause of templarism, and 
as a result it has been eminently successful in all its undertakings. Its 
deeds of charity and pure beneficence have been innumerable, and it 
has exercised a potent influence for good. Its roster of members con- 
tains many names of prominent and honored citizens of Troy and 
vicinity. Its growth has been constant and steady and at the close of 
the last Templar year its membership numbered 519. For proficiency 
in ritualistic work, excellence and precision in drill, harmony and 
brotherly kindness among its members, knightly bearing, elevation of 
morale and splendid esprit du corps it stands at the head of the order in 
the State, and without a superior in the nation. A list of the com- 
manders is appended : 

Thomas T. Wells, Joel G. Candee, Abel Wetherbee, Archibald Bull. James Hege- 
man, John S. Perry, Richard Bloss, R. W. Kenyon, F. T. Parkman, Marcus Ball, 
George Babcock, George F. Sims, R. W. Roberts, L. A. Rousseau, James W. Cu- 
sack, Henry B. Harvey, Jesse B. Anthony, Julius R. Pettis, George B. Smith, The- 
odore E. Haslehurst, Henry B. Thomas, Henry Stowell, A. G. Goldthwaite, S. V Stur- 
tevant, John F. Shafer, Arthur MacArthut", James H. Lloyd, William M. Peckham, 
Robert B. Stiles, Eugene A. Van Pelt, Frederick W. Sim, Daniel H. Ayers. 

Phoenix Chapter, No. 133, R. A. M., of Lansingburgh, was established 
in 1849 when, November 22, Companions Samuel S. Bingham, Daniel 
King, S. D. Smith, H. G. Holmes, A. Whipple, C. wS. Houghton, II. 
Knickerbacker, S. Freiot, Chauncey Ives, Nicholas Weaver and Will- 
iam McMurray met under a dispensation from the Grand lodge and 
elected these officers: High prie.st, Samuel S. Bingham; king, Daniel 
King; scribe, S. D. vSmith; C. of H., A. Whipple; P. S., N. Weaver; 
R. A. C. and secretary, S. Freiot; M. of Third Vail, S. S. Houghton; 
M. of Second Vail and treasurer, G. F. Holmes; M. of First Vail, Will- 
iam McMurray. At the annual convocation of the grand chapter a 
charter was granted bearing the date of February 5, 1850. The whole 
number who have been members of the chapter since its organization 
up to the summer of 1890 is 304, the present membership being 110. 
The high priests of the chapter have been : 

S. S. Bingham, 1850-'51-'52-'53-'55-'5G; Daniel King, 1854; William J. Newman, 



MASONRY IN RENSSELAER COUNTY. 197 

1857-58-'59-T)0: Charles Lapham, 1861; E. Hyatt, 1862; T. Sands, 1863; A. Kirk- 
patrick, 1864; Charles Weaver, 1865-66; F. Fountain, 1 867-' 68-' 69- 70; William H. 
Shumway, 1871-72; E. A. Skillman, 1873-'74-'7r)-'76; E. A. Van Pelt, 1877-'78-'79- 
'80; John M. Chambers, 1881-'82-'88-'84-85; J. F. Smith, 1886-87-88; William 
Gilmore, 1889-90-'91 ; George H. Davry, 1892-'93-'94; C. J. Barker, 1895-96. 

Greenbush Chapter, No. 274, R. A. M., was instituted May 5, 1875, 
with the following officers and members: Charles Melius, high priest; 
Simeon Savage, king; George H. Russell, scribe; George H. Simmons, 
treasurer; William C. Ruyter, secretary; William Seaton, captain of 
host; E. C. Crocker, principal sojourner; William Teller, royal arch 
captain; Benjamin Evans, jr., M. of 3d V.; Alfred D. Crandall, M. of 
2d V. ; A. M. Rose, M. of 1st Y. ; William M. Killeen, tiler; and Com- 
panions John Thompson, John C. Foyle, Frederick Carr, Frank Lusk, 
James Hendricks and Horace Russell. The chapter was chartered 
February 3, 187G, with the following additional companions, who are, 
with the foregoing, charter members: James H. Miller, Litke Slade, 
Albert Phelps, George B. Mitchell, Jacob R. Parsons, Thomas S. Cal- 
lender, Philip Weest, Albert J. Dings, Lawrence Rysedorph, William 
T. Miles, Charles H. Gilman, Justin Feldt, John H. Wicks, Edwin A. 
Sliter, William H. Sliter, George W. Van Hise and Albert P. Traver. 
The chapter was incorporated August 22, 1894. The high priests in 
the order of their election are: Charles Melius, vSimeon Savage, George 
H. Russell, E. C. Crocker, William Teller, Thomas B. Purves, jr., 
Arthur W. Hines, Thomas Phibbs, Robert Mitton, James F. Doran, 
James I. Miles. Life member, E. C. Crocker. In the summer of 1896 
there were ninety one members on the roll. 

Raymond Chapter, No. 248, R. A. M., is connected with Van Rensse- 
laer lodge of Hoosick Falls. The first dispensation of Raymond chapter 
was granted February 8, 1871, by M. E. Rees G. Williams, D. G. H. P., 
on the recommendation of Phoenix chapter, No. 133, of Lansingburgh, 
to Hiram Moses, David Ball, James Waddell, J. Leavitt Lambert, 
Smith A Skinner, Charles E. Morey, M. L. Powers, Warren F. Peters, 
S. W. Stewart, J. D. Worth, and L. S. Finch. The officers named in 
the dispensation were James Waddell, H. P. ; j. Leavitt Lambert, K. ; 
and Smith A. Skinner, S. The first to receive tlie mark degree were 
Daniel E. Spencer, E. C. W. Hull and C. W. Buck, March 2, 1809. 
They were also first exalted to the degree of Royal Arch Mason the 
evening of the same day. The dispensation was renewed June 18, 
1871, by M. E. John W. Simons, grand high priest, and in the follow- 
ing February the charter was granted. 



198 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

A Mark lodge had existed in Hoosick many years before. It was 
instituted as Hoosick Mark lodge February 3, 1807, the warrant having 
been granted to W. S. Cardall, Reuben Faxon, William Goodrich and 
others, but the name was subsequently changed to Federal Mark lodge 
No. 37. The lodge ceased to exist after a career of eight years. 

Star lodge No. 941 of Petersburgh, which ceased to exist many years 
ago, was instituted in the year 1810 with these officers: W. M., Russell 
Wilkerson; J. W., Thomas Rix; secretary, Isaac B. Maine. Most of 
the records of the lodge either have been destroyed or are in such con- 
dition that it is impossible to write a trustworthy history of the organ- 
ization. 

For many years prior to 1871 the question of building a Masonic 
temple was discussed in the several lodges located in Troy. About 
that time the General Room committee of 1871, having determined 
that it was inexpedient to rent rooms, resolved that it was "deemed 
advisable to procure a site, erect a building and give to the Masonic 
fraternity of Troy the long \\ished for plan of having a home of their 
own." A sub-committee was appointed to draft a bill to incorporate 
" The Troy Masonic Hall association," also to report a plan for organ- 
ization on a joint stock basis. January 17, 1871, the committee unani- 
mously v(jlcd to i)nrchase the lots Nos. 15 and 17 Third street, for the 
sum of $30,000. The lodges approved of the action and the secretary 
of the general committee. Brother Jesse B. Anthony, presented a plan 
b}^ which the lodges could raise money to enable them to take stock of 
the association. It was known as the life commutation of dues, and 
has proven successful. The Masonic Hall association was incorporated 
February 15, 1871, the first officers being George B'abcock, president; 
John L. Flagg, vice president; George F. Sims, treasurer; Jesse B. 
Anthony, secretary; and these trustees: Charles Cleminshaw, Apollo 
lodge; Jesse B. Anthony, King Solomon's Primitive lodge; George 
Babcock, Mount Zion lodge; Alexander C. King, Apollo chapter; John 
L. Flagg, Delta lodge of Perfection; Levi H. Button, Bloss council; 
George F. Sims, Apollo pommandery ; trustees elected by shareholders, 
Robert B. Ranken, John Don, Gorton P. Cozzens. The capital stock 
of the corporation was $75,000, 

The first stone of the foundation of the Masonic Temple was laid 
June 19, 1871 precisely three quarters of a century after the charter 
was granted to the first lodge (Apollo). The corner stone of the temple 
was laid with Masonic ceremonies August 2, 1871. Early in the after- 



MASONRY IN RENSSELAER COUNTY. 199 

noon a parade was held, under the direction of Eminent Sir James W. 
Cusack as grand marshal. Besides the Masonic bodies of Troy there 
were in the procession Phoenix lodge No. 58 and Jerusalem lodge No. 
355 of Lansingburgh, Evening Star lodge No. 75 of West Troy, 
Cohoes lodge No. 110 of Cohoes and officers of the Grand lodge of the 
State of New York. The ceremony at the corner stone included music 
by Boring's band; prayer by the grand chaplain, Rev. J. W. Carhart; 
followed by the usual ceremonial prescribed by the Masonic ritual. An 
anthem composed by Charles C. Clark of Mount Zion lodge No. 311 was 
rendered by the choir, and Brother Jesse B. Anthony, P. M. of King 
Solomon's Primitive lodge No. 91, delivered an eloquent oration. The 
closing ode was written by Brother H. M. Heller, P. M, of Mount Zion 
lodge. 

The dedication of the temple occurred April 2, 1872, the ceremony 
being performed by the grand master and officers of the Grand lodge. 
M. W. John W. Lewis, past grand master, was the orator After 
the ceremonies the grand officers and invited guests returned to the 
Troy house, where a banquet was served. A concert at the temple oc- 
curred in the evening, followed by a ball. The total expense of the 
lot, building and furnishing was about $100,000. 

In 186G the several Masonic bodies in Tro}^, feeling that a library 
was needed in the city for their exclusive use and benefit, decided to 
establish such a librar)^ A joint committee was appointed to devise a 
plan to cany the project into effect, and the result was that all the 
local members of the order contributed towards the proposed institu- 
tion. It was not long before a large library was collected, and the 
number of books is constantly increasing. 

The Masonic exercises commemorating the release from debt of the 
Masonic hall and asylum in New York occurred at the Masonic temple 
on the evening of April 24, 1889, under the direction of Apollo lodge, 
King Solomon's lodge and Mount Zion lodge. The exercises, which 
were opened by prayer by the Rev. T. P. Sawin, included singing by 
the Mendelssohn quartette; addresses by M. W. Jesse B. Anthony and 
by Rev. J. W. Thompson of Greenwich. 



200 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XIV. 
RENSSELAER COUNTY'S NATIONAL GUARD. i 

The history of the miUtary of Rensselaer county dates from a very 
early period. The early records of the various towns of the county 
show that some sort of military organization existed during the French 
and Indian Wars, and that during the final desperate struggle of that 
long series of contests between the French and English for supremacy 
in America, distinct and thoroughly organized companies, even one or 
more entire regiments, were maintained in the coimty. Reference to 
these early heroes is found in the histor)' of the county and in the his- 
torical sketches of the various towns. 

When the War of the Revolution was in progress, and probably very 
soon after its inauguration, a large portion of the qualified male inhab- 
itants of the county were serving in the Continental army. It is a 
matter of keen regret that the records of the doings of these heroes of 
Revolutionary times were kept in so unsatisfactory a manner, fre- 
quently not having been officially preserved; for it is impossible to tell 
the story of the achievements of these brave men in anything but a 
general and altogether too vague way. In preceding pages will be found 
a summary of the operations of the soldiers of the county of Rensse- 
laer in the War of the Revolution, in the War of 1812 and finally in 
that memorable sanguinary conflict known as the War of the Rebellion, 
or the Civil War. In the history of each town a more detailed refer- 
ence has been made to the men who served their country in these try- 
ing times. What is believed to be a complete list of the Rensselaer 
county militia will also be found in preceding pages. - 

The Old Citizens Corps. 

The National Guard of the State of New York, or as it recently has 

1 Compiled by Captain Wait H. Stillman of the Si,xth Separate Company, Captain Janu-s H. 
Lloyd of the Twenty-first Separate Company, Captain J. P. Treanor of the Twelfth Separate 
Company and Major Isaac F. Handey. 

2 See Chapter VII. 



RENSSELAER COUNTY'S NATIONAL GUARD. 201 

been officially styled, the National Guard of New York, is well rep- 
resented in Rensselaer county. The oldest organization is the Troy 
Citizens corps — the Sixth Separate company, National Guard of New 
York. The early history of the old corps is contained in the following, 
written several years ago by an acknowledged authority on military 
matters in Troy:^ 

After the war of 1812 interest in military matters in this State was for a long time 
dormant. The militia of New York, through continued neglect, became much de- 
moralized. The system of organization then in vogue, never too good, had been 
quite outgrown, and its defects became each year more apparent. At length intelli- 
gent men began to deplore the lack of a trustworthy citizen soldiery, and to cast 
about them- for expedients by which public interest could be awakened, and a good 
class of citizens induced to render military service. Of these one of the most fruit- 
ful in good results was the device of independent companies. . . . The first 
company organized under this plan was the Albany Burgesses corps, in 1833, and 
the Troy Citizens corps and Utica Citizens corps soon followed. 

In accordance with a notification previously published in the city papers, a meet- 
ing of those interested was held at the assembly room of the Troy house September 
33, 1835, and an organization effected by the choice of Thomas Turner, superin- 
tendent of the Albany iron works, as captain, and Henry R. Bristol, then county 
clerk of Rensselaer county, as president. 

The uniform adopted, it may be added, was substantially that of the old Trojan 
Greens. This was a company which had flourished in Troy before the war of 1812, 
had done good service in the field during that contest, and had fallen to pieces soon 
after the end of hostilities. Captain Turner at one time was its commanding 
officer. 

The formation of the Citizens corps was greeted with popular favor, 
and from the outset it had the countenance of many of the most prom- 
inent men of the city. One of the first honorary members was the 
Hon. William L. Marcy, and the company's first lessons in the military 
art were under the personal supervision of General John E. Wool. 
General Genet, too, was an active patron of the new company. The 
corps received a charter from the Legislature May 20, 1836. The first 
officers were: Captain, Thomas Turner; first lieutenant, Alfred H. 
Peirce; second lieutenant, Erastus F. Brigham ; third lieutenant, Lewis 
Lyons. The first drill room was in the small hall near the Mansion 
house and adjacent to that hotel. The corps soon removed to the 
southwest corner of Congress and Third streets, where the armory was 
maintained several years. When the Tibbits building, called the mili- 
tary hall, was erected, on the site of the old State armory, where Ger- 

' History of the Troy Citizens Corps, by Harry P. Judson: 1884. 
26 



202 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

mania hall now stands, the corps removed its quarters to that plice. 
This was occupied tmtil the building was burned in the fire of 1848, 
when the city authorities granted the use of Fulton market, where 
headquarters were maintained until 1864, when the records and com- 
pany property were removed to Cannon Place and subsequently they 
were destroyed by fire in that building. 

The old Citizens corps participated in many events of interest to the 
city. As related more in detail in another part of this work, ' it 
quelled the riot occurring on St. Patrick's day in 1837, being called out 
by Mayor Richard P. Hart. In 1839, and again in 1844, the corps was 
ordered out to assist in suppressing the famous anti-rent troubles, 
which took on the character of a small war. The first regular tour of 
camp duty was at Saratoga July 19 to 26, 1841. On various other oc- 
casions the company was called upon to attend public gatherings to 
preserve order, particularly at public executions. It also attended the 
funerals of deceased members in Troy and of prominent military men 
in other places. Occasionally it would be called upon to entertain vis- 
iting military organizations from other places, and not infrequently it 
made pleasure trips to various points, frequently entertained by other 
companies. February 19, 1861, the corps, under Captain H. L. Shields, 
received President-elect Lincoln at the Union depot. 

April 23, 1861, Captain Shields tendered to the adjutant-general of 
the vState the services of his company to aid the government in sup- 
pressing the rebellion, but the offer was declined on the ground that a 
separate company of infantry could be of little use under the circum- 
stances. Soon after, however, a large number of members were com- 
missioned as officers in various regiments, undoubtedly rendering bet- 
ter service in that capacity than they could have done as privates. 
Most of the members of the corps afterward enlisted in the regiments 
organized in Rensselaer county and sent to the front, and in 1864 active 
military work was suspended, although an organization sufficient to 
hold the charter was maintained. 

That the military work of the corps during these times had not been 
in vain is shown by the fact that a large proportion of the members 
who enlisted during the Rebellion were at once commissioned as offi- 
cers, and many of them won positions of distinction. Among them 
may be mentioned General John W. Sprague, General William B, Tib- 

' See history of the City of Troy. 



RENSSELAER COUNTY'S NATIONAL GUARD. 203 

bits, General William A. Olmstead, Colonel Irvin Crandell, of the 
l^oth N. Y. Vols. ; Colonel John vSchuyler Crosby, aide to General 
Sheridan; Colonel John McConihe, 169th New York A'ols., killed at 
Cold Harbor; Colonel Charles Osborne Gray, 96th New York Vols. ; 
Lieutenant-Colonel C. E. Brintnall, 30th New York Vols. ; Lieutenant- 
Colonel James M. Green, 48th New York Volunteers; Lieutenant- 
Colonel William E. Kisselburgh, aide to General Vogdes; Major George 
H. Otis, 2nd New York Volunteers; Major George W. Wilson, 2nd 
New York Vols. ; C. D. Dickerman, paymaster in the navy; Captain 
Moses C. Green, loth New York Engineers; Captain A. H. Howe, 67th 
New York Vols; Captain Joseph Lafeura, 2nd New York Vols. ; Cap- 
tain John M. Landon, 30th New York Vols.; Lieutenant-Colonel 
George F. Lemon, 1st California Vols. ; Captain Charles L. Maci\rthur, 
1st Brigade, 3rd Army Corps; Captain John T. McCoun, 169th New 
York Vols. ; Captain Francis M. Plum, 2nd New York Cavalry, and 
others. 

During its honorable career the principal officers of the old corps 
were as follows : 

Captains: 1835, Thomas Turner ; 1836-1847, Alfred H Peirce; 1848, John S. Van 
Schaick; 1849, John H. Whitlock; IS.")!), J. M. Warren Jones; 18.")!, Alfred H. 
Peirce; 1852, J. M. Warren Jones; 1853, Alfred H. Peirce; 1854-185G, Richard C. 
Barton; 1857-1858, Edwin D. Blanchard; 1859-1860, Hamilton L. Shields: 1861-1863, 
George F. Sims. 

First lieutenants:' 1835, Alfred H. Peirce; 1836, Luther R. Lasell ; 1837, Charles 
E. Brintnall; 1839, Arba Read; 1845, Charles E. Brintnall; 1846, John H. Whitlock; 
1847, John S. Van Schaick ; 1848, Boynton W. Knowlson ; 1849, J. M. Warren Jones ; 
1850-1851, James T. Woolsey; 1852-1853, Edward Cusack ; 1854-1855, Edwin D. 
Blanchard; 1856-1857, James Bowen ; 1858, John A. Sims; 1859, Ebenezer H. Virgil; 
1800, James W. Cusack; 1861-1863, Edward A. Ives, 

Second lieutenants: 1835, Erastus F. Brigham ; 1837, Arba Read; 1839, William 
C. Halstead; 1843-1844, John W. Sprague; 1845, Clinton L. Adancourt; 1846, John 
S. Van Schaick; 1847, Boynton W. Knowlson; 1848, J. M. Warren Jones; 1849, 
Edward L. Stone; 1850-1851, Prentiss L. Jones; 1852, Benjamin F. Town ; 1853, Rich- 
ard C. Barton; 1854, James Bowen; 1855-1857, John A. Sims; 1858, James W. Cu- 
sack; 1859, Jonas S. Heartt; 1860, Richard D. Bloss; 1861-1863, Asa W. Wickes. 

The presidents of the civil organization as far as the records show, 
were : 

1835. Henry R. Bristol; 1838, David M. De Freest; 1839, John T. Lamport; 1841. 
Clinton L. Adancourt; 1846, John B. Townsend; 1847-1848, Richard C. Barton; 1849. 

' The records do not show who served in the years not mentioned. 



'204 LAND^rARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Prentiss L. Jones; 18r)0-185:}, Philip Casey; 1854, James C. Roth; 1855-1857, James 
A. Leach; 1858-1859, John M. Landon; 18G0, Lewis A. Rousseau; 1861-1863, An- 
drew B. Fales. 

Sixth Separate Company. 

The Troy Citizens corps of to-day, officially known as the Sixth Sep- 
arate company, National Guard of New York, is a continuation of 
the old Troy Citizens corps, the original charter never having been 
annulled. The first regular meeting after the war was called by 
President A. B. Fales November 29, 1876. Twenty-one old members 
responded to the call and these civil officers were chosen : President, 
Walter P. Warren ; vice-president, Samuel B. French; secretary, Al- 
pheus Richards; treasurer, Philip F. Vanderheyden. At the meeting- 
held January 2, 1877, it was thought that enough members had been 
obtained, many of them being sons or relatives of former members of 
the corps, and these military officers were elected: Captain, James W. 
Cusack; first lieutenant, Walter P. Warren; second lieutenant, Ezra 
R. Vail; third lieutenant, Le Grand C. Cramer. At the earnest solic- 
itation of Adjutant-General Franklin Townsend the organization voted 
to affiliate with the National Guard, and consequentl}' February 3, 1877, 
an order was issued declaring the corps duly organized as the vSixth 
Sej^arate company of infantry, N. G. vS. N. Y. The company was 
formally mustered in at the State armory February 20 by Major George 
H. Otis of General Alden's staff, and the first election of civil officers 
under the new constitution resulted in the choice of the following: 
President, Francis N. Mann, jr.; vice-president, Charles B. Hubbell; 
secretary, G. D. Robertson; treasurer, Philip F. Vanderheyden. May 
15, 1877, the company was the recipient of a full stand of colors pre- 
sented by E. Thompson Gale, in memory of his son, Major A. De Forest 
Gale. The first street parade was held on Memorial day, 1877. 

The first actual service after entering the National Guard was the 
part the company took in suppressing the great railroad strike of July, 
1877. On the afternoon of the 24th of that month, one hour after or- 
ders had been received, the company proceeded to Albany, and the 
next day boarded the cars for the West Albany yards of the New York 
Central & Hudson River railroad. Here it served a week. The com- 
pany also participated in the celebration of the centennial anniversary 
of the battle of Bemis Heights, September 19, 1877. 

July 25, 1879, the Old Guard was organized, being attached to the 



RENSSELAER COUNTY'S NATIONAL GUARD. 20o 

corps as an auxiliary body. The uniform adopted was similar to that 
of the old corps, and Charles W. Tillinghast was chosen president and 
William E. Kisselbnrgh secretary. April 5, 1878, the corps acted as 
escort at the funeral of Colonel James R. Hitchcock in New York. 
The Ami}" and Navy Journal commented as follows upon the appearance 
of the corps on that occasion : 

The Troy Citizens corps was the observed of all observers, its showy uniform 
coupled with its solid front and splendid marching, winning encomiums even from 
the most critical. 

At the inspection of the company in June, 1879, bylnspector-General 
Philip H. Briggs, the following indorsement was made by the inspecting 
officer on the muster roll : 

Military appearance and soldierlj' bearing excellent. Evidently one of the best 
disciplined and drilled companies in the State service. 

In June, 1879, the corps was a part of the Red, White and Blue bat- 
talion at the national encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic 
at Albany and was accorded the honor of escorting the president of the 
United States, February 10, 1880, the death of General William B. 
Tibbits, a former member, occurred, and the corps acted as escort to the 
remains on the day of the funeral. Memorial day, 1880, it participated 
iu the memorable parade and other ceremonies in New York, upon the 
invitation of the Old Guard of New York, and during the parade was 
received with great enthusiasm everywhere. In his annual report for 
that year to the adjutant-general, Inspector-General Robert Shaw Oliver 
said : 

There are thirty-six separate companies of infantry, and the Sixth Separate Com- 
pany, Troy Citizens corps, stands the highest in the list. 

Another important event occurring soon after was the visit to Mon- 
treal, Canada, in September, 1881, on the occasion of the opening of 
the Montreal exposition on the 20th of the month. The expedition com- 
prised the Troy Citizens corps, eighty-one men. Captain James W. 
Cusack commanding; Major-General Joseph B. Carr and staff; the Old 
Ciuard, and a large number of invited guests. The festivities of the 
visitors were cut short upon the receipt of a telegram announcing the 
death of President Garfield, and the company and those accompanying 
it returned home by an early train. September 26 following the corps 
joined the other military companies of Troy in appropriate exercises 
while the funeral of the martyred president was in progress in Cleve- 
land, O. 



20r, LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

In the spring of 1882 the term of service of fifty-five members ex- 
pired, but all but ten re-enlisted and the ranks were kept full. En- 
thusiasm was maintained, and in the following September another visit 
was made to the annual Montreal exposition. The expedition proved 
one of the most successful in the career of the corps. In July, 1883, 
the corps performed its first tour of duty at the State camp at Peeks- 
kill. An event of great importance was the laying of the corner 
stone of the new State armor}^ at the corner of River and Ferry streets 
July 4, 1884. The procession comprised all the Troy companies, with 
Captain James W. Cusack of the Citizens corps in command. August 
4 and 5 the corps participated in the ceremonies at Albany attending 
the funeral of General U. vS. Grant. September 23, 1885, the fiftieth 
anniversary of the organization of the corps was celebrated with a 
parade and other ceremonies. One of the principal events of 1886 was 
the parade at Albany during the celebration of the bi-centennial of the 
founding of that city, in which the corps took part. April 29, 1889, 
the company went to New York and participated in the celebration of 
the centennial of the inauguration of George Washington as the first 
president of the United States. On Memorial day, 1890, it took part 
in the ceremonies attending the laying of the corner stone of the sol. 
diers' and sailors' monument in Troy, and vSeptember 15 of the follow- 
ing year it participated in the dedication of the same. July 4, 1892, 
Boston was visited, the corps being guests of the Ancient and Honor- 
able Artillery of that city. From August 18 to 25, 1892, they were on 
duty at Buffalo during the railroad strike. January 22, 1895, the corps 
assembled at the armory upon orders to be prepared to march to 
Brooklyn to assist in the suppression of the strike of the street railway 
employes in that city, but the men were not ordered from the city. 
February 27, 1895, the company acted as escort at the funeral of Major- 
General Jose])h B. Carr of Troy. The events chronicled here are but 
a few of the most important in which the corps has participated since 
its organization. In his latest annual re])ort Ins]>ector-General Fred- 
erick C. McLewee said: 

The reputation for general excellence established by the company years ago and 
which has distinguished it in the National Guard is maintained, and everything was 
found in first-class condition. The drill following muster was excellent throughout, 
the manual of arms very good, and loading and firing fine. All officers and non- 
coms, are of a high class in military efficiency. This company ranks with the best 
in the State. Company quarters in excellent condition and lockers uniformly and 
handsomely dressed. All extra property in best condition and kept under an ex- 



RENSSELAER COUNTY'S NATIONAL GUARD. 207 

cellent system. Books are well kept and models of neatness and accuracy. Average 
percentage of duty performed from Nov. 3, 1895, to March 31, 1896, 20 events, 82. 

The principal officers of the Sixth Separate company have been as 
follows: 

Captains: 1877-1893, James W. Cusack; 1893 , Wait H. Stillman. 

First lieutenants: 1877, Walter P. Warren; 1877-1879, Ezra R. Vail; 1879-1888, 
James L. Thompson; 1888-1891, Elias P. Mann; 1891-1893, Wait H. Stillman; 1893- 
1894, C. Whitney Tillinghast; 1894 , Thomas W. Hislop. 

Second lieutenants; 1877. Ezra R. Vail; 1877-1879, Le Grand C. Cramer; 1879- 
1883, George D. Smith; 1883-1891, Wait H. Stillman; 1891-1893, C. Whitney Tilling- 
hast, 2d; 1893, Thomas W. Hislop; 1894-1895, John M. Sherrerd; 1895 , Carroll 

L. Maxcy. 

Third lieutenants (not commissioned in National Guard): 1877, Le Grand C. 
Cramer; 1878, James L. Thompson; 1879-1883, George D. Smith; 1883-1888, John 
H. Tupper; 1888-1889, Elias P. Mann; 1889-1893, William H. Shields; 1893, John 
M Sherrerd; 1894-1895, Carroll L. Maxcy ;i 1896, Henry P. Sherman.' 

Assistant surgeons with rank of first lieutenant: 1883-1891, Clarkson C. Schuyler; 
1891-1893, William Wotkyns Seymour; 1893 , Burton S. Booth. 

Presidents of the civil organization : 1876, Walter P. Warren; 1877 , Francis 

N. Mann, jr. 

Twelfth Separate Company. 

The Twelfth Separate company, N. G. N. Y., was organized as the 
Fourth Separate company March 20, 1876, by Lieutenant Charles M. 
Austin, acting brigade inspector. It was also called the Tibbits Vete- 
ran corps, and was assigned to the Tenth brigade, Third division, N. 
G. N. Y. The membership consisted of three officers and eighty-three 
enlisted men. The officers were: Captain, Joseph Egolf; first lieuten- 
ant, Timothy Ouinn ; second lieutenant, John Oathout. At this time 
this was the only separate company of the National Guard in Troy. 
The first parade outside of the armory was in conjunction with the 
Second battalion of Infantry of Troy and Battery B, Troy Cit}^ Artil- 
lery, July 4, 1876. One of the most important events of the year was 
the annual inspection and muster October 12, 1876, at Green Island. 
The company and part of the Tenth brigade were inspected and re- 
viewed in the morning by Major-General Joseph B. Carr, division com- 
mander, accompanied by his staff. In the afternoon Major George H. 
Otis inspected the company and the result was very gratifying, every 
member being present. For many years none but honorably discharged 

' Commissioned additional second lieutenants in the National Guard. 



208 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

soldiers of the late war were permitted to join the corps. To be a 
member was a things to be proud of, for no matter where it went it was 
received with the greatest enthusiasm. Drills were conducted weekly 
from vSeptember 1 to July 1, and while the veterans were mastering the 
difficult movements of Upton's tactics a great strike was being planned 
on the Central Hudson railroad, in which this company was destined 
to play an impc^rtant part July 25, 1877, they marched to West 
Albany and reported to General Joseph B. Carr for duty. After serv- 
ing three days ihey returned to their home station and were dismissed 
on July 28. 

October 24, 1882, the company proceeded to Philadelphia and partic- 
pated in the ceremonies attending the bi-centennial in that city. Jan- 
uary 24, 1883, it took part in the parade of the Grand Army of the Re- 
public, which was holding its annual encampment in Troy. The 
First Battalion Light Guards of Paterson, N. J., were the guests of the 
company September 4 in Troy. The company had been consider- 
ing the advisability of a pleasure trip and finally decided to accept the 
invitation of the First Battalion Light Guards of Paterson to visit that 
city. Accordingly the members assembled at the State armory on 
June 10, 1884, and after a short street parade departed for Brooklyn, 
N. Y., Paterson and Elizabeth, N. J., and Catskill, N. Y. The fol- 
lowing day they paraded in Brooklyn at the meeting of the Army of 
the Potomac, and then proceeded to Paterson, being warmly received 
by the Light Guards. After a brief sojourn, during which the Trojans 
participated in a grand military exhibition, the company went to Eliza- 
beth, N. J., where their imposing appearance and splendid marching 
won them a continuous round of applause. 

July 4, 1884, the company participated in the exercises attending the 
laying of the corner stone of the State armory in Troy. Up to Septem- 
ber of this year membership in the company had always been limited 
to veterans of the late war, and as a consequence the organization grad- 
ually diminished. The company finally determined to permit sons of 
veterans to l^ecome members, and at the muster held September 2, 
1885, eighty-seven old members were reported as having received their 
discharge and a net gain of two showed that eighty-nine new men were 
enlisted during the year. July 21, 1885, the Veteran Zouaves of Eliz- 
abeth, N. J., visited Troy and were royally entertained by this com- 
pany. August 4 the company went to Albany and took part in the 
parade and funeral ceremonies of General U. S. Grant. July 22, 1886, 



RENSSELAER COUNTY'S NATIONAL GUARD. 209 

they proceeded to Albany and participated in the bi centennial parade 
in that city. January 15, 1887, the company paraded in Troy, the occa- 
sion being the reception of General Fairchild, commander-in-chief G. 
A. R. June 28 it took part in a parade in Lansingburgh in honor of 
the 25th anniversary of the departure of the 30th N. Y. Vols, for the 
seat of war. January 5, 1889, it appeared in the centennial parade in 
Troy in honor of the naming of the city of Troy. 

April 29, 1889, the company embarked on the steamer Grand Re- 
public en route for New York city, arriving at its destination April 30, 
at 5 A. M., when it took part in the centennial parade. May 30, 1890, 
it took part in the parade attending the laying of the corner stone of 
the vSoldiers' and Sailors' monument in Troy. May 30, 1891, it pro- 
ceeded l)y steamer Dashaway to Poughkeepsie to assist at the laying of 
the corner stone of the new State armory in that city. February 22, 
1892, the company participated in the dedicatory ceremonies of the 
Soldiers' and Sailors' monument in Troy. February 27, 1895, the com- 
pany acted as part of the escort at the funeral of General Joseph B. 
Carr in Troy. September 25 it went to Cohoes and acted as part of 
escort to Governor Morton, commander-in chief, at the laying of the 
corner stone of the Cohoes city hall. Inspection and muster occurred 
April 1, 1896, conducted by Brigadier-General F. C. McLewee, in- 
spector-general, who said : 

This company made an excellent and very satisfactory appearance, and the drill 
which followed muster was of a very high order. All officers and non-commis- 
sioned officers above the average in competency. This company is well in hand and 
the commanding officer among the best in the State. 

The principal officers of the company since its organization have 
been: 

Captains: John Egolf, May 18, 1876, to April 3, 1890; John Patrick Treanor, Jan- 
uary 23, 1893, to the present time. 

First Lieutenants: Timothy (Juinn, May 22, 1876, to December 13, 1876; L Sey- 
mour Scott, March 2, 1877, died June 24, 1885; Edwin W. Burrage, October 24, 1885, 
to April 13, 1887; Melville Day Dickinson (also assistant surgeon), March 16, 1893, to 
date; John Tallmadge, July 16, 1888, to September, 1888; Alonzo Ward Hill, Janu- 
ary 26, 1891, to June, 1891; Rufus M. Townsend, March 3, 1893, to date. 

Second Lieutenants: John Oathout, May 18, 1876, to February 13, 1878; Walter 
L. Davis, March 6, 1878, to February 7, 1883; William Baker, March 3, 1893, to date. 

The officers in 1896 are: Captain, John P. Treanor; first lieutenant, 
Rufus M. Townsend; second lieutenant, William Baker; first lieuten- 
ant and assistant surgeon, INIelville Day Dickinson. 
27 



210 LANDiMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

TwEN'lY-FlRST SePAKATK CoMl'ANY. 

The Twenty first Separate company, popularly known as the Tibbits 
Cadets, was organized in the month of December, 1876, and was named 
in honor of Major-General William B. Tibbits, who went to the front at 
the beginning of the war as captain of Co. G of the 2nd Regiment, N.Y. 
State Vols. At the first election these military officers were chosen : 
Captain, Jacob H. Patten; first-lieutenant, John Mearns; second lieu- 
tenant, John E. Sharp. Thursday evening, March 1, 1877, the com- 
pany was mustered into the National Guard of the State of New York. 
The ceremony was in charge of Major George H. Otis, and occurred 
at the old State armory on River street, the company being designated 
by the adjutant-general of the State of New York as the Seventh 
Separate company. In February of the following year the number of 
the company was changed to the Twenty-first Separate company of the 
Fifth brigade of the Third division of the National Guard of the State 
of New York. In the same month Captain Jacob H. Patten resigned, 
and Edmund L. Cole was elected to the command of the company. lie 
continued in office until August, 1883, when he resigned the command. 
His successor as captain, Samuel Foster, was not elected until October 
13, 1884, and he continued in office imtil 1888, when he relinquished 
command. James H. Lloyd, the present captain of the Twenty-first 
Separate company, was elected to the office March 15, 1888. The same 
evening Second Lieutenant Merrill M. Dunspaugh was elected first lieu- 
tenant. Shortly afterward Michael Sullivan was elected second lieu- 
tenant, and Sylvester W. Wright third lieutenant. The commissioned 
officers in 1896 w^ere Captain James H. Lloyd, First Lieutenant jMerrill 
M. Dunspaugh, First Lieutenant-and Assistant Surgeon David Walker 
Houston, and Second Lieutenants Sylvester W. Wright and William J. 
Galbraith. 

The first parade made by the company was that of Memorial day, 
1877. On that day General Tibbits presented the organization with 
the handsome set of colors it still carries. The next event of impor- 
tance was the picnic held July 4, 1877, when the sum of $1,000 was 
cleared above all expenses. A few days later the company was called 
upon to perform its first actual military duty, that of helping to put down 
the great strike on the New York Central & Hudson River railroad. The 
company was assigned to duty in Troy July 12, with General Alden in 
command of the post. Soon after the Tibbits Veteran corps and the 



RENSSELAER COUNTY'S NATIONAL GUARD. 21 L 

Citizens' corps were ordered to West Albany, where they were on duty 
the rest of the week August 16 the company participated in the 
ceremonies attending- the anniversary of the battle of Bennington, and 
in the sham battle at Bemis Heights which followed. In February, 
1878, Captain Patten resigned, Edmund L. Cole being elected to suc- 
ceed him. Soon afterward Lieutenant Mearns resigned and Samuel 
Foster was chosen to fill the vacancy. On Memorial day, 1870, the 
company participated in the exercises of unveiling the Soldiers' monu- 
ment at Hoosick Falls. General William B. Tibbits died April 10, 
1880. His funeral was one of the largest if not the largest ever held 
in Troy, and was attended by all the military companies in the city. 
The general willed to the company the sum of $8,333.33, part of which 
was used in fitting up the company's parlors. A trip to Providence, 
R. I., was made in the summer of 1883 and was one of the most de- 
lightful of the many the organization had taken. In August, 1884, 
Captain Cole tendered his resignation, made necessary by his removal 
from the city. Soon after the first tour of duty to the State camp was 
made, the company being in command of First Lieutenant Foster. 
October 13, 1884, Lieutenant Foster was promoted to the captaincy. 
Soon after the company's rooms in the armory were furnished at an ex- 
pense of about $3,000. The summer of 1886 again found the company 
at State camp with First Lieutenant Buckley in command. In the 
spring of 1888 Captain Foster, having decided to remove permanently 
froin the city, resigned his command, and March 15 James H. Lloyd 
was elected to the captaincy. Captain Lloyd's first trip with the com- 
pany was when it went to Hoosick Falls July 4, 1888. 

Major Le (rrand C. Tibbits having presented to the company a hand- 
some gold badge to be awarded the best drilled man, the first compet- 
itive drill was held Februar}' 21, 1889, and the badge was awarded to 
William H. Schutt for one year. He also won it for three successive 
years and was awarded the same. April 30, 1889, the company was 
ordered to New York to participate in the great parade on the occasion 
of the centennial celebration in that city. 

July 4, 1890, the company participated in the parade and celebration 
of laying the corner stone of the Soldiers' and ^Sailors' monument in 
Troy. At midnight, August 8, a strike was inaugurated on the New 
York Central & Hudson River railroad. The Twenty-first had been 
ordered for a tour of duty at State camp from August 9 to 16. On the 
morning of the 9th, as no through trains had run to New York, Captain 



212 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Lloyd offered the services of his command to take a train through, 
which were accepted, and the company, 103 strong, proceeded to the 
depot. The train arrive^ at State camp about 4 p. u. The company 
was received at camp with a great ovation, it being the first time that 
a full company had ever gone to camp, and every man remained dur- 
ing the entire tour, their record being one hundred per cent, present 
during the entire week. 

A new uniform having been adopted, consisting of cadet gray, white 
cross and body belt, at a cost of about $7,000, it was decided to hold a 
military fair at the armory the first week in December to assist in pay- 
ing for the same. The affair was very successful, the net proceeds 
being over $3,400. May 30, 1891, they went to Poughkeepsie as part 
of the escort to Governor Hill, who laid the corner stone of the vState 
armory at that place. August 19 they proceeded to Bennington, Vt,, 
and took part in the great parade and dedication of the Bennington 
Battle monument. September 7 they went to Schenectady and par- 
ticipated in the great Labor Day parade, also the competitive drill, and 
were awarded three very handsome swords as the best drilled organiza- 
tion. September 15 they took part in the great parade and dedication 
of the Soldiers' and Sailors' monument in Troy. 

March 1, 1892, the company celebrated its fiftieth anniversary by a 
grand banquet, which was attended by many military men of prom- 
inence. July 2 the company again went to State camp for a week's 
tour of duty, taking the entire company and again making the record 
of one hundred per cent, present during the entire week, the strength 
of the company being 104, First Lieutenant and Assistant Surgeon 
David W. Houston having been commissioned since the last tour in 
camp. 

At 7.45 A. M., August 18, orders were received to proceed to Buffalo, 
the scene of the great railroad strike. At 9.30 the company was on its 
way to Albany, reporting to Adjutant- General Porter, and was assigned 
to accompany the Tenth Battalion. It arrived at Buffalo after dark 
and immediately went on duty. Lieutenant Dunspaugh was detailed 
as officer of the guard. The company remained on duty eight days, 
making a splendid record and surpassing all others, every man report- 
ing for duty. One man walked thirty-seven and a half miles to the 
nearest railroad to get to his post. 

April 24, 1893, the company went to New York and took part in the 
grand Columbian land parade. May 19 the company gave an enter- 



RENSSELAER COUNTY'S NATIONAL GUARD. 213 

tainment at the armor}^ Beautiful oak furniture was provided for the 
company parlors by the proceeds. June 16, 1894, they proceeded to 
State camp as part of the Second Provisional Battalion for a week's 
tour of duty, Captain Lloyd being detailed as acting major command- 
ing the battalion. Again the company distinguished itself by taking a 
full company, breaking all records of an}^ similiar duty. January 22, 
1895, the members of the company received orders to hold themselves 
in readiness to proceed to Brooklyn to assist in quelling the strike of 
the surface railroad men. In a short time they assembled and were 
ready to proceed with three days' rations. After waiting several hours 
the order was countermanded, the situation having changed for the 
better. July 22 the company as part of the Thirteenth Battalion under 
Captain Lloyd started on a practice march through the surrounding 
country, to be gone until the 27th. It was the first of its kind in the 
State. The tour was very successful and great praise was bestowed by 
Adjutant-General McAlpin and Brigadier General Robert vShaw Oliver. 
February 13, 1896, was a great evening for the Twenty-first. They 
had tendered a reception to Apollo drill corps of the Knights Templar. 
Both organizations were reviewed by Adjutant-General E. A. McAlpin, 
after which each gave an exhibition drill. The armory was decorated 
in a magnificent manner, many thousands of electric lights being used. 
The decorations cost $1,000. 

A very important event in each year's history is the annual banquet 
in honor of the birth of Major-General William B. Tibbits, which is 
held on the evening of March 31. Another important event is the 
annual parade, which occurs on Memorial day. 

This company has attained a most remarkable record for attend- 
ance at drills, especially at the annual inspections and tours of duty at 
State camp. The following from the report of the last annual inspec- 
tion by General F. C. McLewee speaks for itself: 

This company rank.s with the best in the State, excelled by none and equalled by 
few. The appearance of the men at inspection was perfect and the discipline of the 
best. Drill which followed muster was excellent throughout. All officers of a high 
class and the "non-coms." intelligent, competent and vigilant in the performance of 
their duty. Armory neat and clean. Lockers uniformly and handsomely dressed. 
All extra property well cared for under excellent system. Armory rifle range in fre- 
quent use. This company has a remarkable record. For seven years out of the 
past eight at the annual inspection it has paraded 100 per cent, with a maximum 
strength— six years of which have been successive. For the last three tours of camp 
duty and at field practice last year, and during the great strike at Buffalo, it has 



214 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

paraded the same. A maximum company, all present. Summed briefly, it is a per- 
fect organization, ably commanded; books all well and correctly kept. Average 
percentage of duty performed from November 13, 1895, to March 16, 1896 (17 events) 
93.37; VERY iin.ii. Frederick C. McLewee, 

Inspecting and Mustering Officer. 

Tuesday, ]uly 4, 1896, the company started on what proved to be its 
most successful excursion. They proceeded to Oswego, where the fol- 
lowiuiJ' day they participated in the great parade and centennial of the 
evacuation by the British of Fort Ontario. They received a great ova- 
tion and made a magnificent appearance. On the evening of the loth 
they proceeded by steamer to the Thousand Islands and Kingston, Can- 
ada, where they were very kindly received. The following is from the 
Ainerican consul, Colonel M. W. Twitchell, stationed at Kingston: 

Consulate of the United States ok America, Kingston, Canada, July 22, 1896. 

Captain J. H. Lloyd, comtnandmg Twenty-first Separate company New York 

State militia, Troy, N. V. — Dear Sir: I acknowledge with pleasure the receipt of 
your courteous note of the 19th. Your company during their recent visit to Kings 
ton reflected great credit upon their city, State and the national uniform they wore. 
The gentlemanly deportment and absolute freedom from rowdyism stamped them 
individually as citizens of merit and as soldiers without peers. The quiet prompt- 
ness with which all changes were made was most remarkable and extremely gratify- 
ing to the subordinate representatives of the United States at Kingston The con- 
duct of vour comjiany from arrival to departure was such as to make every Ameri- 
can ob.server feel proud of his American militia. Respectfully yours, 

A. M. TwrrcHKi.i.. 

Many other events of interest have occurred during the career of the 
company, Init those enumerated are the most noteworthy. Since Cap- 
tain Lloyd assumed command the organization has become recognized 
as one of the most proficient in the New York National Guard. The 
ranks have been filled the past eight years and a waiting list is always 
ready to fill any vacancy. 

Tnikiv SKCoN'i) Sei'akate Comi-anv. 

The Thirty-second Separate company, N. G.N. Y., of Hoosick Falls, 
was mustered into the National Guard March 20, 1885, largely through 
the persistent efforts of ?Ion. S. D. Locke. The first muster-roll was 
signed by Brigadier General Philip H. Briggs, inspector- general, and 
included sixty-five men. The company has maintained about the same 
standard of enrollment since its organization. During 1890, for a time, 
the enrollment included ninety-seven men. The first captain was 



RENSSELAER COUNTY'S NATIONAL GUARD. 215 

Charles W. Eddy, who was a model disciplinarian and who was so rec- 
ognized by the most competent military authorities of the State. The 
first first lieutenant was Frank L. Stevens, also a thorough disciplinarian, 
and the first second lieutenant was Geo. L. Walden, now deceased. 
The first surgeon was Dr. Lurie Ashton, appointed August 20, 1887; 
died November 5, 1889; succeeded by Dr. Frederick R. Hudson, Feb- 
ruary 26, 1800, who also has the rank of first lieutenant. The first 
sergeant was. William H. Parsons, sr. , who was succeeded by Yates 
Van Evera, who served in that capacity from April 24, 188G, to Feb- 
ruary 12, 1896. The first quartermaster-sergeant was John M. Closson, 
who served from April 10, 1885, to December 30, 1892. He was suc- 
ceeded by Richard L. Perry, appointed December 30, 1892, who served 
until March 23, 1896. Captain Eddy maintained the command of the 
company from the date of its organization imtil he resigned February 
23, 1894. 

The appearance and drilling of the company at the New York State 
encampment in 1888 and 1890 commanded the highest praise from Gen. 
R. H. Jackson of the United vStates Army, who inspected the troops. 
His opmion is contained in the following extract of his report: 

The 33d Separate Company, from Hoosick Falls, was without doubt the best drilled 
company in camp this 3'ear ; its manual of arms, marching, etc., were as near per- 
fection as possible. It was a pleasure to see it on the drill ground and to observe 
how well, and without noise, the guides and iile closers performed their duties. 

Connected with a company is a splendid Citizen Corps band of 
thirty pieces under the leadership of Henderson S. Surdam. The 
armory, the building and site costing $37,000, is an ornament to the 
village, located at the corner of Church and Elm streets. The site 
was purchased by Rensselaer county at a cost of $6,000, and the build- 
ing was erected by the State. The company expended about $3,000 in 
fittings and furnishings, thus making the armory and appurtenances 
cost $40,000. The building is 154 by 75 feet in dimensions. 

Fourth Battery. 

The Fourth Battery, which for at least three-quarters of a century 
had been one of Troy's leading military companies, was mustered out 
of service February 25, 1887. It was the outgrowth of the Troy City 
Artillery, poptilarly known as the Flying Artillery, which, in 1812, 
had as officers Captain Ruggles Hubbard, First Lieutenant Rich- 



21 G LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

ard M. Livino^ston, and Second Lieutenant William McManns. The 
latter was then a part of the First Battalion of Artillery of the New 
York vState Militia. In 1828 it was incorporated with the Fifth 
Regiment of the New York State Militia. For man}^ years the 
company was located in a building- on the site of what is now the en- 
trance to the railroad bridge. Subsecpiently it was in a building 
opposite the First Particular Baptist church, and then in the State 
company on River street, which was built in 1860. In 186? the com- 
pany, as Battery B, became a part of the Twenty-fourth Regiment of 
the State Militia. In 1878 it was called Battery F and in 1882 the 
Fourth Battery. 

The Ar.morv. 

The armory devoted to the uses of the three separate companies of 
the New York National Guard was built in 1884. Maich 15, 1883, the 
State Legislature having appropriated $75,000 for the purpose, the 
International hotel property on the southeast corner of Ferry and 
River streets was purchased. The lot and building adjoining it on the 
south were purchased the following month and the work begun. The 
corner stone of the armory was laid July 4, 1884, by MajorGeneral 
Joseph B. Carr, commanding the Third division of the National Guard. 
The principal address was delivered by the Hon. Martin I. Townsend. 
The building was occupied in March, 1886. Its total cost was $85,000, 
the [legislature having made an additional appropriation of $10,000. 
The county appropriated $7,000 towards the purchase of the site, and 
the different companies contributed about $10,000 for furnishing their 
quarters. The Fourth Battery occupied rooms in the armory for about 
a year, or until it was disbanded. 



TROY AS A VILLAGE. 217 



CHAPTER XV. 

TROY AS A VILLAGE. 

When the first white men, from Holland, sailed up the Hudson river 
and landed upon its shore with the intention of making settlements and 
engaging in trade with the Indians, the site of the present city of Troy 
was the home of the Mohegan or Mohican Indians, whose chief was 
Uncas, made immortal in name by the novelist, James Fenimore 
Cooper, in the "Last of the Mohicans." It has been shown that the 
daring navigator, Sir Henry Hudson, made a landing on the east bank 
of the river which bears his name during his voyage up that stream, 
but there is no record that he set foot upon any of the soil of Rensselaer 
county north of a spot between Schodack and Castleton. 

Just who the first settler on the east bank of the river was probably 
never will be known. Jacob Janse StoU (or Hap) came to Beverwyck 
in 1630 and succeeded Henry Albertsen as ferrymaster. He removed 
to Esopus about 1657. Capt. Volkert Janse Douw came to Beverwyck 
as early as 1638. In KWJ-l he and Jan Tomase Mingael received a con- 
veyance from the Indians of a tract of land in Schodac. He died in 
1686. He first located on Papsknae island and had three houses and a 
brewery there about 1666, when a freshet swept everything away, in- 
cluding his papers and records. 

In the year 1642 a ferry was established across the Hudson near the 
mouth of Beaver's kill. As early as 1648 Teunis Dirkse Van Vechten, 
who came over from Holland with his wife and child in the Arms of 
Norway in 1638, had a farm at Greenbush occupied by Teunis Cornelise 
Van Vechten, and how much earlier than that he built his house there 
is purely a matter of conjecture. He is referred to in 1663 as "an old 
inhabitant here." He died in 1700, leaving four children. Gerrit 
Teunis De Reue also had a farm there, probably as early as 1631 and 
possibly even before traders had settled at Fort Orange. There conse- 
quently is reason for the belief that the \"an Vechtens had neighbors 
who had settled there before they are recorded as owning property 
there. Evert Pels Van Steltyn, a brewer, and his wife lived at the 
28 



218 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

mill creek in Greenbush as late as 1658 They came to New Nether- 
land in 1642 with Dr. Megapolensis. 

Jan Barentsen Wemp (or Wamp) arrived in Beverwyck in the year 
164-4. He was a farmer (jf the first class: that is to say, he paid his own ex- 
penses to this country and came prepared to do business with his own 
capital. He prospered, and in the spring of 1659, with the consent of 
Arendt Van Corlaer and Jan Baptiste Van Rensselaer, agents of the 
first patroon, he negotiated with the Mahikander (Mohican) Indians for 
a tract of land on the east side of the river, about seven miles north of 
Beverwyck, known as the "Great Meadow Ground." This he secured 
and at once began the work of building a house and laying out a farm. 
The exact limits of the "Great Meadow Ground" have never been de- 
fined so that they may be recognized to-day, but from subsequent 
transfers of his property it is known that it covered a considerable por- 
tion of the present site of Troy. Unfortunately the records for the 
period between December 17, 1657, and November 12, 1664, during 
which period Wem]) purchased the " Great Meadow Ground," are 
missing. 

From all that can be gleaned from the records kept during the early 
days of Fort Orange or Beverwyck, all of which have been translated 
into English, Jan Barentsen Wemp was the first white man to make a 
l^ermanent settlement above the Wynants kill. Wemp was a shrewd 
Dutchman. He had amassed wealth by trading in furs with the In- 
dians, and when he let it be understood among the other traders at Fort 
Orange that he intended removing to the wilderness farther north and 
across the river it was generally believed among them that they were 
about to get rid of a rival who was securing the cream of the traffic 
with the wild men. Wemp located at the "Great Meadow Ground" 
ostensibly for the purpose of cultivating the soil; but this move on his 
part was merely a pretext. It is true that he did lay out a large farm 
on land as fertile as any which the inhabitants at Fort Orange had 
heard of, but while he was doing this he craftily sent out word to ihe 
Indians that he would pay the highest prices for their furs and that by 
dealing with him they would not only secure better bargains but be 
saved the trouble of traveling through to the fort. The traders of Fort 
Orange soon found that their rival, of whom they had expected to be 
relieved, had found a location where he could intercept a large number 
of the Indians on their way to the original ])ost, and they immediately 
began to make complaints to the agents of the patroon. Wemp, indif- 



TROY AS A VILLAGE. 219 

ferent to the wishes of the other colonists, continued to secure the best 
of the skins which came his way. Two years after locating at the Great 
Meadow Ground he and several other enterprising colonists purchased 
of the Mohawks a second large tract of land called " Groote Vlacht," 
or Great Plain, the site of the lower part of the city of Schenectady. 

The demand of the colonists that Wemp and his associates should 
proceed no further in their intended monopoly of the best trade on the 
east and west of the complainants was based on the general ground that 
in so doing the spirit of the rule governing the colonists in this respect 
was being violated. The protesting colonists presented to the di- 
rectors of the West India company a petition which, after reciting the 
facts in the case, requested the company to direct Wemp and his asso- 
ciates to discontinue their trade with the red men. To this the com- 
pany consented, but Wemp and the others who had established a fine, 
wealth-producing business with the Indians, denied that the company 
had any right to interfere with their plans. The result of the contro- 
versy is not positively known, but from subsequent occurrences it is 
doubtful if Wemp paid any further attention to the wishes of the com- 
pany, and he and those associated with him, both on the Great Meadow 
Ground and on the Great Plain, continued to trade at pleasure with the 
Indians. Jan Barentsen Wemp died in June, 16G3. His large estate was 
left to his widow, two sons and three daughters, the eldest daughter 
being the wife of Jan Cornelis van der Heyden. The farm later be- 
came the Vanderheyden farm, which was the site of nearly the entire 
business portion of the city of Troy. 

Sweer Teunise Van Velsen having married Marytie Mynderse, widow 
of Wemp, and thereby coming into possession of his estate, his tenure 
became secure, April 13, 1(JG7, when Richard Nicolls, the English gov- 
ernor of the province of New York, granted to him a patent covering 
the entire estate, three morgens of land, which is described as "a 
certain parcel of land, lying near Albany, on the other side of the creek 
or kill, beginning from the mill on the creek and to go on over the said 
creek into the Great Meadow Ground, whereabout sixty-six paces the 
trees are marked." The site of the mill mentioned in the patent was 
probably a saw mill built on the bank of the Poesten kill below the falls. 
The name of Wemp is found written as Jan Barentsen Poest in the early 
records of the colony. His mill appears to have been a starting point 
for many land measurements in early days, and was one of the most 
important of the early landmarks of Rensselaer county. North of this 



2'20 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

creek, the site of a part of the cit}^ of Troy, was a portion of land called 
Pafraets Dael (meaning Pafraet's part), named in honor of Maria Pa- 
fraets, the mother of Killiaen Van Rensselaer, the first patroon. The 
name was also a synonym of Ltiylekkerland, meaning- "The paradise of 
a lazy man." 

In the days of which we are writing the tract of land lying between 
the Poesten kill and the Wynants kill was known commonly as Lub- 
berdeland. This section, originally called the tenth part of Rensselaer- 
wyck, was a part of the original estate of Johannes De Laet, one of the 
partners of Killiaen Van Rensselaer. It descended by inheritance to 
his daughter, Johanna Ebbingh, who afterward leased a portion of it to 
Sweer Teunise Van Velsen, and in June, 1009, sold it to him outright. 
In the same year Van Velsen removed to Schenectady and took pos- 
session of the former estate of Jan Barentsen Wemp. His property 
at Lubberdeland he left to the management of Jacob Heven. Later on 
Pieter Pieterse Van Woggelum purchased a farm in Lubberdeland, 

The records of the manor of Rensselaerwyck show that on the 18th 
day of October, 1074, Geertruyt Pieterse Vosburgh, widow of Abraham 
Pieterse Vosburgh, transferred to Wynant Gerritse Vanderpoel her 
half of a saw mill on the creek south of the farm of Johanna Ebbingh, 
The creek on which the mill was located soon became known as 
Wynants kill, after Wynant Gerritse Vanderpoel, which name it has 
ever since borne. June 25 of the following year Jan Cornelise Vyse- 
laer (or Gow) and Lucas Pieterse (or Coeymans) bought of Sweer 
Teunise Van Velsen about four acres of land and the Poesten mill, 
located on the Poesten kill.i It is described in the deed as " two mor- 
gans of arable land, lying in the colony of Rensselaerwyck, up the 
[Hudson] river, on the east bank over against vStoney Point, befc^re this 
called Poesten mill, together with free egress and a road along the hill, 
by Pieter Pieterse Van Woggelum's, ~ to the shore." May 0, 1079, Van 
Velsen sold to Pieter Pieterse Van Woggelum the entire estate known 
as the Great Meadow Ground. September 19, 1081, Van Woggelum 
purchased of Robert Saunders a tract of land south of the Piscawen 
kill, called by the Indians Passquassick. Saunders had obtained the 
land, most of which was covered with forest, through a patent granted 

' The noun poesten, in Dutch, sijjnilies bellows; the verb poesten, to pull' or blow. 
' I'ieter I'ieterse Van Woggelum was probably a son of Pieter Adriaense Van Wt)ggeluni, 
alias SoeKemackelyck, one of the tirst proprietors of Schenectady. 



TROY AS A VILLAGE. 221 

by Sir Edmund Andros, then the English governor of the province of 
New York. 

July 7, 1670, Madam Johanna Ebbingh sold to Juriaen Teunise Tappen 
the big farm between the Poesten kill and the Wynants kill. Novem 
ber 7, 1677, Tappen mortgaged it to Captain Philip Schuyler, who 
owned the extensive farm on the opposite side of the Hudson, the site 
of the present Port vSchuyler. It was described in the deed which was 
given by the patroon of Rensselaerwyck in 1689 as Poesten Bouwery, 
" bouwery " being the old Dutch term which was synonymous with the 
word "farm." This bouwery contained about 400 acres of land and 
was described in the deed as being bounded on the north by a certain 
mill creek commonly known as the Poesten kill, "now or late in the 
tenure or occupation of Johannes Wendell;" on the south by a certain 
mill creek in the tenure or occupation of Wynants Gerrits (Wynants kill); 
and on the east by the hills. The western boundary of this bouwery 
was the Hudson river. Most of the site is now occupied by that por- 
tion of the city of Troy known as South Troy. The northern portion 
of the estate consisted of hills which broke on the north in l:)luffs, and 
in the colonial time it formed one of the most sightly spots in the 
colony. Thirty-four years after its sale to Captain Philip Schuyler, his 
heirs transferred it to Stephanis Groesbeck of Albany for 1,241 pounds 
English money. Ten days afterward, on May 3, 1711, Groesbeck sold 
the farm to Myndert Schuyler and Peter Van Brugh, receiving there- 
for the sum of 1,241 pounds. Four years later these two owners di- 
vided the farm, Schujder retaining the southern part and Van Brugh 
the northern part. This division occurred December 29, 1715. June 19, 
1730, Schuyler sold his farm to Henderick Oothout for 900 pounds, and 
June 22, 1732, the latter sold it to Edward Collins for 1,160 pounds. 
These transactions illustrate the rapid increase in the value of land in 
these times. The farm was then considered one of the best pieces of 
property in that part of the manor. Perhaps the only farm which was 
its superior was the farm on the north which for man}^ years was in 
the possession of the Van Der Heyden family. 

Edward Collins, the last purchaser of the southern half of the farm 
south of the Poesten kill referred to, was a grandson of Philip Pieterse 
Schuyler. November 30, 1748, this farm was purchased of Collins by 
Jan Van Ruren. March 5, 1795, Van Buren bequeathed half of it to 
Sarah \^an l^uren, his wife, and the remaining portion he divided 
among Catharine, Sarah and Hannah Visscher, daughters of his deceased 



222 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

dauw-hter, Agnietje Visscher. Van Buren died August 15, 1795, and his 
widow occupied the farm until her death, which occurred in the early 
part of the nineteenth century. May 28, 1771, Stephen J. Schuyler 
purchased of Sarah, widow of Teddy McGinnis, and William McGinnis, 
her son, who had come into possession of the northern half of the Poes- 
ten Bouwery, their property, paying therefor 1,800 pounds. Stephen 
J. Schuyler and his family lived on this farm for many years, occupy- 
ing a large brick house which occupied the site at the southwest corner 
of Madison and First streets. Schuyler's death occurred there Decem- 
ber 1-1, 1820, at the age of eighty-three, and his body was interred in 
the burial ground a short distance north of the homestead. 

Sales of farms and divisions of homesteads were common in those 
days. New settlers came rapidly into the manor, and at the end of the 
seventeenth century the lowlands and hills were dotted with houses. 
As far as can be learned from existing records there were at least seven 
separate families residing north of the Wynants kill. Tnere may have 
been more, but it is practicall}^ certain that there were at least seven 
families owning the land which they occupied. These were the families 
of Philip Pieterse Schuyler, Pieter Pieterse Van Woggelum, Wynant 
Gerritse Van Der Poel, Lucas Pieterse (Coeymans), Barent Pieterse 
(Coeymans), Jacob Heven and Jan Cornelis Vyselaer. 

These people were of the sturdiest Dutch stock which immigrated to 
Rensselaerwyck in the seventeenth century. They attended strictly to 
the business of tilling the soiling and trading with the Indians, taking 
no active part in the government of the colony of Rensselaerwyck. 
They ground their own grain, utilizing the power generated by the 
waterfalls in the Poesten kill and the other creeks near them. They 
treated the Indians with great hospitality and consequently were but 
little annoyed by the red men of the forest. The Indians liked to trade 
with them when possible, for the prices they paid for furs, it is believed, 
were generally higher than those paid at Fort^Orange. Little by little, 
however, the traffic in furs grew smaller and the rate at which the 
farming lands were developed increased. The soil was productive and 
crops were bountiful. New settlers arrived every season, and before 
the eighteenth century was far advanced the colony numbered not less 
than a hundred souls, all industrious, prosperous, fearless, contented 
and happy. 

Dirck Van der Heyden, son of Jacob Tysse \'an der Heyden, who 
came to New Amsterdam from Holland in lGo2 or IGoo, purchased of 



TROY AS A VILLAGE. 223 

Pieter Pieterse Van Woggelum, June 2, 1707, his farm, extending from 
the Piscavven kill to the Poesten kill. It was more than thirteen years 
later, however, or December 15, 1720, before the title to the farm was 
confirmed by Maria and Hendrick Van Rensselaer. The terms of the 
sale were that the purchaser should pay to the patroon an annual rental 
amounting- to three and three-quarters bushels of wheat and two fat 
hens or capons. The homestead of Van der Heyden was located not 
far from the centre of that part of the farm bordering on the Hudson 
river, and not more than five or six hundred feet south of the point 
opposite the southern extremity of Green island. This farm remained 
in possession of the Vanderheyden family for many years thereafter 
and included the site of nearly the entire business portion of the pres- 
ent city of Troy. In November, 1731, he deeded the property to his 
three sons, Jacob, David and Matty s. March 2, 1732, David conveyed 
his interest therein to his brother Jacob. April 3, 1739, Jacob and 
Mattys caused to be executed a partition deed by which the farm was 
divided into three parts, the former retaining the northern and middle 
sections and the latter the southern section. Jacob died April 18, 1746, 
having bequeathed to his son Dirck his two sections of the original 
farm. July 2, 1746, Dirck conveyed half the property to his brother 
Jacob. March 1, 1770, Mattys Vanderheyden willed his farm on the 
north side of the Poesten kill to his sons Dirck and John and their sons, 
but afterwards, June 21, 1771, he mortgaged the entire property for 
300 pounds to Lucas Van Vechten. Jacob I., son of Jacob, became 
owner of the farm on the south side of the Piscawen kill May 11, 1774, 
by a deed of release. Dirck Vanderheyden died in 1775 and his son 
Jacob D. inherited the middle farm. The northern farm was then 
owned by Jacob I. and the southern by Mattys Vanderheyden. 

Upon the breaking out of the War of the Revolution the inhabitants 
of the colony which subsequently became known as Vanderhe3'den and 
later as Troy were quick to respond to the call for protection against 
the invaders who were sent by England to enforce its demands upon all 
the colonists. It is not known that there was a regular company of 
patriot militia in Troy, but that there was in the county of Albany is a 
matter of record. Early in the war many of the settlers living on or 
near the site of Troy enlisted in the patriot arm}', and some of them also 
doubtless were numbered among the Tories. As early as July 30, 1772, 
Governor Tryon issued the following commission, evidently with the 
intention of keeping in the royalist ranks one whom he supposed to be 
in sympathy with the crown : 



224 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Jacob Van der Heyden, gentleman, of the county of Albany, appointed by his ex- 
cellency, William Tryon, Esq., Captain-General and Governor-in-Cbief in and over 
the Province of New York, and the territories depending thereon in America, Chan- 
cellor and Vice Admiral of the same: First Lieutenant of Captain Henry H. Gar- 
denier's Company of Foot in the Second Battalion in the Regiment of Militia in the 
manor of Rensselaerwyck. Given under my hand and seal at arms, at Fort George, 
in the city of New York, the thirtyeth day of July, in the twelfth year of the reign of 
our Sovereign Lord George the Third, Anno Domini, 1772. 

Three years later this company, which was composed in part, at least, 
of the inhabitants of what is now Troy, had these officers: Captain, 
Henry H. Gardenieror (xordinier; first lieutenant, Jacob Van der Hey- 
den; second-lieutenant, Adam Beam; ensign, Henry Tincker. The 
regimental officers then commissioned, residing in the same locality, 
were: Colonel, Stephen J. Schuyler; lieutenant-colonel, Henry K. Van 
Rensselaer; majors, Philip De Freest and John J, Fonda; adjutant, 
Volkert Oothoudt; quartermaster Jacob Van Alstyne. 

Despite the attempt to keep this company in the ranks of the royal- 
ists it proved to be patriotic to the core when the crisis arrived, and in 
the summer of 1777 it marched with the Army of the North, under 
command of General Philip Schuyler, to meet the army of Burgoyne, 
as related in a previous chapter. When the army fell back they as- 
sisted in preparing for the defense of the Hudson and wielded the spade 
in the construction of the earthworks on Haver island, under the direc- 
tion of Thaddeus Kosciusko. Fortunately for the peace of Rensselaer 
county the defeat of Burgoyne practically ended the war in this vicinity 
and the whilom militiamen were left to pursue their vocations without 
being in constant fear of an approaching enemy. 

The name of Van Der Heyden, or Vanderheyden as it is now known, 
is ineffably associated with the history of Troy. The Vanderheyden 
family, as has been related, owned nearly all the land upon which the 
foundations of the modern Troy were builded, and for many years the 
prosperous settlement was known far and near as " X'anderheyden." 
The upper farm was located between the Piscawen kill and Grand 
Division, later Grand street. Jacob I. Vanderheyden's house, a one- 
story brick structure built in 1756, stood on the steep hill near the 
middle of the farm. The middle farm was bounded on the north by 
Grand street and on the south by Division street. It was on this farm 
that the old homestead was located, occupying the site of the present 
State armory. The homestead was a two -story frame building, and 
was occupied at this time by Jacob Vanderheyden, who controlled the 



TROY AS A VILLAGE. 225 

ferry across the Hudson at this point. The lower farm extended from 
Division street to the Poesten kill. The house of Matthias Vanderhey- 
den, a one-story brick structure, built in 1752, was about six rods south 
of the homestead. 

The Vanderheyden family had secured the finest property within a 
radius of miles, and when affairs began to be settled at the close of the 
War of the Revolution the settlers for miles around had the fact im- 
pressed upon them in more ways than one. About the year 1783 em- 
igrants from the New England States began to arrive in considerable 
numbers at Vanderheyden's, as it was then known. Some of these en- 
deavored, in order to secure a good location, to buy or lease land of 
Jacob D. Vanderheyden, the owner of the middle farm and the autocrat 
of the ferry, but these applicants were uniformly unsuccessful. Settle- 
ments were made all around the farm, but for a long time the proprie- 
tor was absolute monarch of his fine estate. Jacob I., owner of the 
northern farm, was not so conservative, however, for in 1786 he leased 
to Benjamin Thurber, who came from Providence, R. I., and who had 
been unsuccessful in his repeated endeavors to negotiate for some land 
of Jacob D. Vanderheyden, a small lot on the west side of River street 
just south of Hoosick. Here Thurber established a general store, the 
first in that vicinity. He sold about everything for which he thought 
there would be a market, and he prospered. Captain Stephen Ashley, 
from Salisbury, Conn., had heard of Vanderheyden's, and he fol- 
lowed close upon the heels of Thurber. He, too, tried to get a foothold 
upon the middle farm and failed, though he finally received a concession 
from Matthias Vanderheyden and leased for two years his brick house. 
This he converted into an inn and established a ferry in competition 
with the proprietor of the middle farm. Though he must have seen 
that he could not keep competitors away, Jacob D. Vanderheyden con- 
tinued to refuse to sell or lease an inch of his land. Late in 178G he 
turned away another Yankee, Benjamin Covell, from Providence, R. 
I., and the latter leased a house near Ashley's "Farmers' Inn " and 
Ashley's Ferry. An idea of the way he prospered, and a sufficient 
reason for the sudden influx of shrewd traders, may be gained from one 
single sentence contained in a letter which Covell wrote from his home 
on Ferry Hook, as that part of Rensselaerwyck was called, to his 
brother: " Done more business in one day than in one week in Provi- 
dence." It was evident from this that the number of settlers in this 
locality had become large enough that the occupation of the middle 
29 



22G LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

farm was a question of but a short time. One thing alone assured the 
development of the settlement, and that was the fact that it was located 
directly opposite the head of navigation in the river. 

There seems to be no doubt that nothing but the obstinacy of the 
sturdy Dutch farmer, who occupied the best position in all this section, 
and was aware of the fact, prevented the earlier settlement of Troy and 
allowed Lansingburgh to gain an advantage to overcome which took 
many years. His determination finally gave way to reason, however, 
and early in the spring (jf 1787 he decided to have a portion of his farm 
surveyed into building lots. The work was intrusted to Flores Bancker 
of Lansingburgh, who completed the survey May 1, 1787. His map 
showed 289 lots, most of which were 50 feet wide and 130 feet deep, 
with alleys 20 feet wide in the rear of the lots. The width of the streets 
was 60 feet. Benjamin Covell, who with Captain Ashley had been 
instrumental in inducing Vanderheyden to lay out a village, was the 
first man to purchase a lot. He selected one at once and made pre])a- 
rations to movehis store on it. It was on the west side of River street, 
the fourth lot south of Ferry. 

A weekly newspaper — the Northern Centinel and Lansingburgh Ad- 
vertiser — having been established at New City, as Lansingburgh was 
commonly known, May 15, 1787, business at both Lansingburgh and \'an- 
derheyden was given sudden additional impetus. Vessels sailed up to and 
even above the two ferries of Ashley and Vanderheyden and anchored 
within a few feet of the shore, the deep channel running close to the 
east shore at this point. In the fall of the year Dr. Samuel Gale of 
Killingworth, Conn., who had expected to locate at Lansingburgh but 
who had been unable to secure a house there, took up a temporary 
residence with Jacob D. Vanderheyden at the solicitation of the lat- 
ter. There he practiced his profession during the fall and winter and 
in the spring of the next year he leased of his host two lots on the west 
side of River street, north of Benjamin Covell's store, on which he 
erected a two-story double frame house. Part of this he occupied as a 
residence and in the other half he established a general store. 

In September, 1787, Casper Frats and Yalles Mandeville established 
a schooner line for the transportation of freight and passengers be- 
tween New York and Vanderheyden's ferry. The agent of the line at 
the north end of the route was Abraham \"an Arnam. Captain Stephen 
Ashley, Jonathan Hunt, Ephraim Morgan, Daniel Carpenter, Robert 
McClellan, Asa Crossen and William Coit were among those who at 



TROY AS A VILLAGE. 227 

this time leased lots of Vanderhe3^den and either constructed resi- 
dences or stores or warehouses. The proprietor had no lack of appli- 
cations for land and Vanderheyden grew rapidly. 

Many of the newcomers, indeed the large majority of them, were 
shrewd Yankees, and they did not like to write or pronounce what they 
considered an awkward Dutch name. The newcomers therefore de- 
cided to choose a new and more convenient name. January 5, 1789, 
a number of them met at Ashley's Inn, near the northeast corner of 
River and Ferry streets, and decided to change the name of the pros- 
perous hamlet to Troy. That everybody should know of their decision 
they decided to advertise the result of their meeting. The advertise- 
ment thus prepared, which was printed in the Lansingburgh and Al- 
bany papers, read as follows: 

To the Public. — This evening the Freeholders of the place lately known by Van- 
der-Heyden's or Ashley's-Ferry, situate on the east bank of Hudson' s-river, about 
seven miles above Albany, met for the purpose of establishing a name for the said 
place; when, by a majority of voices, it was confirmed, that in future, it should be 
called and known by the name of TROY. From its jjresent state, and the more 
pleasing prospect of its popularity, arising from the natural advantages on the Mer- 
cantile Line, it may not be too sanguine to expect, at no very distant period, to see 
Troy, as famous for her Trade and Navigation as many of our first towns. 

Troy, 5th January, 17.S9. 3 w. 

The Vanderheyden family fought against changing the name in the 
arbitrary manner employed by the progressive new settlers, and Jacob 
D. Vanderheyden went so far for a number of years afterward as to write 
it " V anderhey den a /ias Troy." Nevertheless the changing of the name 
and the publicity which was given to the place thereby was followed at 
once by additions to the population which were unanticipated by the 
most sanguine promoters of the embryo city. Settlers, hearing of the 
opportunities which presented themselves at the head waters of the 
Hudson, came flocking in from all directions— from New England, 
from other parts of New York and even from Lansingburgh and 
Albany, New buildings were constructed on all sides and the saw mills 
on the Poesten kill and the Wynants kill were taxed to their utmost 
capacity to turn out the lumber required for the building which had 
been undertaken. Business of all kinds prospered. Some of the new- 
comers were not satisfied with wood as building material, so early in 
1790 Samuel and Ebenezer Willson, two young men who had come 
from New Hampshire, began the manufacture of brick. They found 
a ready market for their product and furnished the brick used in the 



228 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

construction of the first court house and jail, besides a number of pri- 
vate residences. Among the others who came to Troy about this time 
were Colonel Abraham Ten Eyck and Colonel Albert Pawling, who 
had been running a general store in Lansingburgh for several years. 
Both were officers in the war of the Revolution. They associated with 
them Conrad J. Elmendorf and did business at the northwest corner 
of River and Congress streets under the name of Abraham Ten Eyck 
& Co. Annanias Piatt, a tavern keeper of Lansingburgh, began run- 
ning a stage from that village to Albany early in 1789, passing through 
Troy and giving its inhabitants additional advantages. About this 
time Christopher Hutton, Timothy Hutten, Josiah Kellogg, Israel 
Knapp, Isaac Rogers, James Caldwell and Henry Oothout settled here 
and began business. 

March 18, 1791, the Legislature passed an act dividing several towns 
in various parts of the State. At this time Troy was in the town of 
Rensselaerwyck. The population of the little village had increased so 
rapidly and its business relations were developing at so great a rate 
that the inhabitants felt that they should enjoy self-government as far 
as possible. This was accomplished in a measure by the erection of 
the town of Tro3% by the following clause in the general law referred 
to: 

That from and after the first Monday in April next, all that part of the town of 
Rensselaerwyck in the county of Rensselaer, which lies north of a line to be drawn 
from a point on the east bank of HudsonS river, sixteen miles distant from the south- 
west corner of the town of Rensselaerwyck, and running from thence east, to the 
west bounds of the town of Petersburgh, shall be, and is hereby erected into a dis- 
tinct and separate town, by the name of Troy; and that the first town meeting of the 
said town of Troy shall be held at the dwelling house now occupied by Stephen Ash- 
ley in the said town ; and that the next town meeting of the town of Rensselaer- 
wyck, shall be held at the dwelling house of James McKown in the said town. 

Thus was the town of Troy founded. The political organization was 
indefinite. But a little over a month before Rensselaer county had 
been set off from Albany county. The new county government was 
hardly in motion when the new town of Troy sprang into existence. 
About this time the need for a religious organization was felt. Meet- 
ings had been held every Sunday for some time, for a while, in the hall 
over Ashley's tavern, then in the village school house. Interest in them 
increased and it was proposed to organize a church according to law. 
While many denominations participated in the services, the Presbyte- 
rians, mostly from New England, were in the majority and they carried 



TROY AS A VILLAGE. 229 

the day in favor of a Presbyterian church. This decision was reached 
on the last day of the year 1791 at Ashley's tavern, when six trustees 
were chosen: Jacob D. Vanderheyden, himself an ardent disciple of 
the Dutch Reformed faith; Dr. vSamuel Gale, Ephraim Morgan, John 
McChesney, sr. , Benjamin Covell and Benjamin Gorton. August 30, 
1792, the Presbyterian churches in Lansingburgh and Troy extended a 
call to Jonas Coe, a licentiate of the Presbytery of New York, and he 
became their pastor. In the same summer the erection of a wooden 
meeting house, fort)^ by sixty feet, was begun on the lot on First street 
on the south side of Congress street, which had been given to the con- 
gregation by Jacob D. Vanderheyden. The contractors were Abel 
House, Roger Powers, Henry De Camp, John De Camp and Benjamin 
Smith. The work was not completed that summer on account of the 
scarcity of funds and November 26 Jacob D. Vanderheyden was ap- 
pointed to receive contributions for the furtherance of the work. The 
structure proceeded slowly. The floor was laid in the spring of 1793, 
but at the ordination of Rev. Jonas Coe, June 25, boards resting on 
boxes and blocks formed the pews and a rough platform served as a 
pulpit. It was not until the next spring, March 8, 1794, that the sac- 
rament of the Lord's Supper was first administered in the church. The 
work of completing the church dragged along for years on account of 
the lack of funds to pay therefor. June 1, 1795, Jacob D. Vander- 
heyden deeded to the trustees of the church sixteen lots, including the 
three on which the meeting house stood. These lots embraced sub- 
stantially the same territory as that now known as "Seminary Park," 
south of Congress street between First and Second streets. Rev. Jonas 
Coe remained as pastor of the united congregations of Lansingburgh 
and Troy until January, 180-4, when he resigned to become pastor of the 
Troy church. 

"The Recorder," the first newspaper published in Troy, made its 
first appearance in 1791. It was a small folio, four columns to the 
page, and was printed by George Gardner. It was in Troy that the 
first paper mill in Northern New York was constructed in 1792. This mill 
was built by Mahlon Taylor on the west side of the Poesten kill, near 
which he also erected a grist mill and a saw mill. Power for all the 
mills was supplied from a dam which he built some three hundred feet 
up the stream from the grist mill. The proprietor soon found a pur- 
chaser for the paper mill, which he sold, December 29, 1792, to Charles 
R. Webster and (icorge Webster of Albany and Ashbel Seymour and 
Perely Ensign of Hartford, Conn., for 400 pounds. 



230 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

A visitor to Troy in 1792, describing the appearance of the thrifty 
village, wrote: "There were from fifteen to twenty stores of all de- 
scriptions; several from two to four stories high." Among these the 
following proprietors were named: Ten Eyck & Pawling, on the north- 
west corner of River and Congress streets; Benjamin Gorton's, on the 
southwest corner of the same streets; William Bayeau, south of Gorton; 
Jonathan and Alsop Hunt, south of Bayeau; the Messrs. Knight, south 
of the Hunts; John Pease; Dr. Samuel Gale, on the southwest corner of 
River and Ferry streets; Benjamin Covell, adjoining Dr. Gale's; Asa 
Anthony & Son, northwest corner of River and State streets; the 
Merritts, north of Anthony's; Philip Heartt, on the west side of River 
street, between State and Albany streets; Joshua Owen's tavern, north 
of Heartt's; Jeremiah Pierce's tavern, northwest corner of River and 
Congress streets; besides several small shops. The population of Troy 
at that time must have been several hundred and the surrounding- 
country must have been thickly populated to support such a number of 
stores and taverns. The writer continued : 

Troy prospered greatly, which I always attributed to the way in which the peox^le 
rightly started. They remembered the Sabbath day to keep it holy. They com- 
menced public worship when there was but one man in the village who could make 
a prayer. . . . The worship commenced with a prayer by Mr. Frazer, the 
sexton. After the prayer Mr. Van der Heyden would line out a psalm, and the New 
Englanders, both men and women, -would all sing. After the singing, a sermon was 
read by Doctor Gale or Colonel Pawling; both good readers and selectors of good 
sermons. The service closed as it began. Afterward we had preaching every 
other Sabbath statedly in the little red school house. 

Speaking of Ashley's tavern the writer continued: 

The most noted tavern was Stephen Ashley's, at the Babcock stand, — a place 
where just such a tavern was needed for the accommodation of the rivermen and 
the people from the country, who would naturally resort to it, being near the ferry. 
Mr. Ashley had two signs which were quite characteristic. On the road running 
from the country, on the east side of the house, he had a small gate, hanging to a 
strip of board, on which was printed in large letters; "This gate hangs high, it 
hinders none, refresh, then pay, and travel on." In front of his house was a tall 
sign-post on the top of which was an open three-sided box, turning on a pivot and 
revolving whenever the wind blew. On each side of it was lettered: " Come, here 
is Ashley's, let us call." 

The village of Waterford and the village of Troy were incorporated 
by act of the Legislature on the same day, March 25, 171>4. The 
charter adopted on that day was concise. After declaring the first 
trustees and the boundaries of the village of Waterford, defining the 
powers and duties of the village officers, etc., the act continues: 



TROY AS A VILLAGE. 231 

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That Jacob D. Vanderhey- 
den, Benjamin Covil, Anthony Goodspeed, John Pease, Ephraim Morgan, Christo- 
pher Hurton and Samuel Gale, shall be and they are hereby declared to be the first 
trustees for the freeholders and inhabitants of that part of the town of Troy in the 
county of Rensselaer residing within the limits following vizt. beginning on the 
north side of a certain creek called Poesten creek where there were formerly a saw 
mill fifty eight chains from Hudsons river, and runs from thence down along the 
said creek to the said river, thence up along the said river to a small creek called 
the Meadow creek, thence along the said creek into the woods, south seventj* degrees 
easterly forty chains, thence south twenty-three degrees and thirty minutes westerly, 
along the west side of the land of the late Albert Bratt one hundred and six chains 
to the place of beginning. The above courses to be run as the magnetic needle 
pointed in the year one thousand seven hundred and twenty. And shall continue to 
be trustees as aforesaid, until the first Tuesday in May next, and until others shall 
be chosen in their place, and it shall and may be lawful to and for the freeholders 
and inhabitants for the time being, residing within the village of Troy, within the 
boundaries aforesaid, and qualified bylaw to vote at town meetings, to assemble on 
the second Tuesday of May next and annually on the second Tuesday of May there- 
after at such place, and at such time of the day, as the trustees for the time being, 
or the major part of them, shall by public advertisement appoint and under the 
direction of the said trustees or such of them as shall be present, who are hereby 
made inspectors of such election, then and there by a majority of voices to elect 
seven inhabitants being freeholders to be trustees as aforesaid, who shall continue in 
office until the second Tuesday in May in the next ensuing year and until others 
shill be chosen in their place. 

And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That the inhabitants resid- 
ing withing the said last mentioned boundaries, and the said trustees last above- 
mentioned and their successors, shall and they are hereby fully vested with all and 
singular the powers and authorities, to all intents constructions and purposes with 
respect to the village of Troy as is or are intended to be given by this act to the in- 
habitants and trustees of Waterford. 

Waterford was therefore apparent!}' the more important village of 
the two in the eyes of the Legislature of 1794. 

Among- the distinguished men who made Troy their temporary home 
about this time was Frederic wSeraphin, Marquis de la Tour du Pin 
Oouvernet, a French refugee, who was accompanied by his wife, the 
marchioness. He was a loyalist and a distinguished soldier in the 
French army, but was compelled to flee from his native land soon after 
the breaking out of the historical Reign of Terror. He sailed for 
America under the name of Charles Lee, his wife making the journey 
in another vessel in order to throw the French spies off tlieir track. 
Soon after reaching New York they came to Troy bearing letters of 
introduction to Mrs. John Bird, who afterward became the wife of 
Colonel Albert Pawling. They lived very quietly, at their own re- 



232 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

quest. The marquis rented the tavern on River street which later on 
was known as Mechanics' Hall. Their only visitors were Mr and Mrs. 
Bird. Soon after the arrival of the marquis the nephew of the Comte 
de Rochambeau, likewise a refugee, arrived in America for the same 
reasons which induced the marquis to leave France, and came to Troy, 
The couple were frequently seen together walking into the country, 
and once entertained Prince Charles Maurice de Talleyrand Perigord, 
the famous French statesman and diplomat, who, while French envoy 
to England in 1794, was compelled to leave that country for poHtical 
reasons. Other proscribed French loyalists visited Troy at intervals 
during the following two or three years. The straitened financial cir- 
cumstances of the Marquis compelled him to economize so much that 
he finally left Troy to take up a small farm three miles southwest of 
the village in Albany county, which he cultivated, selling the produce 
in Troy and Albany. Upon the close of the French Revolution he re- 
turned to his native country where he again became a political power. 
In his " Reminiscences of Troy" Hon. John Woodworth writes: 

There was at that early day, and what has distinguished Troy in all its progress, 
and was so conducive to its prosperity, a concert of action ;— a concentration of sen- 
timent, and united efforts on all que.stions relating to the interest of the village. To 
all these, political questions held a secondary place ; there was also a large propor- 
tion of practical business men of good sense and industrious habits, well-fitted for 
the positions in which they were placed; capital in a short time became abundant, 
although but little at the commencement; the rapid acquisition of wealth by regular 
business soon furnished an ample supply. 

vSpeaking on some of the early inhabitants he said: 

Colonel Albert Pawling . . . claims particular notice. He was one of the 
earliest inhabitants; he had been well educated at an academy in Kingston; when 
quite a young man, he joined as an officer the army under General Montgomery, was 
engaged in the disastrous battle before Quebec's beleaguered walls, on the memora- 
ble night of December 31. 1775. I never knew a man having higher notions of 
honor and integrit3\ Colonel Pawling was always among the foremost in promoting 
the interests of the village; untiring in his exertions to procure funds to build the 
court-house; liberal in contributions to erect the First Presbyterian church for the 
settlement of a pastor, and always the advocate of a high standard of morals. 

Moses Vail, who removed to Troy from Nassau about 1793 or 1794, 
erected a flouring mill on the Poesten kill in 1794, between Mount Ida 
falls and the mills of Mahlon Taylor. Previous to moving to Troy he 
had been State Senator four years. In 1800 he was appointed sheriff. 
One of his sons, George Vail, was president of the Merchants' and 



TROY AS A VILLAGE. 233 

Mechanics' bank; and another son, Henry Vail, was a representative 
in Congress. 

The second church founded in Troy was of the Baptist denomina- 
tion. In response to a recjuest from a number of residents of the Bap- 
tist persuasion Elder Elias Lee, who had been preaching in Albany, 
began preaching Sunday afternoons to small congregations in Troy. 
As the interest in these meetings increased regular services were held 
in the court house. October 15, 1795, the Baptist residents organized 
" The First Particular Baptist Church in the Village of Troy." Jan- 
uary 30, 1796, Jacob D. Vanderheyden sold to the society, for five 
shillings, a lot on the east side of Third street, between Congress and 
State streets, for a meeting house and burial ground. The first regu- 
lar pastor was Rev. Isaac Webb, who was chosen in 1803. In the fol- 
lowing year, on January 10, Adam Keeling, Edward Tylee, Silas 
Covell, Ebenezer Jones and Noble S. Johnson were elected trustees. 
In the same year the church was added to the Shaftsbury Baptist asso- 
ciation. In 1805 the first church edifice, a small frame building, was 
erected. 

Up to the year 179G letters addressed to the inhabitants of Troy were 
delivered at the Lansingburgh post-office, which had been established 
four years before. In 1796 Troy became a government post village by 
order of the postmaster-general and Nathan Williams was appointed 
the first postmaster. Mr. Williams, at the time of his appointment a 
student in the law office of Hon. John Woodworth, subsequently re- 
moved to Utica where he became a Supreme Court Circuit Judge. 

The Free Masons in Troy, becoming desirous of organizing a lodge, 
forwarded to the Grand Lodge a petition for a warrant in 1796. June 
19 of that year the Grand Lodge granted the charter prayed for, there- 
by constituting Apollo Lodge, No. 49, Free and Accepted Masons. A 
room in Moulton's Coffee House was rented for quarters and Decem- 
ber 12, the incorporators having elected subordinate officers one week 
previous, the new officers were installed. The charter officers were: 
Worthy Master, John Bird; Senior Warden, John Woodworth; Junior 
Warden, Samuel Miner. The installing officer was James Dole, master 
of Hiram Lodge of Lansingburgh, and his staff. The first regular 
communication was held Tuesday, December 13, and the by-laws were 
adopted Tuesday, January 3, 1797. 

Jacob D. Vanderheyden, who at first had objected in most positive 
terms to the encroachment of trade upon his big farm, who had refused 
30 



234 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

to sell at any price so much as a single square foot of his land to persons 
desiring to build stores, manufacturing establishments or anything 
savoring of business, and who had even refused repeated ofTers to pur- 
chase lots of his land for residential purposes, had now become one of 
the most public spirited men in all Troy, He had practically given the 
land on which the court house was erected, as described in the history 
of the county ; he had sold for a nominal sum, a few shillings, the land on 
which the Presbyterian and the Baptist meeting houses stood, and he 
had performed various other acts which had entitled him to the highest 
respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. In pursuance of his benefi- 
cent policy. May 10, 1790, for five shillings, he deeded to the trustees 
of the village, " for the advancement of the interests and convenience 
of the inhabitants," three lots, bounded on the north by Congress 
street, on the east by Second street and on the west by an alley twenty 
feet wide, "for the use of a public square, and also for the purpose of 
erecting a public school house or academy," if the inhabitants decided 
that such a step were proper. He also conveyed to the trustees by the 
same deed the lot on the southwest corner of River and Elbow streets, 
for use as a public ship yard ; also land for two burial grounds — the 
first bounded on the north by State street, on the west by Third street, 
on the east by an alley and an the south by lot 231 ; the second a parcel 
of land 250 feet long and 130 feet wide, located on the northwest cor- 
ner of Seventh and State streets. To this day all these proi)erties are 
owned and occupied by public or quasi-public buildings. 

At the beginning of the year 1797 Daniel Curtis, jr., under the firm 
name of Liither Pratt & Co., having moved his printing plant from 
Lansingburgh to Troy, began the printing of the weekly newspaper, 
the Farmers' Oracle, in the city. December 8, 1797, the store of Asa 
Anthony, on the northwest corner of River and State streets, and that 
of P. & B. Heartt, north of it, were consumed by fire. The inhabitants 
of Troy by this time had awakened to the necessity of providing some 
adequate means of protection against fire, and afterthe burning of these 
two stores it was decided to form a fire company and i)iirchase a hand 
engine. A number of well known gentlemen of Troy were ap])ointed 
a committee to purchase a suitable engine and went to New York for 
that purpose, having learned that a second-hand engine liad been of- 
fered for sale there. The apparatus proving satisfactory to the then 
limited needs of the young village, it was purchased and shipped to 
Troy on a sloop. It was of a peculiar pattern seldom seen in these days, 



TROY AS A VILLAGE. 235 

but very well adapted for such work as then was required of it. It had 
no hose attachment, the stream leaving the engine from a nozzle at- 
tached to a box above the trunk of the apparatus. It was capable of 
throwing an inch and a half stream of water over an ordinary two 
story building. 

An act of the Legislature passed February IG, 1798, granted a second 
or amended charter to the village of Lansingburgh and reincorporated 
the village of Troy. That part of the act which formed the charter of 
Troy read as follows: 

That the district of country described in a certain law of this State made and 
passed the twenty fifth day of March one thousand seven liundi'ed and ninety four 
as the village of Troy be hereafter known and distinguished by the name cf the vil- 
lage of Troy; and that the freeholders and inhabitants who may from time to time 
reside m said village, shall be a corporation by the name and stjde of "The Trustees 
of the Village of Troy," and shall have the same rights, privileges, powers and im- 
munities as by this act are given to the corporation of the village of Lansingburgh ; 
subject however to the same regulations, restrictions, orders and provisions. 

The village of Lansingburgh, for many years the leading place north 
of Albany, at this time was rapidly becoming of secondary importance 
as cotnpared with Troy. The cause was mainly the geographical loca- 
tion of the two places. Troy was actually at the headwaters of the navi- 
gable Hudson, large vessels being able to anchor directly opposite the 
business portion of the village within a few feet of the east bank of the 
river. Lansingburgh, on the other hand, had been founded too far up 
the river to reap the full commercial advantages of a location on this 
noble stream. Troy was rapidly becoming the trade center of a popu- 
lous and prosperous community. The number of manufactures had in- 
creased and stores were established at an amazing rate. One newspaper 
had found it to its advantage to remove from Lansingburgh to Troy. 
May 15, 1798, the Northern Budget, having removed its plant from 
Lansingburgh, where it had been established nearly a year, was pub- 
lished for the first time in Troy by Robert Moffit c^ Co., from their print- 
ing office, at the sign of Franklin's head, on theea.st side of the river — 
then Water street — "four doors north of Pierce's inn." 

October 9, 1798, the office of the county clerk, which had been estab- 
lished in Lansingburgh upon the erection of Rensselaer county, was 
removed to Troy and the records were kept in a frame building on 
First street a sh(jrt distance north of Congress. This change also 
brought increased business to Troy and made it more than ever the 



236 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

headquarters for trade of all kinds. Troy's prosperity from this time 
hence seemed assured. 

In November, 1799, a writer in the Northern Budget made an appeal 
to the citizens of Troy for the establishment of a public library. He 
stated that the population of the village was 2,000 and rapidly increas- 
ing. Soon after the subscribers to a petition which had been circulated 
decided that public opinion would warrant the formation of such an 
institution and January 11, 1799, they met at the tavern of Jeremiah 
Pierce and organized the Troy Library by the election of Benjamin 
Tibbitts, Christopher Hutton, David Buel and Jeremiah Osborn as 
trustees. The library was opened in the fall of that year. The mem- 
bership was limited to stockholders. Ten years later, March 31, 1809, 
Apollo Lodge No. 49, F. & A. M., was allowed to purchase twenty- 
seven shares at fifteen dollars each, and thereafter the three senior offi- 
cers of the lodge were annually elected trustees of the library. In Jan- 
uary, 1835, the books of the library were placed in the library of the 
Troy Young Men's Association. Ten years later the stockholders de- 
livered their shares to the association, which also purchased the shares 
held by Apollo Lodge. 

The beginning of the nineteenth century marked an important era 
in the history of Troy. Up to the year 1801 the merchants of Troy, 
as well as those of Lansingburgh and Waterford, had been compelled 
to go to Albany to transact their banking business. The trip always 
consumed half a day, sometimes a longer period. As the business of 
the community increased it necessitated more frequent journeys to Al- 
bany, but these were becoming too burdensome for the wideawake 
merchants of the three villages to bear. Several consultations were 
held by the leading merchants and it was finally decided to ask the 
Legislature to grant permission for the organization of a bank with a 
capital of not more than $300,000. In pursuance of this request the 
Farmers' Bank was incorporated by act of the Legislature passed March 
31, 1801, the charter extendingto the first Tuesday in March, 1811. The 
capital stock was limited to $250,000 in shares of $50 each, exclusive of 
any money which might be subscribed on the part of the State. The 
charter provided for thirteen directors, two of whom were to reside in 
Waterford, five in Lansingburgh and six in Troy. The first directors, 
named in the charter, were Samuel Stewart, Guert Van Schoonhoven, 
John D. Dickinson, James Hickock, Charles Seldon, William Bradley, 
Elijah Janes, Benjamin Tibbitts, Ephraim Morgan, John Woodworth, 



TROY AS A VILLAGE. 237 

Daniel Merritt, Townsend McCoun and Christopher Hutton. It was 
also provided that "the said bank shall be established and kept, and 
the buildings necessary for the accommodation thereof erected, and 
the business thereof at all times hereafter transacted at such place in 
the town of Troy as Hosea Moffat, Jonathan Brown, John E. Van 
Alen and James McKown, or any three of them shall designate and 
point out, which location when made shall be unalterable; and said 
place shall be near the road leading- from Troy to Lansingburgh and 
not further north than the mill creek, nor further south than the house 
of Joshua Raymond. And the said buildings necessary for the accom- 
modation of said bank shall be erected and so far completed as to ad- 
mit the transaction of the business of said bank by the first day of De- 
cember next after the passing of this act." 

The directors of the bank met April 9, and elected John D. Dickin- 
son president and Hugh Peebles cashier. June 29, at a meeting held 
at Jacob's tavern in Lansingburgh, it was resolved that "in case the 
lot for the temporary place of the establishment of the bank shall fall 
to the village of Troy, that we will point out to the commissioners the 
house of Joshua Raymond in the village of Troy as the house contem- 
plated in the act, and in case it should fall to the village of Lansingburgh, 
we will immediately cause a temporary building to be erected on the 
middle ground at or near the place contemplated by the commissioners 
for transacting the business until the Legislature shall have decided on 
the petition of the directors." The temporary location of the bank 
was decided by lot, the choice falling to Lansingburgh. Jacob D.Van 
derheyden having offered to the bank for a site for the building two 
lots in what was then known as Middleburgh, a number of houses at 
the foot of Mount Olympus, the land was accepted and it was decided 
to purchase two additional lots upon which to erect a two-story brick 
building, thirty by forty feet. Work was begun in July and the bank 
opened for business December 1. April G, 1808, the Legislature ex- 
tended the charter of the bank to the first Tuesday in March, 1821, and 
the directors were authorized to remove the bank to the business por- 
tion of Troy further south. November 15, 1808, the bank removed to 
its new building on the second lot south of the southwest corner of 
State and First streets. This structure was burned in the great fire of 
1820 and business was continued in the building on the northeast cor- 
ner of State and First streets. In 1830 it built a new banking house 
on the next lot north, which it occupied until February 27, 18G5, when 
it ceased to exist. 



238 LAND.\rARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

By act of the Legislature April 2, 1801, the boundaries of the village 
of Troy were described as follows: 

Beginning on tlie north side of a certain creek called Poesten creelc, where there 
was formerly a saw mill, fifty-eight chains from Hudson's river, and runs from thence 
down along the said creek to the said river, thence up along the said river to a small 
creek called the Meadow creek, thence along the said creek into the woods, south 
seventy degrees easterly, forty chains, thence south twenty three degrees and thirty 
minutes westerly, along the west side of the land of the late Albert Bradt, one hun- 
dred and six chains, to the place of beginning (the above courses to be run as the 
magnetic needle pointed in the year one thousand seven hundred and twenty). 

By the general law dividing all the counties of the State into towns, 
passed April 7, 1801, the l)ounds of the town of Tro}' were described as 
follows: 

Southerly by Greenbush, easterly by Petersburgh, northerly by ihe north bounds 
of the manor of Reusselaerwyck, and westerlj? by the county of Albany, including 
such of the islands in Hudson's river as are nearest the east side thereof. 

April 2, 1802, the Legislature passed an act authorizing the construc- 
tion of a turnpike from a point opposite the village of Troy to Sche- 
nectady. This step was taken in accordance with the wishes of a large 
number of the merchants of Troy, who wished to attract the trade of 
the farmers residing on the west side of the Hudson. The capital 
stock of the chartered company was placed at $17,500 and the first 
officers were: President, Ephraim Morgan; directors, George Tibbits, 
Abraham Oothoudt, Derick Lane, Abraham Ten Eyck, Albert Pawling, 
John Bird, Silas Covell and Daniel Merritt. All were residents of 
Troy excepting Abraham Oothoudt, who resided in vSchenectady. The 
road was constructed at once and its heavy cost was amply repaid in a 
few years by the increased trade which it brought to Troy. 

Changes in the boundary of the village had been made several times 
since its foundation, having been deemed necessary by the constant ex- 
pansion of the population. March 3, 1803, the north boundar}^ along 
Meadow creek, near the line of Hoosick street, was made coincident 
with the south bounds of the village of Lansingburgh, near the Pis- 
cawen kill, which flowed into the river just north of Mount Olympus. 

About the year 1803 the residents of Troy who were of the Episcopal 
persuasion began to agitate the question of constructing a suitable 
house of worship, none having been built up to that time. Several 
years before lay readers had officiated in various places in the city on 
occasions frequently long apart. As a rule these meetings were held 



TROY AS A VILLAGE. 239 

in the Presbyterian meeting house. Rev. David Butler, rector of 
Christ church in Reading, Conn., was among those who conducted 
services in 1803. Learning that Trinity church in New York city had 
offered to assist the Episcopalians of Troy in building a church edifice, 
he urged the members of the little congregation to take advantage of 
the offer, to become an incorporated body and undertake the erection 
of a house of worship. In accordance with his advice the male mem- 
bers of the congregation met in the court-house January 16, 1804, and 
decided to become incorporated as a permanent body to be known as 
"The Trustees of St. Paul's Church in Troy." They then elected as 
church wardens Eliakim Warren and Jeremiah Pierce, and as vestry- 
men Nicholas Schuyler, David Buel, Lemuel Hawley, Thomas Davis, 
Thomas Hillhouse, John Bird, William S. Parker and Hugh Peebles. 
March 2(3 the society purchased for $425 the eastern halves of lots 183 
and 184, a plot one hundred by sixty-five feet, on the northwest corner 
of Third and Congress streets. The building committee, David Buel, 
Thomas Davis and Nicholas vSchuyler, were placed in charge of the 
work. The frame was filled in with brick, one thick. Rev, David 
Butler, the first rector, laid the corner stone July 2, 1803, and the edi- 
fice was completed early in the summer of 1805. Two thousand dol- 
lars of the expense of construction was paid by Trinity church of New 
York. The organ, which was made in England and for many years 
had been used in the old French church in Nassau street. New York, 
was the only instrument of its kind in Troy for more than twenty 
years. Rev. David Butler was installed rector of St. Paul's parish 
January 8, 1806, and on the following day assumed the same formal 
relation to Trinity parish of Lansingburgh. The church was conse- 
crated August 21 by Bishop Benjamin Moore. The first three commu- 
nicants, upon the organization of the church in 1804, were Eliakim 
Warren, his wife, Phebe Warren, and Lemuel Hawley. 

The Uuakers or Friends were the next sect to establish regular re- 
ligious services in Troy. In accordance with permission extended by 
the Easton Monthly Meetings the few Friends in Troy held their first 
service in the village — a preparatory meeting — May 30, 1804. Over 
three years later, October 20, 1807, Abraham Staples and Edward 
Southwick, influential members of the local congiregation, purchased of 
Jacob and Daniel Merritt an imfinished house on the southwest corner 
of State and Fourth street, which had been temporarily rented by the 
society a year before. Sixteen years later the society built the school 



240 LANDxMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

house west of the meeting house. April 19, 1836, the society increased 
its temporal possessions by the purchase of the lot south of the building 
originally inirchased. In 1874 the property was purchased by the First 
Unitarian church and in the fall of that year the old Friends' meeting 
house was razed to the ground. 

As the population of Troy increased the problem of an adequate 
water supply became an important one. Early in the century most of 
the inhabitants were supplied by a small stream running along Spring 
avenue, then known as the Hollow road. The spring supplying it was 
on the farm of Stephen J. Schuyler. November 15, 1800, Stephen 
Van Rensselaer conveyed to Dr. Israel Clark of West Windsor, N. J., the 
right to use and control the water, which was then retained in a small 
reservoir. For several years Dr. Clark collected the rents for the use 
of the water. From time to time the waterworks were improved ac- 
cording to the needs of the growing village. June 16, 1812, Abraham 
Ten Eyck, Derick Lane, Piatt Titus, Nathan Warren and Daniel Mer- 
ritt, trustees of the Earthen Conduit company of Troy, were given a 
franchise by the village authorities allowing them to pipe the streets to 
furnish a better supply to consumers. Two years later another com- 
pany was incorporated and granted the privilege of substituting iron 
pipes for the conduits then in use. The trustees of the new company 
were Daniel Merritt, Richard P. Hart, Nathan Warren, Townsend 
McCoun and Derick Y. Vanderheyden. This company laid the founda- 
tion for the present splendid system of waterworks in the city of Troy. 

For the facilitation of the government of the village the Legislature 
passed a law April 4, 1806, dividing it into four wards. The first ward 
was described as that part of the village lying south of a line drawn 
through the middle of Ferry street; the second as that part between 
the first ward and the line drawn through the middle of State street; 
the third as that part between the second ward and a line drawn 
through the middle of Elbow (Fulton) street; and the fourth as all that 
part north of the third ward. Up to this time the president of the vil- 
lage had been elected by the board of trustees from among their num- 
ber. Under the new law that official was to be appointed annually by 
the governor, with the consent of the Council of Appointment, and 
was to be an inhabitant of the village 

In 1797 the members of the Methodist society in Troy, which had 
begun to hold meetings four years previous, numbered thirteen. In 
1796 the class had been placed under the pastoral care of a traveling 



,^ 



^^p- " 





^£^ ^^^'^[■tiy/Sa^s £S ^5>£7 ^v 5 




'(7^e/:> &/ (D((jj(cj//\ 



TROY AS A VILLAGE. 241. 

preacher on the Cambridge circuit. In 1800 it l)ecame a part of the 
Pittsfield and Whitingham circuit of the New England conference. 
The class then had increased to thirty members and was under the 
leadership of William Cleveland. Rev. Michael Coates was in pastoral 
charge. The class grew steadily and in 1808 it was decided to organize 
an incorporated society according to the laws of the wState. November 
"29 of that y^ar the members of the class met at the residence of Sam- 
uel Scoby and organized by electing David Can field, Eliphalet King 
and Samuel Scoby trustees of "the Methodist Episcopal church of the 
V^illage of Tro5^ " The next step of the society was to pui-chase of 
Jacob D. Vanderheyden on Christmas day of that year two lots on the 
east side of the alley running between Fourth and Fifth streets and 
north of State street. For this property the society paid $500. Early 
in 1809 subscriptions to a fund for the erection of a church were taken 
and the edifice, a plain, two-story frame building, still unfinished and 
unfurnished, was used the first time for worship in 1811. A tew 
montlis before, in 1810, Troy had been made a station by the New 
York conference of the Methodist Episcopal church and Rev. William 
Phoebus had been made pastor of the new church. 

We have said, in the chapter upon the militia of the county, that the 
status of the early regular militia is vague and indefinite. This is so, 
but it is known that Troy had an independent military company even 
before the beginning of the nineteenth century. As early as 1796 
Thomas Davis was captain of the Troy Grenadiers, the first military 
company in the village, which ceased to exist about 180-4. In 1803 
the Troy Fusilcers were organized, with Nathaniel Adams as captain, 
Amos Salisbury as lieutenant and Oliver Lyon as ensign. The Trojan 
Greens were organized in 1800 with Thomas Davis as captain, William 
S Parker as lieutenant and Stephen Warren as ensign. The Troy In- 
vincibles were organized in 1808 with Hazard Kimberly as captain. 

Ten years after the incorporation of the first bank in Troy, the Farm- 
ers' Bank, that institution evidently had become inadequate to the needs 
of the business men of the thriving community, for March 22, 1811, 
the Bank of Troy was incorporated b)- the Legislature with a capital 
stock of $500,000, divided into shares of $25 each, exclusive of the 
amount taken by the State, which was limited to $50,000. The charter 
provided that the bank was to be under the management of seventeen 
directors, of whom three were chosen by the Governor and Council of 
Appointment. One of these was to reside in Troy, one in Lansing- 
31 



242 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

burg-h and one in Waterford. The remaining fourteen directors, six 
of whom were to reside in Troy, four in Lansingburgh and four in 
Waterford, were to be elected by the stockholders of the bank. The 
charter permitted the directors to establish a branch bank in Water- 
ford, for deposit and discounting paper. April 9, 1813, the charter 
was amended by allowing the directors from Lansingburgh to reside 
in either Rensselaer or Saratoga counties. By a still later amendment, 
passed February 4, 1814, the Waterford directors were privileged to 
reside anywhere in the State. The right to establish a branch bank in 
Waterford was taken from the directors April 22, 1829. The bankcon- 
tinued in operation until February 27, 1865, when its corporate exist- 
ence ceased. The bank building was located on the northwest corner 
of First and State streets, and its first directors were Albert Pawling, 
Benjamin Smith, Joseph D. Selden, Ebenezer Jones, Esaias Warren, 
Richard P. Hart, Jacob Merritt, Thomas Trenor, Alanson Douglas, 
Jonathan Burr, John Stewart, Roger Skinner, John Cramer, John T. 
Close, Moses Scott, Richard Davis, jr., and John House. 

The first attempt to popularize passenger traffic by water between 
Troy and Albany was made in 1810, when a boat named the Trial be 
gan making regular trips between the two places. She was ])ropelk'd 
by machinery, but whether steam was the motive power or not does 
not appear. Two years later, in the fall of 1812, the Fire Fly, a 118-ton 
steamboat, began making two trips a day between the two places, 
leaving Troy at seven a. m. and one r. i\i., with extra trips three days 
in the week for the accommodation of passengers patronizing the boats 
plying between Albany and New York. The Fire Fly was undoubtedly 
the first steamboat that made regular trips between Tro}^ and elsewhere. 

Up to June 8, 1812, the official records of Rensselaer county were 
kept, first in Lansingburgh, imtil October 9, 1798, and thereafter in a 
building on First street, Troy, a few doors north of Congress. In 1812 
the Legislature authorized the board of supervisors to raise by tax the 
sum of $1,500 for the erection of a fireproof office for the use of the 
county clerk. Soon afterward a two story brick building was con- 
structed on the southeast corner of Congress and Second streets. It 
was iised thereafter by the clerks of the county until the building was 
demolished to make way for the court house which in turn was razed 
to the ground in 1895. 

In 1812 a statistical writer said that there were in Troy 540 dwelling- 
houses and 120 stores, beside a large number of shops. He continued: 



TROY AS A VILLAGE. 243 

" Few, if an)', of the towns on the Hudson enjoy greater facilities for 
manufactures t'lian Tro}^ There are a rolling and slitting mill, an ex- 
tensive cotton and woolen factory, a paper mill, carding machine, full- 
ing mill a manufactory of fire-arms, and one also of shovels and spades, 
besides several nail works, a distiller}^, and several grain and saw mills." 

The part which the inhabitants of Troy played in the War of 1812 
was one to which the present generation may revert with feelings of 
pride. No less important was it, considering the comparative magni- 
tude of the two struggles, than the part which they took in the War of 
the Rebellion. The Greenbush barracks were the headquarters for the 
troops of the Department of the North, and Troy, only six miles away, 
was fired with patriotism. In September, 1812, the militia of Rensse- 
laer and Columbia counties rendezvoused about a mile from the village, 
the two Troy companies, the Troy Invincibles and the Troy Fusileers, 
going into active service at the same time. At this time the Invincibles 
were commanded by Captain Benjamin Higbie and the Fusileers by 
Captain Oliver Lyon. September 10, in obedience to orders from 
Governor Tompkins, commander-in-chief of the State militia, both 
companies began their march to Plattsburgh. Before leaving they 
were joined by a compan3*of volunteer riflemen from Watervliet and a 
company of cavalry made up in Saratoga county. At Lansingburgh a 
fourth company entered the little army, a company of artillery under 
Captain King. They were accompanied as far as Waterford by (lover- 
nor Tompkins in person and were escorted to that village by the Trojan 
Greens, in command of Lieutenant Dole, After reaching Plattsburgh 
the two Troy companies were ordered to St. Regis, which was occupied 
by a reconnoitering force of the British regulars. Here they surprised 
the British, killing four, mortally wounding one and taking forty 
prisoners with two batteaux and thirty-eight stand of arms. Finding 
nothing further to accomplish in that vicinity the victorious companies, 
flushed with their first victory, returned to Troy in December. Janu- 
ary 5, 1813, the colors which they had captured were formally presented 
to the State at Albany. 

In February, 1813, John E. Wool,^ Troy, whoa year before had 
been appointed a captain in the^^irteenth Regiment of the United 
States Infantry, opened a recruiting office in the village, and in response 
to his appeals large numbers of men from Rensselaer county and vicin- 
ity entered the service of their country and were sent to the front, 
where thev served with honor 



244 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

The popular term "Uncle Sam," as applied to the United States 
government, originated in Troy and Greenbnsh during the war of 
1812-14. Elbert Anderson, jr., one of the contractors supplying the 
Army of the North with provisions, in October, 1812, advertised for 
proposals for pork and beef to be delivered to him during the first four 
months of the following year in New York, Troy, Albany and Water- 
ford. Among those who contracted to furnish him with beef, packed 
in barrels, were Ebenezer and Samuel Wilson, the latter familiarly 
called by Trojans "Uncle Sam." As the beef was delivered at 
Greenbush barracks from time to time, the Troy soldiers re- 
ferred to it as "Uncle Sam's" beef. The other soldiers, not know- 
ing who "Uncle Sam" was, thought that the term was applied to 
the letters U. S. stamped upon the barrels by the government officials. 
Consequently it was not long before the term " Uncle Sam," meaning 
the United States, was in common use. 

The city of New York being threatened by the British troops in the 
summer of 1814, the Trojan Greens, in command of Captain Sidney 
Dole, volunteered their services for the defense of that city and were 
sent there in August with troops from Albany. In the following 
month the Invincibles and Fusileers followed the example of the Trojan 
Greens and were sent to New York. Though they were not called into 
active service, their gallantry was such that when they returned, late 
in November, they brought with them high official commendation. 
vSoon after their return, on December 3, 1814, the people of Troy gave 
an enthusiastic reception to Commodore Thomas MacDonough, the 
hero of Lake Champlain, who, in command of the American flotilla in 
those waters, had achieved a complete and glorious victory over tlie 
British. Upon the ratification of the treaty of peace, the news of 
which was received in Troy February 21, 1815, there was general and 
great rejoicing. Among the features of the joyous occasion was a 
great procession which marched to the Presbyterian meeting house, 
where the ministers of the different churches conducted suitable serv- 
ices of thanksgiving. On the evening of that day the whole village 
was illuminated, fireworks in profusion were burned and the roar of 
cannon was almost incessant for four hours or more. 

The necessity of an additional burying ground becoming apparent in 
1813, on August 25 a meeting of the taxable inhabitants was held at 
Seymour's Inn for the consideration of the question. The trustees 
were authorized to raise by tax the sum of $1,250 to ]nirchase land for 



TROY AS A VILLAGE. 245 

that purpose, and that body appointed Timothy Hutton, Hugh Peebles 
and P^saias Warren to select a site. The land for the new cemetery * 
was donated to the village by Stephen Van Rensselaer — a lot contain- 
ing about three and three-fourths acres, situated on the east slope of 
Mount Ida, west of the Poesten kill — the deed conveying it to the vil- 
lage being dated January 20, 1815. 

The panic of 1814 was felt in Troy as elsewhere throughout the coun- 
try. Money was scarce everywhere. In response to resolutions adopted 
by influential inhabitants the Farmers' bank and the Bank of Troy sus- 
pended specie payment, following the "example of many other banks 
which took a similar step for self-protection. On account of the scar- 
city of small coin the firm of Parker ■& Bliss, in pursuance of permission 
granted by the village trustees, on September 10 issued $1,000 worth 
of small notes from twelve and a half cents in value down, and this 
measure relieved to a large extent the stringency in the "change" 
market among local merchants. 

Despite the hard times in all sections of the countr}' at this period 
Troy continued to prosper greatly. The population in 1815 was 4,254, 
2,000 greater than it was ten years before. Mills and factories had 
sprung up on all sides, new stores had been established and trade came 
to Troy from a territory having a radius of many miles. Feeling that 
the future of the place was secure and believing that Troy's prosperity 
would be greater under a better system of government the inhabitants 
concluded to petition for a city charter, which they did, the Legislature 
granting their appeal. The village board of trustees met for the last 
time as a body at Titus's Inn May 9, 181G, and a new era for Troy was 
opened. 



246 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XVI. 
TROV AS A CITY. 

The original charter of the city of Troy was enacted April 12, ISKi. 
It contained no unusual features. It constituted the inhabitants of the 
place a corpcjrate body under the name of "The Mayor, Recorder, 
Aldermen and Commonalty of the Cit)^ of Troy." The charter divided 
the citv into six wards. The first, second, third and fourth were iden- 
tical with those of the village as established by the law of April 4, 180G. 
The fifth ward comprised that section lying north of a line beginning 
at the bridge spanning the Poesten kill, near the grist mill of Townsend 
McCoun, and crossing the bridge and running along the south line of 
the Hollow Roatl until it intersected the Schuyler Road, where it 
turned south and ran to the south limits of the new city. The sixth 
ward includetl all the rest of the city which was not embraced in the 
other wards. The limits of the city were made identical in all re- 
spects with the limits of the town of Troy as it existed at the time 
of the passage of the charter. The city ot^cers provided for, by 
election and appointment, were a mayor, a recorder, a clerk, a marshal, 
a chamberlain, six aldermen,, four assistant aldermen, six assessors, 
(Mie or more collectors and six constables. The governor, with the 
consent of the Council of Appointment, had the power to .appoint the 
mayor, the recorder and the marshal; the rest of the officers to be 
elected annually by the people on the second Tuesday of May in each 
year. Each ward was entitled to one alderman, one assistant alderman, 
one assessor and one constable, except the fifth and six wards, which 
had no assistant aldermen. The common council was composed of the 
mayor, the recorder, the six aldermen and the four assistant aldermen 
and the time and i:)lace of its meetings were subject to the call of the 
mayor, or in his absence the recorder, either of whom might preside. 
The first charter election was held Tuesday, May 14, 181G, and the first 
meeting of the common council was held in the court-house the week 
after, May 21. Col. Albert Pawling, who had been president of the 
village and held that office at the time the change in the form of gov- 



TROY AS A CITY. 247 

eminent was made, was elected the first mayor of the city; William L. 
Marcy was the first recorder; the first aldermen and assistant alder- 
men were — first ward, Geori^e Allen, alderman, Amos Salisbury, assist- 
ant; second ward, Hugh Peebles, alderman, John Loudon, assistant; 
third ward, Townsend McCoun, alderman, Gurdon Corning', assistant; 
fourtli ward, Stephen Ross, alderman, Henry Mallory, assistant; fifth 
ward, Lemuel Hawley, alderman; sixth ward, Philip Hart, jr., alder- 
man ; the first chamberlain was David Buel ; the first city surveyor 
was William McAlanus; the first city clerk was William M. Bliss; the 
first chief engineer of the city fire department was William S. Parker; 
all of whom held office in 181G in pursuance of the privileges accorded 
by the first city charter. 

The first Sunday schools organized in Troy were those formed by the 
Troy Sunday School association in the summer of LS1(3. This associa- 
tion was organized July 8 with these officers: President, Joseph Rus- 
sell; vice-president, vSilas Covell; treasurer, John Loudon; secretary, 
David Buel. hi them were represented the Presbyterian, Episcopal, 
Methodist and Baptist denominations. The schools were undenomina- 
tional and the exercises consisted principally of singing, prayers, exhor- 
tation, reading, spelling and primary Bible study, that is, verses of 
Scripture were committed to memory in concert. 

The Troy Lycetmi of Natural History was formed November !), 1818, 
by the election of these officers: President, John D. Dickinson; first 
vice-president, James Dalaby; second vice president, David Buel; re- 
cording secretary, Obed Rice; corresponding secretary, Dr. Amatus 
Robbins; treasurer, Albert Pawling Heartt; curators. Dr. Moses Hale, 
Dr. Ira M. Wells and Dr. Amatus Robbins. It was the first society of 
its kind in America and among its members were some of the best 
known scientists and authors in the United States. The society w^is 
incorporated two years after its organization, March 7, 1820. 

The first person to engage in the manufacture of pianos in New 
York vState was Joshua Thurston, who came from London, England, 
and settled in Troy in 1819. His manufactory was a great novelty and 
attracted many visitors from all sections of the vState. 

In July, 1811), an event occurred which stirred the pe()i)le of the city 
of Troy to widesi)read expressions of great indignation. Colonel Albert 
Pawling, who had been appointed the first mayor of the city, was a 
man beloved and confided in by all, regardless of party. He had been 
one of the greatest benefactors of the village and city and at the time 



248 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

of his appointment there was no opposition to him, as far as can be 
learned. Suddenly, and without warning of his intention, Governor 
DeWitt Clinton removed him from office and appointed in his place 
Thomas Turner, a man evidently unpopular and possessed of few quali- 
fications for the office. The removal and new appointment resulted in 
a spontaneous outburst of indignation. The commission of Mr. Tur- 
ner^ reads as follows: 

The People of the State of New- York, by the Grace of GOD Free and Independent: 
To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting: Know Ye, That WE, reposing 
especial trust and confidence in the ability and integrity of Thomas Turner of our 
City of Troy Esquire, Have nominated, constituted and appointed, and by these 
Presents, Do nominate, constitute and appoint him the said Thomas Turner Esquire 
MAYOR of our said City of Troy hereby giving and granting unto him the said 
Thomas Turner, Esq., all and singular the powers and authorities to the' said office 
by law belonging or appertaining. TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the .said office of 
Mayor of our said City of Troy together with the fees, profits and advantages to the 
same belonging, for and during the term of ONE year from the date hereof. 

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, We have caused these our Letters to be made 
Patent, and the Great Seal of our said State to be hereunto affixed: WIT- 
NESS our trusty and well-beloved DE WITT CLINTON, Esquire, Gover- 
nor of our said State, General and Commander in Chief of all the Militia, and 
Admiral of the Navy of the same, by and with the advice and consent of said 
Council of Appointment, at our City of Albany, the third day of July in the 
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundered and nineteen and in the fortj-- 
third year of our Independence. 

Dk Witt Clinton. 
Passed the Secretary's Office, tlie 12th day of July, 1819. 

J. \'. R. Yatks, Secretary. 

An illustration of the popular feeling over what was considered by 
the people of Troy as an unwarranted abuse of power on the part of 
(lovernor Clinton may be had in the following communication, which 
appeared in the Troy Northern Budget July 13, 1819, the issue next 
following the news of the appointment of Mr. Turner. The commu- 
nication was signed "A Trojan." 

A report reached this city in the early part of last week that Thomas Turner had 
been appointed Mayor in the place of Col. Pawling, but it was so unwelcome to the 
great body of citizens that they were unwilling to believe it. The report however 
proves to be true. What has this city done to merit this indignity? If the feelings 
and policy of the Governor would not permit him to spare an old soldier of the 
Revolution — the companion in arms and ardent friend of his father and uncle — the 

' Now in possessicjn of E. Ogden Ross, cscj., of Troy, 



TROY AS A CITY. 249 

citizen of unblemished reputation, the zealous and upright magistrate — the man who 
with propriety may be called one of the fathers of our city, who had taken care of its 
mfancy and watched with parental solicitude over its rising prosperity, I ask if the 
Governor could not spare such a man, why has he given us such a successor? The 
insult admits of no palliation. Mr. Clinton knew the standing of Turner: because 
he had been recently and reluctantly compelled to recede from his purpose of making 
liim Sheriff of this county by the indignant voice of the people. He also knew from 
the expressed opinion of the.most respectable men of all parties in this city, that the 
citizens wished the continuance of the old Mayor. 

When that venerable patriot Gen. Clinton, in his declining years, expressed with 
feeling regret his apprehension of the evils that this state would suffer by the un- 
principled ambition of his nephew, he probably had some indistinct forebodings of 
the political abuses which have now fallen upon us; but how inexpressibly poign- 
ant would have been his regret, if he could have foreseen the very transactions on 
which I am now commenting. — A young man fle,w to the standard of this patriot and 
participated with him for seven years the dangers and sufferings by which our 
liberties were achieved. When he left the service of his country, he carried with 
him the love and affection of this patriot and the commendation of Washington. 
No act of his after life, disgraced this auspicious beginning. Having been a pupil 
in the school of the revolution his political sentiments emanated from the purest prin- 
ciples of republicanism. — Amidst all the changes and vicissitudes which this State 
has undergone, he has not erred in his political faith. In his old age he would not 
belie those principles which he loved in his youth, and practised in his manhood, — 
of course he could not be a favorite of present administration. Those very virtues 
which won the respect and esteem of General James Clinton and George Clinton, 
have drawn down upon the gray head of Col. Pawling the displeasure of Dewitt 
Clinton. The merit of this act belongs exclusively to the Governor, and his comfort 
arising from reflections on it, will excite no man's envy. I shall not attempt to do 
justice to public feeling on this occasion among our citizens, nor comment upon 
other acts of the present administration, which evinces its baseness. Let them hunt 
down and proscribe political virtue as much as they please, they never can make the 
people insensible to a want of it in themselves. The hoary headed patriot may feel 
their rage, but they cannot reach his reputation. Every such victim will make a 
martyr. Though a man more entitled to respect than the late Maj^or of this city has 
not encountered executive ire, nor fewer qualifications to redeem the misdeed, could 
be found in any successor, we have this consolation that other parts of the state are 
suffering evils similar in kind if not equal in degree with ourselves; and from this 
common suft'eiing may and will arise a sense of the necessity of a remedy; and if 
the people of this State are not tamer than the slaves of despotism in a few months, 
this intolerable reign, in which talents are proscribed and virtue is a victim, will have 
passed away forever. 

In response to an overwhelming popular demand Mr. Turner refused 
to serve in the office to which he had been appointed and Mayor 
Pawling- continued to act until February, 1820, when Esaias Warren 
was named as his successor. 
32 



250 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY, 

The Rensselaer County Agricultural society was organised June o, 
1819, and the first fair under its auspices was held October 12 and 
13 of the same year on the Common south of Hoosick street. 

The first disastrous fire which visited the city of Troy started on the 
afternoon of June 20, 1820, in a stable in the rear of the residence o{ 
Colonel Davis, on the west side of First street north of Congress. A 
high wind from the south prevailed at the time and within a few hours 
ninety buildings had been reduced to ashes. Of these sixty-nine were 
stores and dwelling houses. The burned property included all the build- 
ings on the west side of First street north of and including the home of 
Colonel Davis, to the intersection of First and River streets, excepting 
the building occupied by the Bank of Troy; those on the east side of 
River street north of and including the store of H. & G. Vail, to the in- 
tersection of First and River streets; those on the west side of River 
street from Dr. Samuel Gale's drug store north as far as the site of the 
building No. 227 River street, opposite the Troy house; and those on 
both sides of State street between First and River streets. The local 
fire department was helpless to prevent the spread of the flames and in 
response to the earnest appeals of the people of Troy fire engines were 
sent to the scene from Albany, Waterford and the United vStates arsenal 
at Gibbonsville (now West Troy). Upon their arrival the efforts to 
stay the fire were renewed with desperation and were finally successful. 
About three weeks after the fire a day of prayer was set apart, July 12, 
and the inhabitants thronged to the various churches where services 
were held and in deep humiliation bowed to God in submission to His 
will. But for many weeks the city was enshrouded in gloom over the 
crushing blow that had fallen upon it, ruining 'many of its inhabitants 
and retarding its progress. During the following year contributions of 
food, clothing and money were sent to the sufferers from all parts of 
the country. The total losses of the fire aggregated $700,000, on which 
there was an insurance of about $110,000. 

The Emma Willard Female Seminary, which in later years became 
known throughout the entire country as a most excellent school for 
young ladies, was established in Troy in 1821. Mrs. Emma Willard 
was the wife of Dr. John Willard. In 1814 she established a boarding 
school for girls at Middlebur}', Vt. While acting as principal of that 
school she conceived a plan for the incorporation and endowment of an 
institution for the higher education of young women. Believing that 
New York State offered superior advantages for the location of such a 



TROY AS A CITY. 251 

school she communicated an outline of her plan to Governor Clinton of 
New York, who agreed to assist her. According to his promise the 
governor caused to be passed a legislative enactment incorporating a 
female seminary at Waterlord under the care of the Regents of the 
University and appropriating thereto its proper quota of the public 
moneys. The seminary opened in Waterford in the spring of 1819. 
After it had been successfully incorporated the citizens of Troy, appre- 
ciating the advantages which would accrue to them from the location 
of the school in the city, proposed to Mrs. Willard that she remove the 
seminary to Troy, agreeing to contribute freely of their means to its 
establishment and maintenance. To this proposition she assented, and 
March 2(3, 1821, the common council of the cit)^, in response to a gen- 
eral demand, resolved to raise by tax in the first, second, third and 
fourth wards the sum of $4,000 for the purchase of a suitable building. 
It also appointed Jeremiah Dauchy, Ephraim Morgan, Gurdon Corn- 
ing, Nathan Warren, Lewis Lyman, John G Vanderheyden, Thomas 
Skelding, Gilbert Reilay, George Smith, Richard P. Hart and James 
Vandenburgh a commission to obtain suitable quarters at an expense 
not to exceed $5,000 and to engage a principal for the new school. 
April 14, agreeable to the recommendation of this committee, the city 
purchased for $1,700 the "Old Coffee House," originally owned by 
Captain Howard Moulton, an officer in the American army during the 
war of the Revolution, who removed from Troy to Stafford Springs, 
Conn. He constructed the building in 1795. It was a three-story 
frame building and in its early days was the principal rival of the famous 
Ashley's Inn. While the "Old Coffee House " was being renovated 
and put in condition for the reception of the new institution Mrs. Wil- 
lard became principal of the Troy Female seminary, temporarily using 
the lecture room of the Troy Lyceum of Natural History in the court- 
house for a recitation room and the apartments of two dwelling houses 
near by for dormitories and study rooms. August 2 the common coun- 
cil appointed David Buel, jr., Joseph Russell, Nathan Warren, Richard 
P. Hart, Jeremiah Dauchy, James Mallory, William Bradley and 
Amasa Paine trustees of the school. The work of repairing the build- 
ing selected for its occupancy was completed in the fall, "when the 
school moved into it and began what proved to be a successful career. 
The seminary's first faculty consisted of the following: Principal, Mrs. 
Emma Willard ; instructors, Elizabeth Sherrill, Angelica Gilbert, Mary 
Heywood and Elizabeth P. Huntington; assistant instructors, Sarah 



252 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTT. 

W. Ingalls, Mary H. Field, Mary E. Akin and Elizabeth Whiting. 
The first class numbered ninety pupils, twenty-nine of whom resided 
in Troy and the remainder coming from the States of New York, Con- 
necticut, Vermont, Massachusetts, Ohio, South Carolina and Georgia. 
A munificent enterprise, which subsequently became one of Troy's 
noblest institutions, had its inception in 1823, when a number of citizens 
petitioned the Legislature to enact a law incorporating them under the 
name of the Troy Savings Bank. The act was passed April 23, 1823, 
and named as the first managers of the institution John Gary, Derick 
Lane, Richard P. Hart, Gurdon Corning, John Thomas, John Paine, 
Nathan Warren, Lewis Lyman, Piatt Titus, James Van Schoonhoven, 
Henry Mallory, Leland Howard, Joseph Russell, Samuel Gale, Town- 
send McCoun, William Bradley, Alanson Douglas, William Smith and 
David Buel, jr. The charter permitted the managers to make an agree- 
ment with any of the banks of the city to receive deposits and transact 
business on such terms and conditions as the managers might deem to 
be for the best interests of all. The trustees were authorized to reg- 
ulate the rate of interest to be paid depositors, and the latter were to 
receive a ratable proportion of all the profits of the bank after all the 
necessary expenses had been deducted. The board of managers com- 
prised the president, two vice-presidents and twelve trustees, the mayor 
and recorder of the city being ex-officio members of the body. At the 
first meeting of the managers held at Piatt Titus's Inn August 15 
Townsend McCoun was elected president, Richard P. Hart, first vice- 
president, and Lewis Lyman, second vice-president. The by-laws were 
adopted at the same time and the first deposits were received August 
30 at the Farmers' Bank. The wisdom of the foimders of the bank 
may be appreciated when it is known that it is being conducted to-day 
on the same general lines on which it started Inisiness over 73 years 
ago. 

The opening of the Erie Canal to traffic October 8, 1823, was made 
the occasion of quite a demonstration in Troy. A canal boat named 
the Trojan Trader left the city carrying the first load of merchandise 
sent west from the Hudson river by way of the Erie canal. The en- 
terprise of the citizens of Troy in bringing this about was the cause of 
more or less bitter adverse criticism from a few cities and villages which 
were envious of the wideawake and progressive spirit manifested by 
Trojans in this great event, but in other quarters the stroke of enter- 
prise was commended liberally, so that in the end Troy secured a great 
deal of advertising, which its business men richly deserved. 



1 








L.:22HL- 




JOHN T. NORTON, 



TROY AS A CITY. 253 

An interesting incident, a fact not generally known, is that the well 
known Christmas poem so dear to the heart of ever}' child, " A Visit 
from St. Nicholas," written by Clement Clarke Moore, LL. D., then 
professor of Oriental and Greek literature in the General Theological 
Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal church in New York, was pub- 
lished for the first time in the Troy Sentinel December 23, 1823. 

The year after the opening of the great Erie canal another memora- 
ble event occurred in Troy — ^the reception tendered the great French 
patriot, Marquis de La Fayette, September 18, 1824. The committee 
in whose charge his entertainment was left comprised Colonel Albert 
Pawling, Colonel Derick Lane, Ephraim Morgan, Benjamin Smith, 
Stephen Warren, Gurdon Corning, James Mallory, George Tibbits, 
John D. Dickinson, Joseph Russell and John P. Cushman. The Mar- 
quis arrived at Gibbonsville (West Troy) on the packet boat Schenec- 
tady in the company of the Albany entertainment committee and mili- 
tary escort. The packet was towed from that point to the foot of Ferry 
street, where he was welcomed to the city by the Hon. George Tibbits 
in behalf of the populace. In his reply to the greeting he received the 
gallant Frenchman marvelled at the great changes which had taken 
place in Troy since his previous visit to the village forty years before. 
The speech making was followed by a grand parade in which the Al- 
bany and Troy military companies, a Masonic delegation and other 
representatives of the city participated. In the parlors of the Troy 
house Recorder Thomas Clowes, in the absence of the Mayor, formall}' 
welcomed the Marquis, after which the party proceeded to St. John's 
hall, the Masonic headquarters, where the distinguished guest of the 
city was once more welcomed by the Hon. David Buel, jr. After din- 
ner the party visited Mrs. Emma Willard at the Troy Female Seminary, 
and soon afterward the Marcpiis left the city amid the- most enthusiastic 
plaudits of thousands of persons who had gathered upon the banks of 
the river. 

To Stephen Van^ Rensselaer, the last but one of the patroons, Troy 
owes its most celebrated educational institution, the Rensselaer Poly- 
technic Institute, originally called the Rensselaer school. This institu- 
tion was founded November 5, 182-4, the donor fitting out at his own 
personal expense the Farmers' bank building on the northwest corner 
of River and Middleburgh streets. The first trustees appointed by the 
founder, were: The Rev. Samuel Blatchford, pastor of the First Pres- 
byterian church of Lansingburgh; Elias Parmelee of Lansingburgh, 



254 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

John Cramer and Guert Van Schoonhoven of Waterford, Samuel De Witt 
and T. Romeyn Beck of Albany, and John D. Dickinson and Jedediah 
Tracy of Troy. He named the Rev. Samuel Blatchford as president, 
Amos Eaton of Troy as senior professor and Lewis C. Beck of Albany as 
junior professor. The school was formally opened January 3, 1825, the 
courses prescribed being chemistry, experimental philosophy and nat- 
ural history, with their application to agriculture, domestic economy 
and the arts. Land surveying, in which the school soon gained a 
world-wide reputation, was also taught. The school was incorporated 
March 21, 182(3, and the first class was graduated in the same year. 
The name of the school was changed to Rensselaer Institute April 26, 
1832. A more extended account of this noble institution appears in 
another chapter. 

March 2, 1824, Chief Justice Marshall of the United States Supreme 
Court handed down a decision declaring unconstitutional the law grant- 
ing the North River Steamboat company the exclusive right to navi- 
gate the waters of the Hudson, and almost immediately the capitalists 
of Troy, who had been anxiously awaiting such a termination of the 
case, formed a stock company under the name of " The Troy Steam- 
boat company " and made a contract for the construction of a large 
steamboat suitable for navigation on the river. August 21 of that year 
the vessel, named "Chief Justice Marshall" in honor of the judge 
whose decision had made its construction possible, was launched at 
New York. The company was incorporated March 31, 1825, with a 
capital stock of $200,000, and the first passage of the boat from New 
York to Troy was made March 12, the boat being in charge of Captain 
R. W. Sherman. Trips were made regularly thereafter down the river 
one night and back the next. The next s]:)rin-g the steamboats Consti- 
tution and Constellation began making regular trips, and in the sum- 
mer the steamboat New London was purchased and added to the fieet. 

The industrial progress made by the nourishing city of Troy u]) to 
this time, 1825, was a little short of marvelous ^Her population in 
that year was 7,859, an increase of nearly fifty per cent in five years. 
The numerous manufactories included six grist mills, three saw mills, 
an oil mill, a fulling mill, a cotton factory, a distillery, a shovel and 
spade factory, two iron furnaces, three l)reweries, a large machine 
shop, four tanneries, two shoe factories, a ])aper mill, a rope manufac- 
tory, three carriage factories, a gun factory, two bleaching and calen- 
dering concerns and two chair factories, besides many less important 
manufacturing establishments. 



TROY AS A CITY. 255 

The first steam ferry boat began making regular trips across the 
river at the Upper Ferry in July, 1826, being owned by John G. Van- 
derheyden, proprietor of the ferry. It did a thriving business and 
added in no small measure to the general prosperity of the cit}-. 

Early in 1826 the vestry of St. Paul's Episcopal church, upon the re- 
quest of the growing congregation, decided to secure a more commo- 
dious site and build a new church edifice. The two lots on the north- 
east corner of State and Third streets were therefore purchased and 
$24,000 having been subscribed for the purpose contracts were made 
for the building, work upon which was begun in the spring of the 
following }7ear. The corner-stone was laid April 24, 1827, by the 
Rev. David Butler and the building was consecrated by Bishop John 
H. Hobart August 16, 1828. Its total cost was $40,368.66. 

Soon after the erection of the new St. Paul's was decided upon the 
members of the First Presbj^terian church determined, February 1, 
1826, to purchase a site and erect a building. May 22 the trustees pur- 
chased two lots on the southeast corner of Grand Division and Sixth 
streets. The building was begun the next month, the corner stone 
being laid July 12, and March 10, 1827, a call was extended to the 
Rev. Mark Tucker of Northampton, Mass., to become pastor. The 
church was dedicated July 18 and the Rev. Mr. Tucker was installed 
pastor October 31. 

The congregation of St. Peter's Roman Catholic church, which had 
been organized in 1825, and which had held its first services in a school 
house at the corner of vSecond and Ferry streets, soon feeling the need 
of better and more commodious quarters, in the summer of 1826 con- 
cluded to erect a home of their own if possible. In response to an 
appeal from the members of the church a sufficient sum of money was 
soon subscribed and in the latter part of October in that year the lot 
on the northeast corner of Hutton and North Second streets was deeded 
to the society by John D. Dickinson and others in consideration of the 
payment of six cents The work of constructing a small frame build- 
ing was begun soon after and February 19, 1827, " the trustees of St. 
Peter's church " were incorporated. The building was consecrated in 
1830 by Bishop John Du Bois of New York. 

The years 1827 and 1828 were marked by wonderful prosperity in all 
lines of trade and industry in Troy. In the former year the city grew 
as it had never grown before, no less than 330 buildings of all kinds 
being constructed. The business of the city was the greatest that 



256 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

year it had ever known. Mone}' was plentiful and everybod)' was 
happy, from the greatest capitalist to the poorest mechanic or laborer. 
Travel to the city had increased so that it was found necessary to make 
considerable additions to the principal hotel, the Troy house, and to 
build another hotel, the Mansion house, which was begun in the latter 
year by Nathan Warren. In the following year, 1829, the work of pav- 
ing River street with cobblestones was begun, the houses on the prin- 
cipal streets were numbered and the proud growing city began to take 
on metropolitan airs at a rapid rate. The local census of 1828 showed 
the population to be 10,840, an increase of more than 3,000 souls in 
three years — phenomenal development even for those days. A year 
later it was deemed advisable to organize another bank, which was in- 
corporated April 29, 1829, under the name of the Merchants' and Me- 
chanics' Bank of Troy. It opened its doors for business February 12, 
18o0, with a capital stock of $300,000. The bank was at first located 
in the Mansion house, with George Vail as president and Alan son 
Douglas as cashier. Its brick building at No. 10 First street was occu- 
pied for the first in 1830. 

May 1, 1830, the Daily Troy Sentinel, the first daily newspaper issued 
in Troy, was published for the first time by Tuttle & Gregory. Its 
office was at No. 225 River street and it was edited by O. L. Holley. It 
was well patronized, both by subscribers and advertisers, and the mer- 
chants and manufacturers looked upon it as a valuable addition to the 
industries of Troy. It was issued every afternoon except Sundays. 

A number of the members of St. Paul's church having determined 
to form a separate congregation and erect another church, independ- 
ent religious services were held by them, in charge of a layman, in the 
Presbyterian session house at No. 71 Fourth street. November 22, 
1830, officers were elected and the new church was named St. John's 
chiirch. January 13 of the next year the old St. Paul's church on State 
street was purchased and the Rev. John A. Hicks of Easton, Pa., was 
called to the pastorate, assuming his duties the following May. 

April 18, 1831, an act was passed by the Legislature incorporating 
the Troy Turnpike and Railroad company, the stockholders of which 
were Lewis Burtis, vStephen Ross, David Gleason, Stephen Eldridge, 
Anson Arnold, Abraham Van Tuyl, John Burtis, jr., Alsop Weed and 
Robert D. Silliman. The charter authorized them to construct a turn- 
pike road from the west end of the Troy and Bennington road in Hoo- 
sick street in Troy, to the town of Bennington or the town of Pownal, 




WILIJAM h. HAGAN, 



TROY AS A CITY. 257 

Vt. It also gave them power to build a single or double railroad from 
Troy to either or both of the Vermont towns. The capital stock was 
limited to $100,000. Work upon the turnpike was begun at once and 
for many years it was an important highway and stage route. 

The ''burying ground on the hill," as it was generally known, hav- 
ing become about filled with graves, January 1, 1832, the city authori- 
ties purchased 12>^ acres of land on the south side of the Poesten kill 
and east of the road to Albia, which they named Mount Ida Cemetery. 
Three years afterward, February 5, 1835, a portion of it was sold to St. 
Peter's Catholic church, and was used as a burying ground by that 
denomination. 

When the Asiatic cholera was expected in Troy in 1832, on its awful 
journey throughout the country, the militia were ordered out to keep 
from the city several canal boats loaded with emigrants and reported 
as having cholera victims aboard. These boats came down the Cham- 
plain canal from Canada. In describing the ravages of cholera in Troy 
William E. Hagan, esq., writing in the Troy Press June 19, 1890, 
said : 

Some of the proceedings which the excitement at that time stimulated were ridic- 
ulous in the extreme, and particularly the conduct of one Col. Dillon Beebe, who 
commanded the militia here that Sunday afternoon, when he, in full uniform and 
with a great array of rooster feathers in his cocked hat, strode up through the aisle 
of the First Presbyterian church (Dr. Beman's), and without ceremony broke in upon 
the doctor's discourse in a loud stentorian voice ordering all the members of the 
militia there present to immediately appear armed and equipped as the law directed 
at Washington square. Some of the women present fainted, others laughed at the 
ridiculousness of the performance, but at all events it broke up the meeting. . . . 
But it was found that the boats contained a colony of Swedes bound for the West, 
and that there was not a sick person amongst them. 

But the cholera did visit Troy within a fortnight after the departure of the Swed- 
ish emigrants. . . . The first person to die of the cholera in 1832 was James E. 
Prescott. The next death was that of one Henry O'Neal, and after the latter occurred 
there were many others. Amongst the old residents Asa Anthony was the first to 
pass away. He was the father of Prof. Charles H. Anthony, for many years the 
principal of the Troy academy, and long since dead. Capt. Snow, a prominent 
North River captain who lived at No. 43 Third street, was also one of the victims. 

The most remarkable death occasioned was that of Archie Weaver, a blacksmith 
whose shop stood on the southwest corner of Congress and Third streets. He was a 
man of large size and of great strength. He was boasting in the morning of how he 
would conquer the disease should it attack him. He was taken ill about three 
o'clock in the afternoon and died at nine o'clock in the evening, and was buried the 
same night. The cholera victims of the epidemic of 1832 were in the main buried in 
the Mount Ida cemetery, where a long row of the graves may still be seen. . . . 
33 



258 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Since 1833 the cholera has twice visited Troy, in 1849 and in 1853. During the 
latter year it was more fatal in its effects than before. Fortunately for the people 
of the present day, Dr. William P. Seymour was health officer during the prevalence 
of the cholera in 1853, and he was by education and personal ability well fitted to 
tabulate all the phenomenal statistics which attended its visitation. 

A new era was opened in the history of Troy with tlie construction 
of the first line of railroad having the city for a terminus. In 18'2(i a 
railroad was projected, to run from Troy to vSchenectady, but the people 
were enthusiastic supporters of the Erie and the Champlain canals and 
few friends for the railroad proposed could be found. Such an enter- 
prise was not deemed necessary and few believed that it would provide 
superior transportation facilities to those of the canals or that it would 
pay its builders. Nevertheless the people of Albany thought otherwise 
and plans were soon made for and work begun upon the Mohawk & 
Hudson railroad, extending from Albany to Schenectady. This road 
was completed in 1832. At this time the trade of Northern New York, 
especially of Saratoga and Washington counties, was assuming consid- 
erable proportions. In order to draw this trade from Troy, to which it 
most naturally would flow, the people of Albany attempted to divert it 
from that channel by the construction of a branch line from Schen- 
ectady to Saratoga Springs. Undaunted, the business men of Troy at 
once set to work to secure a charter for a new road from Troy to 
Ballston Spa, a distance of nearly twenty-six miles. This franchise was 
granted them April 14, 1832, the articles of incorporation naming as the 
first directors George Griswold, John Cramer, Elisha Tibbits, John 
Knickerbacker, Richard P. Hart, Townsend McCoun, Nathan Warren, 
Stephen Warren, Le Grand Cannon, George Vail, Moses Williams, 
John P. Cushman and John Paine. Work upon the road, which was 
called the Rensselaer & Saratoga railroad, was begun the next year and 
October 6, 1835, the first passenger train crossed the bridge between 
Troy and Green Island. The northern terminus of the road was in the 
south end of the village of Ballston Spa, and the southern terminus was 
at No. 10 First street, Troy, the present site of the Athenanun build- 
ing. From the bridge the cars were drawn by horses down River 
street, turning into First in front of the Troy house, the engine leaving 
the train at the bridge. While the Rensselaer & Saratoga road ex- 
tended only as far north as Ballston Spa, the Schenectady branch of 
the Mohawk & Hudson road had been built as far north as {Saratoga 
Springs, the latter road thereby securing a monopoly of the traffic be- 



TROY AS A city; 269 

tween vSaratoga Springs and Ballston Spa. As soon as the Rensselaer & 
Saratoga road had been completed an endeavor was made to enter into 
an agreement with the other road whereby the passenger and freight 
traffic of the Rensselaer & Saratoga might be carried on north of 
Ballston Spa over the tracks of the Schenectady & Saratoga road. The 
project was selfishly opposed, however, by the management of the latter 
road, comprised almost wholly of inhabitants of Albany, who were 
jealous of Troy's commercial success, and doubtless would have come 
to naught had it not been for the fact that the directors of the Rensse- 
laer & Saratoga road had an unexpected opportunity to purchase of a 
New York broker a sufficient number of shares of stock of the other 
road to give them its control. This settled the question and the two 
roads thereafter worked in harmony. Direct communication between 
the village of Troy and the village of Saratoga Springs was at once 
established, giving additional prestige to Troy as a commercial centre 
and securing for its merchants and manufacturers that of which the 
rival city of Albany had tried to deprive them. 

The first cars used on the Rensselaer & Saratoga railroad were made by 
Gilbert, Veazie & Eaton, then famous Troy car builders. The passenger 
cars were looked upon as marvels of beauty, crude as they were, and 
were twenty-four in number. They were twenty-four feet long, eight 
feet wide and a little over six feet high inside, and each was divided 
into three apartments. The seats were "cushioned and backed with 
crimson morocco, trimmed with coach lace; each apartment is sur- 
rounded by movable panels, thus affording the comforts and facilities 
of either a close or open carriage to suit the convenience of the passen- 
gers." 

The existing improved system of waterworks in Troy had its incep- 
tion in 18:53 and 1834. The old Conduit company, to which reference 
has been made in preceding pages, supplied the residents of Troy 
with water until 1833, when a new reservoir was constructed for the 
purpose of increasing the supply and the storage capacity. April 18, 
1829, the Troy Water Works company had been incorporated, with a 
capital stock of $250,000. vSurveys having been made and an abundance 
of excellent water having been found, the old corporation surrendered 
its rights to the city and its property was soon afterward purchased 
for a small sum. The necessary land and the water privileges of the 
Piscawen kill were soon obtained, and in the spring of 1833 the con- 
struction of a dam and reservoir was begun. These were completed 



^60 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

the next year and showed a total capacity of about 450,000 gallons. 
The streets were piped for the distribution of the water, and soon two 
more reservoirs, holding 1,000,000 gallons were constructed. Other 
reservoirs were constructed on the Piscawen kill in 1843 and again in 
1853 as the demand for water grew, and thus the system developed 
gradually to its present proportions. 

April 5, 1831, the Troy Insurance company was incorporated, re- 
maining in business ten years. Its predecessor, the Rensselaer & Sar- 
atoga Insurance company, passed out of existence in 1840 after doing- 
business 26 years. May 14, 1836, the Mechanics' Mutual Insurance 
company of the City of Troy received a charter, which it retained until 
1856, when it wound up its affairs and discontinued business. 

One of the most important industries established in Troy about this 
time was the Troy India Rubber company, which was granted a char- 
ter by the Legislature May 4, 1836, with a capital stock of a quarter of 
a million dollars. The company's factory, a big one for those days, 
was a brick structure located on the west side of the Greenbush road a 
short distance south of the Poesten kill. The factory with its contents 
was destroyed by fire the same year, but new buildings were at once 
erected and 120 people were employed. 

An exciting event of the year 1836 in Troy was the mobbing of The- 
odore D, Weld, a distinguished philanthropist, in the Bethel, a mission 
church founded for the spiritual benefit of boatmen, located on the 
northwest corner of Fifth and Elbow streets, the present site of the 
Fifth Avenue hotel. At that time the majority of the inhabitants of 
Troy were opposed to the then increasing movement for the abolition 
of slavery, and many bitter controversies had arisen between the 
abolitionists and those who advocated non interference with the South. 
Mr. Weld had delivered several lectures on the subject of slavery and 
had attracted large audiences to the Bethel. Soon after he had arrived 
in Troy there appeared in one of the city papers an incendiary com- 
munication regarding him and his teachings which stirred the pro- 
slavery people up to a high state of excitement. On the afternoon of 
June 2 Mr. Weld was delivering a lecture in the church before a large 
audience, when a mob entered and attacked him, attempting to drag 
him from the pulpit. A struggle between members of the congrega- 
tion and the mob ensued, in which the former were victorious, after 
which the lecturer was conducted from the church to a place of safety 
by Henry Z. Hayner, a prominent lawyer who had held the leader of 




RICHARD H. VAN ALSTYNE. 



TROY AS A CITY. 261 

the mob at bay. The incident created intense excitement throughout 
the city and doubtless strengthened the ranks of the local abolitionists. 

A memorable event in the history of Troy was a catastrophe which 
occurred early in the evening of Sunda}^ January i, 1837, when an 
immense quantity of clay, which had been loosened through the com- 
bined influences of frosts and thaws, slid down the west side of Ida hill, 
or Mount Ida, burying three dwelling houses, in which were seven per- 
sons, and two stables, containing twenty two horses. The avalanche 
came with such terrific force as to carry everything before it for a dis- 
tance of four or five hundred feet westward on the level, covering 
several acres of land. John Grace and his wife were instantly killed 
and two young sons of Mrs. Leavenworth were crushed in a shocking 
manner. Sixteen of the twenty-two horses were killed. The accident 
created the wildest sensation for a time. 

The St. Patrick's Day mob in Troy, March 17, 1837, was another 
sensational incident in which several persons were badly injured and 
considerable property ruined or damaged, all on account of the antics 
of a lot of young boys. Early in the morning effigies were suspended 
from trees and buildings in different sections of the city for the evi- 
dent purpose of bringing the holiday into disrepute. During the 
morning one Irish resident, incensed at the sight, attempted to pull 
down one of the figures which was suspended at the foot of Ferry 
street but was prevented from doing so by a crowd of men and boys. 
Soon afterwards he returned to the scene with a crowd of his fellow 
countrymen and an incipient riot at once followed. Missiles were 
thrown through the air, injuring several persons, some quite severely. 
Among these were John P. Cole, whose wounds were of a very serious 
nature, and another man who was knocked down and beaten l:)y the 
enraged Irishmen. Several buildings were attacked, the store of Theo- 
dorus Valleau being badly damaged. Mayor Richard P. Hart, at- 
tended by other city officials, commanded the rioters to disperse, which 
they did temporarily, but they soon returned to renew their depreda- 
tions. Finding they could not be controlled by peaceable means the 
Citizens Corps was ordered out under arms at noon, but even this sum- 
mary proceeding was not effectual, as the rioting continued at intervals 
the rest of the day and during the evening, when the mob went so far 
as to fire guns into the crowd, seriously injuring several persons. The 
rioters finally dispersed, being overawed by the militia. As a reSuIt of 
the trouble about twenty of the ringleaders were sentenced to jail. 



262 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

During the period of business depression in the United States which 
began in 1837 Troy was seriously affected with other cities. The Troy 
banks were finally compelled to suspend specie payments and for the 
purpose of continuing business James A. Zander, then city commis- 
sioner, assumed the personal responsibility of issuing temporary local 
currency, a plan followed in many other cities of the country. Bills of 
four denominations — one, two, three and four shillings, of 12^ cents 
each — were printed and widely circulated for several years. These 
read as follows : 

On demand, 1 promise to pay to the bearer, cents in New York Safety 

Fund bills, on the presentation of Five Dollars at my ofhce. Troy, July 1st, 1837. 
James A. Zander. 

The people had confidence in Mr. Zander, who was famed f(;r hie 
integrity, and the bills practically saved the business of Troy. They 
were eventually redeemed by the city. 

The city was increased in size in 183G by the addition of a part of 
the town of Lansingburgh, the northern boundary of Troy then being 
established as it has since remained. April 22, 1837, the Legislature 
passed an act dividing the fourth ward into two wards, that part lying- 
north of a line running through the middle of Jacob street becoming 
the seventh ward. Those parts of the first and sixth wards lying be- 
tween Liberty street and Canal avenue by the same law became the 
eighth ward. 

The market facilities of Troy were greatly improved during the years 
1839 and 1840 by the erection of two brick market buildings. The 
first was Fulton market, which was built on the site of the old ship- 
vard on the southwest corner of River and Elbow (Fulton) streets; the 
other was Washington market, situated on the southwest corner of 
Division and vSecond streets. In the second story of each building was 
a large hall in which public meetings of all kinds were held. Both 
markets were opened to the public in May, 1841. The first market in 
Troy had been established fcu'ty years before in a long, low wooden 
building in the middle of State street between First and Second streets. 
Six years later, in 1806, a new market building was erected on the 
northwest corner of Third and State streets, and in 1812 two other 
markets were built, one in the northern part and the other in the 
south'^rn part of the village. To meet the increasing demands, sixteen 
years later a new North market was erected on the south side of Fed- 
eral street, between River street and Fifth avenue, and a new South 



TROY AS A CITY. 263 

market was built on the northeast corner of Division and Second streets. 
The market on Third and State streets then became Centre market. 
All these markets were finally abandoned when the new markets were 
established in 1839. 

April 13, 1839, the Troy Episcopal Institute, which had been estab- 
lished the preceding- year by Rev. William F. Walker, rector of Christ 
Episcopal church, was incorporated. It was located on the east side of 
Eig-hth street between Federal and Jacob streets, one of the finest sites 
in the city. The school was not a paying institution and after a career 
of less than three years it was closed. 

In the summer of 1840 transportation facilities to and from Troy 
were greatly enhanced b}- the construction of the handsome passenger 
and freight steamer Troy, which began regular trips between Troy and 
New York July 17. The steamer was 294 feet in length and 61 feet 
m width and cost $100,000, a large sum to be put into a steam vessel 
in that period. The Troy was well patronized by all classes of trade 
and its owners soon realized that it would not be long before they 
would be compelled to put a companion boat on the line. 

Five years after the people of Troy had shown the inhabitants of 
Albany that they were not dependent upon the latter for railroad facil- 
ities and had begun the operation of the Rensselaer & Saratoga rail- 
road, the construction of another line of road was begun under circum- 
stances somewhat similar. When the Rensselaer & Saratoga road was 
constructed the Trojans consulted the business men and capitalists of 
Albany, with the end in view of securing their consent to the extension 
of the Utica & Schenectady railroad to Troy. The application was 
vigorously opposed by Albanians, however, who believed that by refus- 
ing to give their consent to the plan the matter would be dropped in 
Troy, and the rapidly increasing and very valuable trade of Central 
and Western New York would continue to be monopolized by the busi- 
ness men of Albany. But the latter evidently had not reckoned upon 
the indomitable energy which characterized the people of Troy, though 
it had been illustrated in an emphatic manner, for the Legislature was 
immediately petitioned, May 21, 183(5, to pass an act incorporating the 
Schenectady & Troy Railroad company. This request was granted 
and, the Rensselaer & Saratoga railroad having been found to be a 
paying institution, work was begun in 1840 upon the road connecting 
Troy and Schenectady. The expense of the work, $649,142, was borne 
by the city of Troy, which bonded itself for that amount. The first 



264 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

reo'ular trains were run over the road beginning in November, 1842, 
the cars being drawn by horses across the Rensselaer & Saratoga rail- 
road bridge to the company's office on River street. In the spring of 
the following year the tracks were extended along River street from the 
Troy house to State street, in order that both roads might land and 
receive passengers and freight at the steamboat landing. The business 
of both the railroad company and the steamboat company had begun to 
assume large proportions. The steamer Empire, a companion boat to 
the Troy, began running regularly between Troy and New York May 
17, 1843, bringing additional business to the railroads. The Empire 
was much larger than the Troy, being 330 feet in length, with 360 
berths and 72 staterooms. 

The development of local transportation facilities boomed in those 
days. With a railroad from Troy to Saratoga and another from Troy 
to Schenectady; with a double line of steamboats from Troy to New 
York and adequate ferriage across the Hudson, the people of Troy be- 
gan to see great possibilities in a railroad to New York city. As early 
as April 17, 1832, a charter was granted the New York and Albany Rail- 
road company, upon the application to the Legislature of a number of 
the representative men of Troy and Albany. The act permitted the 
construction of a railroad from the junction of Fourth avenue and the 
Harlem river in New York to a point opposite or near the city of 
Albany, with power to extend the road to Troy. The building of the 
road was delayed for several years, but in 1840 and 1841 a track was 
laid from Greenbush to Troy; but its use was temporarily prohibited 
by the passage of a law in 1842, which provided that that section of 
the road was not to be used until $250,000, in addition to the amount 
previously expended, were actually paid out for the construction of 
that portion of the New York & Albany railroad south of the northern 
boundary of Columbia county. This legislation was enacted, it was 
charged, at the instance of Troy's old-time enemy, Albany, which was 
still jealous of the commercial supremac}' of the former city. Within 
three years, however, the $250,000 called for by law had been expended 
on the New York & Albany road, and May 1 1, 1845, the people of Troy 
secured a charter for the road which they had built, under the name of 
the Troy & Greenbush Railroad company, and one month later trains 
on the road began making regular trips. The road extended to Wash- 
ington street, at which point it intersected the Schenectady & Troy 
railroad, and the cars were drawn by horses over the track on River 




JOHN W. BURNS, 



TROY AS A CITY. 265 

street to the station built in 1845 at the intersection of River and King 
streets. The office of the road was at No, IGl River street. June 1, 
1851, the road was leased to the Hudson River Railroad company, the 
local company retaining the management of the business between Troy 
and Albany. In July, 1851, an office was established at No. 197 River 
street by the Hudson River Railroad company and in December of the 
same year through trains between Troy and New York began running 
on the new road. 

A good idea of the general impression of Troy among strangers at 
this time may be gathered from the following extracts from "Histor- 
ical Collections of the State of New York," etc., written by John W. 
Barber, a noted historical writer, and Henry Howe, also a writer of 
considerable repute, and published in New York in 1841: 

The city of Troy is regularly laid out, on a plan similar to that of Philadelphia. 
The principal street is River street, which extends along the Hudson the whole length 
of the city, and is ornamented with many splendid and spacious stores. It is the thea- 
tre of a very extensive business. The remainmg portion of the place generally ex- 
hibits the quiet aspect of the country. Many of the buildings, both public and pri- 
vate, are spacious and elegant. The court-house, built of Sing Sing marble, is a 
splendid edifice, after the Grecian model. St. Paul's church is a noble Gothic edifice, 
erected at an expense of about 50,000 dollars. There are in Troy twelve places of pub- 
lic worship — viz., 3 Presbyterian, 2 Episcopal, 2 Methodist, 1 Scotch Presbyterian, 1 Ro- 
man Catholic, 1 African church and 2 Friends meeting houses. On the Wynant and 
Poestens Kills, which here empty into the Hudson, are several manufacturing estab- 
lishments. The city is abundantly supplied with excellent water from the neighbor- 
ing hills. Hydrants are placed at the corners of the streets with hose attached, which 
in case of fire, as the natural head of the water is 75 feet above the city level, super- 
sedes the use of fire engines. Troy is indebted in a great measure for its pros- 
perity to its advantageous situation, and the enterprise and industry of her inhabi- 
tants. She has extensively availed herself of the facilities afforded by the river and 
the Erie and the Champlain canals. The tides of the Hudson frequently as- 
cend to a dam thrown across the river about a mile and a half above the centre of 
the city. By means of a lock, sloop navigation is thus afforded to the village of 
Waterford. Within the last few years Troy has increased rapidly in wealth and 
population. In 1820 her population was 5,268; in 1830, 11,566; in 1840, 19,373. The 
Rensselaer & Saratoga railroad, 24 miles to Ballston Spa, crosses the Hudson at 
this place by a bridge 1,600 feet in length. . . . The Troy Female Seminary, 
located in this place, holds a high rank among institutions of learning in our country. 
John H. and Sarah L. Willard are the principals, and Nancy Hinsdale the vice- 
principal; there are besides 21 teachers and officers. . . . This school has edu- 
cated at least five thousand pupils; of whom about one-tenth have been teachers, 
and it has furnished principals for many of the most distinguished female schools in 
every part of the Union. The present principal of this seminary, Mrs. Sarah L. 
34 



266 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Willard, spent nineteen years in the institution as pupil, teacher and vice-principal, 
before assuming its government. But the larger number of the young ladies here 
educated have married, and are now, many of them, standing in the first circles and 
among the first women of our country in regards to piety and moral worth, domestic 
usefulness, and intellectual and social accomplishments. Several of the pupils have 
been distinguished as authors. About twenty teachers are constantly employed. 
The number of pupils being about two hundred, gives an average of one teacher to 
ten pupils. . . . Great care has been bestowed on health, and but one death of a 
pupil, and that a sudden one from organic affection of the heart, has occurred. . . 
The Rensselaer Institute is an excellent institution under the charge of Professor 
Raton. Many young men are here fitted for the profes.sion of civil engineering. The 
system of teaching is thorough and practical. 

In the same year, the Buffalo Gazette, the leading- newspaper of 
Western New York, in commenting upon the prosperity induced by the 
energy of the people of Troy, said : 

The Trojans are proverbial for their enterprise and public spirit. Everything 
which they take hold of "goes ahead." For two or three years past they have been 
endeavoring to compete with Albany for the western travel to New York and the 
East. For this purpose a railroad had been constructed to Schenectady which inter- 
cepts the great western line at that point and upon the river a line of most splendid 
steamers has been put. Having recently passed over this route we can speak of it 
advisedly. The railroad is one of the best constructed in the United States, and 
passes through a section of country abounding in beautiful scenery. This, with the 
gentlemanly attention of those in charge of the cars — which by the way are superb — 
being like those of the Attica & Buffalo road — renders it a trip of pleasantness and 
comfort. And then upon the noble Hudson ! We thought we had seen steamboats 
on our own Erie, and so we have, some of the finest specimens of this class in the 
world. But the boats comprising the Troy line, being fitted up especially for passen- 
gers, surpass in beauty and magnificence anything we have ever beheld in the 
shape of water craft. There is the Buffalo — named as a compliment to our city — 
with the gentlemanly and attentive Captain R. B. Macy. She is one of the 
most elegant boats on the river. The Swallow, Captain A. McLean; the Troy, 
Captain A. Gorham, and the Empire, Captain S. R. Roe; all well known and 
popular with the traveling public. The two former compose the Night Line and the 
two latter the Day Line. The Empire is the longest boat on the river. 

A fire which destroyed many thousands of dollars' worth of property 
occtirred on the afternoon of Sunday, June G, 1841, when nine wooden 
buildings and two brick buildings on the west side of River street, 
bounded on the north by Fulton market and on the south by the store of 
Haight, Gillespy & Co., were destroyed. This fire was the most disas- 
trous which had occurred since the conflagration of 1820. On the 
burned area several handsome business buildings were immediately 
erected. 



TROY AS A CITY. 267 

Two years after the founding of the Church of the Holy Cross by 
Mary Warren, wife of Nathan Warren, in 1844, this noble woman, as- 
sociating with her her sons, Nathan B., Stephen E. and George H. 
Warren; her son in-law, Edmund Schriver; the Rev. John Ireland 
Tucker, pastor of the Church of the Holy Cross, and Amos S. Perry, 
established "The Warren BYee Institute of the City of Troy." This 
day school for girls was incorporated May 19, 1846, it having been es- 
tablished first in 1815 by Phoebe, wife of Eliakim Warren, as a Saturday 
sewing school for poor girls. At her death in 1835, Mary Warren, her 
daughter-in-law, succeeded her in its management, and four years later 
changed it to a charity day school, finally incorporating the institution as 
described. When the latter change was made the school was located 
in the old Vanderheyden mansion on the southwest corner of Eighth 
and Grand Division streets. April 5, 1859, the name of the school was 
changed by act of the Legislature to " The Mary Warren Free Insti- 
tute of the City of Troy," the act providing that a fourth of the income 
of the institute might be applied for the instruction of children of both 
sexes, and a fourth for maintaining services in the Church of the Holy 
Cross, of which the institute was a branch. Joseph D. Lomax, M. D., 
for many years was principal of the boys' department of the school. 
The building was burned May 10, 1862, and at the beginning of the 
following year the new school building south of and adjoining the 
church was opened. This is the edifice now occupied by the insti- 
tute. 

The year 1846 marked the introduction into Troy of the first Morse 
magnetic telegraph line. In June of that year the construction of a 
line between Troy and Whitehall was begun, and July 24 the first mes- 
sage was sent to Saratoga Springs from the Troy ofifice, located in the 
basement of the Athenoeum building, on First street. August 6 the line 
from Tro}^ to Buffalo was completed and the first message sent over 
those wires. October 6 the first message from New York to Troy 
was received by way of Boston. Moses Johnson was the first super- 
intendent of the Troy station. The operations of the mysterious 
apparatus created a widespread interest in Troy and were even 
more inexplicable to the wondering masses than was the telephone, in- 
troduced thirty years later. 

A year later the inhabitants of Troy were once more given an oppor- 
tunity to marvel, this time over a new illuminating gas which its 
inventors endeavored to have introduced into the city. July 19 of that 



268 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

year an exhibition of the wonderful qualities of the gas was given in 
front of the court house, which resulted in creating such a general de- 
mand for its introduction in Troy, that February 10, 1848, the Troy 
Gas Light company was incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000. 
Of this amount $11,000 was subscribed by Trojans and the balance by 
Philadelphia capitalists. Conduits were laid at once and the streets of 
the city and many public and private buildings were illuminated by gas 
for the first time on the evening of October 2, 1848. An attempt had 
been made many years before, first as early as 1818, to introduce an 
inferior quality of gas; and March 29, 1825, a number of citizens even 
went so far as to become incorporated as " The Troy Gas Light com- 
pany," with a capital stock of $150,000, but the company never began 
the manufacture of gas and the project ended with the granting of the 
charter. The leading spirits in this early unsuccessful company were 
Nathan Warren, George Tibbits, Richard P. Hart, Samuel McCoun, 
John D. Dickinson, Jedediah Tracy, Gurdon Corning, Elias Patterson, 
Gilbert Reilay, Daniel Southwick, John Paine, John Gary, Warren 
Kellogg, James Van Schoonhoven, James Van Brackle, Jeremiah Dau- 
chy, Ephraim Gurley, Alsop Weed and Gurdon Grant. 

St. Peter's Roman Catholic church, which was built in 1826 and 1827 
on the corner of Hutton and North Second streets and later enlarged 
by a brick addition, was totally destroyed by fire February 10, 1848, 
caused by sparks from a stove-pipe. The new church was erected the 
following year and was dedicated December 16, 1849, by Bishop John 
McCloskey of Albany. 

The third of the disastrous conflagrations occurring in Troy was one 
which began about 9.30 o'clock in the evening of Monday, Mayl, 1848, 
in a stable in the rear of Mechanics' hall on the east side of River .street 
between Congress and Ferry streets. Most of the buildings were of 
wood and within a short space of time the entire block was destroyed, 
beside the McCoun block on the south side of Congress street and five 
large buildings on the west side of River street. Help was sent from 
Albany, West Troy and Lansingburgh and the firemen of these places 
did splendid service in preventing the progress of the flames to other 
parts of the city. No lives were lost, but seventeen horses of the Troy 
and Albany stage line and seven belonging to S. J. & A. C. Halstead. 
were burned to death. 

The Troy Board of Trade was organized by a number of prominent 
merchants and shippers October 13, 1849, the first meeting being held 




JOSIAH A. WAIT 



TROY AS A CITY. 269 

four days later in the hall in the Athenaeum building. The body con- 
tinued in existence 27 years, during which time many products were 
listed and the business men of Troy and vicinity drawn into closer 
relations. 

The consecration of Oakwood cemetery October 16, 1850, was at- 
tended by solemn and impressive ceremonies. The plans for the 
establishment of this handsome and imposing burial ground, which 
occupies one of the finest sites in the country devoted to a similar pur- 
pose, had their inception in the fall of 1846, when a number of citizens 
agreed to contribute money sufficient to purchase and lay out the land 
selected by the majority of them. Their original plan was deemed 
impracticable, and two years later they determined to take advantage 
of the law authorizing the incorporation of rural cemeteries. Conse- 
quently the Troy Cemetery association was organized September 9, 
1848, with Isaac McConihe, George M. Tibbits, John Paine, D. Thomas 
Yail, John B. Gale and Stephen E. Warren as trustees. The committee 
appointed at the time of organization reported in favor of the selection 
of the present site on the high hill near the northeastern limits of the 
city, and the next fall the trustees purchased about one hundred and 
fifty acres of land on that spot and engaged J. C. Sidney, a landscape 
architect, to lay it out in an artistic manner. The dedication cere- 
monies were very impressive. A procession headed by the Watervliet 
Arsenal band, composed of the officers of the cemetery association, the 
members of the Common Council, the pastors of the various churches 
and other representative citizens, under the escort of the local military 
companies, proceeded from the court-house to the grounds under the 
leadership of Colonel A. H. Pierce, grand marshal. The exercises began 
with a prayer by the Rev. Dr. Nathan S. S. Beeman, pastor of the First 
Presbyterian church, followed by the reading of the Scriptures by the 
Rev. Robert B. Van Kleeck, pastor of St. Paul's church, and the sing- 
ing of the dedication hymn composed for the occasion by Rev. John 
Pierpont, pastor of the First Unitarian church. The dedicatory address 
was delivered by the Hon. David Buel, jr., who declared the name of 
the ground to be Oakwood cemetery. The exercises were brought to 
a close by the benediction pronounced by the Rev. Dr. George C. Bald- 
win, pastor of the First Particular Baptist church. 

June 6, 1850, witnessed the formal inauguration of the work upon the 
Troy & Boston Railroad, a charter for which had been granted April 
4, 1848. As early as 1819, during the construction of the Erie and the 



270 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Champlain canals, it had been proposed by a civil engineer to make 
a canal from the Atlantic ocean at Boston to the Hudson river at 
Troy. The project was investigated, the commissioners appointed by 
the Massachusetts Legislature reporting that the work could be best 
accomplished by means of a tunnel through the mountains of western 
Massachusetts. Before any practical steps toward the construction of 
the road were taken, however, the era of steam railways had dawned 
and the canal project gave way to plans for the construction of a rail- 
road over the same route. In 1849 several Troy capitalists had surveys 
made for a road from Troy to the Vermont line, for the purpose of 
reaching Boston temporarily by way of Rutland, Xt., and ultimately 
by way of Greenfield, Mass., through the contemplated tunnel through 
the Hoosac mountains. The survey proving satisfactory the charter 
of 1848 was granted and the work was begun in 1850 as stated. The 
ceremonies of June 6 were as imposing as the event was important. A 
long procession, composed of the militia and numerous civic organiza- 
tions, started in the morning from the court-house to a field in the 
eastern part of the city, near the line of Glen avenue, where, after 
speeches by representative Trojans, General John E, Wool, one of the 
directors of the company and a most enthusiastic promoter of the road, 
broke the first ground. Mayor Day O. Kellogg, secretary and treasurer 
of the company, loaded the soil upon a wheelbarrow, which Amos 
Briggs, president of the company, dumped to the ground a short dis- 
tance away. After the ceremonies a banquet was served at the Troy 
house in which more than a hundred persons participated. Thus 
started the work progressed favorably. The construction of the Hoosac 
tunnel was begun in 1854 by the Troy & Greenfield Railroad company, 
the State of Massachusetts extending a credit of $2,000,000 to facili- 
tate the work. On the evening of June 28, 1852, the first passenger 
train on the Troy & Boston railroad, from Eagle Bridge, arrived in 
the city. But it was not until February !), J 875, that the first train of 
cars passed through the Hoosac tunnel. October 13 of that year the 
first passenger train from Boston arrived in Tr<jy, and July 17, 1870, 
the first through train to Boston left Troy, the journey occup3nng 
seven and a half hours. 

It may be added, in connection witli the development of railways 
running out from Troy, that the city about this time was a prominent 
centre for the manufacture of passenger and freight cars, which were 
sent to all parts of the country. This industry was started in 1841 by 



TROY AS A CITY. 271 

the manufacture of railroad passenger cars at the works of Eaton & 
Gilbert. Eleven years before the works of Charles Veazie and Orsa- 
mus Eaton had turned out fifty post coaches, used on the various stage 
lines in and about Rensselaer county, in addition to which many 
vehicles of other kinds were made. The firm of Eaton & Gilbert built 
the first eight-wheel passenger cars used on the Schenectady & Troy 
railroad. In 1844 Edward O. Eaton was admitted to the firm, which 
was then known as Eaton, Gilbert & Co. In the year 1850 the output 
of this concern, which at that time was located on Sixth street, be- 
tween Fulton and Albany streets, was thirty passenger cars and 158 
freight cars, besides 100 stage coaches and fifty omnibuses. The 
stages and cars built by that establishment were used, not only in all 
parts of the United States, but also in Canada, Mexico and South 
America. 

April 17, 1851, two new wards were created by the Legislature by 
the division of the sixth and seventh wards. The ninth ward was de- 
fined as "all that part of the sixth ward boimded by a line running 
through the centre of Polk street eastwardly to the centre of the Green- 
bush road, thence tiortherly through the centre line of the road to a 
point in the north line of the Bumstead farm, thence easterly along the 
north line of the farm to a point in the west line of the Rensselaer 
county poor house farm, thence northerly along the west line of the 
farm to the northwest corner of the farm, thence northerly to the Hol- 
low road, thence westerly along the centre of the Hollow road to the 
centre of the Poesten kill, and thence westerly along the centre of the 
creek to the Hudson river." The tenth ward was defined as all that 
part of the seventh ward lying north of a line running through the 
middle of Hoosick street. 

Another disastrous fire, entailing a loss of over $50,000, started on 
the afternoon of October 28, 1852, in a shed in the rear of a house on 
Fulton street, between Fifth and Sixth streets. Before the fire could 
be controlled it had consumed several adjacent buildings, including the 
car works of Eaton, Gilbert Sz Co., the North Baptist church and Union 
Place block. 

A notable trial which occurred in Troy in 1853 was that of a woman 
supposed to be Mrs. Henrietta Robinson, afterward famous as the 
"veiled murderess." The charge against her was murdering, by poi- 
son given in beer, a man named Lanigan and attempting to kill by the 
same means a woman visiting at his house in Troy. Throughout the 



272 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

entire trial the accused sat with her face heavily veiled, and forever 
after her identity remained undisclosed. The mysterious woman was 
convicted on the charge and sentenced to death, but the sentence was 
commuted to imprisonment for life through the efforts of Judge Harris, 
the presiding judge, and Martin I. Townsend, her chief counsel. In 
189U Mrs. Robinson was still confined in the State Asylum for insane 
criminals at Matteawan, N. Y. 

Two banking companies, both of which are now extinct, were organ- 
ized in 1853 and 1854. They were the Market Bank of Tro}^ incor- 
porated in January, 1853, with a capital of $200,000, and the Troy vSav- 
ings company, incorporated June 29, 1854. The first named began 
business in September, 1853, in the building No. 280 River street, with 
Jeremiah S. Hakes as president and Albert C. Gunnison as cashier. 
The bank ceased to exist in January, 1805, being succeeded by the 
National Exchange bank. The Troy Savings company was located at 
No. 18 First street and began business with Uri Gilbert as president, 
Joseph U. Orvis as vice-president and John P. Albertson as secretary 
and treasurer. Its business never was very extensive, and after a 
career of twenty-six years it discontinued business. 

By a decision of the Supreme Court of New York State the exclusive 
right to operate steam or other ferries across the Hudson river opposite 
the city of Troy by the heirs to the Vanderheyden estate and their suc- 
cessors was annulled, and the right to receive tolls by the persons or 
companies operating the ferries became a State franchise. Ever since 
1826 steam ferryboats had been running across the river to and from 
Gibbonsville, the first one having been constructed especially for John 
G. Vanderheyden. When the decision of the Supreme Court was 
handed down a third ferry was established as the foot of Broadway, 
landing on the opposite side of the river at the south end of Green 
Island. It was not until some time after the construction of the State 
dam that the fourth ferry, running between the foot of Douw street, 
Troy, and Tibbits street, Green Island, was established. The first and 
only very serious accident on any of these lines occurred on the morn- 
ing of October 13, 1854, when the ferry boat plying between the city 
and Green Island was upset in midstream by swells from the steam- 
boat Alice, throwing its seventeen passengers in the water, eleven of 
whom were drowned. 

The next important chapter in the history of railroad development 
in Troy centres about the organization of the Troy Union Railroad 



TROY AS A CITY. 273 

company. As we have seen, the first tracks of the Rensselaer & Sara- 
toga railroad, which were also used by the Schenectady & Troy Rail- 
road company, were laid from the Green Island bridge down River 
street to First and thence to the front of the Athenaeum building. Soon 
after the opening of these roads the business men of Troy and others 
began to complain of the inconvenience caused by running cars on 
these streets, particularly on River street, the principal business 
thoroughfare. This feeling finally culminated in a general desire that 
the tracks be taken up and removed to some other street where the 
running of the cars would not so seriously interfere with local street 
traffic and general business. Consequently, on petition of the citizens 
of Troy, the Legislature, June 20, 1851, authorized the city and the 
different railroad companies to form a stock company for the construc- 
tion of a railroad through a part or the whole of the city. In accord- 
ance with this permission the Troy Union RailrcJad company was organ- 
ized July 21 of the same year. The work of construction was delayed 
some time for the purpose of determining the streets which might best 
be set apart for the new railroad, and it was not imtil December 3, 
1852, that the city authorities granted the company a franchise to use 
each side of Sixth street, between Fulton and Albany streets, for a 
passenger depot, and to change the course of Sixth street at that point 
if necessary. Soon after this the work of construction ,was begun. 
March 14, 1853, the company purchased of Orsamus Eaton his property, 
located on the site chosen for a depot, and the erection of that struc- 
ture was begun. New tracks connecting with the Ttx»y & Greenbush 
railroad were laid on wSixth street, and another line was laid to the 
Rensselaer & Saratoga railroad bridge. 

Meantime other plans for the betterment of Troy's railroad facilities 
were in progress. The ownership of the Schenectady & Troy railroad, 
and its operation and maintenance, had proven a heavy burden for the 
city and soon after the organization of the Troy Union Railroad com- 
pany a number of citizens petitioned the Common Council to sell the 
Schenectady & Troy railroad for as large a sum as it would bring. Six 
months afterward the committee to whom the matter had been referred 
for investigation reported in favor of selling the road for not less than 
$200,000. January 24, 1853, a committee consisting of Mayor George 
Gould, Recorder Gilbert Robertson, jr.. Alderman Jonathan Edwards, 
Alderman Foster Bosworth, Russell Sage and D. Thomas Vail were 
appointed a committee to make the sale at not less than the price men- 
35 



274 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

tioned. In accordance with its instructions the committee contracted 
to sell the road to E. D. Morgan for $200,000, March 1, 1853, who was 
to pay $50,000 cash upon that date and the balance in fourteen years, 
with six per cent, semi-annual interest after March 1, 1858. The new 
owner entered into an agreement with the city to keep the road in good 
condition and to fulfill the agreement between the city and the Troy 
Union Railroad company. The sale was immediately confirmed by the 
Common Coimcil and the necessary papers signed by the mayor. 

The Troy Union railroad and its large new depot were opened for 
business February 22, 1854, when a banquet was given on the upjier 
floor of the building. Five new passenger cars brought from Albany, 
by way of Greenbush, 425 invited guests, including 125 members 
of the State Legislature, then in session, several of whom made 
addresses speaking in most flattering terms of the great enterprise of 
the people of Troy. From this time on the interests of the various 
railroads centering in Troy were indissolubly linked together, and it 
may be said that on February 22, 1854, a new era of prosperity opened, 
not only for Tro5''s railroads but for all its diversified interests. 

The inhabitants of Troy were again called upon to suffer a great loss 
by fire when, on the afternoon of Friday, August 25, 1854, a large quan- 
tity of lumber and several blocks of buildings were destroyed. The 
flames originated about one o'clock in a brick planing mill on the south- 
west corner of Front and Division streets and quickly consumed the 
l^iles of lumber south of the mill. From there it continued until it had 
burned all the buildings and lumber west of River street, from Divis- 
ion street to Jefferson street; all the buildings of any kind west of First 
street, between Liberty and Jefferson streets, and nearly all the struc- 
tures between the latter streets along and west of the alley between 
First and Second streets. About two hundred buildings were de- 
stroyed, including among the most important, the freight depot and 
repair shop of the Troy & Greenbush Railroad company, the chair 
factory of Edgerton, vSheldon & Osborn, the bell foundry of Jones & 
Hitchcock and Parmenter's machine shop. About 20,000,000 feet of 
lumber was also burned, and fully three hundred families were ren- 
dered homeless, many losing all their possessions excepting the cloth- 
ing they wore. Relief was extended the sufferers by residents of Troy 
and other cities. On this occasion the local fire department received 
valuable assistance from fire companies in Albany, Lansingburgh, 
West Troy, Cohoes and Waterford. A conservative estimate of the 
loss places it at about one million dollars. 



TROY AS A CITY. 275 

Troy was the original home and is the present centre of the linen 
collar, cuff and shirt industry of the world. The collar industry was 
started in this city in a modest way by one man in the year 1828.' His 
success, coupled with that of his successors, incited emulation, and 
several other firms soon entered the field. The g;reat convenience of 
detachable collars and cuffs was apparent from the start, and the de- 
mand for them soon distanced even the rapidly increasing production. 
This continued to enlarge, however, until it seemed that the limit of 
consumption must have been reached. But it may almost be said with 
truth that there is no limit to the demand. The competition which be- 
gan soon after the establishment of the first collar manufactory gave 
birth to many new fashions, and there have been in the past thirty or 
forty years several freakish and fantastic periods in the industry, each 
one of which was followed almost immediately by reaction to forms 
less radical. During this time practically every new style has origi- 
nated in the city of Troy, and this is true to-day. 

The importation of English collars of some brands began about the 
)"ear 1875, and about the year 1884 German collars also were introduced, 
both with indifferent success. But ever since its inception the develop- 
ment of the domestic manufacture has proceeded with marvelous 
strides, though with occasional brief pauses. Strangely enough the 
business is almost entirely confined to Troy, where over a score of 
firms, some of which are very wealthy, are engaged in it. Some of 
these establishments are very large, employing many hundred persons 
in each and maintaining large warerooms in several large cities in 
various parts of the Union. Unlike many other branches of industry 
there is no trust or combination in the collar business, but the freest 
competition. Many grades, from the finest of linen and part linen and 
cotton, to all cotton, are produced, and the workmanship in all grades 
has been brought up to the highest standard of excellence. The wages 
paid to both men and women are good, and the industry, taken as a 
whole, is a splendid illustration of modern American skill, integrity and 
indomitable energy and enterprise. With the branch factories which 
some of the Troy concerns maintain in other places, such as Glens 
Falls, iMechanicville, BallstonSpa and Greenwich, and other towns even 
further away, the value of the annual production of linen and cotton 
collars and cuffs alone by the Troy concerns is about $5,500,000, besides 
the value of immense quantities of men's shirts and women's shirt-waists. 
Paper collars and cuffs, which were in general use at one time, are now 



27G LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

manufactured in small quantities, the value of the annual output being- 
about $300,000 only. In 1880 the annual production exceeded in value 
$1,500,000. By the beginning of the twentieth century a paper collar 
will be almost an anomaly. Celluloid, at one time employed, is also 
rapidly decreasing in the popular demand. 

To the Rev. Ebenezer Brown, a retired Methodist preacher, be- 
longs the credit of originating the collar industry. In 1828, while he 
was established as a dry goods merchant at No. 285 River street, south 
of the present site of Fulton market, he contracted with a number of 
women to make and launder "string collars." For six years he con- 
tinued their manufacture, when he removed from the city. About the 
time he left, the firm of Montague & Granger, composed of Orlando 
Montague and Austin Granger, located at No. 222 River street on the 
site of the Hall building, began the business on a somewhat lai-ger 
scale, selling their wares in New York city and other places. In 1835 
Independence Starks began the manufacture of stocks and collars at 
No. 66 North Second street, soon after adding a laundry for his own 
use and that of patrons who demanded it. About the same time Lyman 
Bennett, witnessing the increasing demand for the product, entered 
upon the new industry in connection with his trade as carpenter. 
The collar business proving more profitable, in 1837 he devoted his 
time exclusively thereto, in 1838 removing his factory from No. 24 
North Third street to No. 308 River street, and in 1853 moving again to 
No. 344 River street, where he entered into a partnership with M. W. 
Hicks and O. W. Edson under the firm name of Bennett, Hicks & 
Edson. 

By this time the manufacture of collars had become an established 
industry in Troy. Other firms and individuals picked up the business 
from time to time and scores of women, and a few men, were given 
emplo5'-ment. From collars, one or two concerns turned part of their 
attention to the manufacture of shirts and cuffs about the year 1845, 
Lawrence Van Valkenburgh beginning the manufacture of shirts in 
that year at his collar factory on the southeast corner of Seventh and 
Elbow (Fulton) streets. 

A new era in the collar industry dawned in the winter of 1851-52 
when Nathaniel Wheeler, of the then recently formed sewing-machine 
manufacturing firm of Wheeler, Wilson & Co., visited the collar manu- 
facturers of Troy to introduce the newly invented machine for sewing. 
The manufacturers at first were skeptical as to the merits of the inven- 




JOHN H. KNOX. 



TROY AS A CITY. 277 

tion and it was with difficulty that Mr. Wheeler finally induced one of 
them, Jeii'erson Gardner, to agree to give it a trial in his factory. 
Several were sent to hira, and they at once proved so satisfactory that 
more were ordered; and from that time no factory was able to enter 
into the competition on anything like a fair footing without the use of 
sewing machines. The employes of the factories, too, welcomed the 
invention, for by its use they were able to increase their earnings, 
which before had averaged no more than fifty cents per day, to four or 
five times that sum, many of the best operatives soon earning as high 
as two dollars and fifty cents per day. It may truthfully be said that 
the introduction of the sewing machine marked the beginning of anew 
era in the collar and cuff industry of Troy, giving it an impetus that 
soon placed the city at the head of all others in the world in that par- 
ticular, a position it has ever since maintained. 

During the remaining five years of the decade from 1850 to 18G0 but 
few incidents worthy of record occurred in Troy. One of the most 
noteworthy of these events occurred Sunday, February 8, 1857, when 
the high water in the Hudson, which on that day reached a point a foot 
and a half higher than was touched in the spring of 183-2, carried away 
the covered wooden bridge between Green Island and Van Schaick 
Island, across one of the branches of the Mohawk river. The structure 
was carried over the State dam as far the Rensselaer & Saratooa Rail- 
road company's bridge between Troy and Green Island, where it 
lodged. Two years later, on the evening of March 17, 1859, another 
landslide occurred on the west side of Mount Ida, when many hundred 
tons of clay, loosened by the-thaw which had been in progress for sev- 
eral days, came in an avalanche down into Washington street, ruining 
St. Peter's college, which was then in course of construction, and caus- 
ing a loss to that institution of about $13,000. The college, a Catholic 
institution, had been started six months before when, September 19 
1858, Bishop McCloskey had laid the corner stone. 

Just before the opening of the War of the Rebellion a thrilling inci- 
dent, one of many of a similar nature which occurred in various parts 
of the country, created a great sensation in the city. In the sprino- of 
that year Charles Nalle, an escaped slave from Virginia, was employed 
as a coachman by Uri Gilbert. Feeling secure in his new home he 
foolishly communicated to some of his newly formed acquaintances the 
fact that in the fall of 1858 he had become a fugitive. His owner was 
informed of his whereabouts and in April, 1800, United States Deputy 



278 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Marshal J. L. Holmes was given an order for the arrest of the fugitive. 
Nalle was arrested on the "iTth of the month and taken at once to the 
office of United States Commissioner Miles Beach, which was located 
on the second floor of the Mutual bank building on the corner of First 
and State streets. Martin I. Townsend was immediately secured by 
friends of the prisoner to secure his release if possible. While Mr. 
Townsend was preparing papers requisite iov ^ v<n-\X. oi hnhcas corpus, 
the intention being to take Nalle before Justice George Gould of the 
Supreme Court of the State of New York, a crowd of spectators, in- 
cluding many colored persons, had gathered about the office of Com- 
missioner Beach. The story of Nalle's flight from the land of slavery 
to a free State was pathetically told by one of his colored friends, and 
almost in the twinkling of an eye a plot was laid to liberate the cap- 
tive from the hands of the officers of the law. The excitement increas- 
ing with every moment. Chief of Police Timothy Quinn was ordered 
to send a large force of officers to the scene, with instructions to quell 
any signs of a disturbance as soon as they appeared. The writ of 
habeas corpus secured by Lawyer Townsend was served upon Marshal 
Holmes at four p. m., the instrument directing the latter official to take 
the prisoner before Judge Gould at his office, No. 39 Congress street. 
As the priscmer descended the stairs, in company with several officers, 
all were instantly surrounded by the crowd below and a number of 
colored men made a bold dash to take Nalle from his custodians. In 
an instant all was confusion. The mob kept the city policemen so far 
from the other officers as to prevent them from rendering any assist- 
ance. A moment later Deputy Marshal Morgan S. Upham was torn 
from the prisoner, leaving the latter in the hands of Marshal Holmes. 
The crowd then followed on to Congress street where, after a desperate 
fight, the prisoner was released and carried to the foot of Washington 
street. Here he sprang upon a ferry boat and was taken to West Troy, 
where he was almost immcdiatel}^ captured and taken to the second 
story of a house near by. The rescuers surmised that Nalle had not 
made good his escape, and within a brief space of time 300 of them cap- 
tured the steam ferry boat and rushed to the rescue. The temjwrary 
prison was taken by storm, despite the free use of pistols by the West 
Troy officers, and Nalle's friends escorted him rapidly down Broadway, 
whence he jumped into a wagon that was in waiting and was carried 
westward far from the reach of the unsuccessful officers of the law. 
After remaining for a while in the woods in the eastern part of Sche- 



TROY AS A CITY. 27i) 

nectady county he proceeded to Amsterdam. In May he returned to 
Troy, his freedom having been purchased by his former employer, Uri 
Gilbert, and other citizens of Troy. 

The construction of the first street railway in Troy was begun July 
15, 1861, by the Troy & Lansingburgh Street Railway company, which 
had received from the Common Council August 20, 1860, a franchise 
granting it permission to construct a single track railroad from Lan- 
singburgh to Troy, through River, Adams and Second streets to a 
point on the Greenbush road near the bridge across the Wynants kill. 
The compan}^ had a capital stock of $100,000, divided into shares of 
$100 each, and its first officers, elected February 19, 1861, were: Presi- 
dent, Thomas Symonds; vice-president, John A. Griswold; secretary 
and treasurer, Miles Beach; engineer, William Barton. The work of 
construction was completed in a trifle over six months, but August 29 
the first passenger car was drawn over the partially constructed road 
by a single horse. The road was finished early in 1862 and in the 
same year was extended to Waterford. Soon afterward the first road 
from Troy to Cohoes was begun, a compan}^ having been organized 
February 11, 1862. under the name of the Troy & Cohoes Railroad 
company, with John A, Griswold as president. The road began opera- 
tion October 11, 1863. 

We have told in a separate chapter of the history of Rensselaer 
county of the several regiments of Volunteers in Troy and vicinity in 
the early days of the War of the Rebellion and the participation of the 
valiant young soldiers, including many residents of Troy, in that mem- 
orable struggle. During the Icng period while the Rensselaer county 
regiments were at the front many incidents worthy of chronicling, 
some of which were directly related to the war, occurred in Troy. 
One of the most noteworthy of these incidents of the first year of the 
war was the brief visit to the city of President-elect Abraham Lincoln, 
while on his way from his home in Illinois to his inauguration in the 
city of Washington. Mr. Lincoln arrived in the city on the morning 
of Tuesday, February 19, 1861. Upon his arrival at the Union depot 
he was greeted by a crowd estimated at fully 30,000 persons, many of 
whom had come to the city from surrounding towns. Upon an open 
car in the station Mayor Isaac McConihe made a brief speech welcom- 
ing tlie distinguished statesman and extending to him the hospitality 
and freedom of the city. Mr. Lincoln in a brief address returned his 
thanks for the mark of respect which had been paid him, after which 



280 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

D. Thomas Yail, vice-president of the Troy Union Railroad company, 
conducted him to the train of the Hudson River railroad, which was 
waiting to receive the president-elect, and a minute later the latter 
was on his way to New York amid the hearty cheers of the vast con- 
course of people there assembled. 

After the beginning of the war and during its first year Troy manu- 
facturers secured numerous contracts for munitions of war. Many 
thousands of brass fuses for artillery projectiles were turned out by the 
firm of W. & L. E Gurley; a large number of army wagons and 
artillery carriages were made by Eaton, Gilbert & Co., several steel 
rifled cannon were manufactured by Corning, Winslow & Co., rifled 
brass cannon were manufactured by Jones & Co., mortar bombs were 
produced in large quantities by the firms of Fuller, Warren & Co. and 
Knight, Harrison & Paine; and immense quantities of shot and shell 
of various sizes were sent south by Swett, Ouimby & Co. Several 
other firms and individuals furnished other stores for the government 
at different times. 

An instance of the high spirit of patriotism which pervaded the 
hearts of Trojans in these stirring days was seen in the successful 
efforts of John A. Griswold and John F. Winslow, both of Troy, to 
obtain for Captain John Ericsson the contract for the construction of 
the famed iron -clad " Monitor," and, in conjunction with Cornelius S. 
Bushnell of New Haven, in their assuming the responsibility of guaran- 
teeing the government against all loss in the event of that vessel s 
proving unserviceable in any manner. After the hazardous experi- 
ment with the Monitor had been tried in Hampton Roads, and that 
remarkable additon to the Union navy had been proven a success, it 
became conceded on all sides that the vessel would never have been 
constructed had it not been for the indefatigable efforts of the two Troy 
men, who, from the start, were determined to allow no failures to dis- 
courage them so long as their resources were not exhausted. 

August 7, 1861, the navy department advertised for bids for the con- 
struction of one or more iron-clad war vessels. In response thereto C. 
S. Bushnell & Co. of New Haven submitted plans and specifications 
for an iron-clad gun-boat, the Galena. These plans did not meet the 
requirements, in the eyes of the representatives of the government, 
and Mr. Bushnell went to New York to consult the distinguished engi- 
neer, Captain Ericsson. The latter had already prepared a plan for a 
small but powerful floating battery, which he exhibited to Mr. Bush- 



TROY AS A CITY. 281 

nell. The plan was then presented to the government for considera- 
tion, but the authorities at the navy department ridiculed the idea that 
the unique vessel whose designs they had seen could be utilized to ad- 
vantage in war. Not disappointed Mr. Bushnell consulted Mr. Gris- 
wold and Mr. Winslow by telegraph, with the result that the Troy 
gentlemen left for Washington September 3, 1861, with the determina- 
tion to use all the influence at their command to further the plans of 
Captain Ericsson and Mr. Bushnell. After a study of the plans both 
the Troy gentlemen were convinced of the practicability of the pro- 
posed vessel and agreed to go before the naval board and endeavor to 
persuade that body to recommend making a contract for the construc- 
tion of at least one. Commodore Smith, after an interview, discour- 
aged the project, but they immediately visited President Lincoln. The 
latter agreed to look into the matter and the next day he attended a 
meeting of the board at the office of Commodore Smith, in conjunction 
with Mr. Griswold, Mr. Winslow and several officers of the Navy De- 
partment. At this meeting Mr. Winslow described the novel manner 
in which the proposed vessel would operate, but even then few of those 
present appeared to look upon the project as practicable. Mr. Lincoln 
thought differently, however, and the next day Commodore Smith, 
much to the delight of Mr. Winslow, informed the latter that the naval 
board would recommend the construction of a battery according to 
Captain Ericsson's plans, provided the contractors should assume all 
the risk of the experiment. This was all that the Troy men desired, 
and both agreed to shoulder the responsibility, Mr. Griswold individ- 
ually agreeing to see that the inventor should lose nothing. In the 
contract with the government the three men who had thus befriended 
Captain Ericsson guaranteed that the vessel should be ready for sea in 
one hundred days from the date — October -1, 1861 — and further, that 
should she fail as to speed or in the security or successful working of 
the turret and guns "with safety to the vessel and the men in the tur- 
ret," or in her buoyancy to float her battery properly, they would re- 
fund to the government the amount of money advanced to carry on the 
work of construction. 

Contracts were at once made with Corning, Winslow & Co., of Troy, 
and the Rensselaer Iron Works, of which Mr. Griswold was one of the 
principal proprietors, for all the armor, bars and rivets to be used in 
the construction of the strange craft, and the work was begun at once 
and pushed with all possible speed. The result was that the Monitor 

36 



282 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

was launched at Greenpoint, Long Island, January 30, 18G2, just 101 
working days after the date of the contract. Then came the trial trip, 
the mounting of her guns, the journey to Hampton Roads, and finally, 
March 9, 1862, the famous engagement with the rebel iron-clad Merri- 
mac, in which the confidence of her inventor and his hackers was vin- 
dicated beyond all question. When the news of the great victory was 
received in Troy there was great rejoicing, for every patriotic citizen 
had awaited with intense interest to hear the result of the first battle of 
the little vessel in the production of which so many Trojans had 
assisted. On the evening of Saturday, March 22, about 400 of the 
employes of the Albany Iron Works and the Rensselaer Iron Works, 
everyone of whom doubtless had helped work out the metal with which 
the Monitor had been so well protected, celebrated the event by a 
torchlight procession which was witnessed by all the inhabitants of 
Troy. In the parade was a large transparency, on one side of which 
was painted a picture representing the battle between the two iron- 
clads, and on the other pictures of Captain Ericsson, Mr. Griswold and 
Mr. Winslow, with the inscription, "Honor to whom honor is due, "and 
the words contained in the dispatch of General John E. Wool, then in 
command of Fortress Monroe, to Mr. Griswold, telegraphed on the day 
of the engagement — "The Monitor has saved everything inside and 
outside the fort." 

The great fire of 1862, as it became known in later years, was one of 
the most disastrous blows which ever fell upon the city. During a gale 
of wind from the northwest, Saturday, May 10, at noon, sparks from a lo- 
comotive set fire to the roof of the eastern part of the old Rensselaer <!<: 
Saratoga railroad bridge, and almost before an alarm could be sounded 
the flaming brands were flying before the wind and falling upon hun- 
dreds of business houses and residences in the most thickly populated 
portion of the city. The firemen were powerless to quench the fire on 
the bridge, the heat being so intense that even the boldest and hardiest 
fighters among them could not get near enough to do effective service. 
Before the bridge was destroyed the flying pieces of blazing shingles 
had set fire to hundreds of houses, causing the occupants to flee panic 
stricken, leaving everything behind. The smoke was very dense and 
many persons fell in the streets while trying to escape, overcome by 
the parched air. The scene throughout the central portion of the city 
was awful beyond description. After the first brief and desperate 
attempt to stay the fire all hope was abandoned and men and women 



TROY AS A CITY. 283 

fled throug-h the streets in the wildest disorder. The path of the holo- 
caust widened as the flames swept on, and scores of buildings which at 
first were supposed to be out of danger went up like tinder. In less 
than an hour and a half from the time the first blaze was discovered 
the element had cut a clean swath from the bridge to the corner of 
Seventh and Congress streets, a distance of about half a mile, the 
ruined district being in some places more than a quarter of a mile in 
width. The total area burned over exceeded seventy-five acres, and 
the buildings burned numbered five hundred and seven, exclusive of 
barns and out-houses. Several lives were lost, the fatalities including 
Dr. Zenas Gary, an aged physician residing at No. 39 Grand Division 
street; Ransom S. Haight, who was burned almost beyond recognition 
on vSeventh street; Thomas O'Donnell, an aged blind man, burned to 
death in his home on Green street; and Mary Dunlop and her child, 
whose bodies were discovered after the fire. The fire was under 
control six hours from the time it started. 

Among the prominent buildings burned were the Second Presbyte- 
rian church, on the southeast corner of Grand Division and Sixth 
streets; the North Baptist church, on the southeast corner of Fulton 
and Fifth streets ; the Associate Presbyterian church on the east side 
of Seventh street between State street and Broadway, and the Home 
Mission close by ; the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, on the north- 
east corner of Sixth and State streets; the Troy Orphan Asylum, on 
the north side of Grand Division street west of Eighth ; the Church 
Asylum, on the south side of Federal street between Sixth and Eighth 
streets; the Troy City bank, on the southeast corner of Grand Division 
and Fourth streets; and the depot of the Troy Union Railroad company, 
on the site of the present structure. The city fire department was as- 
sisted by engines and firemen from Albany, Lansingburgh, West Troy, 
Cohoes and Waterford. The actual loss to the city of Troy was in 
reality much greater than the figures established by the adjusters of the 
various insurance companies, which were as low as they could be made. 
According to their appraisal the total value of the property burned was 
$2,077,892, on which there was an aggregate insurance of $1,321,874. 
The total loss on real estate was estimated to be $1,380,080, on which 
there was an insurance of $766,091 ; and the loss on the personal prop- 
erty was reckoned at $1,291,812, on which there was an insurance of 
$555,183. Before the end of the month the people of Troy and other 
places raised about $50,000 for the relief of the sufl:erers, which amount 



284 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

was still further increased by later donations. Two months after the 
fire nearly 200 new buildings had been erected or partially so, and 
within six months handsome new buildings stood upon every lot except 
two that had been visited by the conflagration. 

On account of the scarcity of practical currency which was so com- 
mon during the years of the war, the common Council of Troy, follow- 
ing the example of other cities, September 18, 1862, authorized the 
issue of notes of small denominational value to the amount of $25,000. 
Upon their face was an engraving of the Rensselaer county court- 
house. The notes were dated October 1, 1802, and were made payable 
at the office of the city chamberlain when presented in sums of five 
dollars. They were accepted in all quarters as cash. April 1, 1864, 
there was another issue of the notes of the same class, to the value of 
$104,071.20. 

July 25, 1862, the city was practically at the mercy of a mob who op- 
posed the drafting of men for the army, which had been ordered a few 
days before. The Troy Times had been outspoken in its advocacy of the 
measure, and this paper was made the especial target for the attack of 
the small army of disgruntled citizens, the majority of whom were rep- 
resentatives of the least respectable class in the population of the city. 
On the evening of July 14 a meeting of these men was held in the 
southern part of the city. Fearing that they might make a demonstra- 
tion that would prove dangerous to the peace of the community, some 
of the citizens induced Sheriff Joseph F. Battershall to call out the local 
companies of the National Guard. This was done at once, several com- 
panies remaining under arms at the armory all that night and the next 
day. On the morning of the 15th a mob of 400 men formed in the south- 
ern part of the city and marched northward as far as Mount Olympus, 
gaining a small number of recruits on its way. At first its numbers 
appeared to be peaceable, but this aspect soon wore off and later in the 
day rioting began on a scale that caused considerable apprehension. 
On their return from Mount Olympus the rioters, despite the most 
earnest efforts of prominent and influential citizens to persuade them to 
disperse, entered the office of the Troy Times at No. 211 River street 
and threw from the building all the movable appurtenances upon .wliich 
they could lay their hands. The presses and engines were wrecked and 
several volumes of the Times published in early years were thrown into 
the river at the rear of the building. After leaving the building the 
demonstration was continued, the rioters breaking into the county jail 




OTIS G. CLARK. 



TROY AS A CITY. 285 

during the absence of the sheriff and liberating eighty-eight prisoners. 
Many colored people were also grossly maltreated by the mob, some of 
them sustaining painful injuries. All through the day Rev. Father 
Peter Havermans, John A. Griswold and other influential citizens fol- 
lowed the mob from place to place and on several occasions dissuaded 
the lawless men from doing damage to property. Late in the afternoon 
Recorder John Moran, in the absence from the city of Mayor William 
L, Van Alstyne, issued a proclamation announcing the suspension of 
the draft in the city, but the rioters were too excited to pay much at- 
tention to the decree, and continued their depredations The crowning 
act of their lawlessness, however, occurred at ten o'clock in the evening, 
when they made an attack upon the residence of Martin I. Townsend, 
No. 165 Second street, broke in the doors and windows, wrecked a large 
amount of house furnishings and carried away many valuable articles. 
Mayor Van Alstyne having returned to the city he ordered the military to 
the scene. When the rioters saw that the authorities had finally deter- 
mined to make a show of preserving order they agreed to disperse, pro- 
vided the mayor would direct the military to return to the armory. This 
was agreed to and soon afterv/ard the mob dispersed, after having driven 
scores of colored men, women and children from the city and having 
ruined thousands of dollars worth of property. 

The first class was graduated from the Troy University in July, 18G2. 
This institution was the only one of its kind ever founded in Troy. 
In 1854 a number of persons interested in the cause of higher education 
proposed to establish a college in the city and accordingly a meeting of 
citizens was held at the court house January 5 of that year to consider 
the proposition. June 10 another meeting was held, at which a com- 
mittee was appointed to solicit funds for the purchase of a site and the 
erection of a building. The deep interest which the public-spirited 
citizens of Troy took in the project is attested by the fact that the sum 
of $200,000 was readily raised by subscription to buy a site and erect 
a building. October 1, 1856, the corner stone was laid on the splendid 
site on the east side of Eighth street, afterward occupied by St. Joseph's 
Provincial seminary, and two years later, September 8, 1858, the first 
term of the university began with the Rev. Dr. John McClintock as pres- 
ident. The first class numbered about sixty students. The subscribers 
to the fund for the institution, it appears, were either unable or un- 
willing to fulfill their contracts, and before the university was fairly 
under way it was found that it would be impossible to maintain it. 



286 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Accordingly it was sold under foreclosure of a mortgage for $11,000 to 
the real estate firm of Peck & Hillman for $7,000, the liabilities of the 
institution amounting to over $55,000. The purchasers offered to allow 
the buildings to be continued for the purposes for which the)'' were in- 
tended if money enough were raised to pay the indebtedness; but this 
could not be done and December the property was sold to the Rev. 
Father Peter Havermans, agent for Archbishop John Hughes of New 
York, for $60,000. This wasagreat sacrifice, as the property originally 
cost $197,000. Two years later, in October, 1804, it was opened as a 
Roman Catholic provincial seminary for the education of priests. De- 
cember 1 it was named St. Joseph's Provincial seminary and consecrated 
by Archbishop John McCloskey. 

January 29, 18(i7. the Troy & Lansingburgh Railroad company re- 
ceived permission from the Common Council to lay a track on Mill street, 
extending the road from the Greenbush road to Vandenburgh avenue; 
also to lay a track from the the intersection of Second and Fourth 
streets northward on Fourth street to Congress street, and through the 
latter to Third street, thence to Fulton, there to intersect the track on 
River street. By this improvement Troy was afforded additional street 
railvv'ay facilities which were greatly appreciated by all classes. 

St. Vincent's Female Orphan Asylum received its name and under- 
went important changes in 1865, though the history of the institution 
dates from the year 18-48. In that year, through the eft'orts of the Rev. 
Peter Havermans, rooms were set apart in the Troy hospital as a tem- 
porary home for a number of female orphans for whom he was caring. 
Having secured pledges for enough money to build a ijermanent home 
for orphans work was begun in 1853, when the corner stone of St. 
Mary's Female Orphan Asylum was laid on the west side of Hill street 
between Adams and Washington streets. It was occupied for the first 
time in the following year, but four years later, the Iniilding being found 
unsuited to the purposes of the institution, it was moved to 185 Third 
street. Its name was changed to St. \'incent's Female Orphan Asy- 
lum, and in the following year the buildings N(.s. 20 and 22 Liberty 
street were purchased. The Troy hospital building, on the corner of 
Fifth and Washington streets, was secured in 1872, and here the asy- 
lum was maintained until September 7, 1886, when the present impos- 
ing building on the east side of Eighth street, between Federal and 
Jacob streets, overlooking the entire city, having been erected that 
year, was occupied. 



TROY AS A CITY. 287 

The erection of the present Troy hospital was begun June 28, 1868, 
when the corner stone was laid by Bishop J. J. Conroy of Albany. 
The history of the hospital dates back to the year 1845, when the city 
was compelled to erect temporary buildings for the care of fever- 
stricken immigrants who came from Ireland during the famine in that 
country. As the majorit}^ of these sufferers were Catholics the Rev. 
Peter Havermans interested himself in their behalf, with the result that 
money was raised for the erection of a hospital. The site selected 
for it was on the southwest corner of Washington and Fifth streets, 
where tlie corner stone w^as laid August 15, 1848, by General John E. 
Wool. Upon the completion of the structure in 1850 it was placed in 
charge of the vSisters of Charity. When the Troy & Greenbush rail- 
road was constructed the noise attendant upon the passage of trains 
made that location an undesirable one and in April, 1806, the hand- 
some property of Ebenezer Prescott on Eighth street at the head of 
Fulton was jiurchased. June 28, 1868, the corner stone of the new 
hospital was laid by Bishop Conroy, and in the fall of the following 
year it was occupied for the first time. Ever since its foundation it has 
been in charge of the wSisters of Charity. 

The ceremonies attending the burial in Oakwood cemetery of that 
gallant soldier, Major-General George Henry Thomas, who died in San 
Francisco March 28, 1870, occurred April 7 of the same year and were 
most imposing. The body lay in state in St. Paul's Episcopal church, 
during the early part of the day, and the funeral pageant was one of 
the most notable ever witnessed in Troy. Many of the nation's great 
soldiers and statesmen were present, including President Ulysses S. 
Grant and his cabinet, General William T. Sherman, General Philip H. 
Sheridan and General George G. Meade. 

On account of the rapid increase in the population of the city the 
State Legislature, in response to a request of the citizens of Troy, on 
April 29, 1870, increased the number of wards in the corporation by 
dividing the eighth, ninth and tenth wards and thus creating three 
additional wards. That part of the eighth ward lying south of a line 
running easterly through the middle of Adams street and a line run- 
ning southeasterly through the middle of Hill street from its junction 
with Adams street, to ajioint in the middle of the Poestenkill creek, was 
constituted as the eleventh ward; that part of the ninth ward lying 
southerly of a line running easterly through the middle of Jackson and 
Trenton streets became the twelfth ward; and that part of the tenth 



288 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

ward lying northerly of a line running through the middle of Middle- 
burgh street became the thirteenth ward. May 3 of the same year the 
name of the corporation, which since the granting of the old charter of 
April 12, 1816, had been "The Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, and Com 
monalty of the City of Troy," was changed, by act of the Legislature, 
to "The City of Troy." 

The evolution of the theatre in Troy would make a long and inter- 
esting chapter in itself, but in a work of this character all that can be 
done is to touch upon a few of the prominent points in the history of 
public amusements in the city. One of Troy's well known historical 
writers gives the following sketch of the development of this feature 
of life up to the construction of the two leading theatres of the city i^ 

The first dramatic e.\hil>ition given in Troy was that of the "Muse in Good 
Humor," at Ashley's Inn, on Monday evening, May 20th, 1798, by " Mr. Moore," who 
had asa member of a theatrical company played in Albany, in December, 178"), The 
tickets for the admission of adults were sold at two shillings and sixpence, and those 
admitting children at one shilling and sixpence. The evening's entertainment be- 
gan at half-past seven o'clock precisely. An African lion, "ten years old, three feet 
four inches high," and "eight feet from his nostrils to the end of his tail," was ex- 
hibited for a number of days, in October, 1800, at Ashley's Tavern. Grown per- 
sons were charged two shillings, and children one shilling for the gratification of 
seeing "the King of Beasts." In August, 1803, "a new and elegant collection of 
wax figures" was placed on exhibition in "Piatt Titus' Long Room," by "Messrs. 
Bishop & Dawson." In October, 1805, "a live elephant," on exhibition at Moulton's 
Coffee House," was seen for twenty-five cents by the curious inhabitants of the vil- 
lage. In December, 1822, " a novel exhibition of natural curiosities" was "viewed 
at Mr. Babcock's hotel," on River street. The advertised attractions of the show 
embraced a dwarf cow from Spain, two feet nine inches high, "allowed by butchers 
of New V ork to be a complete model of beauty in the animal creation;" a living 
coeater, an animal of the ape family, having a " great use of his tail ; " and a learned 
bear which could "read, spell, subtract, multiply and divide," and "make out any 
number with figures." The ears of the people visiting this aggregation of wonders 
were to be charmed with " music on King David's cymbal ; " an instrument as adver- 
tised, "of the kinds used so much by the ancients, and calculated to excite anima- 
tion, it being plaintive, lively and melodious." Also by " music on the Leaf," accom- 
panied by the violin and organ. The sounds produced by the "Leaf," they were 
further informed, were "admired by the lovers of music, and considered a great 
curiosity." In April, 1823, Mr. Keene was heard as a vocalist in a concert at Bab- 
cock's City Hotel, who played accompaniments on the piano-forte. A card of admis- 
sion could "be had at the bar" for one dollar. In May, 1827, Mr., Mrs., and Miss 
Russell were seen in a theatrical entertainment at Mr. Churchill's store-room, on the 
corner of Fifth and Ferry streets. The pieces were "selected from moral au- 
thors." The front seats were reserved for ladies. 

1 Troy's One Htmdred Year.s, by A. J. Weise. 




JOHN WARK, 



TROY AS A CITY. 289 

The opening of the Troy Theatre, in the Assembly Room of the Rensselaer 
House, on Tuesday evening, September 9th, 1828, by "Mr. Parker," with his "theat- 
rical corps," was a local event of considerable interest to those who could "consci- 
entiously enjoy" a play when public sentiment was so adverse to dramatical exhibi- 
tions. " Douglass, or the Noble Shepard," and a farce, " Raising the Wind," were 
performed the first night. "The Young Widow," "Family Jars," "Fortune's 
F'rolic," "Venice Preserved," "The Village Lawyer," and "Miss in her Teens," 
were billed for Friday, Saturday, Tuesday, and Friday nights of that and the follow- 
ing week. The Assembly Room, having been fitted for a summer theatre, with 
boxes for ladies, "The Mountaineers" was played there by a traveling company on 
Tuesday night, July, 2lst 1829; Joseph Jefferson, the grandfather of Joseph Jeffer- 
son, the distinguished actor, making his first appearance as " Sadi," and Mrs. Joseph 
Jefferson, his daughter-in-law (Miss Burke, before marriage), "celebrated no less 
as an actress than a songstress," taking the part of "Agnes." On the following 
evening, July 22d, " Mons. & Mad. Canderbeeck, from Brussels, the capital of 
Belgia," attracted an audience to a vocal and instrumental concert, at the court- 
house in vState street. 

In 1829 the hall on the second floor of the North market was opened as 
the Troy theatre. February 22, 1847, the hall on the second floor of 
Fulton market was also opened as a theatre, and about the same time 
the hall on the second floor of Washington market was fitted up for 
similar purposes. For several years theatrical entertainments were 
held in the hall in the Cannon Place building. August 23, 1847, Peale's 
Troy museum, on the northeast corner of River and Fulton streets, was 
opened. In 1855 the Troy Adelphi, having a seating capacity of 1,400, 
was erected on the, site of the Griswold opera house, on the east side of 
Third street between Fulton and Albany [State], by the Troy Dramatic 
Building association. On the night of October 2 of the same year it was 
opened to the public. The building was destroyed by fire early in the 
morning of October 10, 1862, and Griswold hall, named in honor of Hon. 
John A. Griswold, was erected the next year on its site. Griswold hall 
was opened January 11, 1864, but this building too was burned April 1, 
1871. Soon after the constrtiction of the Griswold opera house was 
begun on the site of the two burned buildings, the formal opening 
occurring October 30, 1871. The play that evening was "Lady of 
Lyons," the role of " Pauline " being taken by Mrs. Emma Waller, the 
lessee. Soon after the opening of the Griswold opera house. Rand's 
hall, located on the northwest corner of Congress and Third streets, 
was enlarged for use as a theatre and opera house. For years it had 
been used as a lecture room and hall for general purposes. After the 
changes in it had been made it was formally opened November 11, 1872, 
37 



290 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

with readings by Mrs. Scott Siddons, under the name of Rand's opera 
house. Other changes made in 1888 made the theatre practically what 
it has since remained. 

The structure known as the Congress street bridge, crossing the 
Hudson river between the foot of Congress street, Troy, and West 
Troy, was completed and opened to traffic October 2, 1874. It was 
erected at a cost of $350,000 by the Troy & West Troy Bridge com- 
pany, organized April 23, 1872, the work having been begun in the fall 
of that year. 

April 15, 1874, the Episcopal church home, on the northeast corner 
of Broadway and Seventh street, which had been erected the previous 
year at a cost of about $30,000, was dedicated. Six years after the 
chapel north of the home was erected by the children of IMrs. Jacob L. 
Lane to her memory. The home was founded November 13, 1854, by 
the brotherhood of St. Barnabas, its first name being the House of 
Mercy and its location No. 5 Harrison place. Four years later it was 
removed to Federal street, between Sixth and Eighth streets. It was 
destroyed in the great fire of 1862, but was immediately rebuilt. April 
17, 1863, it was incorporated under the name which it has since borne, 
" The Church Home of the City of Troy." 

Two notable events occurred in the year 1875— the completion of the 
splendid Troy Savings bank building, which includes Music hall, one 
of the finest concert auditoriums in the country; and the laying of the 
corner-stone of the handsome city hall, which was erected principally 
through the efforts of Edward Murphy, jr., then mayor of Troy, after- 
ward United States Senator. These two structures are among the 
handsomest and most substantial in the city. 

The foundation of the massive and imposing building of the Troy 
Savings bank was begun July 8, 1871, on the northeast corner of State 
and Second streets. The erection of the building occupied nearly four 
years, and its entire cost, including the land on which it stands, was 
about $435,000. The building was first occupied by the bank March 
24, 1875, and the dedication of Music hall, which occupies its entire 
upper portion, occurred on the evening of Monday, April U), of that 
year, when Theodore Thomas's famous orchestra, assisted by noted 
vocalists, gave a concert. The structure has a frontage of one hundred 
feet on vSecond street, and extends one hundred and thirty feet east- 
ward on State street. Music hall is one hundred and six feet deep and 
sixty-nine feet wide, exclusive of the boxes, twenty-four in number, 







^■^^^^'^ ^>t^^^f77s >:3jSrt 



TROY AS A CITY. 291 

and the corridors, twelve feet in width; and has a maximnm height of 
sixty feet. The hall has a seating capacity of 1,250 persons. In 1890 
the great concert organ, one of the finest and most powerful in the 
country, forty two feet wide and thirty feet high, was placed in posi- 
tion. 

The first effort to secure a city hall was made May 7, 1869, when the 
Legislature passed an act incorporating "The City Hall Company of 
the City of Troy." This law authorized the incorporators to purchase 
a site and erect thereon a public building to be used as a city hall and 
for other purposes. The original intention of the proniotors of the 
project was that the Troy Savings bank should occupy part of the 
building, which by the new law was permitted to contribute a portion of 
its surplus funds to provide quarters for itself in the building in contem- 
plation, and to own the building jointly with the City Hall company; 
but when the bank decided to erect a home of its own the plans of the 
company were abandoned. For five years after this the plans for a city 
hall languished. Finalh^ in 1875, Mayor Edward Murphy, jr., called 
the attention of the Common Council to the necessity of the erection 
of a building for the exclusive use of the officers of the various depart- 
ments of the municipal government, and urged upon them the foolish- 
ness of temporizing by purchasing the old Athenaeum building for the 
purpose. Despite his opposition, however, the Common Council, on 
April 1, directed a committee to purchase the Athenasum building, 
which the city officers had occupied for several years, at a cost of 
$00,000. Mayor Murphy promptly vetoed the resolution and set to 
work to promote his cherished plan for a new and appropriate home 
for the city. So well did he and other progressive citizens succeed that 
the Legislature, on May 21, 1875, passed an act authorizing the city to 
purchase a site and erect a city hall at a cost not to exceed the sum of 
$120,000. June 8 a committee of the Common Council selected the 
site on the southeast corner of State and Third streets, then owned by 
the heirs to the Vanderheyden estate and occupied as the Third Street 
Burial-ground, and paid therefore $10,000. The work of removing the 
bodies was begun soon after and November 15, 1875, the plans of 
Architect M. F. Cummings having been accepted, the corner stone was 
laid by George M. Tibbits. The building was occupied for the first 
time in October, 187G, its total cost having been $119,701. (Jl, a little 
less than the total amount allowed by law. The clock in the tower 
was purchased in 1885 and began running August 21 of that year; and 



202 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

the fire alarm bell, which was cast at the Jones bell foundry, was put 
in position April 21, 1887. The building is one hundred and fifty feet 
long and eighty-three feet wide. 

A new era in navigation on the Hudson river was inaugurated in 
1876 when, on April 1, the handsome and fast steamer City of Troy 
was launched at Greenpoint, L. I., for the Citizens' Steamboat com- 
pany of Troy. This company was organized in the winter of 1871-72 
with a capital stock of $250,000 and these directors: Norman B. 
Squires, Charles Eddy, Charles W. Farnam, Robert Robinson, Robert 
Green, Harry H. Darling, Charles L MacArthur, E. D. Beach, James 
R. Fonda, William Kemp, Thomas D. Abrams, George W. Horton and 
Joseph Cornell. The next spring the steamboats Sunnyside and Thomas 
Powell, which had been purchased of Cornell, Horton & Co. of Catskill, 
began making regular trips at night. The former boat was lost Decem- 
ber 1, 1875, and the company at once contracted for the construction of 
a new steamer, which they named City of Troy. Soon afterward a 
contract for her sister boat was made, and she was launched from the 
same shipyard March 26, 1877, and named Saratoga. Both boats have 
been running regularly between Troy and New York ever since, in the 
season of navigation, making alternate trips in each direction. 

With the acceptance by the city of Beman park October 1, 1878, a 
sightly lot of ground given by John Sherry, a wealthy and public- 
spirited citizen, the park area of Troy was greatly enhanced. Beman 
park "contains about six acres of land and occupies a splendid location 
on the summit of a hill in the eastern part of the city, its southern and 
eastern boundaries being, in 189G, farm lands. From time to time im- 
provements have been made and the park, with possible additions, is 
destined to remain, as it now is, the most popular and in many ways 
the most desirable in Troy. The two other parks are Seminary park 
and Washington park. The former is little more than a good-sized 
lawn and the latter cannot be called public property. Seminary park 
occupies the northern half of the block bounded by First, Ferry, Second 
and Congress streets, north of the First Presbyterian church and the 
buildings of the Emma Willard Female Seminary. It was established 
in 1802, when the trustees of the village of Troy appropriated $300, 
which was expended in grading the grounds, planting trees, laying 
walks, fencing in the grounds, etc. Washington park since 1840 has 
been " devoted to the purpose of a private, ornamental park for the use 
and recreation of the owners of lots " fronting on it. It is bounded by 



TROY AS A CITY. 293 

Second street, Washington place, Third street and Washington street 
and since its establishment has been maintained, within an iron fence 
and locked gates, for the exclusive use of residents of those portions of 
the streets fronting on it. 

The facilities of the Day home for children, on the east side of 
Seventh street between Congress and State streets, were greatly im- 
proved in 1879 when E. Thompson Gale erected the Day home chapel 
and school building on the north side of the lot, as a memorial to his 
son, Alfred De Forest Gale. The institution was established in the 
fall of iSoS by a number of women as an industrial school for poor chil- 
dren, its first home being the rooms of the Ladies' Home Missionary 
society on vSeventh street. It was incorporated as the Children's Home 
society April 10, 18G1, and May 1 of that year the Tibbits mansion, on 
the present site, was purchased for $7,000, its dedication taking place 
June 27. The name was changed to its present one March 5, 18(J(J. 
Between eighty and one hundred children there receive free daily in- 
struction in the elementary studies and in domestic handiwork. 

The Grand Central theatre, on the west side of Fourth street just be- 
low Broadway, was opened June 7, 1875; was burned December 24, 
1881; reconstructed the following year, and was again burned March 
21, 1887. The original theatre was formerly the First Unitarian church 
edifice. 

The Troy club was incorporated November 27, 18G7. December 14 
of that year the club rented the house on the northwest corner of Con- 
gress and Second streets and occupied it in the following Januarv. In 
1887 and 1888 the club erected a handsome home of its own on the 
southwest corner of First and Congress streets and occupied it for the 
first time November 20 of the latter year. 

In 1889 the Troy & Lansingburgh Railway company began the work 
of equipping its various lines with electricity. The work was so far 
progressed in August that at 11 p. m. on the 28th of that month the 
first electric motor car started on a trial trip. Since that time every 
line in the city and Lansingburgh, and those running to Waterford, 
Cohoes and Glen Island have been similarly equipped, the company 
furnishing a service equal to that of any other city in the country. In 
1896 a transfer ticket system was adopted, by which patrons of any of 
the lines controlled by the company may be transferred from one line 
to another and ride to or very near any point in the citv for a sinole 
fare. 



294 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

As has been related, the name of Vanderheyden, by which the settle- 
ment which afterward became the. city of Troy was first known, was 
abandoned and the name of Troy formally substituted by proclamation 
in the Albany Gazette beginning- January 5, 1789. As the centennial 
anniv^ersary of the event approached it was decided by prominent resi- 
dents of the city to celebrate it " in a manner worthy of its importance 
and creditable to the citizens." The first meeting of citizens was held, 
in the rooms of the. Troy Young Men's association December 11, 1888. 
December 14 another meeting was held, at which C. E. Dudley Tibbits 
was elected president, Walter P. Warren, William E. Hagan and Lewis 
E. Gurley vice-presidents, William H. Young, Francis N. Mann and 
Edward F. Murray secretaries, and Joseph J. TilHnghast treasurer. 
The committee to arrange for the celebration, named at that meeting, 
was constituted as follows: 

C. E. Dudley Tibbit^;, Derick Lane, Walter P. Warren, Lewis E. Gurley, Edward 
C. Gale, William E. Hagan, William H. Young, Jonas S. Heartt, Walter P. Tillman, 
James A. Burden, Charles B. Russell, George B. Warren, Thomas W. Lockwood, 
John I. Thompson, Henry B. Dauchy, Samuel M. Vail, Dr. Henry R. Lane, Benja- 
min H. Hall, William Kemp, William A. Thompson, E. Warren Paine, J. Wool 
Griswold, Francis N. Mann, Joseph Hillman, Edward Murphy, jr., William E. Gil- 
bert, Isaac McConihe, William H. Doughty, Adam R. Smith, William S. Earl, 
James A. Eddy, Edward M. Green, Gilbert Gear, jr., James F. Cowee, Peter Balti- 
more, Foster Bosworth, Charles S. Brintnall, Gardner Rand, Henry Swartout, John 
H. Knox, Willard Gay, Charles W. TilHnghast, William Orr, Joseph W. Fuller, 
Martin L Townsend, Rev. Dr. J. Ireland Tucker, Rev. Dr. George C. Baldwin, Rev. 
Peter Havermans, John M. Francis, Daniel Robinson, John D. Spicer, George B. 
Cluett, Thomas Coleman, J. J. Gillespy, George H. Cramer, George H. Freeman, 
Henry C. Lockwood, Col. Charles L. MacArthur, Norman B. Squires, Otis G. Clark, 
Harvey J. King, James H. Kellogg, Henry O'R. Tucker, Dennis J. Whelan, Ed- 
ward Bolton, David Bastable, James W. Daley, Francis A. Fales, Samuel H. Lasell, 
Chauncey D. Packard, George A. Stone, Robert Cluett, Justin Kellogg, Arthur J. 
Weise. M. F. Cummings. General Joseph B. Carr, Charles Cleminshaw, Michael F. 
Collins, Jesse B. Anthony, George H. Mead, Henry G. Ludlow, John J. Purcell, 
George P. Ide, W. J. Tyner, William L. Van Alstyne, John P. Pratt, Edmund Fitz- 
gerald, Charles A. McLeod, David M. Ranken, Clinton H. Meneely, Edward F. 
Murray, James W. Cusack, Henry B. Nims, Gilbert Robertson, jr., Emanuel Marks, 
Henry Kreiss, Dexter Moody, William W. Whitman, Edward Carter and William 
H. Frear. 

The celebration began on the evening of Wednesday, January 2, 
188'.i when a concert was given in Music hall under the direction of 
lohn H. Knox, Edmund Cluett, Justin Kellogg, William II. Hollister, 
jr , J. E, Schoonmaker and A. W. Harrington, jr. Those who partici- 



TROY AS A CITY. 295 

pated were Mrs. AVilliam B. Wilson, soprano; Miss Jeannie Lyman, 
contralto; the Troy Vocal societ}^ the Troy Choral union, the Troy 
Mannerchor, Doring-'s military band and Maschke's cadet band. A 
feature of the concert was the singing of the Centennial hymn, written 
especially for the occasion by Benjamin H. Hall, by the three vocal 
societies. 

Thursday was known as "Historical Day." In the afternoon a 
largely attended meeting was held in Music hall under the direction of 
Norman B. Squires, J. W. Alfred Cluett, Henry B. Dauchy, M. F. Cum- 
mings, Edward Carter and Henry Clay Bascom. Edwin A. King, a 
lineal descendant of Jacob D. Van der Hey den, read a paper on "The 
Patroon of Troy; " Benjamin H. Hall read an original poem on "The 
Naming and Progress of Troy;" J. W. Alfred Cluett read an address 
on " The Future City Improvements of Troy; " Lewis E. Gurley read 
a paper on " The Manufactures of Troy; " Walter P. Warren on " The 
Mercantile Interests of Troy," and William E. Hagan read a poetical 
version of an ancient tradition of Troy, entitled "Dirk Van der Pley- 
den's Dream. " 

Thursday night was known as "Church Night," at which nearly all 
the pastors of Troy were present. The programme for the evening 
contained the subjects of the addresses to be delivered as follows: "Intro- 
ductory Address, " Rev. N. B. Remick of the Ninth Presbyterian church ; 
"Presbyterian Churches of Troy," Rev. Theophilus P. Sawin of the 
First Presbyterian church; "Troy Pastorates," Rev. Dr. George C. 
Baldwin, former pastor of the First Particular Baptist church; " Bap- 
tist Churches of Troy," Rev. Dr. L. M. S. Haynes of the First Particu- 
lar Baptist church; "Past and Present," Rev. Dr. J. Ireland Tucker 
of the Church of the Holy Cross; " Episcopal Churches of Troy," Rev. 
Edgar A. Enos of St. Paul's Episcopal church; "Methodist Churches 
of Troy," Rev. Dr. George W. Brown of the State Street Methodist 
l^^Discopal church; "Recollections," Rev. Peter Havermans of St. 
Clary's Roman Catholic church ; " Roman Catholic Churches of Troy," 
Rev. John Walsh of St. Peter's Roman Catholic church; " Univer- 
salist Church of Troy," Rev. Dr. O. F. Safford of the First Uni- 
versalist church ; "A. M. E. Zion Church," Rev. George E. Smith of 
the Zion Methodist Episcopal church; "United Presbyterian Church 
of Troy," Rev. R. D. Williamson of the United Presbyterian church; 
" Liberty Street Presbyterian Church," Rev. A. S. Mays of the Liberty 
Street Presbyterian church; "Unitarian Church of Troy," Francis O. 



206 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Dorr; "Jewish Synag-ogues of Troy," Rev. A. N. Coleman of Berith 
Sholom synagogue; "Churches of Christ in Troy," Rev. W. W. Wit- 
mer of the First Church of Christ; " Lutheran Church in Troy," Rev. 
A, F. Walz of Trinity German Lutheran church; " Evangelical Church 
of Troy," Re\^ Otto Recher of St. Paul's German Evangelical church. 
On account of the lateness of the hour the addresses of Revs. George 
E. Smith, A. S. Mays, A. N. Coleman, W. W. Witmer, A. F. Walz 
and Otto Becher were omitted. While the meeting in Music hall was 
in progress the German citizens of Troy were celebrating the event at 
Apollo hall by singing, historical tableaux and an address by Werner 
Strecker. 

Friday afternoon the public school festival occurred under the direc- 
tion of Lewis E. (yurley, Harvey J. King, Francis N. Mann, David Beat- 
tie and Albert Smith. Several national hyms were sung by a chorus of 
500 pupils of the public schools and prizes of $20 each were awarded the 
writers of the best essay and the best ])oem on the history, progress 
and promise of Troy, the contest being limited to pupils of the public 
schools. The prize for the best essay was awarded to Charles S. Mc- 
Sorley and for the best poem to Warren S. Gardner. Addresses were 
delivered by David Beattie, superintendent of schools, on "The Public 
Schools; " by Albert Smith on "The Future of our Public Schools," and 
by Benjamin H. Hall on " Emma Willard and Amos Eaton." 

Friday night was " Law3^ers' Night." The public meeting in Music 
hall was presided over by Supreme Court Justice Charles R, Ingalls, 
assisted by Judge Gilbert Robertson, jr., Charles E. Patterson, Justin 
Kellogg and George B. Wellington. After the introductory address 
by Judge Ingalls, interesting papers were read as follows: By the Hon. 
Edgar L. Fursman on "A Plea for My Own Profession;" by the Hon. 
Franklin J. Parmenter on "The Life and Character of the Hon. George 
Gould;" by the Hon. Martin L Townsend on " The Life and Character 
of the Hon. David L. Seymour;" by the Hon. Roswell A. Parmenter 
on " The Life and Character of the Hon. William A. Beach; " by Ben- 
jamin H. Hall on "The Life of the Hon. John Paine Cushman," "The 
Life of David Buel, jr.," and "The Life and Character of the Hon. 
William Learned Marcy." 

The closing features of the centennial celebration began at midnight 
Friday by the discharge of fireworks in profusion, the ringing of many 
bells, the sounding of whistles, numerous bonfires and one hundred 
strokes on the fire alarm bell in the city hall. At sunrise the next 



.>l 







PHILIP H. HICKS. 



TROY AS A CITY. 297 

morning- a salute of one hundred guns was fired on Centre island by a 
squad of artillerymen from Watervliet arsenal. The festivities in the 
city continued throughout the entire day and late into the night. The 
town was in gala attire, the national colors and other decorations being 
exposed everywhere. Thousands of strangers flocked to the city from 
all directions. The committee in charge of the day's festivities was 
composed of General Joseph B. Carr, Walter P. Warren, William E. 
Gilbert, James W. Cusack, William S. Earl, William E. Hagan, George 
H. Mead, Edward F. Murray and C. Whitney Tillinghast, 2nd. The 
parade began at 11 o'clock under General Carr as grand marshal, the 
six divisions being in charge respectively of Colonel Walter P. Warren, 
J. Lansing Lane, Cornelius F. Burns, George H. Mead, Colonel Will- 
iam H. Munn and Albert Tompkins. Among the prominent men who 
rode in the parade was Governor David B. Hill. In the evening there 
was another big parade under the direction of Captain James H. Lloyd, 
grand marshal. Nearly every residence and business house in the city 
was illuminated and at the close of the parade there were extensive 
displays of fireworks. This ended the celebration, which was in every 
particular a success. As a memento of this memorable occasion in the 
histor}^ of Troy a bronze medal was struck, on one side being a repre- 
sentation of the village at the time the name was changed from Van- 
derheyden to Troy, and on the other the seal of the city of Troy in 1889. 
The 100th anniversary of the inauguration of President Washington 
was celebrated by the citizens of Troy in a becoming manner April 30, 

1889. Services were held in many of the churches. At the First Bap- 
tist church a historical address was delivered by Justice Charles -R. 
Ingalls of the Supreme Court. Public buildings and many residences 
and business houses were decorated with the national colors, typifying 
the spirit of the day. 

The Gardner Earl Memorial chapel and crematory was erected in 
1888, beginning April 13, by William S, and Hannah M. Earl, in mem- 
ory of their son, Gardner Earl. The structure was completed in No- 
vember, 1889. The first cremations in the Earl crematory took place 
Monday, January 6, 1890, when the bodies of Jonas S. Heartt and 
Hamlin Black, the four year-old son of Hon. Frank vS. Black, were incin- 
erated. The operation was in charge of an expert and was entirely 
successful. 

Three lives were lost early on the morning of vSaturday, March 15, 

1890, by a great landslide down Warren's hill, a part of Mount Ida, 

38 



298 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

where such disasters had occurred on several previous occasions. The 
killed were Mrs. Margaret Noonan; Mrs. Timothy Ho<;an, her daughter; 
and Annie Burns, aged eleven years. Several other persons were 
injured. 

Sunday night, September 21, 1890, fire destroyed the handscjme res- 
idence of George N. Manchester and E. wSmith Strait, known as Syc- 
away Villa, located on the Stone Road just east of the western limits 
of the town. Ralph Manchester, aged 11 years, son of George N. 
Manchester, became dazed by the flames and was burned to death, and 
his father was badly hurt. Several other occupants narrowly escaped 
with their lives. 

The old Schuyler mansion, situated on the bank of the Hudson river 
near the foot of Harrison street, with the farm was purchased of Philip 
S. Schuyler about 1809 by the Hoyl Farm company, which held it until 
1835, when Francis N. Mann ptirchased it at a mortgage foreclosure 
sale. It remained in the possession of Mr. Mann until 18G1, when it 
was sold to William Burden. It remained in the possession of the 
Burden family until 1891, when it was torn down. 

The famous Columbian Liberty bell, which was on exhibition at the 
world's fair at Chicago in 1893, and is now in the custody of the city of 
Philadelphia, was cast at the bell foundry of the Meneely Bell company, 
Thursday, June 23, 1893. The bell weighs about 13,000 pounds, and 
into it was infused 17,000 pounds of material, consisting of 12,000 
pounds of copper, 3,000 pounds of tin, 1,000 pounds of bell material, 
200 pounds of pennies, a (quantity of gold and silver, and a piece of the 
farhous liberty bell of Philadelphia, contributions having been received 
from many persons in all parts of the country. The material which 
was not used in the bell was made up into miniature bells. 

Two disastrous fires occurred in Troy December 14 and 15, 1893. 
About 8.45 p. M. on the first-named day flames were discovered in the 
mammoth general store of William H. Frear, on Cannon place, known 
as Frear's Bazaar. The entire fire department was called into service 
and fought valiantly, but as the flames had originated in an upper story 
it was hard to get water to the spot. To increase the difficulties which 
confronted the firemen zero weather prevailed, and the water broke 
into a fine spray and froze before it reached the fire. The flames were 
confined mainly to the two upper stories of the building, but most of 
the stock on the lower floors was more or less damaged by smoke and 
water. Mr. Frear's loss was not far from $100,000, which was covered 



TROY AS A CITY. 299 

by insurance. Other smaller concerns occupying part of the building 
suffered losses aggregating about $25,000. 

On the afternoon of the day following fire started in the fourth story 
of the big store of J. M. Warren & Co. on the southwest corner of 
Broadway and River street and before it could be controlled a loss of 
nearly :$100,000 had been caused, most of which was covered by insur- 
ance. 

During the latter months of the year 1893 the inhabitants of Troy, 
especially the large wage-earning class dependent upon the score or 
more of shirt, collar and cuff manufactories for a subsistence, raised 
their voice in protest against the passage by Congress of any tariff bill 
which should appreciably decrease the import duties on the products 
for which Troy is famous the world over. This opposition increased 
upon the introduction of the measure prepared by Representative Wil- 
liam L. Wilson of Virginia, called the Wilson Tariff Bill. During the 
early days of the session of 1893-4 hundreds of citizens besought United 
States Senator Edward Murphy, jr., of Troy, and Representative Charles 
D. Haines of Kinderhook, by letter and interview, to oppose the passage 
of the bill on the grounds that it would greatly injure, if not ruin, the 
collar and cuff industry of Troy. On the evening of Tuesday, Decem- 
ber 19, 1893, one of the greatest mass meetings in the history of the 
city was held in Music hall to protest against the enactment of the pro- 
posed law. Mayor Dennis J. Whelan presided over the great gather- 
ing and many representative men occupied seats on the stage. Speeches 
denunciatory of the proposed law were made by Corporation Council 
William J. Roche, Rev. Theophilus P. Sawin, pastor of the First Pres- 
byterian church; Jeremiah K. Long, a lawyer; Hon. Lewis E. GriflEith, 
county judge; James P. Hooley, ex-member of assembly from the 
first district of Rensselaer county, and Rev. John Walsh, pastor of St, 
Peter's Catholic church. A memorial presented by John Flynn and 
addressed to Congress, asking that body to retain the protective duties 
on collars and cuffs, was adopted by a unanimous vote at the close of 
the meeting. In addition to this meeting a petition to the same end 
was circulated, receiving the signatures of many thousand persons of 
both sexes and all political parties. As a result of the meeting and 
petition and the combined efforts of Senator Murphy and Representa- 
tive Haines, Congress left a protective duty on collars and cuffs. 

The necessity for a government building in Troy for the use of the 
post-oftice and other local federal officials had been apparent many 



300 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

years before the federal government finally decided to erect one. Feb- 
ruary 5, 1885, a bill making an appropriation of $200,000 for such a 
building" passed the house of representatives and soon afterward be- 
came a law. In the summer of 1886 a commission appointed by the 
secretary of the treasury purchased for $99,000 the Gross-Hall and 
Griffith properties on the northeast corner of Broadway and Fourth 
streets. Subsequently the appropriation for the building was in- 
creased to more than half a million dollars. The structure was com- 
pleted in the spring of 1894 and the post-office opened therein in May 
of that year. The building is fireproof throughout and its architecture 
is very handsome. The exterior is of gray stone and all the floors are 
of tile. 

Before the establishment of a post-office in Lansingburgh in 1792 
residents of Troy received letters through the Albany post-office. 
When an office was established in Lansingburgh letters for Troy were 
left there and sent to the latter place by a carrier. The first post- 
master appointed for Troy was Nathan Williams, in 1796. He was a 
law student in the office of John Woodworth, surrogate of Rensselaer 
county, where the first post-office was opened. Since the establish- 
ment of a post-office in Troy, twenty-one postmasters have held the 
position of postmaster: Nathan Williams, 1796 to 1797; John Wood- 
worth, 1797 to 1800; David Buel, 1800 to 1804; Ruggles Hubbard, 1804 
to 1806; Samuel Gale, 1806 to 1829; William Pierce, 1829 to 1832; 
Isaac McConihe, December, 1832 to 1842; Charles H. Reed, August, 
1842 to 1843; George R. Davis, August, 1843 to 1849; Thomas Clowes, 
1849 to 1851; William T. Willard, 1851 to 1853; Foster' Bosworth, 1853 
to 1854; W. W. Whitman, 1854 to 1858; James R. Fonda, December, 
1858, to October 15, 1861; George T. Blair, September, 1861, to 1862; 
Thomas Clowes, 1862 to April 9, 1866 (J. W. Freeman, Thomas 
Clowes's bondsman, on the death of the latter, performed his duties 
until the appoinment of his successor); Alonzo Alden, appointed June 
1, 1866, to 1874; Gilbert Robertson, jr., appointed February 18, 1878; 
reappointed April 4, 1882 — term expired March 16, 1886; Edward Do- 
lan, appointed April 28, 1886, and entered upon his duties May 17. 
Francis N. Mann, jr., 1890 to 1895. Michael F. Sheary was appointed 
by President Cleveland June 10, 1895. The present free delivery sys- 
tem was inaugurated in Troy in 1864, with five carriers. The system 
now includes Lansingburgh and Green Island. 

The death of one of Troy's most distinguished citizens. Major (ien- 



^ t 




GEN. JOSEPH B. CARR. 



TROY AS A CITY. 301 

eral Joseph Bradford Carr, occurred at his home on Fifth avenue on 
the morning" of Sunday, February 24, 1895. General Carr had been a 
sufferer from a cancer on the jaw for several years and had undergone 
several surgical operations, but the only effect was to prolong his life. 
The funeral was held on the afternoon of Wednesday, February 27, 
from the house at one p. m. and from St. Peter's Roman Catholic church 
at three p. m. The body lay in state at his residence from ten a. m. to 
one p. M. and during that time was viewed by thousands of persons. 
After the service at the house the funeral cortege proceeded to the 
church, headed by Boring's full militar}^ band and members of the 
municipal police department. Superintendent W. W. Willard in com- 
mand. The local companies of the New York National Guard followed, 
after which came the caisson, flanked by the active pall bearers — Major 
Edward Murray Green, Colonel Francis N. Mann, Colonel Charles S. 
Francis and Colonel Arthur MacArthur, representing the Third Division 
Staff association; Past Commanders W. W. Rousseau and George H. En- 
nis of Griswold post, G. A. R. , and Arthur W. Bradley and J. J. Hageri 
from the Second New York Volunteer Regiment association. The 
caisson was covered by the American flag which was used at Fortress 
Monroe; and the flag preserved from the battle of Yorktown was 
wrapped about the remains. The honorary pall bearers, who were 
next in line, were General Daniel E. Sickles, ex-Governor Alonzo B. 
Cornell, General Tremain, Major Richardson, General Alonzo Alden, 
Colonel Charles L. MacArthur, Lieutenant Governor Charles T. Sax- 
ton, Hamilton Fish, speaker of the Assembly; Congressman John A. 
(Juackenbush, John M. Francis, William Kemp, George H. vStarbuck, 
James H. Breslin of New York, Thom^is C. Breslin of Waterford, 
Major Isaac Arnold, U. S. A., Captain Isaac P. Gregg, William P. 
Devery and William A. Smith of General Carr's Massachusetts brigade. 
Colonel Sidney W. Park and the following members of the Third 
Division Staff' association : Colonels Jacob C. Cuyler, Chester Griswold, 
Le Roy McLean, Edgar L. Fursman, Matthew H. Burton, John A. 
McDonald, John Don, David M. Greene, Lee Chamberlain, Harry M. 
Alden, Robert C. Pruyn, George P. Lawton, Charles H. Stott and 
Major Albert Hoysradt. Then followed the United States Army offi- 
cers. Brigadier General Robert Shaw Oliver and staff of the Third 
Brigade, New York National Guard; Second Regiment association, 
Tibbits Veteran Corps, Grand Army veterans, city officers, a committee 
from the State Senate and Assembly and representatives of Governor 
Morton. 



302 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

At St. Peter's church the entire service was conducted by Rev. 
Father John Walsh, assisted by Rev. Fathers O'Connor and Fogarty of 
vSt. Peter's church and Rev. Father McOuaid, S. J., of St. Joseph's 
church. The Grand Army ritual service was performed at the grave 
in Oakwood cemetery and was conducted by Post Griswold. Com- 
mander E. A. Fry was in charge, assisted by L. M. S. Haynes, D. D., 
as chaplain. 

The death of Rev. John Ireland Tucker, D. D., for more than half a 
century rector of the Church of the Holy Cross, Episcopal, occurred just 
before noon Saturday, August 17, 1895. Five days before he had been 
stricken with paralysis, from which henever rallied. Dr. Tucker was born 
in Brooklyn, November 2G, 1819. He entered the ministry in 1844, coming 
to Troy in that year, where he remained until his death as the beloved 
rector of Holy Cross church. His funeral occurred Tuesday morning, 
August 20, at 10 : 30 o'clock, from that church, and was attended by a very 
large number of clergymen from various parts of the country. The 
officiating clergymen were Rt. Rev. William Croswell Doane, Bishop 
of Albany; Rev. Dr. Edgar A. Enos, rector of St. Paul's Episcopal 
church of Troy, and Rt. Rev. Henry C. Potter, Bishop of New York. 
The honorary bearers were Rev. Canon Fulcher of Albany, Rev. 
Joseph Carey of Saratoga, Rev, James Caird, Rev. G. A. Holbroc^k, 
Rev. R. B. Fairbairn, General Selden E. Marvin of Albany, William 
Kemp, C. W. Tillinghast and John I. Thomi)S')n. The active bearers 
were WiTiam H. Young, Thomas Colwell, Elias G. Dorian, A. G. 
Goldthwaite, Dr. ]. I). Lomax, F. W. Crawford, Swift Martin and E. 
J. Cridge. At the grave the service was conducted by Bishop Doane, 
assisted by Rev. Dr. Eaton W. Maxcy. 

One of the most famous murder cases in the annals of Troy was that 
of Robert Ross by Bartholomew Shea. The crime was committed 
during a charter election March (», 1894, at the i^olling place in the 
third district of the thirteenth ward, and was the outcome of a politi- 
cal ciuarrel. During the fight several shots were exchanged, and Rob- 
ert Ross was killed and his brother William badly wounded. Bartholo- 
mew vShea and John McGough were both arrested for the crime. The 
inquest continued from March 14 to March 21 and resulted in holding 
Shea for the crime. So great was the pul)lic feeling over the matter 
that mass meetings were held and public committees of safety formed. 
For a long time the crime was the leading ln])ic of conversation in all 
circles and charges were freely made implicating hii^h officials as being 



TROY AS A CITY. 303 

indirectly responsible for the murder. Shea was tried at an extraordi- 
nary term of the Supreme Court, presided over by Justice Pardon C. 
Williams of Watertown. The prosecution was conducted by Assistant 
District Attorney Thomas E. Fagan, assisted by George Raines of 
Rochester, and Shea was represented by John T. Norton of Troy and 
Galen R. Hitt of Albany. The trial began May 28 and continued until 
July 3, and at one o'clock on the morning of July 4 the jury brought in 
a verdict of murder in the first degree. Shea was sentenced July 10 to 
be executed by electricity in Clinton State prison during the week be- 
ginning August 21, 1894-, after which every possible legal effort was 
made to save him. The case was taken to the Court of Appeals, which 
affirmed the decision of the lower court, and November 11 Shea was 
brought to Troy and again sentenced by Justice Edwards to die during 
Christmas week. December 20 a respite was ordered by Governor 
Morton until January 7, 1896, and January (3 he was again respited un- 
til February 4, 1806. The second respite was caused by the confession 
of John McGpugh that he shot Ross, following which vShea's attorneys 
applied to Judge Mayham for an order to show cause why a new trial 
should not be granted. After a two daj^s' argument on the motion it 
was denied and the sentence of death was executed February 11, 1896. 
Before the excitement caused by the execution of Bartholomew Shea 
had begun to subside a colossal calamity visited Troy in the burning of 
the big Burdett building on the northwest corner of River street and 
Broadway. Fire caught in the fifth floor of the building on the after- 
noon of February 17, 1896, and so rapidly did the flames spread that 
escape by way of the stairs was impossible. The upper floors were 
occupied by two collar manufacturing firms, and nearly all the employes 
were women and girls. Nearly all these reached the street in safety 
by way of the fire escapes, assisted by the firemen, but several jumped 
to the street. Mrs. Patrick Carroll, Mrs. Robert Kane and Mrs. Ann 
Foley were killed by jumping, and Millie Brock was burned to death. 
John J. Farrell, a member of the Arba Read steamer company, distin- 
guished himself by saving fully a score of lives, and subsequently he 
was made a fire commissioner, at the time of his appointment being the 
youngest man in New York State to hold such an office. The total 
money loss by the fire was about $185,000, and was practically covered 
by insurance. The building was owned by Mrs. George C. Burdett. 
The building of the Truesdell estate, adjoining the Burdett building on 
the south, was also burned, and several occupants of the McCarthy 



304 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

building on the north suffered more or less damage by smoke and 
water. The fire was one of the fiercest that the firemen of Troy were 
ever called upon to fight. During its progress the thermometer stood 
at zero, and most of the water froze before it reached the upper stories, 
forming a mass of ice from twelve to fifteen feet high on the street and 
sidewalk. 

On the morning of May 26, 189(J, the steamboat City of Troy, of the 
Citizens' line of steamers, arrived at her destination in Troy at 3:15 
o'clock, having made the trip from New York in nine hours and eight 
minutes, the fastest time ever made by a boat of this line. The usual 
running time of the steamboats City of Troy and vSaratoga had been 
about eleven hours. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

Industries and Institutions of Troy — The Leading Manufactures and Mercantile 
Establishments — Troy Famous for its Collar and Cuff Industries — The Manufacture 
of Iron and Steel, Stoves, Ranges and Valves — Other Big Industries — Troy's Cele- 
brated Educational Institutions — History of Its Churches— Municipal Departments 
— Statistics Showing Development Along Various Lines. 

MANUFAt:iUKlNC, AND MkRCANTM.K EsI'A IU.ISUMKNTS. 

Troy is noted more for the manufacture of collars and cuffs than for 
anything else, though the manufacture of iron products has been very 
extensive since the business was established. vSo numerous and varied 
are the industries of the city that a history of the most important only 
will be given. 

The largest collar, cuff and shirt manufacturing house in Troy, as 
well as in the world, is that of Cluett, Coon «!v Co., located on the east 
side of River street above Jacob. There have been many changes in 
the firm since the business was established. The house originated in 
a combination of two firms in November, 1889. 

The two firms were George B. Cliictt, Bro. & Co. and Coon & Co., 
and composed of the following members: George B. Cluett, J. W. Al- 
fred Cluett, Robert Cluett, John H. Coon, Daniel W. Coon, Henry C. 
Statzell and Frederick F. Peabody. George B. Cluett, Bro. & Co. was 




!rTto.-.\.w»»?p.iii[«r 



WILLIAM F. GREENH. 



MANUFACTURING AND MERCANTILE ESTABLISHMENTS OF TROY. 305 

founded in 1863, succeeding Maullin & Cluett. In 1851 Joseph Maullin 
and E. D, Blanchard began manufacturing men's collars at 310 River 
street. In 1856 they were succeeded by Maullin & Bigelow. In 1861 
George B. Cluett, who had had charge of the manufacturing department, 
was admitted to partnership, and the firm became Maullin, Bigelow & 
Co., the members being Joseph Maullin, Charles H, Bigelow and George 
B. Cluett. In 1862 Joseph Maullin and George B. Cluett organized 
the firm of Maullin & Cluett. In 1863 on the death of Mr. Maullin the 
firm of George B. Cluett, Bro. & Co. was organized by George B. 
Cluett, J. W. A. Cluett, and Charles J. Saxe. J. W. A. Cluett had 
previously held an important position in the business, covering a period 
from 1852 to the close of 1857. In 1866 Charles J. Saxe withdrew from 
the firm and Robert Cluett became a partner, having been an employe 
since 1862. In 1874 the name of R. S. Norton was associated with the 
firm, and was so continued imtil his death in 1887. The factory of 
George B. Cluett, Bro. & Co. was located from 1862 to 1874 at No. 390 
River street; from 1875 to 1880 at Nos. 74 and 76 Federal street, the 
building being destroyed by fire on March 20, 1880. Before the fire 
was extinguished a new location was found at 556 Fulton street. In 
18.81 the first of the five factories occupied by the present firm, cover- 
ing an area of one hundred by one hundred feet, was erected and 
occupied. In 1884 the second factory fifty by one hundred feet was 
built. In 1890 the present firm centralized its entire manufacturing opera- 
tions by occupying its third building one hundred by one hundred feet ; 
the entire establishment then having a frontage of two hundred and 
fifty feet, and making one of the most prominent features of the city. 
The history of the origin and progress of the successful firm of Coon 
& Co. is a record of business devotion and unremitting perseverance. 
This house was established in 1856 by John H. Coon and H, W. Cole, 
the former having recently returned after a successful venture in Cali- 
fornia. The firm of Cole & Coon first manufactured collars at the 
northwest corner of Grand Division (now Grand) and North Third 
streets, but in 1859 removed to the Manufacturers' Bank building. In 
that year J. M. Van Volkenburgh was admitted to the firm, and the 
firm became Cole, Coon & Co. In 1861 the business was removed to 
No. 7 Union street, where it remained until destroyed in the great fire 
of 1862. In 1861 Mr. Cole had withdrawn and Coon & Van Volken- 
burgh had succeeded to the business. In 1868 J. M. Van Volkenburgh 
withdrew and J. H. Coon, W. H. Reynoldsand Daniel W. Coon founded 
39 



306 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

the firm of Coon, ReyiKjlds &Co., which continued in successful opera- 
tion to the death of W. H. Reynolds in 1879. In that year the firm t)f 
Coon cV- Co. was founded by J. H. Coon, D. W. Coon, H. C. Statzell 
and F. F. Peabody, the last two members havnng held important posi 
tions with the preceding' firm. In 1881 the factory was removed to the 
upper stories of No. ooG Fulton street, where the operations of the firm 
were for a while suspended by fire, the building being partly destroyed 
on the night of February 19, 1885. The success of Coon &• Co. was the 
natural result of the individual enterprise of the several members of 
the firm, D. W. Coon having charge of the factory, and J. H. Coon, 
H. C. Statzell, and F. F. Peabody having the care of the salesrooms in 
New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and San Francisco. The 
successes of Cluett, Coon & Co. have run parallel with the growth and 
prosperity of the cit}'. The business had reached such proportions in 
1894 that it was found. necessary to still further increase the manufac 
turing facilities, and the fourth factory was added, giving a hundred 
feet additional on the north. May 1st, 1894, John H. Coon retired 
from the firm after an active business career of thirty-eight years. 
During the summer of 189(3 a still further addition to the factories of 
Cluett, Coon cK: Co. was made by extending fifty feet still further on the 
north, so that at the present time the five factories have a frontage on 
River street of four hundred feet with a depth of nearl}' one hundred 
feet. Cluett, Coon & Co. are unquestionably the largest manufacturers 
of shirts, collars and cuffs in the world. 

The collar and cufi:' manufacturing firm of Earl & Wilson is also one 
of the most celebrated in the world. The concern was the first of its 
kind in Troy to erect a building particularly designed for its business. 
The experience of the senior proprietor, William S. Earl, in the manu- 
facture of collars and cuffs began in 1848, when he was employed in 
the factory of his father in-law, Jefferson Gardner, on King street. In 
1850 he engaged in the business alone and from 1856 to 1858 was asso- 
ciated with Edwin D. Blanchard. January 1, 1867, he and Washington 
Wilson entered into partnership under the name of Earl & Wilson. In 
1873 his son, Gardner Earl, was admitted into the firm, and in 1881 
Arthur R. Wilson, a brother of Washington Wilson, was admitted. 
Gardner Earl died in 1887 and later in the same year Edgar K. Betts 
joined the firm. In 1870 Earl & Wilson moved into their building on 
the southwest corner of Broadway and Seventh street. 

The firm of Corliss, Coon & Co., collar and cuff manufacturers, was 



J 



MANUFACTURING AND MERCANTILE ESTABLISHMENTS OF TROY. 207 

founded in 1838 by John M. Corliss and Arnold H. Holdridge. The 
partnership was dissolved in the following- year and Mr. Corliss con- 
tinued the business alone until 1840, when he and John White were in 
partnership. From 1840 to 184G he was associated with Hiram House, 
and in 1854 Samuel N. Ide was admitted as a partner. He retired in 
1857, and in 1868 the firm was succeeded by John M. Corliss & Son 
(Wilbur F. Corliss). The firm of Corliss Bros. & Co. was formed in 
1882 by Wilbur F. Corliss, Charles H. Corliss, John A. Corliss and 
Elmer H. Garrett. Charles H. Corliss retired in 1890, and in 1895 
Albert E. Coon was admitted, the firm becoming Corliss, Coon & Co. 

The house of Miller, Hall cSj Hartwell was originally established in 
1866, when Justus Miller, A. P. Hamlin and Joseph Wheelock, under 
the name of Hamlin, Miller & Co., began manufacturing collars and 
cuffs at 464 Fulton street. On the dissolution of the partnership in the 
following year. Miller & Wheelock continued the business. In 1874 
E. W. Bingham became a member of the firm, which then took the 
name of Miller, Wheelock & Co. In 1875 the firm was succeeded by 
that of Miller & Bingham. After the death of E. W. Bingham in 1877, 
his widow retained an interest in the business until 1878, under the 
name of Miller & Bingham. Justus Miller conducted the business at 
Nos. 485, 487, 489 and 491 River street until December 7, 1879, when 
the building was burned. Until July 1, 1880, he occupied the building 
on the corner of River and Hoosick street, whence he moved into his 
new and commodious manufactory on the west side of River street, 
north of Hoosick street. In 1884 the present firm was organized, its 
members being Justus Miller, William L. Hall and Chas. E. Hartwell. 
In 1890 the firm erected the new addition to their factory, making in 
all a plant 175 by 100 feet, six stories in height. Employment is fur- 
nished in the several departments to upwards of 1,200 persons. The firm 
also operates branch factories at Hoosick Falls and Mechanicville, 
N. Y., and supplies factories in cities and villages contiguous to Troy, 
furnishing work to nearly 1,500 other operators in these localities. 

Cieorge P. Ide & Co. are the latest successors of the firm established 
in 1865 by George P. Ide and S. V. R. Ford. Samuel N. Ide was ad- 
mitted in 1867, and in 1872 Mr. Ford was succeeded by Charles E. 
Bruce. In 1878 the firm was dissolved and (reorge P. Ide, James M. 
Ide and Charles E. Bruce formed a copartnership, which was succeeded 
in 1884 by George P. Ide & Co. (George P. Ide, James M. Ide and Frank 
B Twining.) Alba N. Ide, son of George P. Ide, was admitted to the 



308 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

firm in 188!). The Brokaw Manufacturing company, formed in 1890 
by George P. Ide, W. B. Brokaw and Frank B. Twining, occupies a 
part of the big building of the firm on River street. 

The founder of the house now controlled by William Barker was 
J. W. Wheeler, who engaged in business in 1866. His successors were 
Wheeler, Bisco & Corning, 1866; Bisco, Corning & Abbey, 1866; Bisco 
& Corning, 1872; Douglas Corning, 1876; Douglas Corning & Co. 
(William Barker), 1881; Corning & Barker, 1885; and William Barker, 
1887. 

The house of Holmes (.'<: Ide was originally founded December 1, 
1869, by Messrs. Parks, Ide & Holmes, occupying the second and third 
floors of the Manufacturers' National Bank building" at River and King- 
streets. They moved in 1872 to the Cole building in vSixth avenue, 
north of Union depot, where they occupied two floors. In 1877 Stephen 
Parks, the senior member of the firm, retired from the business, and 
the present firm was organized, the individual members being Henry 
Holmes and John C. Ide. About 1883 the factory was moved to the Tib- 
bits buildings, River and Federal streets, the upper floor of both build- 
ings being occupied. In 1886 the firm leased three floors of the Tibbits 
building, 407 to 417 Federal street, where they have been located to 
the present time. 

Tim & Co. engaged in the collar business in 1872, the members of 
the firm at that time being Louis Tim, Solomon Tim and Max Herman. 
J. O'Sullivan joined the firm in 1876. The new factory in the rear of 
vSixth street south of Broadway was built in 1881. In 1883 M. Ober 
was admitted to the business. He withdrew in 1888 and was followed 
the next year by Messrs. Herman and O'Sullivan. April 1, 1878, the 
firm of Tim, Wallerstein & Co. was organized by Louis Tim, Solomon 
Tim, E. Wallerstein and Max Herman. 

Van Zandt, Jacobs & Co. began business in 1889 in the Cronin build- 
ingon the corner of River and Federal streets. Three years afterwards 
they moved to the Burdett building, and soon after that property was 
burned in 1896 they began the erection of a new factory at the corner 
of River and Rensselaer streets, which they expect to occupy before 
the beginning of the year 1897. 

Of the numerous other collar, cuff and shirt manufacturing firms in 
Troy, Fellows & Co. originated from the house of Lyman Bennett, 
founded in 1834; J. Stettheimer, jr., & Co. succeeded J. Stettheimer, 
who started in business in 1863; Joseph Bowman & Sons originated in 




GEORGE O'NEIL. 



MANUFACTURING AND MERCANTILE ESTABLISHMENTS OF TROY. 309 

the house of Bowman & Mosely, foimded in 1853; H. C. Curtis & Co., 
founded by H. C. Curtis and Charles Cleminshaw in 1884; Ball Bros. 
(John C. Ball), succeeded Gallup & Tucker, founded in 18G4;C. H. Mc- 
Clellan & Co. originated in the house of Gallup & Tucker (William H. 
Gallup and Sidney D. Tucker); Wilbur & Co originated in the firm of 
Wilbur, De Bois & Wilbur, formed in 1883; Gunnison & Marvin orig- 
inated as Gunnison & Stewart in 1854; E. W. Marvin began business 
November 1, 1894. 

The Troy vSteel company, one of Troy's mammoth manufacturing 
concerns, was the outgrowth of the Albany Rolling and Slitting mill, 
built in 1807 by Brinckerhoflf & Co. of Albany on the site of the De Freest 
fulling mill on the north side of the lower fall of the Wynants kill. It 
was purchased in 1826 by Erastus Corning, who called it the Albany nail 
factory. Soon after John T. Norton became associated with him under 
the firm name of Norton & Corning. Four years later the firm was 
dissolved, James Horner entering into partnership with Mr. Corning. 
In 1838 John F. Winslow was admitted to the firm, which became 
Corning, Horner & Winslow, and the plant was called the Albany Iron 
Works. In 1849 the steam mill on the south side of the Wynants kill 
was erected. Later Erastus Corning, jr., and Gilbert C. Davidson 
were admitted and the firm became Corning, Winslow & Co. In 1864 
the firm became Corning 8c Winslow, and three years later Erastus 
Corning & Co. assumed control. The great plant also includes the 
extinct Troy Vulcan company's works, established in 1846, in which 
Henry Burden, John F. Winslow, John A. Griswold, Erastus Corning, 
sr., Erastus Corning, jr., and Chester Griswold were at various times 
interested; and the plant of the Bessemer steel works established in 
1863 by Alexander T. Holley, John F. Winslow and John A. Griswold. 
The plant for more than a quarter of a century has produced the best 
grades of steel in the United States. Erastus Corning & Co. and John 
A. Griswold & Co. consolidated March 1, 1875, under the name of the 
Albany & Rensselaer Iron and Steel company, with Erastus Corning as 
president, Chester Griswold as vice president, and Selden E. Marvin 
as secretary and treasurer. September 1, 1885, this concern was suc- 
ceeded by the Troy Steel & Iron company, with a capital stock of 
$2,500,000. Three great blast furnaces were erected by the company 
on Breaker Island in 1885 and 1886, the first being put in operation in 
May, 1887, From that time the Albany Iron works department has 
been devoted mainly to the production of merchant iron, rivets and 



310 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

railroad track supplies, the Rensselaer Iron works department to the 
manufacture of merchant steel, tire, tie-plates, spikes and steel for 
agricultural implements; the Bessemer steel works department to the 
production of merchant steel and billets for steel wire; and the blast 
furnaces to the manufacture of Bessemer pig iron. In the summer of 
1896 the Troy Steel company, successor to the Troy vSteel and Iron 
company, began operating theimprov^ed plant on Breaker Island. The 
reorganized company is capitalized at $2,500,000 and its officers are: 
President, Frank S. Witherbee of Port Henry, N. Y. ; vice president 
and general manager, George A. Bell ; secretary and general sales 
agent, Frank W. Edmunds; chief engineer and general superintendent, 
E. D. Arnold; directors, H. H. Rogers, Frank S. Witherbee, William 
Kemp, Junius S. Morgan, George A. Bell, Hamilton H. Durand and 
Philip G. Bartlett. The output of the reorganized concern is to be steel 
produced bv the basi,c process. The plant consists of the three blast fur- 
naces erected several years ago, each eighty feet high; the cupola and 
converting works 300 feet south of the blast furnaces; the extractor 
building, 100 feet south of the converting works; the furnace and 
blooming mill building, twenty-five feet south of the extractor build- 
ing; the boiler house, fifty feet west of the blooming mill buildings; 
the engine house, machine shop and the new office, north of the boiler 
house. The capacity of the works is about 7no tons of basic steel per 
day. 

The Burden Iron C(.)mpany's works originated from the rolling and 
slitting mill erected in 1809 on the south bank of the Wynants kill at 
the upper fall. In 1813 the Troy Iron and Nail Factory company, 
composed of John Converse, Nathaniel Adams, Ruggles Whiting, 
Henry Delavan and C. F. Backus, purchased the plant; and in 1822 
Henry Burden, a Scotch engineer who had been manufacturing agri- 
cultural implements in Albany for two or three years, became its super- 
intendent. Mr. Burden was a scientific worker and he invented many 
appliances which brought him fame and the f(nmdations for a vast 
fortune. One of the greatest of these was a machine for the manufacture 
of "T" and "H" rails, which in 1836 were beginning to supersede the 
flat rails on the railroads of the country. Three years later he invented 
what was known as "Burden's rotary concentric squeezer," which soon 
came into use throughout the entire iron manufacturing world. So 
great was Mr. Burden's success that in 1848 he became proprietor of 
the factory. During the War of the Rebellion he made man)- thou- 



MANUFACTURING AND MERCANTILE ESTABLISHMENTS OF TROY. 311 

sands of horseshoes for the cavalry in the army, all being the product 
of a machine which he had invented a few years before, and which, since 
then, has come into use in several European countries. The average 
output of the mills for years has been over 10,000,000 horseshoes per 
annum. In 1864 the firm of H. Burden & Sons was founded. William 
F. Burden died December 7, 1867, when the three other members of 
the firm cont'inued the business. Henry Burden died January 19, 1871, 
after which James A. and I. Townsend Burden, brothers, conducted 
the works under the name of H. Burden & Sons. June 30, 1881, the 
Burden Iron company was incorporated with a capital stock of $2,000,- 
000, and has since been in control of this mammoth industry. 

The Troy Malleable Iron company, whose works are located at Green 
Island, was founded in 1850 by George Harrison and William Knight. 
E. Warren Paine was admitted to the firm in 1854, a few 5'ears later 
being succeeded by John W. Paine. The succeeding firms were Har- 
rison, Kellogg & Co. (George Harrison, James H. Kellogg and John 
Dunn), 1865; Harrison & Kellogg, 1869; Troy Malleable Iron com- 
pany (William Sleicher, jr., William A. Griffin and Waldo K. Chase), 
1881. The present company was incorporated May 1, 1884. 

The establishment of the Gilbert Car company's works has been de- 
cribed in preceding pages. In 1862 the partnership of Eaton, Gilbert 
& Co. was dissolved, and Uri Gilbert continued the business until 1863, 
when William E. Gilbert became associated in it with his father, under 
the firm name of Uri Gilbert & Son. In August, 1864, a part of the 
car works were burned New buildings were erected and the business 
greatly enlarged. During the war about 500 gun-carriages for the 
United States government were made at the works. In 1864 the firm 
of Uri Gilbert & Son was succeeded by that of Gilbert, Bush & Co., the 
former partners admitting Walter R. Bush into the business. In 1867 
Edward G. Gilbert and Walter R. Bush, jr., were admitted into part- 
nership, and in 1869 L. O. Hansom. In 1872 the latter withdrew. 
The firm of Gilbert, Bush & Co. was succeeded by the Gilbert & Bush 
company on January 1, 1879. On August 25, 1882, the Gilbert Car 
Manufacturing company was organized and took control of the busi- 
ness. William E. Gilbert was vice-president and treasurer of the com- 
pany and Fred. S. Young assistant president and secretary. August 
15, 1893, Justice Stephen L. Mayham of the Supreme Court granted 
judgments against the company aggregating nearly $150,000, and the 
sheriff of Albany county took possession of the plant on Green Island, 
where it had been located for forty years. 



312 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

There was a time, not many years ago, when Troy was celebrated 
as the home of the stove industry in the United wStates. For years — 
and even now — stoves made in Troy were sent to all parts of the world. 
There are still several prosperous stove concerns in Troy, but the out- 
put of the city is not what it was a score of years ago. In 1821 Charles 
and Nathaniel vStarbuck and Ephraim Gurley began the casting of 
stove plates, in that year succeeding Hanks, Gurley & Co. — Alpheus 
and Truman Hanks and Ephraiin Gurley — who, in 1818, built the Troy 
Air Furnace, the first foundry in Troy. In 1823 the Eagle Furnace, 
afterward known as the Rensselaer, was erected by Nazro & Curtis, 
who were succeeded in 1828 by L. Stratton & Son. After this the 
plant was run by Johnson & Geer (Elias Johnson and Gilbert Geer), 
1834; Johnson, Geer & Cox, 1840; Johnson & Cox, 1846; Johnson, 
Cox & Fuller, 1850; Cox, Warren, Morrison & Co., 1854; Fuller, War- 
ren & Morrison, 1855; and Fuller, Warren & Co., 1859. The Fuller & 
Warren company was incorporated December 31, 1881, with a capital 
of $000,000, the first trustees being Joseph W. Fuller, John Hobart 
Warren, Charles W. Tillinghast, Walter A. Wood and Walter P. War- 
ren. The company's property — the Clinton Stove works — covers six 
acres of ground, bounded by Madison, River and Monroe streets and 
the Hudson river. 

The Empire Stove works of George W. Swett & Co., on the northwest 
and southwest corners of Second and Ida streets, are the second oldest in 
the city. The Empire Foundry, now managed by Wm. A. Felton for the 
estate of George W. Swett, succeeded the firm of Swett, Quimby & Co., 
which originated in the foundry of Anson Atwood, founded in 1844. 
The succeeding firms were Atwood & Cole in 1845; Atwood, Cole & Crane 
in 184G; Pease, Keeney&Co. in 1848; Clark, Keeney&Co. in 1850; Fel- 
ton, Keeney & Co. in 1851 ; Swett, Quimby & Co. in 1852 ; Swett, Quimby 
& Perry in 1867 ; Geo. W. Swett «& Co. in 1883 ; Empire Stove Works, Geo. 
W. Swett, proprietor, in 1893. Up to Mr. Swett's death in 1895 this house 
had the experience of fifty years in the stove and machinery business. 
Stoves and ranges made by this house are well known all over the 
country. The heaviest castings ever made in Troy (one weighing 
twenty-eight tons) have been turned out at this foundry. The most 
remarkable fact connected with the Empire Foundry is that it has been 
longer in continuous existence under one management than perhaps 
any other business concern in Troy. The firm of Swett, Quimby & Co. 




JOHN H. GAITLEY. 



MANUFACTUEING AND MERCANTILE ESTABLISHMENTS OF TROY. 3i;5 

succeeded Felton, Keeney & Co. in 1852. Swett, Ouimby & Co. bought 
the Empire Foundry of Amory Felton, and made in some years as high 
as 5,000 stoves and 10,000 oil stoves. As many as 300 men were em- 
ployed and 130 tons of iron melted weekly when in full operation, in- 
cluding the car wheel department (Jonas S. Heartt & Co.), of which 
they turned out as many as 25,000 wheels per year. vSwett, Quimby & 
Co. were equal partners with Jonas S. Heartt in this branch of the busi- 
ness carried on at this foundry. 

The Bussey & McLeod Stove company occupies a plant cover- 
ing four acres of ground on the east side of Oakwood avenue north of 
Hoosick street, erected in 1863 by the firm composed of Esek Bussey, 
Charles A. McLeod and John O. Merriam, organized that year. 
The firm was succeeded December 30, 1882, by the Bussey & McLeod 
Stove company, of which Esek Bussey is president, Charles A. Mc- 
Leod vice-president, Esek Bussey, jr., treasurer and Sayre McLeod 
secretary. Among the other stove firms, Burdett, Smith & Co. was 
organized in 1871 to succeed L. Potter & Co., established in 1853. 
Since 1883 the firm has been composed of Edward Burdett and W. 
Stone Smith. The firm of J. C. Henderson & Co. succeeds Shavor & 
Henderson, established in 1869; Sheldon, Green & Co. , 1870; Shavor 
8c Henderson, 1872; J. C. Henderson, 1876, and J. C. Henderson & 
Co. (James A. Henderson), 1885. Burtis & Mann, established in 1883, 
were succeeded by Herbert R. Mann. The stove works of Andrew B. 
B. Fales were established in 1835 by A. M. Stratton, Mr. Fales becom- 
ing proprietor in 1872. 

The stove linings and fire brick works of the McLeod & Henry com- 
pany were established in 1871 by Jacob Henry. Bacon & Henry suc- 
ceeded him, and they in turn were succeeded by Harvey S. McLeod 
in 1882. The McLeod & Henry company was formed February 1, 1887. 

The Wa^^side Knitting Company was incorporated in the summer of 
1888 with William H. Rowe as president, P. D. Kane as treasurer and 
Peter McCarthy as secretary. The first location of the firm was the 
old Brookside mill on Ida hill. They removed to their new quarters 
on Glen avenue in 1892. For over three years the mills have been 
operated night and day, and the output is exceeded by but few mills in 
the United vStates. Peter McCarthy succeeded 'P. D. Kane as treas- 
urer, and M. C. Rowe succeeded Peter McCarthy as secretary in 1890. 
William H. Rowe, jr., succeeded Peter McCarthy as treasurer in 1891 
40 



314 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY-. 

and J. P. W. Rowe succeeded M. C. Rowe as secretary in 1894. L. 

E. Shaver has always been superintendent of the mill. 

The Commercial Knitting Mills company was organized in Decem- 
ber, 1889, with a capital stock of $50,000 and these officers: President, 

F. M. Aufsesser; secretary and treasurer, Jonas M. Barnet; directors, 
F. M. Aufsesser, Jonas M, Barnet, Gates Barnet and William Barnet. 
The mills are located on Ida hill. 

The Rob Roy Hosiery company, of which Charles A. Brown is pres- 
ident and Theodore F. Barnum is treasurer, was organized October 16, 
1882, and its factory was completed and ready for occupancy in the 
spring of 1883. The capital stock of the company is $50,000, and the 
officers chosen at the first election were: President, Charles A. Brown; 
vice-president, Charles A. McLeod ; treasurer, Theodore F. Barnum ; 
secretary, Charles L. Alden. The company turns out immense quan 
titles of knit goods annually. 

Another prominent industry is the manufacture of paper, begun in 
1792 in a mill on the Poesten kill. About 1804 David Buel erected 
another mill on the Wynants kill near Albia, but it was destroyed by a 
flood in 1814. Soon after he built another near the site of the old one. 
The manufacture of paper was continued there in 1819 by Field & 
Stone, by Wilson & Bird in 1828, by Joseph T. Sz Thomas Rowland in 
1831, by Peleg Rowland in 1840, by Joseph Smart in 1853, by Joseph 
W. and Andrew J. Smart in 1858 and by Robert T. Smart in 1875. 
In 1858 Robert T, Smart purchased the flouring mill of Jonathan Rich- 
ardson in Albia and began the manufacture of paper there. From 18(38 
to 1873 the business was conducted by D. D. Tompkins, when Robert 
T. Smart again became proprietor. In 1837 A. & W. Orr began the 
manufacture of wall paper at No. 71 Congress street, removing two 
years later to No. 265 River street. In 1847 William O. Cunningham 
was admitted to the firm, which became A, & W. Orr cSc Co. In 1857 
the firm built the Troy paper mill on the hydraulic canal. In 1868 Alex- 
ander M. Orr became associated in the business. That year Alexander 
Orr died and the following year Mr. Cunningham retired and Frederick 
W. Orr became a partner, the firm name being changed to Orrs & Co. 
In 1883 the firm bought the Mount Vernon flour mill, which was con- 
verted into a paper mill. February 1, 1885, S. Alexander Orr, son of 
William Orr, was admitted to the firm, the name being unchanged. 
In 1846 Manning &• Rowland (William H. Manning and Gardner How- 
land) built the Mount Ida paper mill on the Poesten kill, west of Ida 




JOHN T. CHRISTIE. 



MANtJFACTURING AND MERCANTILE ESTABLISHMENTS OP TROY. 315 

falls. Calvin Williams subsequent!}' became interested with the firm 
but sold out in 1850 to Reuben Peckham. William H. Manning died 
in 1855 and John A. Manning became a partner in 1862. Reuben 
Peckham died in 1887, William M. Peckham, his son, succeeding to 
his interest, the firm being known as Manning & Peckham. In 1866 
John A. Manning and E. Warren Paine, under the name of Manning 
& Paine, began making manilla paper at the Olympus mills on River 
street. Since 1883 John A. Manning has also been making manilla 
paper at the Crystal Palace mill on River street. 

The Ludlow Valve Manufacturing company was founded in 1866 at 
Waterford. In 1872 a large plant was erected in Lansingburgh, where 
the business developed to such great proportions that in 1896 the com- 
pany purchased a part of the old property of the Troy Steel and Iron 
company, known as the Rensselaer rail mill, in the southern part of 
the city, where the refitting of the large plant was at once begun. 
Henry G. Ludlow for many years has been the principal stockholder 
in the company. John T. Christie is its president. 

The Ross Valve company was organized February 16, 1882, with R. 
H, McClellan as president and T. A. Clexton as secretary and treas- 
urer, and with a capital stock of $11,000. George Ross succeeded to 
the presidency September 13, 1886, and has since held that position. 
The capital stock was increased to $40,000 September 12, 1890. The 
main office is on Oakwood avenue, where the works are located. 

It has long been the boast of Troy that the bells made in the city 
are heard in every civilized country on earth. As early as 1825 Julius 
Hanks established a bell foundr)^ at the northeast corner of Fifth 
avenue and Fulton street, continuing the business until 1840. Eber 
Jones and James H. Hitchcock began the casting of bells in 1852 on 
the northwest corner of Adams and First streets, and in 1854 in their 
foundry on the southwest corner of the same streets. In 1859 Eber 
Jones and H. J. King succeeded to the business; in 1865 Eber Jones, 
Octavus Jones and Sylvanus Birch ; in 1867 Octavus Jones and Marcus 
R. Jones, and in 1873 the Jones Bell Foundry company, which discon- 
tinued business in May, 1887. 

Clinton H. Meneely and George H. Kimberly began the manufac- 
ture of bells in 1869 on the east side of River street between Washing- 
ton and Adams streets. The firm dissolved in 1879 and was succeeded 
by the Clinton H. Meneely Bell company, which was organized January 
1, 1880. 



3UJ LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

In 1793, perhaps earlier, Colonel Stephen J. Schuyler ran a brewery 
in Troy. Other breweries have been established as follows: Kennedy 
& Murphy, originally owned by Charles Hurstfield and Thomas Trenor, 
who started in 1820; succeeded in 1823 by Read & Armstrong; Read, 
Armstrong & Co., 1832; Read & Son, 1837; M. P. Read & Bros., 1841; 
Read & Bros., 1847; Arba Read, 1856; Read Bros, 1857; Dunn & 
Kennedy, 1867, and Kennedy & Murphy (William Kennedy and Ed- 
ward Murphy, jr.), 1867. The plant known as the Excelsior brewery 
is located on the south side of Ferry street. The Garryowen brewery 
was established in 1866 by the Fitzgerald Brothers, Michael, John and 
Edmund Fitzgerald. Michael Fitzgerald died in 1870 and John Fitzger- 
ald in 1885, since which the business has been conducted by Edmund 
Fitzgerald. 

The flouring mills of O. Boutwell & Son were established in 1837 by 
Oliver Boutwell, on the hydraulic canal at the State dam. In 1866 
Charles A. Boutwell, son of Oliver Boutwell, became interested in the 
business, and since the death of the latter in 1888 has conducted it 
alone under the firm name. 

Julius Hanks began the manufacture of surveyors' instruments in 
Troy as early as 1825. His son Oscar continued the business from 
1829 to 1846 on the northeast corner of Fulton street and Fifth avenue. 
In 1842 Jonas H. Phelps began the business, three years later forming 
a partnership with William Gurley. In 1851 Lewis E. Gurley was ad- 
mitted to the finn, the Gurley brothers purchasing the interest of Mr. 
Phelps the following spring. Soon after they erected a building on 
Fulton street. This was destroyed by the fire of 1862, when they im- 
mediately began the erection of the present structure. William Gurley 
died in 1887, since which Lewis E. Gurley has continued the business 
under the firm name of W. & L, E. Gurley. 

The firm of W. H. Tolhurst & Son, makers of laundry machinery, 
was established in 1856 by William H. Tolhurst. In 1881 the present 
works on the northeast corner of Sixth and Fulton streets were estab- 
lished, and January 1, 1884, Charles H. Tolhurst, son of William H. 
Tolhurst, was admitted to the firm. The Troy Laundry Machinery 
company. Limited, was incorporated January 1, 1881, occupying the 
building on the north side of Fulton street the following Febrv^ary. 

Coon Brothers, collar manufacturers, were established in December, 
1894, when W. H. Coon and D. B. Coon purchased from C. F. Crosby 
& Co. their department of manufacturing laundered shirt.s, collars and 



MANUFACTURING AND MERCANTILE ESTABLISHMENTS OF TROY. 317 

cuffs, C. F. Crosby & Co. continuing' to manufacture unlaundered stock 
as before. The factory was first located at 312 River street, but has 
since been moved to Nos. 1935-1937 Sixth avenue. The concern also 
operates a branch factory at Glens Falls. C, A. Coon entered the firm 
in October, 1895 

The senior member of the firm of Joseph Bowman & Sons, who 
engaged in the manufacture of collars and cuffs with Wm. F. Moseley, 
under the name of Bowman & Moseley in 1853, re engaged in the busi- 
ness in 1876 at Nos. 485 and 487 River street. In 1882 he and his sons, 
Cassius M. and Joseph, jr., entered into their present partnership. In 
1880 they moved to Nos. 386 and 388 River street, and in 1884 moved 
to their present location, Nos. 553 to 559 Federal street. 

The International Shirt and Collar company is another prominent 
industry of recent date. Its plant is located at Nos. 2 to 20 River 
street, and it also has branch houses in Boston, New York and Chicago. 
The officers of the company are: President, F. Beiermeister, jr. ; first 
vice-president, Charles F. Beiermeister; second vice-president, James 
A. Miller; treasurer, George A. Spicer; secretary, Thomas H. Cam- 
pion. 

The largest mercantile establishment in the city of Tro_v, and one of 
the largest in New York State, outside of New York city, is that of 
William H. Frear & Co., located on Cannon place. In 1893 Mr. Frear 
had the distinction of conducting a larger retail dry goods business 
than any other individual merchant in an American city of the size of 
Troy. In February, 1859, Mr. Frear came to Troy, and March 1 of 
that year entered the dry goods store of John Flagg at No. 12 Fulton 
street as a salesman. February 11, 1865, he and Sylvanus Haverlv 
formed the partnership of Haverly & Frear. March 9 of that year 
they opened a dry goods store at No. 322 River street. By articles of 
agreement drawn January 29, 1868, John Flagg became a copartner 
March 16, 1868, the firm taking the name of Flagg, Haverly & Frear. 
April 9 of the same year the firm occupied the stores at Nos. 3 and 4 
Cannon place. January 2, 1869, Mr. Haverly withdrew and the firm 
name was changed to that of Flagg & Frear. March 1, 1874, the part- 
nership expired and Mr. Frear came into possession of the business. 
On several occasions he enlarged the establishment by renting and re- 
fitting adjoining rooms, until he finally obtained the entire block. In 
1894 he admitted his son, Charles W. Frear, and his brother, Edwin 
A. Frear, into the business, under the firm name of William H. 
Frear & Co. 



318 Landmarks of rensselaer county. 

The Andrew M. Church company, Limited, which occupies nearly 
all the first floor under Rand's Opera house, was founded in 1841 at 
No. 42 Congress street by Edmund Cole. He was succeeded in 184G 
by George Bristol and in 1858 the firm was composed of the latter and 
Edward E. Belden. From 1861 to 1863 Mr. Bristol continued the busi- 
ness alone, in the latter year being joined by Andrew M. Church and 
George H. McFarland. Mr. McFarland withdrew in 1866 and two 
years later Mr. Bristol died, when Mr. Church and Miss Flavia Bristol 
continued the business. February 1, 1880, Mr. Church and Patrick 
Phalen formed the firm of Church & Phalen, and the}' were succeeded 
in 1887 by the Andrew M. Church company, Limited. 

The wholesale dry goods house of Converse, Collins, Merrill &• Co. 
was established in 1806 by Laban Gardner and Henry Vail, and was 
succeeded in 1807 by Henry and George Vail In 1830 Ebenezer 
Proudfit became a member of the firm. In 1832 Henry Vail withdrew 
and the concern was composed of George \"ail, Ebenezer Proudfit and 
James L. Van vSchoonhoven. George Vajl retired in 1835 and his son, 
D. Thomas Vail, was admitted to the firm. The succeeding firms were 
Van Schoonhoven, Proiulfit & Co , 1852; Van Schoonhoven,' Fisk & 
Holmes, 1859; Van Schoonhoven, Fisk &• Converse, 1865; Converse, 
Cary&Co., 1872; Converse, Peckham & Co., 1873; Converse, Peck- 
ham & Vilas, 1877; Converse, Peckham & Co., 1881; Converse, Col- 
lins, Merrill & Co. (Perrin W. Converse, Cornelius V. Collins, Carlton 
H. Merrill and William A. Meeker), 1884. 

The house of G. V. S. Ouackenbush & Co. was founded in 1824 by 
Gerrit \^an Schaick Ouackenbush, who soon formed a partnership with 
William C. Miller, the first store being on River street north of State. 
The firm was dissolved in 1826, when Mr. Ouackenbush and Edwin 
Smith formed the firm of Oackenbush it Smith. Mr. vSmith withdrew 
in 1828 and Mr. Ouackenbush continued the business alone until 1837, 
when he entered into a partnership with William Lee. From 1839 to 
1841 the firm had a branch store at No. 3 Franklin square. From the 
latter year to 1865 Mr. Quackenbush conducted the business alone. In 
1865 a new firm was established, composed of Mr. Ouackenbush, his 
son Gerrit, Samuel Lasell and William H. Sherman. Frederick Bullis 
entered the firm in 1868. Gernt Quackenbush died May 8, 1869, and 
the surviving members continued the business until 1872, when the 
founder of the house passed away. February 1, 1873, Samuel H, La- 
sell and William H. Sherman succeeded to the business, and have since 



MANUFACTURING AND MERCANTILE ESTABLISHMENTS OF TROY. 319 

conducted it on the southeast corner of Broadway and Third street un- 
der the firm name of G. V. S. Quackenbush & Co. 

Henry H. Darling, Brother & Co. is a wholesale house which traces 
its origin to the firm of Dauchy & Rose, founded in 1834. Its succes- 
sors were: Samuel Dauchy, 1839; Dauchy & Conkey, 1842; Dauchy & 
Flood, 1845; Dauchy, Flood & Co., 1852; Dauchy, Lee & Co., 1853; 
Dauchy & Flack, 185G; Dauchy & Amadon, 1859; Burr& C. H. Dauchy, 
1864; Dauchys & Darling, 1865; Simmons & Darling, 1868; Simmons, 
Darling & Co., 1873; Henry H. Darling & Bro., 1879; Henry H. 
Darling, Brother & Co., 1886; the other members of the firm being 
Edwin E. Darling and T. Lee Benedict. 

J. M. Warren & Co., the oldest hardware house in Troy, originated 
in 1809 in the partnership then formed by Jacob Hart and Henry 
Nazro. The first firm's successors were: Hart & Pitcher, 1821; Craft, 
Hart & Pitcher, 1824; Hart & Pitcher, 1830; Pitcher, Hart & Card, 
1832; Isaac B. Hart, 1832; Hart, Lesley & Warren, 1836; Warrens, 
Hart & Lesley, 1840 (Joseph M. Warren entering the firm); J. M. 
Warren & Co. (Joseph M. Warren and Charles W. Tillinghast), 1855. 
February 1, 1864, Walter P. Warren was admitted to the firm, and in 
1867 Thomas A. Tillinghast. In 1871 the former withdrew and in 
1879 the latter died. In 1887 J. M. Warren Sc Co. became incorporated, 
the members of the concern then being Joseph M. Warren, Charles W. 
Tillinghast, Joseph J. Tillinghast, C. Whitney Tillinghast, 2nd, Fred- 
erick A. Leeds, H. F. Wood and H. S. Darby. 

The firm of Squires, SheiTy & Galusha originated in 1841 with the 
firm of Hakes & Battershall, which was succeeded in 1845 by Hakes, 
Battershall & Weed and in 1846 by Battershall & Weed. In 1852 the 
firm became Battershall & McDoual and in 1855, by the admission of 
John Sherry, Battershall, McDoual & Co. In 1858 Norman B. Squires 
succeeded Ludlow A. Battershall, the firm becoming McDoual, Squires 
& vSherry. In 1860 Henry Galusha was admitted to the firm, and in 
1882 James H. Sherry, who had been admitted in 1874, died. Arthur 
G. Sherry entered the firm in 1883 and Franklin H. Whitney in 18!>1. 
John Sherry died in 1893 and the remaining partners conduct the busi- 
ness under the old name. 

Among the other well known mercantile houses in Troy, Flack & 
Co. 's house was established in 1855 by Roger A. Flood and Harvey C. 
Dunham; James E. Molloy & Co. in 1862 by James E. Molloy, his 
brother, Francis J. Molloy, being admitted into partnership with him in 



320 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

1866; Graves, Page & Co. in 1835 by John Hunter; Morey & Lee in 
1865 by N. J. & N. W. Sanford; Jason J. Gillespy in 179Gby Ebenezer 
Jones; J. J. Alden & Son in 1850 by Bosworth & Holmes; John L. 
Thompson, Sons & Co. in 1797 by Samuel Gale, ir. ; John A. Robinson 
& Co. in 1804 by Pomeroy & Wells; Hannibal Green's vSons &: Co. in 
1832 by Henry Nazro, Augustus A. Thurher and Hannibal Green; 
William H. Young, bookseller, in 1821 by Ebenezer Piatt; H. B. Nims 
& Co., booksellers (went out of business in 18'.t6), in 1842 by W. & H. 
Merriam; Cluett & Sons in 1854 by William Cluett; James W. Cusack, 
je..eler, in 1812 by Abraham Fellows; E. W. Boughton, hatter and 
furrier, in 1822 by George Fry; Daniel Klock, jr., & Co., rubber goods, 
in 1860 by Henry Mayell ; Green & Waterman, furniture, in 1828 by 
Elijah Galusha; Lee Chamberlain, plumber, in 1850 by Alfred H. Pierce 
and W. T. King; Charles H. Dauchy & Co. (Marcus D. Russell), in 
1870 by W. H. Deuel and C. H. Dauchy; Julius Saul, clothier, by him- 
self in 1867; Globe Ventilator Co., in 1876; Troy Waste Manufacturing 
company in 1883; Trojan Car Coupler company in 1891; Cunningham- 
Young company in 1891. 

Churchks. 

In the chapters dealing with Troy as a village and city the history of 
the First Presbyterian church, the oldest in Troy, has been carefully 
traced through its early years. After the death of the Rev. Jonas Coe 
in 1822, the Rev. N. S. S. Beman, D. D., was installed as pastor and 
held that position for the next forty years, assisted from 1853 to 1857 
by the Rev. Robert R. Booth, D. D., as co-pastor, and by the Rev. 
Herrick Johnson, D. D., later on the head of the Chicago Presbyterian 
Theological seminary, from June 25, 1860, to 1862, also as co pastor. 
Dr. Beman was continued as pastor emeritus for the next nine years, 
from 1862 to 1871, when he died. Rev. Marvin R. Vincent, D. D., 
was pastor from 1863 to 1873; Rev. George N. Webber, D. D., from 
1875 to 1883; Rev. Kerr C. Anderson, D. D., from 1884 to 1886. Rev. 
Theophilus Parsons Sawin was installed June 17, 1886, and is still pas- 
tor. All the pastors have been men of superior natural endowments 
and all have ably ministered to the intellectual as well as the spiritual 
wants of their charge. 

Of Rev. Dr. Beman, the Hon. Martin I. Townsend, on the occasion 
of the centennial anniversary of the church, said: 




REV. T. P. SAWIN, D. D. 



322 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

With his coming the whole world assumed a new aspect. The religious life be- 
came more truly than it had ever been, in isolated Troy, a warfare, warring against 
wickedness, but still a warfare. Dr. Beman was a man of the toughest iron ever 
wrought out in Puritan New England. He was a man of gigantic frame, a man who 
had intellectually few equals in the world, a man who believed he had a mission to 
accomplish on earth, and who felt that in his coming to Troy the day had dawned 
for its accomplishment. The strongest element in Dr. Beman's character I have 
failed to mention, and that is a will as gigantic as the intellect that moved it. 

Nearly all of the present house of worship was erected upon new 
land purchased in 183G, while the northern front rests upon land 
granted by Jacob D. Vanderheyden. 

The First church has been a ])rolific mother of churches. October 
15, 1815, seventeen members were dismissed to form a Presbyterian 
church in the town of Brunswick. September 24, 1827, fifty- five were 
dismissed to form the Second Presbyterian church of Troy, with two 
elders. December 7, 1830, forty-eight were dismissed to be organized 
into the Third Presbyterian church, Albia. In 1832 and 1833 seven- 
teen were dismissed to the Free Bethel churcli, now extinct. In 1840 
thirty-three were dismissed to form the Liberty vStreet Presbyterian 
church (colored). In 1854 sixteen were dismissed to form the Park 
Presbyterian church. 

The Second Presbyterian church, whose house of worship is located 
on the west side of Fifth avenue, between Grand and Ftilton 
streets, was fotmded by members of the First Presbyterian church who 
desired to have a hottse of worship nearer the northern part of the city. 
May 22, 1826, t\yo lots on the southeast corner of Grand Division and 
Sixth streets were ptirchased for $650 and work tipon the structure was 
begun the following month. The corner stone was laid July 12, 1826, and 
the building was dedicated Jul}' 18, 1827. The Rev. Mark Tucker, 
the first pastor, was installed October 31 of that year. The building 
was destroyed in the great fire of May 10, 1862. The congregation 
worshipped in Harmony hall and in various churches until December 
17, 1862, when the brick session house on the site of the present church 
was dedicated. July 14, 1864, the corner stone of the second church 
was laid and the building was dedicated March 30, 1865. The pastors 
since Dr. Tucker have been: 

Erastus Hopkins, 18:37-1841; Charles Wadsworth, 1842-1850; Thomas P. Field, 
18o(»-1854; Elam Smalley. D. D., 1854-1858; Joseph T. Duryea, D. D., 1859-1862; 
Daniels. Gregory, 1863-1866; William Irwin, D. D., 1867-1887; Hector Hall, 1887- 



CHURCHES OF TROY. 323 

The Third Presbyterian church was incorporated August 19, 1830. A 
church building- was erected on the ]oresent site in 1831 at a cost of 
$1,731. This edifice was burned in 1850, and was replaced in 1853 
by the present brick edifice. The organization in 1871 founded a 
mission on Ida hill, which developed into the present Memorial church 
of Troy. The two societies existed in connection from 1872 to 1877, 
when they became distinct. The roll of pastors is as follows: 

Rev. Ebenezer Seymour, 18B1-183B; Rev. Solomon Tracy, 1883 ; Rev. John 

Miller, 1857-1860; Rev. A. Proudfit, 1861-1863; Rev. R. E. Hinsdale, 1863-1864; 
Rev. W. W. Page, 1864-1867; Rev C. O. Thatcher, 1867-1868; Rev. J. H. Noble, 
1869-1871; Rev. Abner De Witt, 1872-1877; Rev. Dr. Tyler and Rev. E. McLean, 
supplies, 1877-1883; Rev. C. P. Evans, 1884-1886; Rev. Josiah Still, 1887-1889; Rev. 
Mr. Dean, supply, 1890-1892; Rev. O. C. Auringer, 1892 . 

The Second Street Presbyterian church, located on the east side of 
Second street, between Congress and Ferry, was founded in 1833 by 
members of the Second Presbyterian church. The corner stone of the 
building was laid July 2, 1833, and the dedication occurred August 6, 
1834. The Rev. William D. Snodgrass, D.D., entered upon his duties 
as pastor in the following September; the society was incorporated on 
the 30th of that month, and Dr. Sncdgrass was installed October 8. 
The edifice was renovated and enlarged in 1881 at an expenditure of 
over $34,000, and the first services were held in the practically new 
church April 30, 1882 Since Dr. Snodgrass the pastors have been: 

E. W. Andrews, 1844-184S; Ebenezer Halley, D.D., 1848-1855; Duncan Kennedy. 
D.D., 1855-1867; Charles E Robinson, D.D., 1867-1877; Frederick G. Clark. D.D., 
1877-1886; Eben Halley, D.D., 1886-1895; George T. Berry, 1895 . 

The Liberty Street Presbyterian church (colored) was established in 
1834 in the session house of the First Presbyterian church on Liberty 
street, which was dedicated November 27 of that year. The church 
was duly organized February 3, 1840, by thirty-three colored members 
of the First Presbyterian church. Rev. Henry H. Garnett was the 
first pastor, serving from 1842 to 1848. 

Park Presbyterian church was erected in 1853 and 1854 on the west 
side of Second street, between Washington and Adams. The church 
was regularly organized August 24, 1854, and the "building dedicated 
December 31, of that year, work having been delayed by the im- 
poverishment of many of the members of the church by the great fire 
of 1854 Rev. Charles S. Robinson became pastor in 1855. His suc- 
cessors were: Gilbert H. Robertson, 1860-1804; Abner De Witt, 18G5- 
1871 ; Donald McGregor, 1872- . 



324 LANDMARKS OF EENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Westminster Presbyterian church is the outgrowth of a mission Sun- 
day school organized under the care of the vSecond Street Presbyterian 
church in January, 1869. A chapel was erected on the west side of 
Vail av^enue and was dedicated October 23, 1870. The church was 
regularly organized November 2, 1871, and in August, 1882, was moved 
to its present site on the northwest corner of First street and Fifth 
avenue, Lansingburgh. The later history of the church will be found 
in the chapter dealing with Lansingburgh. 

The Woodside Presbyterian church was originally organized as the 
South Presbyterian church, but its name was changed when Henry 
Burden built the stone church as a memorial to his wife in 1869. A 
Sunday school was begun by members of the First Presbyterian church 
in Mechanics' hall on the bank of Wynants kill in Maixh, 1866, and a 
church was organized June 19, 1867. Rev. John Tatlock supplied the 
infant church for one 3'ear; Rev. Matthew B. Lowrie was ])astor from 
1868 to 1870; and Rev. Tennis S. Hamlin from 1871 to 1884. The 
present pastor, Rev. Arthur H. Allen, was installed February 12, 1885. 
In addition to the church, with its chime of bells in the tower, and the 
chapel adjoining, Mr. Burden's children, Mrs. Margaret E. Proudtit, 
James A. Burden, and I. Townsend Burden, erected in 1871 a manse 
close by, and in 188-1 the new chapel for Sabbath school and other uses. 

Mount Ida Memorial church (Presbyterian) was dedicated March 14, 
1872. The society is the outgrowth of a mission Sunda}- school organ- 
ized April 25, 1870, and was organized as a church October 16, 1871. 
The chapel was burned December 3, 1877, and the new edifice was 
dedicated October 24, 1878. The pastors of the church have been: 
Abner De Witt, 1872-1877; George E. McLean, 1877-1882; William 
Reed, 1882 -. 

The Oakwood Avenue Presbyterian church originated in a vSunday 
school which was organized March 18, 1868, by Aaron H. Ci raves, for 
many years an elder of the First Presbyterian church. The building 
at the corner of Hoosick and Tenth streets, which has since been en- 
larged, was occupied by the school January 1, 1867. Rev. George Van 
Deurs began work here as missionary pastor January 1, 1868. The 
new building was dedicated July 1, 1868, on which. day a commis- 
sion from the Presbytery of Troy organized iifty-four persons into a 
church to be known as the Oakwood Avenue Presbyterian A brick 
parsonage costing $5,700 was built in 1892. The pastors since the first 
one in charge have been: C. S. Durfee, 1873-1875; George Van Deurs, 
1875-1881; George D. Adams, 1881; William IT. Sybrandt, 1882 . 




REV. HhRBhKT C. HINDS. 



CHURCHES OF TROY. 325 

The Ninth Presbyterian church started as a chapel in charge of the 
Second Presbyterian church. A chapel was built in 1868 and the first 
services held therein in December of that year. May IG, 1869, Rev. 
Ninian Beall Remick of Union Theological seminary assumed charge, 
and September 30 of that year the Ninth Presbyterian church was or- 
ganized, Rev. N. B. Remick becoming its first pastor. He resigned 
April 3, 1890, and March 11, 1891, Rev. Herbert C. Hinds, the present 
pastor, was installed. In 1883 the chapel in the rear of the church was 
erected, and in 1883 a manse was built. October 28, 1894, a week of 
services was held in commemoration of the completion of the first quar- 
ter of a century of the church. 

The first steps tooking toward the establishment of the United Pres- 
byterian church were taken in September, 1832, when Dr. Peter Bullions, 
then professor of languages in the Albany academy, began preaching 
to a few families in a small frame building on the corner of Fourth and 
State streets. Formal organization was effected February 6, 1834, 
with sixteen members. The pastors have been Revs. Peter Bullions, 
D. D., December 28, 1836, to February 13, 1864; H. P. McAdam, July 
20, 1865, to January 3, 1871; R. D Williamson, February 6, 1872, to 
date. 

St. Paul's Episcopal church edifice of to-day is the result of many 
improvements over the old edifice and the expenditure of large sums 
of money. The early history of the church has been recited in pre- 
ceding pages. Four years after the consecration of the building, or 
in 1832, a two-story brick building for the use of the Sunday school was 
erected on State street in the rear of the church. In 1854 the first or- 
gan was sold, a new one having been presented to the church by Mrs. 
Martha C. Warren, widow of vStephen Warren. The rectory nortli of 
the church was built in 1865. The parish house on State street was 
erected in 1869 and the chapel in the second story was consecrated by 
Bishop Doane of Albany on St. Paul's day, 1871. The German con- 
gregation of St. Paul's church, organized in 1881 by the assistant min- 
ister, the Rev. Johannes Rockstroh, began holding services in the 
chapel in October of that year. The Martha memorial house on the 
north side of the rear of the church was erected in 1881 by Joseph W. 
Fuller and his wife in memory of.their deceased daughter, Martha W. 
Fuller. The addition on the north side of the building was erected in 
1886 and is occupied by the sisters of the order of the Holy Child Jesus. 
The chancel of St. Paul's church contains a Caen marble reredos with 



32G 



LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



English alabaster ])anels and columns and shelf of Tennessee marble, 
given in 1886 in memory of Mrs. Phebe Warren Tayloe. The hand- 






i\ 



if 



c:.Ti-yy 



erj:^^ s/A .\ .\ 






\ 



(d 




Interior of St. Paul's Chi rch. 

some credence was given in memory of Mrs. Eliza A. Paine; the white 
marble altar steps were given by William E. Hagan and family in mem- 
ory of Frank Covell Hagan; the brass lectern was presented in 1880 by 



CHURCHES OF TROY. 327 

Mrs. Walter P. Warren in memory of her brother, Edward Ini^ersoll 
Warren; the brass corona was given in 1880 by the Hon. James For- 
syth, and the silver communion service is the gift of Mrs. John L. 
Thompson, in memory of her husband. A mission school in charge of 
the church was founded in 1869 and in 1871 a school building was 
erected on the north side of Middleburgh street between vSixth avenue 
(then Vail avenue) and Mount street. The name was changed to St. 
Barnabas chapel in 1883, and the congregation became independent. 
St. Paul's church was closed during several months of the year 1893, 
at which time elaborate improvements were made to its interior at an 
expense of about 1^70,000. The floor and walls of the chancel were 
converted into beautiful Mosaic work and many other radical changes 
were effected, making the chnrch one of the most magnificent in ap- 
pearance in the United States. The rectors of the church in the order 
of their service have been : 

David Butler, D.D., 1804-1834; Robert B. Cross (assistant rector), 1830-1831 ; Isaac 
Peck (assistant rector), 1831-1834, rector, 1834-1836; Alonzo Patten. D.D. (supply), 
1836-1837; Robert B. Van Kleeck, D.D., 183T-1854; Thomas W. Coit, D.D., LL.D., 
1854-1872; Eliphalet Nott Patten, D.D. (associate rector), 1869-1872; Francis Hari- 
son, D.D., 1873-1885; H. Ashton Henry (assistant minister, priest in charge), 1886- 
1887; Dr. Edgar A. Enos, 1887 . 

St. John's Episcopal church was the second of that denomination in 
Troy, and is an offshoot of St. Paul's. November 22, 183(}, at a meet- 
ing in the Presbyterian session house, No. 71 Fourth street, where in- 
dependent religious services had been held for some time, members of 
vSt. Paul's church oi'ganized St. John's church, and voted to purchase 
of the mother church the edifice on the northwest corner of State and 
Congress streets, for which, January 13, 1831, they paid $5,000. The 
Rev. John A. Hicks of Easton, Pa., became the first rector in May, 
1831. In 1839 a new bell was purchased and a spire erected on the 
tower. In the spring of 18o3 work on the church on the southeast 
corner of First and Liberty streets was begun. The corner stone was 
laid June IS by the Right Rev. J. M. Wainvvright, provisional bishop 
of New York, and the structure was consecrated May 31, 1855, by the 
Right Rev. Henry C. Potter, provisional bishop of New York. The 
building cost about $50,000, $9,000 of which was realized from the 
sale of the old church to Gardner W. Rand. The chapel at the east 
end of the church was enlarged in 1873 and 1874, and the jxirish house, 
south of the chapel, was erected in 1889. The rectors of the church 
have been : 



328 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

John A. Hicks, 1831-1832; Herman Hooker, 1832-183:5; Henry R. Judah, 1833- 
1836; Gordon Winslow, 1836-1837; Richard Cox, 1837-1844; William H. Walter, 
1844-1846; A. B. Carter, 1846-1847; Edward Lounsberry. 1847-1854; Richard Tem- 
ple, 1854-1856; J. Brinton Smith, 1856-1859; Henry C. Potter, D D., 1859-1866; 
George H. Walsh, D.l)., 1866-1876; Frank .'.■. Norton, D.D., 1876-1880; Thaddeus 
A. Snively, 1881-1892; Henry R. Freeman, November 1, 1892 . 

Christ church (Protestant P^piscopal) liad its inception in a Sunday 
school organized in May, 1836. In November of that year religious 
services were conducted for the first time by the Rev. William F. 
Walker, afterward first rector of the church, which was duly organized 
in the following December. The corner stone of the church was laid 
May 10, l<s;}8, on the west side of Fifth avenue, between Federal and 
Jacob streets, and the edifice was consecrated June 1, 18311. In ]8ol 
a rectory was built on King street. In 18(;7 the church was renovated 
and enlarged and in 1882 the parish house adjoining the church on 
the north was erected. The pastors of the church since Mr. Walker's 
time have been: 

Edward Ingersoll, 1840-1842; Robert B Fairbairu, 1843-1848; Thomas A Starkey 
1850-1854; James Mulcahy, 1854-1860; Eaton W. Maxcy, jr., 1861-1864; Joseph N. 
Mulford, 1864-1886; Eaton W. Maxcy, D.D , 1886 . 

The early history of the Church of the Holy Cross is found in the 
chapters devoted to Troy as a village and city. The erection of the 
church edifice was begun in 1844, the corner stone being laid on wSt. 
Mark's day, April 25, of that year. Rev. Dr. J. Ireland Tucker, then 
a deacon, officiated at the first services, which took place the following 
Christmas. December (>, 1848, the church was consecrated by Rt. 
Rev. William R. Whittingham, bishop of Maryland, who was in this 
diocese at the time. The following morning Dr. Tucker was admitted 
to the priesthood and became rector of the church. In 1857 the rectory 
on the north side of the edifice was built, and in 1859 the church was 
enlarged by the addition of the ante-chapel. In 1889 a vast improve- 
ment was made by the lengthening of the chancel, Dr. Nathan B. 
Warren, Stephen E. Warren and George Henry Warren paying for the 
expense of the addition. 

Holy Cross church was among the first of the free Episcopal churches 
built in the United States, through the influence of Dr. Tucker and 
Nathan B. Warren. The golden jubilee of the church was c?lebratcd 
with appropriate ceremonies in 1894, l)eginning on Christmas eve, the 
services being in charge of Dr. Tticker, Immense crowds thronged 



CHURCHES OF TROY. 329 

the church and Eighth street near by. A large number of clergymen 
were present. The principal address was by Rt. Rev. William Cros- 
well Doane, bishop of Albany. On Christmas day the services were 
continued. The music throughout both days was of a high order, 
much of it having been composed especially for the occasion by Dr. 
Nathan B. Warren and Dr. Edward J. Hopkins, the eminent composers. 
The Christmas sermon was by Rt. Rev. Henry C, Potter, D. D., 
bishop of New York. After the death of Dr. Tucker the pulpit of the 
church was supplied until February 2, 1896, when Rev. Edward W. 
Babcock accepted a call to the pastorate and began his services. 

St. Luke's church (Episcopal) was incorporated November 20, 1866, 
though religious services had been held prior to that time. The cor- 
ner stone of the edifice was laid July 20, 1867, the first services were 
held in the church May 17, 1868, and the building was consecrated by 
Bishop Doane June 3, 1869. The pastors of the church have been: 

E. S. Widdemer, 1867-1870; George W. Shinn, 1870-1873; Samuel E. Smith, 1873- 
1874; Daniel G. Anderson, 1874-1875; John W. H. Weibel, 1876-1878; James B. 
Wasson, 1878-1880; R. G. Hamilton, 1880-1886; J. O. Lincoln, 1886-1890; William 
B. Bolmer, 1890- . 

The Free Church of the Ascension (Episcopal) succeeded St. John's 
Free Mission, organized February 14, 1868, by the Rev. George H. 
Walsh, D. D., rector of St. John's Episcopal church. The church edi- 
fice was erected by Franklin W. Farnam and his wife. The corner 
stone was laid by Bishop Doane October 19, 1869, and he consecrated 
the church February 18, 1871. The total cost of the church was $80,- 
000. The congregation becatne independent and self-sustaining Janu- 
ary 1, 1873. The Rev. James Caird. who had been in charge of the 
mission from October 5, 1870, became the rector of the church on the 
day on which its independence was announced. The Farnam institute, 
on the north side of Congress street, opposite the church, was built in 
1872 by Franklin W. Farnam for a parish school. 

St. Barnabas parish was inaugurated as a mission of St. Paul's parish 
in November, 1869, by Rev. E. N. Potter, S.T.D. It was known as 
St. Paul's Free chapel until July, 1886, when the wardens and vestry 
of St. Paul's parish conveyed the property to a board of trustees, and 
the independent parish of St. Barnabas was incorporated. A frame 
chapel, built in 1871, was occupied for service until April 21, 1896, 
when the present structure, a Gothic church of brick and stone, was 
42 



3.50 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

opened. The following have been the rector.s: Pelham William.s, 
September 21, 1879-May 14, 1888; William D. Martin, September 2'), 
1888-February 1, 1891; George A. Holbrook since February 8, 1891. 

The early history of the First Particular Baptist church has been 
related. In 1846 a new brick edifice was erected and in 1881 the front 
of the building was remodeled. The pastors of the church liave been: 

Isaac Webb, 1803-1811; Francis Wayland, sr., 1812-1816; Charles G. Somers, 
1816-1821; Lelaud Howard, 1823-1828; Peter Ludlow, jr., 1829; Benjamin M. Hill, 
1830-1839; John Cookson, 1840-1842; Lorenzo O. Lovell, 1843; George C. Baldwin, 
D.D., 1844-1885; L. M. S. Haynes, D.D., 1886 . 

The Second Particular Baptist church, which ceased to exist in 1852, 
was organized in February, 1834. In the following April the society 
purchased the First Universalist church property on Ferry street be- 
tween First and Second streets. The first and only pastor of the con- 
gregation was Rev. Ebenezer S. Raymond. He resigned in 1841 and 
the church rapidly lost its members, finally going out of existence. 

The Fifth Avenue (North) Baptist church was organized June (i. 
1843, by fifty-seven members of the First Particular Baptist churcli, 
and the society began worshipping July 3 of that year in the Presby- 
terian session house, No. 71 Fourth street, with Rev. Leland Howard 
as pastor. The church on the southeast corner of Fifth avenue and 
Fulton street was dedicated May 23, 1844. October 28, 1852, it was 
burned; was rebuilt and dedicated June 26, 1853; was again destroyed 
by the great fire of May 10, 1862, in which year the present edifice was 
erected, being dedicated May 14, 1863. In 1878 the auditorium was 
refitted at an expense of about $3,000. In 1887 the front of the build- 
ing was remodeled and the Sunday school room renovated and refur- 
nished. The pastors have been : 

Leland Howard, 1843-1846; J. H. Walden, 1846-1848; J. G. Warren, D.D., 1849- 
1855; C. P. Sheldon, D.D., 1856-1875; L. J. Matteson, 1876-1877; J. H. Griffith, 
1878-1883; H. O. Hiscox, 1884-1892; J. W. Ford, D.D., 1892 . 

The Sixth Avenue Baptist church originated in January, 1868, witli 
tlie organization of a Sunday school which became the \' ail Avenue 
mission of the First Baptist church. September 26, 1869, a chapel 
was erected on the east side of \'ail avenue, and April 23, 1871, the 
church was organized. The chapel was enlarged in 1873 and ten 
years later was moved to its present location on the corner of Ceme- 
tery and Sixth (\'ail) avenues. The pastors of the church have been: 

Ezra D. Simons, 1871-187G; John Mostyn, 18';6-1877; Thomas Bickford, 1878- 




THOMAS A. GRIFFIN, U. D. 



CHURCHES OF TROY. 331 

1879; J. W. Martin, 1880-1882; George E. Weeks, 1883-1889; W. S. S. Warden, 
1890-1891 ; G. F. Woodbury, 1891 . 

The South Troy Baptist church, organized October 24, 1869, was a 
branch of the North (Fifth Avenue) Baptist church, and was the out- 
gr(jwth of a Sunday school organized by James L. Phillips two years 
before. From 1869 to 1886 the congregation worshipped in a wooden 
building at No, 552 First street. The present chapel, built on its site, 
was dedicated January 17, 1886. The pastors have been: 

Richard Davies, 1870-1871; J. N. Smith, 1871-1875; E. D. Phillips, 1881-1883; J. 
B. Nairn, 1887 . 

The founding of the State Street Methodist Episcopal church in 1808 
has been described in a preceding chapter. A new church was built 
in 1827 at an expense of $7,000 and was dedicated December 1 of that 
year by Bishop Elijah Hedding. The corner stone of the present 
handsome stone structure was laid June 25, 1868, and the edifice was 
dedicated March 30, 1871. The stone chapel on the west side of the 
church was erected in 1882 and dedicated March 29, 1883. The spire 
which surmounts the tower of the church was erected in 1896 by 
George B. and J. W. Alfred Cluett as a monument to their parents. 
The State Street church may be called the mother of Methodist 
churches in Troy, as from it nearly all the other churches of that 
denomination have sprung. 

The Pawling Avenue M. E. church was founded by members of the 
State Street church August 15, 1826, and in 1829 the Rev. John Tack- 
aberry, who had been appointed to assist the Rev. Samuel Merwin, 
pastor of the State Street society, statedly preached in the new meet- 
ing house in Albia, which had been erected in 1827. The church was 
rebuilt in 1858. 

Members of the State Street M. E. church also formed the Fifth 
Avenue (North Second Street) M. E. church. Work was begun upon 
the structure in the summer of 1834 and the dedication occurred August 
30, 1835. The church society was incorporated October 12, 1835, as 
the North Second Street Methodist Episcopal Church of the City of 
Troy. The Rev. Samuel D. Ferguson preached to the congregation 
from 1835 to 1836, and the first pastor, the Rev. Charles Sherman, took 
charge in 1836. A new church was erected in 1854 and dedicated De- 
cember 29 of that year. In consequence of a change in the name of 
the street, the name of the church was changed to Fifth Avenue Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church of Troy February 9, 1888. 



332 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

The Third Street M. E. church is largely an offshoot of the State 
Street church. A class had been formed in the southern part of the 
city in 1843, and March 29, 1844, the Third Street church was regularly 
organized. The church was built in 184G and 1847 and dedicated on 
Christmas day of the latter year. The Rev. Oliver Emerson, the first 
pastor, had been preaching over a year before the edifice was con- 
structed. In 1873 the church was enlarged. In 1879 the name was 
changed to Wesley chapel and from 1880 to 1884 the society was in- 
cluded in the State Street church, having no pastor of its own. In 
188G the old name was resumed. 

Grace (Vail Avenue) M. E. church sprang from a Sunday school or- 
ganized in 184;}. The church was formally organized March 15, 1852, 
as the Methodist Episcopal church in North Troy, and the first pastor, 
the Rev. John L. Cook, served both that society and the one at Green 
Island. The church edifice was erected in 1858 and dedicated Decem- 
ber 10 of that year. In 1867 the society took the name of Vail Avenue 
M. E. church and April 2, 1888, it was changed to Grace M. E. church. 
The corner stone of the present structure was laid August 10, 1888, 
and the edifice was dedicated the first vSunday in June, 1889. It is 
located on the east side of Sixth avenue, north of Dow street, and cost 
about |40,000. 

The origin of the African M. E. Zion church is traceable to a class 
connected with the State Street church led by John Dungy, who in 

1831 became the pastor of a small congregation of colored people. In 

1832 the society took the name of Wesleyan M. E. Zion church, meet- 
ing in a small wooden dwelling on Fifth street, north of Liberty. In 
1841 the society purchased a building on Fifth street and altered it into 
a church. February 23, 1843, the society was formally organized. 
The present church on the east side of Seventh street was erected in 
1868. 

While the formal organization of Trinity Methodist church took place 
October 28, 1846, its real organization may be traced to a prayer 
meeting first held about the year 1832 at the house of Isaac Hillman. 
The corner stone of the present church was laid in October, 1848, and 
July 12, 1849, the building was dedicated by Bishops Hamleine and Red- 
ding. The pews have been free from the first organization. In 1853 a 
parsonage was built at a cost of $2,876.48. The church was enlarged in 
1860, increasing the seating capacity by 200, and again in 1880 it was 
enlarged and beautified at an expense of $14,084.94. During the 




REV. JOHN J. WALSH. 



CHURCHES OF TROY. 333 

winter of 1895-1896 a chapel was built and furnished for the primary 
department of the Sunday school and for social purposes, costing about 
|3,800. 

Levings M. E. church originated September 24, 1838, by a meeting 
of persons who designated themselves members of the Fourth M. E. 
church in Troy. The society erected a house of worship in 1850 during 
the pastorate of the Rev. John Graves. During the pastorate of the 
Rev. Charles Edwards in 1889 the edifice was raised and considerably 
changed in appearance at a cost of ^4,000. 

The German Methodist Episcopal church was organized July 25, 
1857, with Rev. F. W. Dinger as pastor. There had been services 
held at intervals for nearly two years previous, and a Sunday school 
had been organized as early as April, IStii. The services were first 
held in a mission building on Seventh street. Later the society moved 
to the building on the south side of Congress street. In 1861 under the 
administration of Rev. G. Abele, two building lots were purchased on 
the northwest corner of Union and State streets and in 1863 Rev. J. F. 
Seidel superintended the building of the present church property on 
those lots. The following pastors have served the society: 

F. W. Dinger, J. Swahlen, G. Abele, J. F. Seidel (three terms), J. C. Deininger, 
G. Mayer, J. Kindler, P. A. Moelling, F. G. Gratz, J. G. Lutz, sr., Wm. H. Kurth 
(two terms), F. W. Boese. 

St. Peter's Catholic parish is the oldest Catholic parish in Troy. From 
it have sprung the other seven Troy congregations. It was organized 
in 1825 and four years later a wooden church edifice was erected on the 
corner of Hutton street and Fifth avenue. In 1848 this building was 
burned and the present church was dedicated the following year. The 
pastors have been : 

Fathers McGilligan, 1825-1827; John Shanahan, 1827-1842; Peter Havermans, 
1842-1845; Francis Donehue, 1845-1847; Philip O'Reilly, 1847-1849; John Curry, 
1849-1851; Michael O'Donnell. 1851-1855; Thomas Daley, 1855-1858; Clarence A. 
Walworth, 1858-1861; James Keveny, 1861-1880; F. A. Ludden (afterward bishop 

of Syracuse), 1880-1887; John Walsh, 1887 . St. Mary's academy is an au.xiliary 

of the church. 

St. Mary's Catholic parish was created in 1843 by members of St. 
Peter's congregation. Father Peter Havermans, who in 1896 is the 
oldest person in the priesthood in the United States, supervised the 
erection of St. Mary's churchi and has been its pastor from the begin- 
ning. The church is located on the northeast corner of Third and 



3;'.4 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Washington streets. The church has charge of a parish school — St. 
Mary's — for girls. The majority of the boys of the parish attend St. 
Mary's Academy of the Christian Brothers. 

Finding St, Mary's church inadequate, in 1847, mainly through the 
efforts of Father Havermans, St. Joseph's parish was created and the 
corner stone of the present church was laid May 21 of the same year. 
The property was at once turned over to the Fathers of the Society of 
jesvis, who have since had possession. The pastors have been : Revs. 
Peter Verheyden, 1848-1852; August Thebaud, 1852-1800; Jo.seph 

Loysance, 1876-1888; J. McQuaid, 1S88 . The parish has two 

schools located north of the parish house. The celebrated choir of wSt. 
Joseph's was organized in 185:3 by Dr. Thomas Guy, one of the fore- 
most composers and organists in the State, who is still the director. 

The Catholic congregation of St. John the Baptist, or St. Jean-Bap- 
tiste, was organized in 1852. The first place of worship was at No. 44 
Ferry street. This was burned in 1855 and for thirteen years the 
French Canadian Catholics of Troy were without a permanent place of 
worship. In 18(i8 the present church on Second street was erected, 
being dedicated the following year. The parish includes all of Troy 
and Green Island. The pastors have been: Fathers Turcotte, 1852- 
1855; George J. Brown, 1869-1875; Gedeon Huberdeault, 1875-1880; 
R. J. Cost, 1880-1 S83; Joseph Charette, 1883-1889; J. B. vSt. Onge, 

lygQ . The students of the parochial schools are taught in both 

French and English. 

St. Lawrence parish ((lerman Catholic) was organized in 1871, eleven 
years after the congregation had been formed. The first church was 
built in 1871, and the present one was dedicated in 1884, when the old 
edifice was converted into a parochial school house. The ])astors have 
been: Fathers Gustave Meittinger, Peter A. Puissant, Father Drolsha- 
gan, Norbert StoUer, Henry C. Lipowski, Joseph Ottenhues, Bernard 
Schoppe, Mgr. H. Cluever. The church is located at the corner of 
Third and Jefferson streets and has an excellent school. 

St. Francis's parish was created in 1861 under the name of Holy 
Trinity. The first church was erected in 1863 on Fifteenth street, be- 
tween Christie and Marshall streets, and the present church on Con- 
gress street, Ida hill, in 1882. The pastors have been: 

Fathers Peter Havermans, 1861-1860; Henry Herfkens, 1866-1872; F. Francis, 
1873-1875; William J. Burke, 1875-1876; W. A. Drumm, 1876-1882; Charles A. 
Reilly, 1882-1887; Joseph F. Leonard, 1887 . 



CHURCHES OF TROY. 335 

St. Patrick's parish was created in 1871 and Rev. John J Swift has 
been its pastor since the first church was erected. vSt. Patrick's paro- 
chial school is one of the most successful of its kind in the State. 

St. Michael's parish was created in 1872 through the efforts of the 
Jesuit fathers of St. Joseph's and the church is located on the corner of 
Stowe avenue and Willow street. The parish was in full charge of the 
Jesuit fathers until June, 1888, when the present pastor, Rev. James 
Flood, was given control. 

The German Evangelical, Lutheran Trinity church was organized 
through the efforts of Rev. Peter Eirich of St. Paul's Lutheran church 
of Albany. Rev. Theodore INIaas became its first pastor, September 3, 
1871. A formal organization was effected October 15 of the same year. 
The congregation first worshipped in Turner hall, thence for a num- 
ber of years in Green's hall, corner Fourth street and Broadway. In 
the spring of 1873 the site of the present church was purchased for 
$5,800, and Rev. Fr. Goessling was called as pastor. The wooden 
building on the lot was renovated for the use of worship at an expense 
of $2,000, and dedicated February 7, 1875. In 1878 a discontented fac- 
tion left the church and organized St. Paul's Evangelical congregation, 
corner of vSeventh and Fulton streets. The church building was de- 
stroyed by fire in December, 1879, but a new church was built at once 
and dedicated January 16, 1882. Rev. H. Beiderbeckewas pastor from 
1882 to 1886, since which Rev. A. F. Walz has officiated. The congre 
gation has a branch vSunday school at Lansingburgh and a mission 
chapel at Cohoes. 

St. Paul's Evangelical church was organized November 10, 1879. In 
February, 1885, the house of worship belonging to the Church of 
Christ, corner of Seventh and Fulton streets, was purchased by the 
congregation, which began holding services there May 3 of that year 
The first pastor was the Rev. William V. Gerichten. 

The River Street Church of Christ had its beginning in 1838. It 
was originally known as " The Congregation of Jesus Christ " and held 
its first meetings in a house on Fifth avenue owned by Elder Dexter 
Moody, through whose eft'orts, largely, the organization was eft'ected. 
In 1865, under the leadership of Elder W. A. Belding, this congrega- 
tion was incorporated under the name of the Church of Christ. After 
having met in a room over the post-office on First street and also at 
the corner of First and Ferry streets, removal was made to permanent 
quarters on the corner of Seventh and Fulton streets. In 1885 the pres- 
ent site was chosen and occupied. 



336 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

The Second Church of Christ was founded in 1S8T. The first pastor 
was the Rev. R. W. Stancill. 

The First Unitarian church was org-anized June 20, 1845. August 19 
of that year the Presbyterian session house on the west side of Fourth 
street, between Broadway and State street, was purchased by the soci- 
ety and October 1 of that year the church was incorporated. The 
chapel was dedicated November 14 and in 184G it was enlarged. The 
building was sold in 1874 and the corner stone of a new church edifice, 
located on the southwest corner of State and Fourth streets, was laid 
May 20, 1875, the dedication occurring December 15 of that year. The 
first pastor was the Rev. John Pierpont, who served from August, 1845, 
to 1849. 

The First Universalist church was established as the First Restora- 
tionist church July 2, 1822. July 29, 1823, the corner stone of the first 
church was laid on the south side of Ferry street, between First and 
Second, and about the same time the society changed its name to the 
First Universalist church of Troy. The property was sold to the Sec- 
ond Particular Baptist church in 1834 and a new edifice was built in 
1835 on the west side of Fifth street, between State street and Broad- 
way, the dedication occurring September 11, 1835. The church was 
rebuilt in 1875. The first pastor of the society, in 1823, was the Rev. 
Lemuel Willis. 

The Jewish congregation of Berith Sholoni had its inception in 18()4, 
when it was organized under the name of Bickur Cholom and was 
served by Louis Neusted as reader. The congregation was incorpo- 
rated as Berith Sholom March 26, 18()<j. The corner stone of the syna- 
gogue on the west side of Third street, between Division and Liberty, 
was laid June 12, 1870, and the edifice was dedicated September 22 of 
the same year. The first rabbi was Bernard Eberson, who came to the 
society in 1870. 

The Jewish congregation of Beth Israel Bickur Cholom was organized 
August 7, 1870. Four years later the society secured for a permanent 
place of worship a building on wState street between First and River 
streets. The congregation's first readers were Bernstein A. Chellock 
and Hermand Lovenstein, in 1873. 

The Jewish congregation of Shaare Tephilla was established in 1873. 
The synagogue on the north side of Division street between First and 
River, was erected in 1887, the corner stone having been laid October 
9 of that year. The first reader was Rev. Isaac Berkowitch. 




CHARLES E. HANAMAN. 



BANKS OF TROY. 337 

The Young Men's Christian Association of the city of Troy was or- 
ganized March 13, 1895, with a charter membership of 246 and these 
officers: 

Board of trustees, Robert Cluett, president ex-officio; Geo. B. Cluett, W. H. 
Frear, L. E. Gurley, Chas. R. Ingalls, W. H. Rowe, C. W. Tillinghast; board of 
directors, Robert Cluett, president; W. F. Gurley, vice-president; C. L. Maxcy, 
recording secretary ; D. Klock, jr., treasurer; F. H. Cluett, W. H. Doughty, H. S. 
Darby, W. N. Ells, W. C. Geer, E. W. Greenman, W. H. Hollister, jr., F. H. Knox, 
H. S. Kennedy, H. S. Ludlow, J. A. Leggett, H. G. Piersons, J. H. Peck, W. H. 
Rowe, jr., A. G. Sherry, J. H. Tupper, D. C. Woodcock; executive officers, C. W. 
Dietrich, general secretary ; H. C. Scofield, assistant secretary. 

In the winter of 1895-'96 it was proposed to construct a handsome 
building for the uses of the association, but after a brief canvass it was 
considered unwise to enter upon a general canvass until the financial 
condition of the country were improved. In the canvass made sub- 
scriptions were secured to the amount of $35,000. 

Banks. 

The early history of soine of the oldest banks in Troy wull be found 
in preceding pages of this work. Some of the banks established when 
Troy was a village or in its early days as a city have been extinct many 
years. Of those that are now in existence the following is a brief his- 
tory: 

The Troy Savings bank is one of the strongest financial institutions 
in Troy. Its foundation and development and the construction of its 
handsome and costly building on the northeast corner of vSecond and 
State streets have been fully described in other pages. The presidents 
of this great institution have been : 

Townsend McCoun, 1823-1834; Richard P. Hart, 1834-1839; Stephen Warren, 
1839-1847; Gurdon Corning, 1847-1850; Jared S. Weed, 1850-1870; Charles B. Rus- 
sell, 1870-1886; Derick Lane, 1886-1892; Charles E. Hanaman, February 9, 
1893 . 

President Lane died in office December 14, 1892, and First Vice- 
President Derick L. Boardman acted as president until the election of 
Mr. Hanaman. 

The Troy City bank was incorporated April 19, 1833, with a capital 

of $300,000. The first president was Richard P. Hart and the first 

cashier George R. Davis. September 13 of that year the bank moved 

into a brick banking house on the southeast corner of Fourth and Grand 

43 



338 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Division streets. The building^ was burned in the great fire of lS(;-2 
and the present banking- house was immediately constructed. The 
l)ank was reorganized January 1, 18G3, with a capital stock of $300,000; 
and it was organized January 1, 1865, as the Troy City National l)ank, 
with $500,000 capital. May 10, 1877, the capital was reduced to the 
former figure. The presidents of the bank since the first one have 
been: - 

George B. Warren, sr., 1844-1857; John A. Griswold, 1857-1872; Hannibal Green, 
1872-1875; John B. Pierson, 1875-1885; George A. Stone. 1885- . 

The Union National bank was organized as the Union bank Decem- 
ber 24, 1850, and four days later Joel Mallary became president, John 
Kerr vice-president. The first cashier, Pliny M. Corbin, was elected 
February 28, 1851. The bank began business April 11, 1851, at No. 
349 River street with a capital of $250,000, and soon afterward re- 
moved to No. 12 First street. March 21, 1865, the capital was increased 
to $300,000 and the name was changed to Union National bank. April 
28, 1888, the institution moved into its new banking house on the east 
side of Fourth street, between Fulton street and Broadway 

The National State bank of Troy was organized April 14, 1852, as 
the State bank of Troy, with a capital of $250,000, with Ralph J. 
Starks as president, Henry Ingram as vice-president and Willard Gay 
as cashier. The transaction of business was begun September 2 of 
that year in the banking house on the southeast corner of First and 
State streets. April 15, 1865, the institution became the National 
State bank of Troy, the capital remaining unchanged. 

The Manufacturers' National bank was formed in August, 1852, with 
$200,000 capital, Arba Read being the first president, Charles W. 
Thompson vice-president and John vS. Christie cashier. In Octo- 
ber of that year the banking house at No. 13 First street was occu- 
pied, and May 1, 1856, the bank moved into its building at the in- 
tersection of River and King streets December 27, 1864, it became 
the Manufacturers' National bank, the capital being reduced to $150,- 
000. 

The Mutual National bank was organized as the Mutual Bank of 
Troy November 24, 1852, with $250,000 capital. The first president 
was John P. Albertson, the vice-president Joseph U. Orvis and the 
cashier George A. Stone. January 18, 1853, the bank occupied the 
brick buildino on the northeast corner of l^'irst and River streets, occu- 




GEORGE A. STONE. 



PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF TROY. 339 

pied by the Fanners' bank from 1820 to 1830. It became a national 
bank under its present name March 23, 1805, with the same capital. 

The Central National bank was organized December 29, 1852, with 
$200,000 capital, and called the Central Bank of Troy. February 5, 
1853, j. Lansing Van Schoonhoven was elected president and James 
Buel cashier. The bank began business at No. 271 River street De- 
cember 29, 1852. May I, 1853, it removed to No. 5 Second street and 
twelve years later to No. 13 First street. October 21, 1854, the capital 
was increased to $300,000, and in April, 1807, the institution became a 
national bank under the present name. 

The National bank of Troy is the successor to the First National bank. 
The latter bank was organized October 28, 180)5, with $200,000 capital 
and Thomas Coleman for president and Richardson H. Thurman for 
cashier. The bank began business January 4, 1804, at No. 218 River 
street. The capital stock was increased to $300,000 January 27, and 
May 1 the bank moved into its new building. No. 15 First street. The 
bank discontinued business February 24, 1883, on which day the 
National bank of Troy was organized with $200,000 capital. Thomas 
Coleman was elected president, Francis A. Fales vice-president and 
George H. Morrison cashier. The bank first occupied the building- 
owned by its predecessor, and in 1894 moved into the building at the 
southwest corner of Fourth and Fulton streets. 

The United National Bank was organized March 7, 1805, by a num- 
ber of depositors of the Farmers' bank and the Bank of Troy, which 
discontinued business February 27 of that year. The capital stock of 
the new institution was $300,000. On the day of organization E. 
Thompson Gale was elected president, William A. Shepard vice-presi- 
dent and Tracy Taylor cashier. April 13, 1805, the transaction of busi- 
ness was begun on the northwest corner of First and State streets, the 
(juarters formerly occupied by the Bank of Troy. March 19, 1877, the 
capital was reduced to $240,000. The quarters were enlarged and im- 
proved in 1884. 

Troy's Public Schools. 

The earliest general "Act for the encouragement of Schools " was 
passed for the benefit of cities and towns, in April, 1795, when Troy 
was six years old. At that time $50,000 a year was appropriated by 
law for the schools for the whole State. Revisions and repeals of the 



340 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

school laws followed until April, 181G, when " An act to incorporate 
the city of Troy "' was passed. By this act the first four wards were 
formed into a district and power was given to the Common Council to 
raise by tax $500 annually to support a school and also power to build 
a school house. This law was in force until 1850. 

The Lancasterian system, which was indorsed by tlie State about 
1815, was adopted in Troy. The last school of that kind was at the 
corner of vState street and Sixth avenue. The origin of the adoption 
of this system in Troy is found in a law passed March, 1828, entitled 
" An act to prevent the sale of tickets of unauthorized lotteries, and to 
prevent the forgery of lottery tickets." By this law the mayor of Troy 
was required to apply all moneys received by him for granting licenses 
to the vendors of lottery tickets in Troy to the trustees of district No. 
1, to be expended by them in the establishment and support of a high 
school on the Lancasterian or monitorial plan. There seemed to be 
two school districts, one above and one below the Poesten kill. 

The agitation of the free public school system began about 1845. 
Before that time the schools were supported in part by rate bills. April 
4, 1849, there was passed " An act to amend the charter of the City 
of Troy and to provide for the establishment of free schools in said city. " 
At the same time a law was passed making the schools of the State free. 
In accordance with the law of April, 1849, a Board of Education was 
organized. Then the schools began to prosper. Buildings were im- 
proved and erected and citizens took more interest. Since that time 
the school laws of the city have been changed several times. The 
High school was established in 1854. The first superintendent of 
schools was Edward Danforth, who was elected in October, 18(!2. He 
also acted as clerk. From that time until 1873 supervision was done 
through the clerk. The law of 1873 authorized the appointment of a 
superintendent of schools as a separate office, excepting two years when 
the superintendent was also principal of the High school. 

The first superintendent under the law of 1873 was David Beattie, 
elected April 9. He resigned September 1, 1891, and was succeeded 
by Edwin E. Ashley. He was succeeded by John H. Willets, 
in March, 1895. 

Other Educational Institutions. 

The Rensselaer Polytechnic institute, certainly the highest educa- 
tional institution of its kind in the United States and concededly one of 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF TROY. 341 

the foremost in the world, has had a memorable career. Its founda- 
tion and history up to the year 1832, when its name was changed from 
Rensselaer school to Rensselaer institute, has been described in pre- 
ceding pages. In 1833 the trustees of the school were empowered by 
act of the Legislature to establish a department of mathematical arts, 
for the purpose of giving- instruction in engineering and technology. 
This meant the establishment of a course in civil engineering. Eight 
members of the class of 1835 were graduated as civil engineers and 
received the degree of C. E. This was the first class in civil engineer- 
ing ever graduated in any English speaking country. Prof. Amos 
Eaton died in 1842 and George H. Cook of the class of 1839, who was 
afterwards widely known for his work as State geologist in New 
Jersey, was appointed as senior professor.in the same year. Under his 
direction the school was reorganized and the courses of instruction 
somewhat extended. He resigned in 1847 and was succeeded by B. 
Franklin Greene of the class of 1842, who became director of the in- 
stitute when that office was created by act of the Legislature in 1850. 

Prof. Greene's acceptance of the position marks an epoch in the his- 
tory of the school. After a careful study of the scientific and techni- 
cal institutions of Europe the curriculum was, under his direction, 
thoroughly reorganized in 1849. This reorganization included a ma- 
terial enlargement of the course of study and the requirement of a 
more rigid standard of scholarship from candidates for degrees. The 
number of instructors was also increased, and the length of time de- 
voted to the course was changed to three years, with a "preparatory 
class" which made it practicall}^ four years in duration. At the time 
of the reorganization in 1849-50 the name Rensselaer Polytechnic in- 
stitute was first given to the school. Thus was inaugurated the course 
and methods which have resulted in giving to the engineering profes- 
sion in this and other countries during the last half century or less 
many of its most distinguished members. The main causes of the rep- 
utation of the school and of the success of its graduates have been the 
method of instruction then adopted and the high standard of scholar- 
ship maintained. Although the curriculum has, of course, since been 
changed from time to time to adapt it to the needs of the best modern 
practice, the methods have remained practically unchanged. The 
names of the presidents and directors and the years during which they 
served, from the foundation of the school to the present time, are as 
follows : 



342 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Presidents.— Samuel Blatchford, D.D., 1824-1828; John Chester, D.D., 1828- 
1829; Eliphalet Nott, D.D., LL.D., 1829-1845; Nathan S. S. Beman, D.D., 1845- 
1865; Hon. John F. Winslow, 18(55-1868; Thomas C. Brin.smade. IXD., 1868; James 
Forsyth, LL.D., 1868-188(5; John Hudson Peck, LL.D., 1886 . 

Senior Professors and Directors. — Amos Eaton, A.M., senior professor, 1824- 
1842; George H. Cook, C. E., Ph. D., senior professor, 1842-1846; B. Franklin 
Greene, C. E., A. M., director, 1847-1859; Nathan S. S. Beman, D.D., director, 1859- 
1860; Charles Drowne, C. E., A. M., director, 1860-1876; William L. Adam;-, C. E., 
director, 1876-1878; David M. Greene, C. E., director, 1878-1891; Palmer C Rick- 
etts, C. E., director, 1892 . 

The history of the Troy Female seminary, the institution founded by 
Mrs. Emma Willard, up to the death of Dr. John Willard May 29, 1825, 
has been told in the early pages of this work. October 13 of that 
year the Common Council leased the seminary to Emma Willard for 
five years and six months from November 1, 1825. Next spring the 
building was increased in size and the annual rental raised to $700. 
The building which was used for musical instruction and laundering 
and since demolished, was erected in 1828 at an expense of $3,500. 
Additional ground was purchased in May, 1831, extending the property 
to Ferry street and westward to the alley. In 1837 a lot was purchased 
on Ferry street. The founder of the institution retired as principal in 
1838 and left it in charge of her son, John H. Willard, and his wife, 
Sarah L. Willard. Eight years afterward the trustees purcha.sed from 
the First Presbyterian church additional ground on the west side of 
the closed alley running from Congress street south to Ferry, and an 
addition to the main building was erected. 

In 1871, the patronage of the seminary having fallen oft" considerably, 
the trustees decided to solicit aid from the citizens, providing the city 
could be induced to convey the entire interest in the property to the 
trustees. The consent of the Common Ccnincil to the plan could not 
be obtained, and May 1, 1873, the sum of $52, (J 15. 17 having been pri- 
vately subscribed, the trustees purchased the right of the city for 
$50,000. William Gurley and Lewis E. Gurley were tlie prime movers 
in the work and it was in a large measure due to their cft'orts that the 
required amount was subscribed. The contract between the city and 
the trustees continued the proviso that the property should be used for 
school purposes only. 

John H. Willard and his wife resigned as principals of the .seminary 
at the close of the term in 1872, and Miss Emily Wilcox became princi- 
pal. Miss Wilcox resigned soon after the close of the term in 1895, and 




^-^:?^^^?ss-^^ 



- -3^ ^,y^£ ZJ7 >?:-ii^isatr7isr 



<s^ 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF TROY. 343 

was succeeded by Miss Mary Alice Knox. The old building was torn 
down in 1890 to give place to the Gurley Memorial building, whose 
corner stone was laid in June, 1891. The handsome structure was 
dedicated with appropriate exercises a year later. It was built by 
Lewis E. Gurley as a memorial to his deceased brother, William Gur- 
ley, at a cost of $00,000. The seminary conservatory of music, known 
as the Anna M. Plum Memorial, was opened Thursda}^ September lo, 
1894. It was erected by Mrs. Gerrit V. S. Quackenbush as a memorial 
to her daughter. Miss Anna M. Plum, and is devoted to instruction in 
music and painting. Its cost was about $50,000. Russell Sage hall, the 
last to be added to the magnificent collection of buildings forming the 
seminary, was dedicated May 16, 1895. Its cost was about $115,000, 
and the entire building was given by Russell Sage and his wife, of 
New York, former residents of Troy 

May IG, 1895, the day on which Russell Sage hall was dedicated, the 
beautiful statue of Mrs. Emma Willard was unveiled with elaborate 
ceremonies in Seminary park. Mrs. Charles L. MacArthur, president 
of the Emma Willard Statue association, presided. After the unveil- 
ing of the statue and the preliminary exercises the statue was formally 
presented to the board of trustees by Francis N. Mann, who, in his 
speech, gave a comprehensive history of the Monument association. 
The association was organized in 1890 and the statue was designed and 
made by Alexander Doyle of New York city. The statue was accepted 
in a speech by John Hudson Peck, when the Rev. Dr. John Monroe 
Taylor, president of Vassar college, made a scholarly and eloquent ad- 
dress on the life and work of Emma Willard. During the exercises a 
quartette sang " Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep," the words (jf which 
were written by Emma Willard. The dedication of Russell Sage hall 
followed. The address of presentation was made b)^ the Rev. Dr. 
vStryker, president of Hamilton college, and the speech of acceptance 
by Lewis E. Gurley. A most eloquent address by Dr. Chauncey M. 
Depew of New York and the benediction by the Rev. Dr. T. P. Sawin 
closed the exercises. 

The Gurley Memorial hall was dedicated Wednesday, June 8, 1892, 
with elaborate exercises. The morning and part of the afternoon were 
devoted to receptions to the students and faculty, former students and 
the reunion of the AlumniE association, when addresses were made by 
Miss Emily T. Wilcox, president of the seminary; Mrs. Russell Sage, 
who, with her husband, subsecjuently gave Russell Sage hall to the 



344 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

seminary; Mrs. Lewis E. Gurley, wife of the donor of the building, 
and Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a member of the graduating class of 
1832. Mrs. Charles L. MacArthur also made an appeal in behalf of 
the fund for the statue of Mrs, Emma Willard. The dedicatory 
services proper began at 3 r. m. and included the presentation address 
by Lewis E Gurley, the speech of acceptance by J. H. Peck, an elo- 
(juent address by the Rev. Dr. H. M. King of Providence, R. I., and 
the reading of the dedicator)'' poem by Benjamin H. Hall. 

Among the many distinguished visitors to the seminary beside 
Marquis de La Fayette in 1824, Lady Franklin, wife of Sir John Frank- 
lin, called on Miss Willard while Sir John was governor of Van Die- 
man's Land. In 1841 vSir Joseph Laffan de Hovey came as the agent 
of Queen Victoria, saying: "We have heard that you have got before 
us in female education, and we wish to know your plans. " Dr. Scoresby, 
the great English educator; Thalberg, the famous pianist; Gottschalk, 
the composer; Madam Angel, the great contralto; Strakosch, Ole Bull, 
Walbare, Dr. Vincent, Clara Louise Kellogg, Fanny Kemble, Dr. John 
Lord, Dr. Hayes, the Arctic explorer; General William T. Sherman 
and many other persons noted in the field of art, or letters, or science, 
or exploration, were also visitors to the school. 

Troy academy was incorporated by act of Legislature May 5, 1834. 
The original plan was to unite in one the Rensselaer Polytechnic insti- 
tute and the Troy academy, the former to be designated as "The De- 
partment of Experimental Science," the latter as "The Department of 
Classic Literature," but although an act was passed in 1837 permitting 
the consolidation of the two corporations, the imion was never made. 
The first home of the academj^ was at the corner of State and Fourth 
streets. In 1838 the city transferred to the trustees of the academy the 
property now occupied by the school at the corner of State and Seventh 
streets, at that time the site of a building occupied in part by the High 
school and in part by the old Lancasterian school. The building was 
destroyed by the great fire of 18G2 and was replaced by the present 
one in the following year. The academy came under the direction of 
the present principals in 1889. Since then the aim and scope of the 
work of the school have been somewhat changed, the number of in- 
structors has been increased from four to ten, the militar}' drill has 
been introduced, the courses of study in the several subjects have 
been carefully graded, the number of subjects offered for instruction 
has been enlarged, and facilities afforded for advanced study in many 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF TROY. 345 

directions. The principals of the school are Prof. Frank Coe Barnes 
and Prof. Carroll L. Maxcy. 

The career of vSt. Joseph's Provincial seminary (Roman Catholic) 
dates from the year 1833, when Bishop Dubois built at Nyack a college 
combining both the theological and collegiate courses of studies. Hav- 
ing been destroyed by fire the institution was re-established at La- 
fargeville and reopened in 1838 as St. Vincent of Paul's seminary. 
This proving unsuccessful a new college was established at Fordham 
in 1841 with Rev. John McCloskey, afterward Archbishop of New 
York, as president. In 1844: it was again removed to a building on 
Fifth avenue and Fiftieth street, N Y. In 1862 Archbishop Hughes, 
on the recommendation of the Rev. Peter Havermans of Troy, pur- 
chased the property of the Troy university, which was transformed 
into St. Joseph's Provincial seminary and placed in charge of profess- 
ors from the university of Louvain. It was opened under the new 
auspices in October, 1864, with a faculty consisting of a rector, three 
professors from Louvain and two from the clergy of Boston and New 
York. The students numbered sixty. Since that year the number 
has varied from 100 to 160. Up to May, 1896, 750 students were or- 
dained to the priesthood and others have been ordained elsewhere. 
The directors have been: 

The Very Rev. Canon Louis Vandenhende, appointed in 1864; Rev. Alexander 
Sherwood Healey, 1865; Rev. John McLoughlin, 1869; Rev. James S. M. Lynch, 
1871; Rev. Philip Garrigan, 1872; Rev. James S. M. Lynch, 1875; Rev. John F. 
Woods, D.D., 1880; Rev. William A. McDonald, 1884; Rev. Michael J. Considine, 
1886; Rev. William Livingston, 1889 to the present time. 

The seminary abandoned the building in Troy in the summer of 1896 
and occupied its handsome new home in Yonkers. Since then the 
building has been used by the Christian Brothers as a school for novices. 

St. Peter's convent was established in 1861 and is the third convent 
of the order of St. Joseph in New York State. It is located at 2328 
Fifth aventie. 

St. Mary's convent was established in 1848 at No. 185 Third street. 

St. Joseph's convent was founded in 1856. The corner stone of the 
present building on Fourth street was laid in 1867. It is the provin- 
cial house of the order of St Joseph for the Albany and Syracuse dio- 
ceses. 

St. Ann's convent, located at No. 240 Second street, was established 

44 



346 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

in 1885. It is the home of several sisters of St. Ann, the mother house 
being at La Chine, near Montreal, Can. 

The Brothers' Academy of St. Mary was established in 1853. The 
present building on the corner of Fourth and Washington streets was 
erected in 1878. 

The Tro)^ Young Men's Catholic Literar}- association was organized 
in 1859 and has always been very prosperous. 

The La Salle institute was founded in 1853 by Christian Brothers of 
the Catholic church. They abandoned the school in 1874 on account 
of poor accommodations and returned in 1878, since which time the 
school has prospered. The Cadets' battalion was organized in 1893. 

NEwsrApr.kS. 

Since the first newspaper was printed in Troy in 1 797, more than 
half a hundred have been established. Of these but few remain in the 
field. The first newspaper published in the city was the Farmers' Or 
acle, printed for the first time January 31, 1797, by Luther Pratt cS: Co. 
at the office on Water (River) street " opposite the ferry." 

The Northern Budget (Sundays) was first printed as a weekly in 
Lansingburgh. The first number was issued June 20, 1797, by Robert 
INIoffit &- Co. In May, 1798, the publishers moved to Troy, where the 
Northern Budget has since been published. January 3, 182G, the name 
was changed to the Troy Budget and City Register; January 1, 1828, 
to the Troy Budget; July (i, 1840, to the Daily Troy Budget; July 7, 
1845, to the Northern Budget; January 3, 1859, to the Troy Daily 
Budget; July 29, 18(J1, to the Daily Budget and Union, and October 
14, 1861, to the Troy Daily Budget. It was published weekly and 
semi- weekly until 1840, when a daily was issued. In 1802 the publica- 
tion of the paper was discontinued. After the founder of the paper 

retired the publishers were: 1807, Oliver Lyon; , Ebenezer Hill; 

1817, Zephaniah Clark; 1827, John C. Kemble; 1832, Kemble& Hooper; 
1830, Charles Hooper; 1837, Hooper & Cook, also Kellogg, Strong & 
Cook; 1838, Kellogg & Cook; 1840, Carroll & Cook; 1 84*;, John M. 
Francis and Edwin Brownell; 1S47, John M. Francis and Charles L. 
MacArthur; 1849, William W. Whitman; 1850, Whitman & MacArthur; 
1852, William W. Whitman; 1854, Charles L. MacArthur; 185i*, William 
Hagadorn; 1801, VanArnam & Co. ; 1801 to 1802, D. II. Jones. 

The Troy Gazette, weekly, was first issued September 3, 1802, by 



i« i 




COL. CHARLES L. MAC ARTHUR. 



NEWSPAPERS OF TROY. 347 

Thomas Collier; September 4, 1804, by Wright & Wilbur; December 
25, 1804, by Wright, Wilbur & vStockwell; September 10, 1805, by 
Wright, Goodenow & vStockwell. 

The Farmers' Register, weekly, was first issued in Lansingburgh in 
1803 by Francis Adancourt. The publication office was removed to 
Troy in 180G. 

Tlie Troy Post began publication September 1, 1812, Parker & Bliss, 
proprietors. 

The Troy Sentinel was first published July 15, 1823, by Wm. S. 
Parker, with O. L. Holley as editor. Subsecjuent publishers were 
Tuttle & Richards, 1820; Tuttle & Gregory, 1827. May 1, 1830, the 
paper was first issued as a daily. 

The Fowler was founded in April, 1824, by Gilbert Gunflint (?). 

The Evangelical Restorationist was established by Adolphus Skinner 
in 1825. 

The Troy Review was established January 4, 1820, by Tuttle & 
Richards. 

The Reflector was established March 25, 1820, by Castor & Pollux (?). 

The Evangelical Repository was founded in 1828. 

The Troy Republican, an anti-Masonic organ, was established by 
Austin & Wellington in 1828, and in 1830 was controlled by Thomas 
Clowes. 

The Northern Watchman was founded in 1831, and changed to the 
Troy Watchman the following year. 

The Gospel Anchor, a Universalist organ, was founded by John M. 
Austin in 1831. 

The Troy Statesman, an anti-Masonic organ, was founded June 12, 
1S32, by T. J. Sutherland. 

The Troy Press was first issued by W^illiam Yates August 4, 1832. 
The Daily Troy Press was first issued February 11 of the following 
year by Mr. Yates, and was soon after sold to James M. Stevenson, 
publisher of the Troy Daily Whig. The Troy American was first 
issued September 18, 18:53, by E. J. Van Cleve, who sold it to James 
M. Stevenson. All three of these papers were ultimately swallowed 
up by the Troy Daily Whig, which was first published as an afternoon 
daily July 1, 1834, by James M. Stevenson. Six years later the Whig 
was changed to a morning paper. The proprietors after the founder 
were: 183G, James M. Stevenson and Alexander McCall ; 1839, James 
M.Stevenson; 1850, Charles D. Bingham ; 1855, (Tcorge Abbott; 1803, 



348 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Hugh Greene &• Co. ; 1804, George Ev^ans, representing the Whig 
News and Printing company; 1867, William D. Davis & Co.; 18G8, 
Alexander Kirkpatrick ; 1872, Kirkpatrick & Lynn; 1873, Alexander 
Kirkpatrick, also the Troy Whig Publishing Co. The Troy Morning 
Whig was succeeded August 30, 1880, by the Troy Morning Telegram 
and Whig, which also issued the Weekly Whig. 

The Botanic Advocate was issued in 1834 by Russell Buckley. 

The Trojan was founded in 1834 by Russell Buckley and Jacob D. 
E. Vanderhe3^den. 

The State Journal was issued in 1836 by R. J. Masten, and the New 
York State Journal in 1837 by Jacob Hoxton. 

The Troy Daily Mail was issued in 1837 by Wellington & Nafew. 

The Troy Daily Bulletin was issued December 6, 1841, by R. Thomp- 
son and William Hagen. 

The Troy Daily Herald was issued October 24, 1842, by Ayres & 
Whitehouse. 

The Aquarian was issued in 1843. 

The Troy Temperance Mirror was issued in 1843 by Bardwell & 
Kneeland. 

The Troy Daily Times is the oldest daily paper now published in the 
city, its first number having been issued June 25, 1851, by |ohn M. 
Francis and R. D. Thompson. Since the founder the publishers have 
been: January 31, 1854, John M. Francis; September 12, 1863, John 
M. Francis and Henry O'Reilly Tucker; April 5, 1881, John M. Fran- 
cis; May 2, 1881, John M. Francis, Son & Co. (John M. Francis, 
Charles S. Francis, William E. Kisselburgh and John A. Sleicher). 
Mr. Sleicher withdrew from the firm May 1, 1883, and Mr. Kisselburgh 
died May 20, 1S87, since which time John M. Francis (SL- vSon have been 
proprietors of the paper. A weekly was issued from July 17, IS56, to 
1895, since which time a semi-weekly has been published. 

The Family Journal was issued in 1844 by Fisk & Co. In 1848 it be- 
came the New York Family Journal and in 1851 The Troy Family 
Journal. 

The Troy Daily Post was founded in 1844 by Alexander McCall and 
Enoch Davis. 

The Troy Daily Telegraph was founded in 1840 b}^ Hagen 8: Ayres. 

The Rensselaer County Temperance Advocate was founded in 1846 
by vS. Spicer. 

The Journal of Temperance was founded in 1846 by Allen & 
Garnett. 




JOHN M. FRANCIS. 




H. O'R. TUCKER. 



i 



NEWSPAPERS OF TROY. 349 

The Old Settler was founded In 1851 b)^ Allen. 

The Unique was founded in 1851. 

La Ruche Canadienne was founded in 1851 by Dorian (K: Mathiot. 

Our Paper was founded in 1853 by Davis & Cutler. 

The Troy Daily Democrat was founded in 1854 by James T. Ellis. 

The Troy Daily Traveller was founded in 1854 by Fisk & Avery. 

The Daily Arena was founded in 1859 by MacArthur & Fonda. 

The Troy Daily Express was founded in 1859 by Allen Corey. 

The Troy Morning News was founded in 1860 by E. T. Loveridg-e. 

Laigle Canadien was founded in 1860 by James R. Lettare. 

The Troy Union was founded in 1861 by Van Arnam & Merriam. 

The Troy City Democrat was founded in 1862 by A. Corey & Co. 

The Troy Daily Press was founded August 8, 1863, by A. S. Pease, 
who was succeeded June 18, 1866, by W. S. Hawley. It was published 
by the latter until March 2, 1867. October 28, 1867, the publication 
of the new series was begun by William S. and Edwin P. Hawley. 
Since that time the proprietors have been: 1868, Edwin P. Hawley; 
also Edwin P. Hawley and Jerome B. Parmenter; 1869, Jerome B. 
Parmenter and Charles C. Clark; 1873, Jerome B. Parmenter; 1883, 
Jerome B. Parmenter and George E. Eaton; 1884, the Troy Press Co. 
December 6, 1888, the paper was purchased by Henry O'R. Tucker, 
who founded The Troy Press company, of which he is president, which 
still publishes the paper. Mr. Tucker has raised the paper from one 
of little influence and no commercial value to one of the most in- 
fluential in New York State. The Troy Press company also pub- 
lishes the Troy Weekly Press, founded August 8, 1863. 

The Freie Deutsche Presse was established April 16, 1872, as the 
Troy Volksfreund by Otto Offenhaeuser and Michael Wigget. The 
following year Mr. Offenhaeuser became sole proprietor. In 1876 the 
paper was sold to Aug. Hillebrand, who changed its name to the Freie 
Deutsche Presse. ' 

The Troy Northern Budget was first issued under the name of the 
Northern Budget as a Sunday paper March 24, 1867, by Charles L. 
MacArthur. In 1868 the paper was given the name which it has since 
retained. March 29, 1875, Arthur MacArthur, son of Charles L. Mac- 
Arthur, became associated in the business, and since that time the 
paper has been published by C. L. MacArthur & Son. 

The Troy News (Sunday) was first issued August 1, 1864, by Charles 
L. MacArthur. 



350 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

The vSundaj' Herald was issued in 1867 by William F. Boshart. 

The Public Spirit was first issued in 1868 by Le Grand Benedict. 

The Sunday Telegram was issued in 1870 by Thomas Hurley. 

The Sunday Trojan was first issued April 25, 1875, by I. F. Bos- 
worth and A. B. Elliott. In 1878 it was consolidated wnth the Troy 
Observer. 

The Troy Observer was founded as a Sunday paper October 15, 1876, 
by William V. Cleary. Two years later it was purchased by A. B. 
Elliott and consolidated with the Sunday Trojan under the name of 
Trojan-Observer. In 1870 it was purchased by Michael F. Collins and 
named the Troy Observer. 

The Evening" Standard was founded October 17, 1877, by the Even- 
ing Standard Publishing company, with W. J. Tyner as president. It 
is still published under the same auspices. 

The Catholic Weekly was founded February 27. 1886, by Hugh M. 
Reynolds, George L. Thompson and William C. Cozier, and still 
continues. 

The Troy Morning Telegram and Whig was issued for the first time 
August 30, 1880 by the Troy Telegram company. C. L. MacArtluir 
& Son became proprietors in 1882 and changed the name to 'i'roy 
Daily Telegram. In 1886 John Hastings purchased the paper. He 
was succeeded in 1888 by William C. Cozier and John P. Pratt, who 
changed the name to Troy Morning Telegram. The paper was \n\T- 
chased vSeptember 17, 1892, by Thomas A. Keith, wlio relinquished 
control November 21, 1895. The paper was issued for a few weeks 
thereafter by several printers employed by Mr. Keith, and in the spring 
of 1896 it ceased to exist. 

The vSunday News was founded vSeptember 9, 1S94, by Daniel Iv 
Conway and is still published. 

The One-cent Argus, printed by the Argus company of Albany, was 
first published in Troy April 1, 1895. The ])ul)lication of the paper 
was suspended June 20, 1896. 

The Morning vStar was founded March ;5, 1896, by (jeorge B. Ander- 
son, but after twenty issues of the paper had been published the Morn- 
ing Star ceased to exist, the publisher being convinced that there was 
no demand for a morning paper in Troy. 

The Troy Record was founded April -l, 1896, by the Troy Record 
company, of which J. K. P. Pine is president; William H. Hollister, 
jr., vice-president; liarry S. Ludlow, treasurer, and Frank H. Knox, 
secretary. It is published every morning except Sunday. 



PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF TROY. 351 

The American Laundry Journal (monthly) was first issued in July, 
1882, by Pratt & Clinton. In May, 1883, Clinton & Dickerman became 
proprietors. L. H. Dickerman has been sole proprietor since Decem- 
ber 9, 1884. 

The first issue of the Carriage Dealers' Journal appeared in May, 
1800, with Charles C. Conant as publisher. Two years later P. D. 
Randall bought a half interest. It is now a hundred-page paper and 
the largest in the carriage trade with one exception. 

The Bicycle Dealer was founded in December, 1895, by the Journal 
Publishing company, composed of Charles C. Conant and P. D. 
Randall. 

The first issue of the Cosmopolitan Signal as a musical monthly was 
May 15, 1896, it having been transformed from the West Troy Signal. 
Its proprietors are Madame Marie Godini and Chevalier Aurelio 
Ceruelos. 

In the summer of 1890 the following newspapers were published in 
Troy: Troy Northern Budget, Troy Daily Times, The Troy Press, 
Evening Standard, Troy Record, Troy Observer, Sunday News, Troy 
Weekly Press, Troy vSemi-Weekly Times, Catholic Weekly, American 
Laundry Journal, Carriage Dealers' Journal, Bicycle Dealer, Weekly 
Advocate, Freie Deutsche Presse and Cosmopolitan Signal. 

The handsome new court house, located on the site of the old one 
on the southeast corner of Second and Congress streets, which was still 
in course of construction in 1896, will be one of the handsomest struc- 
tures in Troy when completed. The work of razing the old court 
house was begun March 1 1, 1895, by eight men imder the direction of 
Contractor Charles Duncan, soon after the close of the last term of 
court held in the old building. The laying of the foimdation of the 
new structure was begun in the fall of 1894, on either end of the old 
building, while the latter was still occupied. 

The Troy Orphan asylum is the outgrowth of an organization that 
was established in 1833 under the name of the Troy Association for 
Destitute Children. April 15, 1835, it was incorporated under the 
name of the Troy Orphan asylum. The original trustees were David 
Buel, jr., Thomas L. Ostrom, Gurdon Grant, Griffith P. Griffith, 
Thaddeus B. Bigelow, Ashael Gilbert, jr., William W. Whipple, Amos 
Allen, Richard P. Hart, John Thomas, Stephen Warren, P. H. Buck- 
ley, Elias Lasell, Jacob D. Lansing, Gardner Landon, Elias Pattison, 
George Vail, Jacob Merritt, John T. McCoun, Day Otis Kellogg and 



352 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

John Paine. For a lon{:j time the home was located on Grand Division 
street, near the church of the Holy Cross. This building was de- 
stroyed by the great fire of 1862. Soon after this buildings on Eighth 
street were erected, but these were soon found inadequate and a move- 
ment for better accommodations was successful. A tract of 10(» acres 
of land, located on the south side of Spring avenue in the south- 
eastern part of the city, was secured in 1891 and work upon the build- 
ings was begun in the following spring. Mrs. William Howard Hart, in 
addition to her other gifts, assumed the cost of building and furnishing 
the infirmary. The corner stone of the asylum was laid on the after- 
noon of May 10, 1802. During the ceremonies addresses were made 
by C. W. Tillinghast, president of the board of trustees of the asylum, 
Rev. Dr. J. W. Thompson and Rev. Dr. L. M. S. Haynes. The new 
building was occupied the following year. 

In November, 18;)4, the citizens of Troy who favored the estab 
lishment of a circulating library were requested to meet in the 
mayor's office. A large number of representative Trojans attended 
and an organization was formed. Giles B. Kellogg, Thomas Coleman, 
Martin I. Townsend, Ralph Hawley and Thaddeus Bigelow were ap- 
pointed a committee to draft a constitution and by-laws for the Troy 
Young Men's association. Four hundred and twenty-six persons im- 
mediately signed as members of the association, rooms were secured 
and the Troy Young Men's association began active existence Febru- 
ary 10, 1835. April 20, 1835, the association was incorporated under 
its present title. The library contained at the date above written 
about one thousand volumes, many of them being gifts from the old 
"Troy library." The reading room was well supplied with newspa- 
pers and periodicals, and a vigorous and successful debating society 
held frequent meetings in the Y. M A. rooms. Among the speakers 
at the debating society were men of the rank of Abraham Olin, Wil- 
liam L. Marcy, William A. Beach, David L. Seymour, Martin I. Town- 
send and others of recognized ability. 

The first annual meeting was held February 16, 1835, inaugurating 
the long series of " annual meetings" which up to the year 1872 were 
productive of more interest and excitement among citizens of Troy 
than the greatest municipal political events. Men who co:ild not be 
induced to accept the nomination for may(-r of Troy would gladly head 
one of the tickets of the Y. M. A., and would labor hard for election, 
often disbursing and spending large sums of money in efforts to over- 
come opposition from rival candidates. 



PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF TROY. 353 

In 1839 George M. Tibbits offered the association a gift of ground 
on which to build a home, conditional on the association erecting a 
building thereon costing not less than $7,500. The offer was refused 
on the ground that the association could not procure funds to pay for a 
building costing the amount stated. For several years following 1840 
the financial condition of the association was not good, and subscrip- 
tions were requested of citizens with varying success. February 14, 
1841, William Hagen, the first librarian, resigned, and N. B. Milliman 
was appointed librarian; but he remained only a few months, when he 
was succeeded by George H. Ball, who in turn gave place to John R. 
Harris in the following year. John R. White became librarian in 1844, 
William Robertson in 1845 and then came Henry P. Filer, June 4, 1846. 
He remained in charge until 1864, when he retired on account of fail- 
ing health, having served for eighteen years and given his whole time 
and service to affairs of the association. T. B. Heimstreet (now Dr. 
Heimstreet) served for one year and was in turn succeeded by Fitz 
H. vStevens, who resigned in 1874. DeWitt Clinton, the present libra- 
rian, was appointed librarian in 1874 and continues as such oflficer to- 
day, having served the longest term as librarian of the association, 
twenty-two years. 

In the year 1853 at the annual election for officers George B. War- 
ren, jr., and J. B. Tibbits were opposing candidates for the presidency. 
The canvass was very exciting. Money was freely used to purchase 
tickets for voters, and the strife grew so great at the polls that a riot 
was feared. Three thousand votes were cast amid scenes of great ex- 
citement and Mr. Warren was elected. The immediate effect of this 
contest was productive of evil. While the large sale of membership 
tickets made a decided improvement in the financial condition of the 
association, yet the strife had been so bitter and the animosity engen- 
dered between rival candidates so strong, that many persons withdrew 
from the affairs of the association. Finances remained at a low point 
for many years and the officers of the association were forced to make 
frequent appeals for funds. In 1862 William R. Yourt bequeathed the 
association $5,000, designing, originally, to cause the income from that 
sum invested to be expended on books relating to Ireland. Dissuaded 
from this idea he made it conditional on the association accepting the 
gift that all books purchased from the "Yourt fund" should be 
"chiefly historical in character." The Yourt Library now contains 
several thousand volumes. In the same year George M. Selden pre- 
45 



354 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

sented the association with railroad stock valued at $2,000, "One-half 
the dividend to be expended in works of art, the other half to yo to 
the purchase of a life membership for such students at the Troy High 
Schools as shall be designated by the Board of Education or their ap- 
propriate committee." This fund has not been available for many 
years. In 1866 a committee appointed to solicit funds for the purpose 
of erecting a building reported that they had met with no success. 

In 1870-71 another remarkable contest for the offices of president 
and manager of the association occurred. Edward G. Gilbert headed 
one ticket and Walter P. Warren the opposition. Every legitimate 
means to gain their end was used by both sides. Money was used to 
purchase tickets of membership for voters and the rival factions 
broiight voters to the polls in wagon loads. Scenes of violence were 
frequent, and many persons were roughly used while endeavoring to 
vote. Near the time for closing the polls an attack was made on tlie 
ballot clerks and an attempt to steal the ballot boxes was made. Police 
were summoned and the clerks and ballot boxes were escorted to tiie 
station house and there guarded. As the election was not completed a 
claim for the right to assume control of the association's affairs was 
put in by both contesting parties and also by the retiring board of 
officers. 

After attempts to settle it otherwise the case was taken into the 
courts and a decision in favor of the officers holding over was rendered, 
thus depriving both contestants of any benefits. The feeling between 
the " Warren " party and the "Gilbert" party was so strong that the 
association was greatly damaged by the results. 

From this date on the affairs of the association became worse and 
worse, and various expedients to raise funds failed. 

A proposition to bestow the library on the city was entertained in 
1874, but friends of the association defeated the adoption of such a 
measure. Fitz H. Stevens resigned as librarian, owing to a large re- 
duction in his salary, and in 1874 De Witt Clinton was appointed 
to the office. In 1879 friends of the association, realizing that the future 
of the institution w^as imperilled and that something must be done to 
place it above continual want of funds, met and formed a plan for mak- 
ing the library a free institution with contributions sufficient to meet 
its necessities. An act incorporating the Troy Free Library association 
was prepared and passed by the Legislature, but was vetoed by Gov- 
ernor Robinson. For a time thereafter the affairs of the association 




NELSON DAVENPORT. 



PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF TROY. 355 

remained in bad form. Justin Kellogg had been strenuously advocat- 
ing a plan for making the library free and on a basis which would 
secure it from all further danger. A meeting of persons interested was 
called and a number of wealthy and influential citizens attended. A 
subscription was opened for the purpose of obtaining money sufficient 
to purchase the Atheuccum building, in which the association had rooms, 
and which the owners, the Troy vSavings bank, wished to sell. The 
subscription was successful and Fred P. Allen was authorized to buy 
the building. At public auction the building was bid in by Mr. Allen 
for $24,500, and became the property of the association. 

In 1880 a bill was passed incorporating the Troy Young Men's asso- 
ciation and naming a board of trustees who were to serve during life 
(if residents of Troy) and who were empowered to fill vacancies in the 
board. The following named were made trustees under the act of in- 
corporation: E. Thompson Gale, William Howard Hart, William E. 
Gilbert, Joseph M. Warren, Thomas Coleman, Joseph W. Fuller, Wil- 
liam H. Young, William Gurley, Benjamin H. Hall, William S. Earl, 
Nelson Davenport, Charles L. Alden, Dudley Tibbits, William A. 
Thompson, Fred P. Allen, Justin Kellogg, J. Spencer Garnsey, Charles 
R. De Freest, John T. Birge, La Mott W. Rhodes, William H. 
Doughty, Francis N. Mann and Joseph Knight. E. Thompson Gale 
was chosen president, J. Spencer Garnsey secretary and Fred P. Allen 
treasurer. On the death of Mr. Gale William Gurley was made presi- 
dent; he in turn was succeeded by Thomas Coleman and he by Will- 
iam H. Young, who is now president. 

In 1885 the library was opened as a free circulating library and has 
become a recognized educational feature of Troy. In the year 1804: 
Mrs. William Howard Hart sent the following communication to the 
trustees of the association : 

Troy, January 27, 1894. 
Thomas Coleman, Esq., President Troy Young Men's Association: 

Dear Sir — Permit me to convey, through you, to the board of trustees my desire 
to erect on the lots at the northeast corner of Second and Ferry streets, in our city, 
a building for the library of the association. Said building to be a memorial to my 
late husband, William Howard Hart, to be strictly fire-proof and sufficiently large to 
contain the present library, together with such additions thereto as the generosity of 
our citizens may provide in the coming years. 

If this proposition shall meet the approval of the board, I will name Messrs. Will- 
iam Howard Doughty, C. E. Dudley Tibbits, Charles W. Tillinghast and John H. 
Peck as my trustees to carry out my wishes and to convey said lots and the building, 
when finished, to the association. 

Yours respectfully, 

Mary E. Hart. 



356 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

The building is Hearing completion and is beautiful in design and 
construction, and will be a model of both beauty and convenience 
when finished. Mrs. Hart added $10,000 to the sum originally set aside 
for the building, $100,000, and has also caused to be made a stained 
glass window costing $6,000, and said by the makers to be the finest 
example of stained glass work now in America. 

The formal opening of the handsome building of the Troy Young 
Women's association on the west side of Second street, just north of 
State street, occurred on the evening of Tuesday, March 15, 1892, 
George B. Cluett, the president, having charge of the exercises. Ad- 
dresses were made by Mr. Cluett and the Rev, Thaddeus A. Snively. 
The association was founded ten years before by a number of women 
who wanted to see in Troy a homelike place for the use of the young 
working women employed in the collar factories and other industries. 
The first president was Mrs. Charles E. Patterson. In May, 1883, 
when the association was a year old, it moved into quarters over the 
Manufacturers' bank. Four j^ears later it purchased the property No. 
43 Fourth street, but soon outgrew these quarters. Mone}' was sub- 
scribed for the erection of a new building, which was completed in the 
spring of 1892. The members of the association are expected to pay 
their way, but the rate is so reasonable that any woinan earning living 
wages can secure all its comforts and advantages. 

January 19, 1895, William H. Rowe, a wealthy and public-spirited 
citizen of Troy, wrote to the directors of the Mohawk and Hudson 
River Humane society offering to build at a cost of not less than $25,- 
000 a building suitable to the needs of that society, where children 
might find a temporary shelter and be taught to lead honest, industrious 
lives, as a memorial to his daughter, Lucy A. Wood Rowe. January 
29 the executive committee of the society passed resolutions recom- 
mending that the board of directors accept the offer, which was subse- 
quently done. The site selected for the new building was on the west 
side of Fourth street, between Broadway and State street. August 14 
plans for the building were completed by M. F. Cummings & Son. 
They called for a building fifty by fifty-five feet in dimensions, four 
stories high, besides a basement. The style of architecture is of the 
Italian renaissance, and the building is constructed of brick and iron, 
making it fire proof. Roman gray brick was used, with terra cotta 
trimmings, for the third and fourth floors, while the front of the first 
and second floors is of light gray stone. The building was nearly com- 
pleted by the close of the summer of 189G. 




-if^^^ ^£^.^'.^. /:*^?*««»^ ^^rer .^y } 



FIRE DEPARTMENT OF TROY. 357 

In June, 189G, a movement was started for the construction of a new- 
hospital to be known as the Samaritan hospital. The site of the old 
orphan asylum on Eighth street was purchased at a cost of $2-2,500, the 
Troy Orphan asylum having moved to its new home on Spring avenue, 
and the work of raising a fund of $100,000 for remodeling and equip- 
ping the building was begun at once. The first trustees of the hospital 
organization were elected as follows: 

Stephen W. Barker, Joseph Bolton, Thomas Breslin, James A. Burden. James H. 
Caldwell, John T. Christie, George B. Cluett, John Don, William H. Doughty, Will- 
iam S. Earl, Dr. E. D. Ferguson, E. Courtland Gale, Dr. H. C. Gordinier, John 
Wool Griswold, John Knickerbacker, Charles B. Knight, George T. Lane, Dr. James 
P. Marsh, James K. P. Pine, Justus Miller, Alfred H. Renshaw, Adam Ross, Dr. 
William W. Seymour, John I. Thompson, Charles W. TiUinghast, Walter P. War- 
ren, Tom S. Wotkyns, Thomas Vail, William H. Van Schoonhoven and Seymour 
Van Santvoord. 

In May, 1896, William H. Rowe and his family purchased the lot on 
the west side of King street north of the Manufacturers' National bank, 
for $(J,900, on which a building for the use of the Salvation Army in 
Troy is to be built at the expense of the Rowe family The structure 
will be of brick, three stories high, and will cost about $22,000, 

The House of the Good Shepherd on People's avenue was dedicated 
April 24, 1887, the corner stone having been laid May 9, 188G, by Rt. 
Rev. Francis McNierney, bishop of Albany. The institution was 
established in 1884, and first occupied its new headquarters January 
21, 1887. 

The house of the Little Sisters of the Poor, now located on Ninth 
street, was first established in Tro}^ in 1874. 

Fire Dkpartmf.ni'. 

The earliest known measures for the establishment of a fire depart- 
ment in Troy were taken before it had become a city. An act of the 
Legislature was passed March 25, 1794, authorizing the trustees of the 
village to compel the housekeepers to provide themselves with a suffi- 
cient number of fire buckets and the necessary implements to extin- 
guish fires. The trustees were authorized to elect a number of firemen, 
not to exceed fifteen, to manage the fire engines. In 1798 the village 
fire department was regularly organized with Benjamin Covel, Moses 
Vail, David Buel, George Tibbits, Daniel Merritt and Ebenezer Jones 
as fire wardens. In the same year the Premier Fire Engine company 



358 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

was organized a:id a second-hand engine was purchased in New York. 
The first engine house was a small board structure on the south side 
of the court house on Second street. Afterward the engine house was 
at No. 21 State street. The last engine owned by the company was a 
third-class one built by A. Van Ness in 1850. The company was dis- 
banded September 5, 18G1. 

The second fire company was the Neptune Engine company No. 2, 
which was organized June 20, 1803. Its last engine was built by S. 
Davis 6c Son of Troy in 1850. The house was at No. 2:5 State street. 
The company was disbanded Septembers, ISOl. Then followed the 
Washington Volunteer Fire company, which was incorjiorated as an 
independent organization May 20, 1812. luigine company No. ;], which 
was organized February 1, 1821, resolved itself in December, 18:34, into 
the Franklin Hose company. 

Engine company No. 4 was organized January 6, 1825, and was 
changed to the Eagle Hose company No. 10, October 7, 1837. In 1845 
it was the Eagle Engine company, and September 10, 1847, all the 
members resigned. 

Torrent Engine company No. 4 was organized August 2, 1838; dis- 
banded May 20, 1841; reorganized September 1, 1842; again disbanded 
August ;>, 184:5, and reorganized November 3, 184:5. It went out of 
existence Septembers, ISOl. Its engine house was on Congress street. 

The Empire State Engine company No. 5 was organized March 1, 
1821, and its last engine was built in 1851 by John Rogers of Albany. 
The engine house was at the Iron Works. It was finally resolved into 
the Edmond Stanton Steamer company. 

The other organizations were the Niagara Engine company No. 7, 
organized May 27, 1828; Cataract Engine company No. 8, organized 
August 2, 1832; Rough and Ready Engine company, organized vSep- 
tember 21, 1S37, now the Eddy Steamer company; La Fayette Engine 
company No. 10, organized August 15, 1839, now the Farnam Steamer 
company: Eagle Engine company No. 10, organized July 13, 1845, now 
the Ranken Steamer company; ^3tna Engine company No. 12, organ- 
ized in 1840, afterwards in 1857, the Hibernia Engine company; Good 
Intent Engine company No. 13, organized in 1850; Phctnix Hose com- 
pany, organized in 1840; General Wool Hose company No. 2, organ- 
ized February 1,1850; Union Hose company No. ;}, organized Febru- 
ary 1, 1859; Hall Hose company organized in 1859; J. C. Taylor Hose 
company No. 3, organized in ISfjO; Hook and Ladder company No. I, 



FIRE DEPARTMENT OF TROY. 350 

org-anized February IG, 182G; and Union Hook and Ladder company 
No. 2, organized April 5, 1832. 

In 1831 the apparatus consisted of eight fire engines, five hose carts, 
2,200 feet of hose, one hook and ladder truck, five ladders, six hooks, 
eight axes and thirty-one fire buckets. The membership of the de- 
partment was 275 men. 

April lo, 1861, the State Legislature passed an act organizing a fire 
department and board of fire commissioners in the city of Troy. The 
law provides that the board shall consist of seven commissioners, of 
whom the mayor shall be one, ex officio. The first commissioners 
named were the ma3'Or of the city, George B. Warren, jr., and Jason 
C. Osgood, Jonas C. Heartt, Isaac W. Crissey, Otis G. Clark, William 
Gurley and Hugh Ranken. 

The companies composing the fire department in 189(!, under the 
reorganization effected in 1861, were as follows: 

The Washington Volunteer Fire Engine company was organized May 
26, 1812. An engine was obtained in New York for $550, similar to 
the goose-neck engine of that period. The house was located on the 
west side of Fourth street north of Fulton street. After April, 1820, the 
engine was housed on the site occupied b}' the Arba Read Steamer com- 
pany in 1896. In 1823 the engine was kept in a house on the site of Ful- 
ton market. In 1824 it was at the northwest corner of Third and vState 
streets again. In December, 1843, the company removed to a new brick 
engine house on the site of the second precinct station house on vState 
street. A year later the engine was sold to Union village and the appara- 
tus of Company No. 7 of Albany was purchased. That was sold in 1851 
and a new engine made by Silas Davis & Co. of Troy was bought in No- 
vember of that year. That in turn was sold to the city of Fon du Lac, 
Wis., in October, 1854. In 1855 a new engine tnade by L. Button & 
Co. of Waterford was purchased, and April 19, 1864, a steam fire en- 
gine was purchased of Button & Blake of Waterford for $2,150. The 
old engine was sold to the village of Triimansburgh for $1,000. The 
first engineer was William Baile)^ who held the position until April 15, 
1867, when he was appointed engineer of the Ranken steamer. He 
was succeeded by Jerome E. De Freest. August 2, 18(')5, the engine 
house on State street was transferred to the use of the Capital police 
and the company removed to the old Franklin Hose company's house 
in the rear of the court house. March 22, 1868, the fire commissioners 
agreed to pay the company annually, from May I, 1865, the sum of 



3G0 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

$650 to enable it to meet its current expenses. October 20, 1867, the 
engineer of the company was placed imder full pay by the city fire de- 
partment. December 31, 1872, the company occupied its two-story 
brick house at the northeast corner of Third and Division streets. In 
December, 1874, the engine was equipped with horses. 

Hope Steam Fire Engine company No. 7 was organized May 20, 
182»i, and received its first steamer in May, 1882. The engine had 
been in use by the Stanton Steamer company for a number of years, 
having been furnished by Clapp & Jones. The first engineer was Ly- 
man Rysdorph. The engine house is located on Pawling avenue at 
the west end of Albia. 

Trojan Hook and Ladder company No. 3 was organized February 5, 
1835. The company's first truck was a primitive affair, which was re- 
placed in 1854 by one constructed by W. H Tarboss of Orleans. The 
company occupied its house on Franklin square for the first time in 
April, lS(i5. In 1884 a modern Hayes truck was furnished the 
company 

The constitution and by laws of Arba Read Steam Fire Engine com- 
pany No. 1 were adopted December 19, 185!>. The first steamer used 
by the company arrived in Troy March 28, 1860, having been purchased 
of the Amoskeag Manufacturing company of Manchester, N. H. In 
the same year the building occupied in 1890 by the chief engineer was 
built and there the steamer was located. The three story brick build- 
ing occupied by the company was erected in 1875, on the northwest cor- 
ner of State and Third streets, just south of and adjoining the old 
engine house. In 1S7G a new engine was purchased. The first engi- 
neer was James Knibbs, who was succeeded in 1863 by William H. 
Bradt. 

Hugh Ranken Steam Fire Engine company No. 2 is the outgrowth 
of Eagle Hand Engine company No. 10. In the spring of 1858 several 
members of the latter organization, desiring to have a steam fire en- 
gine, asked the Common Council to appropriate $1,500 for the purchase 
of one. The request was not granted, but a number of citizens sub- 
scribed $2,750, and an Amoskeag engine was purchased and placed in 
the engine house on Federal street September 28, 1860. In December 
of that year the Common Council changed the name of Eagle Engine 
company No. 10 to Steam Fire Engine company No. 2, and April 1, 
1861, changed that of the latter to Hugh Ranken Steam Fire Engine 
company No. 1. Subsequently the city reimbursed the individuals 




JOHN J. FARRELL. 



FIRE DEPARTMENT OF TROY. 361 

who had purchased the engine and it became the property of the city. 
The first engineer was Roswell R. Morgan. He was succeeded in 1862 
by Thomas H. Bailey, who was succeeded in 1867 by his brother, Will- 
iam Bailey, The engine house on Federal street was burned May 10, 
1862, and the steamer was located temporarily at Cozzen's Northern 
hotel and subsequently in the house of the Niagara Engine compan}' 
on Second street. The brick building now occupied by the company 
was constructed on the site of the old house in 1885. 

The first steam fire engine used by the Jason C. Osgood Steam Fire 
Engine company No. 3 reached Troy January 14, 1862, and was perma- 
nently quartered in the building occupied by the Niagara Engine com- 
pany at No. 130 Second street. The Niagaras were disbanded January 
23 of that year, its members forming the nucleus for the Osgood company, 
of which Andrew D. Collins was the first engineer. In 1862 an engine 
house was erected on the south side of Adams street between First 
and Second streets. Three years later it was appropriated by the city 
as a police station house and another engine house was built at the cor- 
ner of Adams and {Second streets. There the company remained until 
it moved into the building at the corner of Canal avenue and Third 
street. 

F. W. Farnam Steam Fire Engine company No. 5 was organized 
July 17, 1871, from the members of La Fayette Engine company No. 
10. L. Button & Son of Waterford built the first steamer for the com- 
pany in that year, and in 1885 manufactured a new one for its use. 
The engine house on the south side of Congress street was erected in 
1876. 

Charles Eddy Steam Fire Engine company No. 4 was organized No- 
vember 26, 1866, its members being taken from the J. C. Taylor Hose 
company No, 3 and the Rough and Ready Hose company No. 4. The 
steamer was received from the Amoskeag Manufacturing company 
May 22, 1867, and cost $4,250. The engine house was built in 1866 at 
the northeast corner of River and North streets and was first occupied 
by the company in May, 1867. The company was reorganized October 
6, 1876. 

Pvdmond Stanton Steam Fire Engine company No. 6 was organized 
January 23, 1873, from the members of Empire State Engine company 
No. 5. The first engine was made by Clapp & Jones, and the second 
by the Manchester Locomotive works. The engine house on the south 
side of Mill street was built in 1877. 
46 



3G2 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Esek Bussey Fire company was organized as an independent com- 
pany in 1888 and was admitted to the fire department June 30, 1890. 
The house is located on Oakwood avenue near Hoosick street. 

Beman Park Hose company was organized in 1889 as an independent 
company and was admitted to the fire department December '^9, 1890. 
The house is located at the corner of Eagle and Fifteenth streets. 

Water Dkpartment. 

A new system of waterworks was put in operation in Troy in Febru- 
ary, 1880, when water was pumped into the lower Oakwood reservoir 
for the first time from a new station which had been established. The 
early development of the water supply has been described in another 
chapter. Up to the year 1855 the water works were not self-sup- 
porting- and consequently were frequently regarded as a failure. To 
remedy the radically defective system of collecting" the water rents, 
which was the prime cause for the complaint, the Legislature passed 
an act March 9, 1855, appointing a board of water commissioners for 
the city, consisting of Harvey Smith, William F. Sage, Thomas 
Symonds, Joseph M. Warren and Liberty Gilbert, and giving them a 
general supervisory and controlling power in all matters relating to 
the preservation and continuance of the water works of the city. The 
admirable system of the equalization of the water rents now prevailing 
is due mainly to the efforts of Alexander McCall, the first clerk of the 
Water Board. The law of 1855 was mainly his work. So carefully 
was it drawn and with so much foresight did he anticipate the future 
that at the present time, with very slight alteration or amendment, it 
answers in every respect the purposes for which it originally was 
framed. 

The existing main running from the reservoir having been found in- 
adequate, in 1857-58 a twenty-inch main was laid from the " Fire-dam " 
reservoir to the Troy & Boston (now the Fitchburg) railroad track, and 
thence through Eighth street to Hoosick, a distance of over 4,000 feet. 
Within a short time thereafter the consumption of water was about 
doubled. It becoming evident that the supply was to be exhausted, 
the Water Board secured the services of William J. McAlpine, a dis- 
tinguished hydraulic engineer, who at once saw the possibilities of the 
little Piscawen kill and assured the commissioners that the stream 
could be relied upon for an average daily supply of 2,000,000 gallons. 



-i 



WATER DEPARTMENT OF TROY. 363 

Acting- on his advice the board, in 1859-GO, built a storage reservoir 
of about 5(),(»0(),(H)0 gallons' capacity a few rods east of Oakwood 
avenue, followed by another of similar size in 18(Jl-(J2 just below this 
and immediately east of that avenue. The first one is known as Upper 
Oakwood reservoir, the other as Lower Oakwood reservoir. In 1861 
a large pump was erected at a station near the State dam to supply a 
part of the city with water from the Hudson river. In 1868 increased 
storage was procured by the erection of the Vanderheyden dam on 
the site of a small pond just below Brunswick lake. This reservoir 
covers twenty acres and its capacity is about 180,00(),0()0 gallons. In 
1869 iron fire plugs, with four-inch nozzles, were introduced, and soon 
superseded all those of the old pattern. In 1870 the dam at Upper 
Oakwood reservoir was raised and a well-house was erected. In the 
same year about seventy-five acres of the Gary lands were purchased. 
On the extreme northeasterly corner of this tract the high service dis- 
tributing reservoir was built. By the purchase the entire control of 
the Piscawen kill for a long distance was secured. In 1867 many new 
pipes were laid and the twenty-inch main was extended on Eighth 
street to Federal, and thence down River and Fourth streets to Ida, 
where it was carried over to Third and across the stone bridge to 
Madison, ramifying at this point for the supply of the southern section 
of the city. 

In 1873 a pump capable of delivering 2,000,000 gallons per day was 
purchased at Vergennes, Vt., and erected in the Olympus works of 
Orrs & Co. at the State dam. In 1877 it was decided to adopt the 
Hudson river as the source from which to obtain an additional supply 
of water, and a point about a cpiarter of a mile below the Waterford 
bridge was adopted as the site for the pumping station. The works 
consisted of two sets of pumping engines, each with a capacity of 
6,000,000 gallons per day, with two batteries of boilers and other neces- 
sary appurtenances. The thirty-inch force main is 16,753 feet long 
and extends from the pumping station to Lower Oakwood reservoir. 
Engine No. 1 started pumping February 18, 1880, and No. 3 was 
ready for use July 14. During the years 1877 to 1879 over fifteen miles 
of pipes of various sizes were laid, in readiness for the pumping when 
it should begin. 

March 1, 1880, water was let on the entire new system of distribu- 
tion. The plan of distribution consisted of three separate systems. 
The low service supplied that part of the city between the river and a 



364 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

plane 105 feet above tide. The water for this service was pumped 
into Lower Oakwood reservoir, where it ran down the channel of the 
Piscawen kill to the old distributing reservoir, and through the twenty- 
and twelve-inch distributing mains to the lower part of the city. The 
middle service included that portion of territory lying between a plane 
of 105 feet and 279 feet above tide. Its distributing main, twenty 
inches in diameter, starting at Upper Oakwood reservoir, ran through 
the lands of William H. Frear to Oakwoad avenue, and along the same 
and Tenth street to People's avenue, where, being reduced to sixteen 
inches, it extended through People's Avenue, Ninth, Federal and 
Eighth streets to Congress, where another reduction to twelve inches 
was made, which was carried up Congress street to Brunswick avenue. 
The high service feeds that part of the city lying between a plane of 
279 and a plane of 382 feet above tide, and its reservoir is on the 
Piscawen kill just west of the first highway that runs north from the 
Hoosick road. The distributing main, also of twenty inches, crosses 
the fields in a southwesterly direction to the Hoosick road, then runs 
through the entire length of Burdett avenue, then through Tibbits 
avenue and Brunswick avenue to the stone bridge. There being re- 
duced to sixteen inches it extends through Pawling avenue to Maple 
avenue, where a further reduction to twelve inches is made. Branch- 
ing off at Maple avenue, a twelve-inch main runs through Spring 
avenue and Campbell highway to the Iron Works district. Piscawen 
kill furnished all the water for the high and middle services. 

In 1883 a new distributing reservoir was constructed on the site of 
the old " fire dam," at an elevation of 202 feet above tide, connecting 
with the mains supplying the lower portion of the city. The total cost 
of all the improvements from 1879 to 1885 was $(300,000. 

The completion, in 1895, of two new boilers at the pumping station 
at Lansingburgh made it feasible to pump at least 10,000,000 gallons 
a day to Lower Oakwood. In 1890 there were in use 748 fire hydrants 
and 1,204 valves, and the total length of all the pipe laid was fifty-eight 
miles and 4,949 feet. The quantity of water metred for the year ending 
March 1, 1896, was 409, 151, 522 gallons. The total consumption for the 
year was 3, 147, 591, 573 gallons, an average daily consumption of 8,599,977 
gallons. The total cost of the works from 1833, when they were begun, 
to 1855, when the present board was organized, as near as can be ascer- 
tained was $175,000. The work from that time to March 1, 1896, cost 
$1,093,287.70, making the entire cost up to the latter date $1,268,287.70. 




! 




r. ■■ 




/ 





WILLIAM L. MCDONOUGH. 



STREET RAILWAYS OF TROY. 365 

On the same date the bonded debt of the city on account of its water- 
works was $303,500, and the amount of the sinking fund, after charging 
it with interest and bonds paid to that date, was $43,406.25. 

The system of street railways in Troy developed to great proportions 
during the last decade of the nineteenth century. The Troy &Cohoes 
Street Railway company was chartered February 11, 1862, soon after 
which a horse railway was constructed from Troy to Cohoes, by way of 
Lansingburgh, crossing the Hudson by way of the Cohoes bridge. 
The Troy & Lansingburgh Street Railway company was chartered at 
the same time. It used the tracks of the Troy & Cohoes line as far 
as they extended in Lansingburgh ; thence the road continued northerly 
through Lansingburgh to the Waterford bridge. Ultimately tracks 
were laid across Waterford bridge. The Troy & Cohoes railroad 
was leased to the Troy & Lansingburgh Railway company October 
28, 1867; and the Troy & Lansingburgh Railway company was 
leased to the Troy City Railway company November 7, 1892. The 
Troy City Railway company was chartered January 31, 1866, as the 
Troy 8z Albia Horse Railroad company. By an order of the Supreme 
Court its name was changed to Troy City Railway company July 27, 
1891. In 1889 and 1890 the work of converting all the lines controlled 
by the Troy City Railway company into electric trolley lines was begun. 
At the close of the year 1895 there was not a street car in the city drawn 
by horses, all being operated by electricity. 

The Watervliet Turnpike and Railroad company was incorporated as 
the Watervliet Turnpike company in 1828 and constructed a turnpike 
from Albany to the Upper Ferry opposite Troy. April 15, 1862, the 
company's name was changed to the present one and it was authorized 
to build a street railroad over its road continuing it to Cohoes, which it 
did. Upon the construction of the Tro)^ and West Troy bridge the 
company extended its line into Troy up Congress street as far as 
Second. 

The Troy Telephone Dispatch company was organized February 28, 
1878. It was succeeded December 30, 1879, by the Commercial Tele- 
phone company of Troy, which in the following spring rented quarters 
in the Boardman building on the northeast corner of Fulton and River 
streets. November 25, 1890, the company was reorganized as the Troy 
Telephone and Telegraph company with George P. Ide as president. 

The Troy Citizens' Gas Light company was incorporated May 19, 1875. 
October II, 1889, it and the Troy Fuel Gas company, incorporated 



366 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

in 188"), and tlie Troy Gas Light company were consolidated under the 
name of the Troy Gas company, having a capital stock of $1,000,000. 
The first officers were: President, Edward Murphy, jr. ; vice-president, 
William Kemp; treasurer, Derick Lane; secretary, Nelson Davenport. 

Rensselaer Lodge, L O. O. F., is the oldest organization of Odd 
Fellows in Troy. It was organized June I, 1841, with eight charter 
members. 

Rensselaer degree lodge was organized November 4, 184'i, with 
twenty eight charter members. 

Augusta Rebekah lodge was organized April G, lS'i"i, with twenty- 
five charter members. 

Trojan lodge was organized November is, , with thirteen char- 
ter members. 

Rhein lodge was organized vSeptember !>, 1S70, with thirty- five char- 
ter members. 

Troy Union Rebekah Degree lodge was organized February 25, 1874, 
with fifty-eight charter members. 

Athenian lodge was organized January 1!), 1847, with thirty charter 
members. 

John W. Nesbitt encampment was organized November IG, 1888, with 
fifteen charter members. 

Troy encampment was organized October 25, , with thirty char- 
ter members. 

Canton Leo, Patriarchs Militant, was organized June 24, 1885, with 
seventeen charter members. 

Ladies' Patriarch Militant club was organized March 8, 1802, with 
eight charter members, and made auxiliar}' to Canton Leo. 

Troy council, Catholic Benevolent Legion, was organized March 5, 
1884, with seventeen charter members. 

Laval council, C. B. L., was organized May 1, 1887, with fourteen 
charter members. 

Mount Olympus council, C. B. T^., was organized June 9, 1887, with 
fourteen charter members. 

Iron Works council, C. B. L., was organized June G, 1887, with 
eighteen charter members. , 

Mount Ida council, C. B. L., was organized November 14, 1887, with 
ten charter members. 

St. Laurence council, C. B. L., was organized February 2, 1888, with 
twelve charter members. 



1 



SECRET SOCIETIES OF TROY. 3G7 

Byron council, C. B. L., was organized April 1, 18SS, with seventeen 
charter members. 

Of the Grand Army of the Republic posts, A. D. McConihe post was 
organized in 1867 with fifty-six members, and was reorganized Febru- 
ary 2(i, 1885, with twenty-eight members. 

George L. Willard post was organized May 19, 18()9, with ten mem- 
bers. 

William B, Tibbits post was organized January 14, 1880, with ten 
members. 

John A. Griswold post was organized May 30, 1883, with fifteen 
members. 

The Women's Relief Corps of McConihe post was formed February 
17, 1886, with fifteen members. 

The corps auxiliary to Willard i)ost was formed May 3, lSi)0, with 
twenty-three members. 

Tibbits Veteran corps was organized in March, 1876, and incorpo- 
rated Nov^ember 2<i, 1884, with 104 charter members. 

Ancient Order of Hibernians Division No. 1 was organized in March, 
1853, with fifty charter members. Division No. 2 was organized in 
1871 with 175 charter members. Division No 5 was organized Septem- 
ber 20, 1878, with fifteen charter members. Division No. 7 was or- 
ganized in 1888 with seventeen charter members. 

Premier lodge, Knights of Pythias, was chartered October 10, 1870, 
with fifteen members. 

Guttenberg lodge, K. of P., was chartered October 17, 1873, with 
twenty-five members. 

Erastus Corning lodge. Ancient Order of United Workmen, was char- 
tered February 6, 1882, with thirty-two members. 

General John E. Wool lodge, A. O. U. W., was chartered in January, 
1881, with twent}' members. 

The Select Knights' legion, uniformed rank of the A. O. U. W., was 
chartered April 28, 1887, with twenty-four members. 

The organization of the other secret societies in Troy was as follows: 
Marathon lodge. Knights of Honor, March 17, 1892; thirty-two char- 
ter members. Mistletoe grove No. 11, December 11, 1845; fourteen 
charter members. Troy lodge. Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, 
October 20, 1889; thirty-nine charter members. Wah Ta Wah tribe of 
Red Men, January 18, 1893; twenty-five charter members. Pioneer 
council, United Friends, September, 1881 ; thirty charter members, 



368 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Troy City lodge, Independent Order of Good Templars, April 19, 1892; 
thirty-three charter members. Griswold council, O.U.A.M., Novem- 
ber 14, 1KS7; thirty seven charter members. General George H. 
Thomas commandery, L. L. O. U. A. M., December 13, 1892; twenty 
charter members. Troy City lodge, Independent Order, Free Sons of 
Israel, April 15, 1S77; twenty-one charter members. Joshua lodge, 
K. S. R., April, 1872; twenty-eight charter members. King David 
lodge, I. O. S. B., July 11, 1880; eighty-four charter members. Jere- 
miah lodge, I. O. B. B., October, 1886; thirty charter members. Alex- 
ander lodge, O. B. A., May 11, 1884; fifty-five charter members. Brit- 
annia lodge. Order of the Sons of St. George, 1882. George Washing- 
ton Loyal Orange lodge, November, 1877; thirty-two charter members. 
Mount Horeb District Loyal Orange lodge, March, 1880; composed of 
all lodges under its jurisdiction. Troy True Blue Loyal Orange lodge, 
October I'.i, 1S71 ; forty five charter members. Golgotha Royal Black 
Preceptoiy, May, 1875; twenty charter members. Abraham Lincoln 
Loyal Orange lodge, August, 1879; eighteen charter members. Daugh- 
ters of America, Ladies' Loyal Orange lodge, June, 1889; twenty-six 
charter members. Rensselaer council, R. T. of T., January, 1882; 
twenty charter members. Tibbits union, E. A.U., June 18, 1889; 
thirty charter members. Trojan council, R. T. of T., October 15, 
1880; fifteen charter members. Trojan council. Royal Arcanum, May 
10, 1878; ten charter members. Rencselaer council. Royal Arcanum, 
December 5, 1889; twenty-nine charter members. E. B. A., Branch 3, 
August 15, 1875; sixteen charter members. James A. Garfield coun- 
cil, R. T. of T., 1881; twenty-five charter members. 

The leading local organizations which have not been more fully de- 
scribed in preceding pages are the following: 

Troy and West Troy Bridge company, incorporated April 23, 1872. 
Pafraets Dael club, organized December 11, 1885. Laureate Boat 
club, June 19, 1866. Troy Yacht club, May 15, 1889. William S. Earl 
Boat club. February 12, 1890. Troy Bicycle club, November 4, 1881. 
Ionic club, August 27, 1853. Bachelor's club, February 8, 1884. Re- 
publican club of Troy, October 5, 1880. Trojan Wheelmen, January 
22, 1886. Robert Emmet association, January I, 1868. Troy Turn 
Verein, August 8, 1852, Troy Scientific association, October, 1870. 
Pioneer Building Loan association, March 7, 1889. Troy Saengerbund, 
May 19, 1880. 

A thriving musical organization existed in Troy as early as 1839. It 




Wki,-^j. 



-^■j.... .„.,„.^ ..^ ^, „.. ■^.. .. . ... ^ ^ l ^ ^l^^ j ^lJjj j jl^ 



FRED A. PLUM. 



CLUBS OF TROY. 369 

was called the Troy Musical association and contained about 250 mem- 
bers, with a "juvenile class " of 175. G. W. Lucas was its director and 
its meeting- place was Morris place on Congress street opposite Rand's 
hall. 

The 12ast Side club owes its inception to an informal meeting of resi- 
dents of Pawling avenue and vicinity held April 7, 1890, at the residence 
of L. S. Crandall. The project for a new social club was warmly 
greeted at that meeting and within two weeks the pledged membership 
exceeded fifty. The Collins residence on Pawling avenue was first 
used as a club house, but in the summer of 1890 a lot on Pawling 
avenue was purchased for ^3,200 and in the following December the 
work of erecting a club house was begun under the direction of Henry 
W. Smith, Frederick W. Swett and James C. Hawley, the buildmg 
committee. The building was completed and opened to the public in 
the summer of 1891, its total cost, exclusive of the furnishings, being 
about $8,000. The first officers were: President, Henry B. Thomas; 
vice-president, Irving Hayner; secretary, Leigh R. Hunt; treasurer, 
Louis S. Crandall; trustees, Frank S. Black, Joseph Knight, Samuel 
P. McClellan, Frederick W. Swett, William R. Bridges, Irving Hay- 
ner, George A. Mosher, Henry W. Smith, Louis S. Crandall, Leigh 
R, Hunt, Henry A. King and Henry B. Thomas. 

The Troy Choral club was organized in the fall of 1890 and gave its 
first regular concert November 18, 1891. The first officers of the club 
were: President, John Clatworthy; vice president, A. W. Harrington, 
jr. ; secretary and treasurer, George F. Green; musical director, Charles 
A. White. Mr. Green was taken sick at the first concert and died. 
Dr. Charles P. Stimpson was then elected to the office of secretary and 
has filled the office continuous!}' since. The club gives four concerts 
each season, and the music embraces that of the best American and 
foreign composers. 

The Troy Vocal society for years has been recognized as one of the 
finest musical organizations in the country. It is composed entirely 
of male voices and is under the musical direction of Professor Connolly. 

The Rensselaer County Homoeopathic Medical society was once a 
prosperous organization with its headquarters in Troy. All of the 
prominent homoeopathic practitioners in the county were members. 
No meeting of the society has taken place since 1890, and it has prac- 
tically become obsolete. The society contained some brilliant lights in 
the homoeopathic profession in this section and was productive of much 
47 



370 



LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



good. The last president was Dr. Arba R. Green. Within the past 
fifteen years the society has lost by death such members as Drs. Wood- 
ruff, Carpenter, Clark, Vincent, Campbell, Fuller and Pitts. 

For the third time in its history Troy was honored, August 26, 
1896, with the nomination of one of its citizens, Hon. Frank S. Black, 
for the office of governor of the Empire State by the Republican State 
convention at Saratoga Springs. Hon. William L. Marcy and Hon 
John A. Griswold were Mr. Black's predecessors, Mr. Marcy being 
elected and Mr. Griswold defeated. Upon his return from the conven- 
tion Wednesday evening, August 2(5, Mr. Black was greeted by thousands 
of citizens of Troy, many of whom escorted him to his home, headed 
by a band, amid a profuse display of fireworks. 

Presidents oi' the Vh.i.ace oe Troy. 



Johu McCoun from 1798 to 1799 

Benjamin Gorton " 1799 " 1800 

Ephraim Morgan '• 1800 " 1801 

John McCoun " 1801 " 1803 

Albert Pawling " 1802 " 1803 

Edward Tylee " 180:5 " 1804 

Albert Pawling " 1804 " 1805 



Edward Tylee from 1 805 to 1 808 

Abraham Ten Eyck .. . " 1808 " 1810 

EdwardTylee " 1810" ISll 

Abraham TenEyck__. " 1811 " 181:5 

Timothy Hutton " 181:3 " 1814 

Derick Lane " 1814" isif) 

Albert Pawling... " 181") " iSKi 



M-'WORS OE Trov. 



Albeit Pawling, from 1816 to 1820. 
Thomas Turner, appointed July 3, 1819, 

declined to serve. 
Esaias Warren, from 1820 to 1828. 
Albert Pawling, appointed Februrary 14, 

1821, declined to serve. 
Samuel McCoun, from 1828 to 1830. 
George Tibbits, from 1830 to 1830. 
Richard P. Hart, from 1836 to 1838. 
Jonas C. Heartt, from 1838 to 1843. 
Gurdon Corning, from 1843 to 1847. 
Francis N. Mann, from 1847 to 1850. 
Day O. Kellogg, from 1850 to November 

1850. 
Hanford N. Lock wood, November, 1850, 

to March, 1851. 
Joseph M. Warren, from 1851 to 1852. 
George Gould, from 1852 to 1853. 



Foster Bos worth, from 1853 to Decem- 
ber, 1853. 

Elias Plumb, from December, 1853, to 
March, 1854. 

Jonathan Edwards, 1854 to 1855. 

John A. Griswold, from 1855 to 1856. 

Hiram Slocum, from 1856 to 1857. 

Alfred Wotkyns, from 1857 to 1858. 

Arba Read from 1858 to 1860. 

Isaac McConihe, jr., from 1860 to ISfil. 

George B. Warren, jr.. from 1861 to 1862. 

James Thorn, from 1862 to 1863. 

William L. Van Alstyne, from 1863 to 
1864. 

James Thorn, from 1864 to 1865. 

Uri Gilbert, from 1865 to 1866. 

John L. Flagg, 1866 to 1868. 

Miles Beach, from 1868 to 1870. 

Uri Gilbert, from 1870 to 1871. 






Lv-.: 



FRANK S. BLACK. 




i 



FRANCIS J. MOLLOY. 



CIVIL LIST OF TROY. 



371 



Thomas B. Carroll, from 1871 to 1S73. 
William Kemp, from 1873 to 1875. 
Edward Murphy, jr.,i from March, 1875 
to November, 1882. 



Edmuud Fitzgerald, from 1882 to 188G. 
Dennis J. Whelan, from 1886 to 1894. 
Francis J. Molloy, from 1894 to . 



Recorders ok Tkov. 

William L. Marcy from 181G to 1818 Henry W. Strong from 1838 to 1844 

Abram B. Olin . 

Job S. Olin 

Gilbert Robertson, jr. _ 

Clarence Buell 

John Moran ~ 



Amasa Paine 


. " 1818 ' 


' 1821 


William L. Marcy 


. " 1821 ' 


' 1823 


Thomas Clowes _. 


" 1823 ' 


' 1828 


Daniel Gardner 


. " 1828 ' 


' 1833 


John P. Cushman 


, " 1833 ' 


• 1838 



1844 ' 


' 1848 


1848 ' 


' 1852 


1852 ' 


' 1856 


1856 ' 


' 1860 


1860 ' 


' 1868 



Comptrollers of Trov. 



William H. Van Every, from 1871 to 1872. 
John P. Albertson, from 1872 to August 

17, 1881. 
Isaac W. Crissey, from October 7, 1881, to 

March 19, 1883. 



John D. Spicer, from March 19, 1883, to 

December, 1886. 
William J. Roche, from December, 1886, 

to October, 1890. 
James W. Coffey, from October, 1890 

to . 



Ch.ami'.erlains ok Troy. 

David Buel, from 1816 to 1822. George C. Burdett, from 1871 to 1874. 

James Mallary, from 1822 to 1825. Benjamin H. Hall, from 1874 to 1877. 

John Thomas, from 1825 to 1845. Henry S. Church, from 1877 to Febru- 

George B. Richards, from 1845 to 1846. ary, 1884. 

Jared vS. Weed, from 1846 to 1849. Benjamin H. Hall, from February, 1884, 

John T. Lamport, from 1849 to 1859. to June 1, 1885. 

Amos S. Perry, from 1859 to 1863. John F. Bridgeman,-'' from Junel, 1885, 

James M. Brewer, from 1863 to October, to June, 1896. 

1867. David Morey, from June, 1896, to . 

Denck Lane, from October, 1867 to 1871. 

Cn\- Attorneys. 

Date of Appdintment Date of Appointment 

Henry Z. Hayner May 17, 1836 Gardner Stow March 11, 1851 

John T. Lamport June 15, 1837 Roswell A. Parmenter.. .March 8, 1853 

Charles R. Richards March 18, 1847 Harvey J. King March 14, 1854 

' In 1H80 the charter election was changed from March to the time of the general election in 
November. 

* The office of recorder was abolished by act of the Legislature April 17, 1H(i7, to take effect 
January ], 1868. 

* Did not commence to discharge the duties of office until December 5, 188.5, up to which time 
Mr. Hall acted as chamberlain. In the suit of the people e.x rel. Bridgeman vs. Hall, the court de- 
cided that Bridgeman waa Jrjitre chamberlain from June 1, ISK'i 



372 



LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



Date of Appointnihnt 

Samuel Stover March 13. 1855 

George T. Blair March 9, 1858 

Harvey S. Flagg March 8, 1859 

George Day March 13, 1860 

Giles B. Kellogg .March 12, 1861 

Richard C. Jennyss March 10, 1863 

John M. Landon March 10, 1864 



Date of Appointment 

A. A. Lee .March 14, 1865 

William A. Beach 1866 

John H. Colby May 24, 1870 

Rosvvell A. Parmenter... March 22, 1871 

William J. Roche October 10, 1883 

Roswell A. Parmenter Feb. 4, 1886 



Corporation Counsel.'' 

Roswell A. Parmenter May 19, 1887 William J. Roche October, 1890 

City Surveyors and Engineers. 



Date of Appointment. 

William McManus ...May 21, 1816 

John Klein May 2:), 1819 

William Roberts, jr May 3, 1831 

Sidney A. Beers April 3, 1834 

William A. Barton ..March 12, 1839 

William Roberts, jr March 18, 1842 

Benjamin Turner .March 8, 1853 

Luther D. Eddy August 18, 1853 

William Barton March 11, 1856 



Date of Appointment. 

Charles L. Fuller ..March 8, 1859 

Luther D. Eddy March 8. 1870 

Charles L. Fuller May 24, 1870 

Robert M. Hasbrouck March 9, 1875 

Charles L. Fuller November 13, 1883 

Palmer H. Baerraann June, 1892 

Morris R. Sherrerd May, 1893 

Martin Schenck May, 1895 



City Clerks ok Troy. 



Appointed. 

William M. Bliss ....1816 

Ebenezer Wilson, jr. 1825 

George T. Blair ...1845 

John T. Lamport ...1847 

William Hagan 1849 

John M. Francis 1851 

Charles D. Brigham 1854 

John M. Francis 1855 

Franklm D. Hubbell 1856 

Benjamin H. Hall 1858 

Abraham Fonda 1859 

Francis L. Hagadorn 1860 



Appointed. 

John H. Neary 1860 

George W. Demers 1861 

Franklin B. Hubbell 1863 

James S. Thorn 1865 

Franklin B. Hubbell 1866 

Richard V. O' Brien 1870 

Lewis E. Griffith 1871 

Henry McMillen 1874 

Charles R. DeFreest... 1875 

Edwin A. King 1882 

John J. McCormick 1886 



City Superintendents. 

Michael Cavanaugh, from 1871 to March, Lawrence Sheary, March, 1875, to March, 
1875. 1883. 



1 The office of L'ity attorney was abolished and that of corporation counsel created by Chapter 
.336 of the laws of 18H7. 



CIVIL LIST OF TROY. 373 

James Haiiley, March, 1883, to October, Cornelius Toomey, December, 1890, to 

1886. April, 1896. 
John Ouigley, October, 1886, to Decem- Jeremiah Mahoney, April, 1896, to . 

ber, 1890. 

Justices of thk Justices' Court. 

David Gleason 1834-1839 John L. Flagg ..1862-1865 

Henry V. W. Hasten 1834-1848 Thomas J. Cornelius 1863-1866 

Cyrus D. Sheldon 1834-1843 Thomas Neary 1865-1871 

Job S. Olin 1840-1844 Richard C. Jennyss.. 1866-1875 

Hiram Taylor 1843-1846 William Donohue... 1867-1876 

Abraham Van Tuyl 1844-1848 John Conway, jr 1871-1877 

Moses Warren 1846-1860 Thomas J. Guy, 2d 1875-1886 

Gilbert Robertson, jr 1848-1853 Edmund L. Cole 1877-1880 

Seth H. Terry 1848-1850 John P. Curley .....1880-1889 

J. Fairchild Wells 1848-1853 Thomas vS. Fagan 1886-1889 

Charles E. Brintnall 1850-1857 William J. Ludden 1889-1895 

George R. Davis, jr 1853-1857 John J. Kennedy 1889-1895 

Uriel Dexter 1857-1867 James T. Murray 1895 

John M. Landon 1857-1862 Warren McConihe .1895-^ 

Franklin J. Parmenter 1860-1864 

Police Magistrates. 

William Donohue 1876-1881 William Donohue 1887 

Richard C. Jennyss 1881-1887 

Assistant Police Magistrates. 

Lewis E. Griffith 1876-1882 James W. Coffey 1889-1890 

John J. Hassett.. 1882-1883 Cornelius Hannan 1890 

Michael H. Myers 1883-1889 

The following statistical table, taken from the census of 1890, shows 
the population by sex, general nativity and color, in the city of Troy: 

















Civilized 






-Male. 


Female. 


Native. 


Foreijjn. 


White. 


Negro. Indians. 


Troy . . . 




.28,591 


32,365 


43,691 


17.265 


60,441 


513 2 


Ward 


1. 


. 1,626 


2,067 


2,611 


1,082 


3,560 


133 


Ward 





. 2,186 


2,558 


3,. 573 


1,171 


4,590 


154 


Ward 


3. 


. 1,206 


1,458 


1,976 


688 


2,613 


51 


Ward 


4. 


. 1,845 


2.659 


3,690 


808 


4,453 


51 


Ward 


5. 


. 2,791 


3,232 


4,662 


1,361 


6,013 


10 


Ward 


6. 


. 2,639 


2,186 


2.781 


2.044 


4,823 


2 


Ward 


1 . 


. 2,515 


3.270 


4,174 


1,611 


5,705 


80 


Ward 


8. 


. 1,774 


2,091 


2,578 


1,287 


3,845 


20 


Ward 


9. 


. 2,232 


2,143 


2,999 


1,376 


4.373 


2 


Ward 10. 


. 2,886 


3,290 


4,603 


1,573 


6,166 


10 


Ward 11. 


. 1,922 


2.134 


2,762 


1,294 


4,056 


- . 


Ward 12. 


. 2 .548 


2,476 


3,100 


1,924 


5.024 


- . 


Ward 13 


. 2.421 


2,801 


4,176 


1,046 


5,220 


2 



374 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

The foreign born population of Troy, distributed accordino- to coun- 
try of birth, was as follows: 

Total foreign born, 17,265; Canada and Newfoundland, 1,471 ; Mexico, 2; Central 
America, 2; South America, 15; Cuba and West Indies, 12; England, 2,128; Scot- 
land, 516; Wales, 96; Ireland, 9,412; Great Britain (not specified), 1; Germany, 
2,107; Austria, 112; Holland, 21; Belgium, 29; Switzerland, 63; Norway, 134; 
Sweden, 199; Denmark, 37. 

In 1890 there were in the city of Troy, 19,0Go persons of school age, 
five to twenty years, including- 9,117 males and 9,048 females. Of 
these 8,349 males and 8,953 females were native born; 7(iS males and 
99,5 females were foreign born. The males of militia age in the city 
numbered 13,04(i, of which 8,871 were native born and 4,17o were 
foreign born. The total number of males of voting age was 10,784, of 
which 9,r)'.M; were native born and 7,188 were foreign born. 

The total number of dwellings in Troy in 1890 was 7,805; the total 
number of families 12,895, the persons to a dwelling 7.81, and the per- 
sons to a family 4.73. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 
TOWN OF LANSINGBURCiH. 

The town of Lansingburgh was originally intended as the site for 
the principal city north of Albany on the east bank of the Hudson 
river; but the inhabitants of the settlement a mile or two south of New 
City, as the village of Lansingbnrgh was first known, took advantage 
of the opportunities which presented themselves in rapid succession, 
and the prestige which in the natural order of things should have gone 
to Lansingburgh went to Troy, which rapidly oTitran its rival in the 
race for commercial supremacy in Rensselaer county. 

The town of Lansingburgh is located on the western border of the 
county, north of the city of Troy and south of the town of vSchaghti- 
coke. On the east lie the towns of Pittstown and Brunswick and on 
the west the Hudson river, separating Lansingburgh from the northern 
part of Albany county and the southern part of Saratoga county. The 
site of the county was originally included in ])arts of two separate pat- 
ents. The northern part of the town as at present constituted was set 



TOWN OF LANSINGBURGH. 375 

off from Schaghticoke in 1819 and forms a part of the Schaghticoke 
tract, occnpied by the Schag-hticoke Indians and set off to them in 1670. 
This territory afterward became the property of the city of Alban}'' and 
was sold in 1707 to the Knickerbocker colony. The southern part of 
the town formed a part of the vStone Arabia patent. 

Soon after the Dutch began to make settlements in the vicinity of 
what is now Troy, Robert Saunders, a resident of Albany, was attracted 
to the level and fertile tract now in the town of Lansingburgh, and 
called by the Indians Tascamcatick, and the woodland to the south 
called Passquassick. September 1, 1070, Francis Lovelace, governor of 
the province of New York, granted the former tract to Saunders. March 
22, 107!i, vSir Edmund Andros, another governor, granted to Saunders the 
woodland, together with the small island in the Hudson called Whale isl- 
and, since submerged by the construction of the State dam south of it. 
September 19, lOSljSaunderssoldpartof the woodland south of Piscawen 
kill to Peter Van Woggelum. May 26, 1083, Saunders sold the remaining 
portion of his patent, Tascamcatick, to Joannes Wendell, and the latter 
afterward purchased another piece of woodland which extended north- 
ward along the river to a creek called by the Indians Paensick kill. 
Wendell's land was confirmed to him July 22, 1686, by a patent granted by 
Governor Thomas Dongan and called Steene (Stony) Arabia patent, and 
for over a century the territcjry was known as Stone Arabia. June 21, 
1763, Robert Wendell, a descendant and heir of Joannes Wendell, sold 
to Abraham Jacob Lansingh, for 300 pounds, that portion of his prop- 
erty beginning opposite the middle branch of the Mohawk river and 
running thence eastward as far as the limits of the Stone Arabia pat- 
ent, excepting that portion which had been sold to vSimon \''an Antwerpe 
but then owned by William Rogers. A deed given by Stephen Van 
Rensselaer (one of the patroons) to Abraham Jacob Lansingh, dated 
July 13, 1709, described the north bounds of the manor of Rensselaer- 
wyck and the south bounds of the vStone Arabia patent as follows: 

Beginning- on the east bank of Hudson river, by a stump about east from the 
south end of Whale-fishing island, and over against the second spruyt, and runs 
from the said stump south sixty-nine degrees east along a line of marked trees one 
hundred and seventy-eight chains to a white oak tree on the land of Adam Shufellt, 
where there is a small heap of stones laid together; the said tree is marked on the 
west and north sides with the letters A. J. L. 1769, and on the south and east sides 
S. V. R. 1769, and then north nineteen degrees and forty-five minutes east, one hun- 
dred and twenty-eight chains and seventy-five links to a marked black oak tree, 
standing one hundred and seventy-eight chams distant from the east bank of the 



376 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Hudson river, opposite to the third spruyt, — on a course south sixty-nine degrees 
east, where a black oak tree is marked on the east side thereof with the letters 
S. V. R. 1769, and on the west side with the letters A. J. L. 1769, and then from the 
last mentioned black oak, the said course of north nineteen degrees, forty-five min- 
utes east, one hundred and five chains and sixty links to a marked chestnut tree 
standing or a line of old marked trees running from the Cohoes or Great Fall of 
Waters, north eighty-eight degrees for the north bounds of the manor of Rens- 
selaerwyck, and thence from the said chestnut tree south eighty-eight degrees west, 
along the said old marked trees to Hudson river, and thence southerly along said 
river to place of beginning. 

The number of settlers increased rapidly and Lansingh, believing 
that his property would soon form the site of a thriving village, in 
1771 had a portion of it surveyed and laid out into lots, v^ith streets 
and alleys, by Joseph Blanchard, which he called Lansinghburgh. The 
map, now on file in the Albany county clerk's office, bears the follow- 
hig description: 

This map describeth a tract of land lying on the east side of Hudson's river, about 
eight miles above the City of Albany, and is layed out in a regular square for the 
erecting a city by the name of Lansingburgh ; the lots are one hundred and 
twenty feet long and fifty wide. The streets are seventy feet wide, and the alleys 
are twenty feet wide ; the oblong square (the Green or Park) in the centre is reserved 
for publick uses. Laid down by a scale of ninety feet to an inch. June 7, 1771, 
Joseph Blanchard, Surveyor. May 11, 1771, A. Jacob Lansingh. 

The map showed 288 lots, and the ground it covered included that 
bounded by North, East and South streets and the Hudson river J 
January 1, 1771, the inhabitants of the settlement agreed tipon a com- 

1 Among those who purcliased lots in 1770 and 1771, who already owned property there, were 
the following: William Adams, Evert Bancker, Flores Bancker, John Barber, Abrani Blaaii, Wal- 
dran Blaau, Jonathan Brewer, Abram BrinkerhofF, Peter Curtinus,John Dunbar, Benjamin French, 
Aldah Funda, John 1). Fonda, Samuel Halstead, Anne Hamersley, Mo.ses Holt, Isaac Lansingh, 
Isaac H. Lansingh, Jacob A. Lansing, Alexander McT^ean, Mayckie McCoy, Charles Meal, Anthony 
Rutgers, Eleanor Taylor, Jonathan Wickwire and Robert VateS. Other purchasers from that time 
up to 17'.t0 were: James Abeel, James Boggs, jr., Joshua Burnham, James Caldwell, Caleb Carr, 
Joy Chambers, Jeremiah Comstock, William Conklin, Ebenezer Cooley, Cornelius Cooper, Volkert 
Dawson, Barnet De Clyn, Peter Goewey, Amos Graves, Thomas Hiatt, E/.ra Hitchcock, Lyman 
Hitchcock, Peter Hogel, Jeremiah Hoogland, Horace Seymour, Nathaniel Jacobs, Ignis Kipp, 
Thomas Knight, Francis Lansingh, Franciscus Lansingh, Hendrick Lansingh, Levinus Lansingh, 
Hugh McCarty, William McGill, Patrick McNiff, James McMurray, James Moran, Agnes Murray, 
William Nichols, Abram Nelson, Aaron Noble, Joseph Norris, Abram J. Ouderkirk, Piatt & Will- 
iams, Charles Reed, Maria Rosa, William Scott, Cornelius S. Sebring, Jonathan Sewers, John 
Skiffington, Patrick .Smith, Smith & Whitney, Benjamin Snyder, Barent Ten Eyck, John Tibbit, 
John Tillman, Margaret Tillman, James Thomson, Robert Thompson, Henry Van Arnum, John 
Van Cortland, Cornelius Vandenburgh, John Van Rensselaer, James Van Varick, Abram K. Van 
Vleck, Gerrit Van Wie, Catharine Van Wie, Aaron Ward, Ralph Watson, Frederick Weaver, Peter 
Weaver, John De Witt, Jonathan Wood, Wynkoop & Ten Eyck, Peter W, Ya.tes, and Joseph 
Young. 



TOWN OP' LANSINGBURGH. 377 

pact called the "Proposals," for the government of the community, and 
chose cival officers. It was provided that there be annually elected a 
committee of five persons, a "town clerk, a path-master, and three 
fence-viewers, "and that Abraham Jacob Lansingh, or his heirs forever, 
should be one of the committee. At the first town meeting Ebenezer 
Marvin was elected moderator and Thomas S. Diamond clerk. The 
first committee comprised Abraham Jacob Lansingh, Isaac Bogart, 
John Barber, Ebenezer Marvin and Benjamin French. Abraham 
Wendell was chosen pathmaster, and Robert Wendell, Levinus Lans- 
ingh and Isaac Van Arnum fenceviewers. 

The advantageous location of the new " City of Lansinghburgh " 
attracted many persons from other localities, particularly from New 
England, and the embryo village grew rapidly. Small manufacturing 
establishments were started and mercantile and commercial houses were 
founded at a rate that gave great promise. In 1774 a school was 
founded by Maus R. Van Vranka, who also agreed to read one English 
and one Dutch sermon on every Sunday in the year, excepting four 
Sundays reserved for himself. 

When the inhabitants of Lansinghburgh "became aware of the fact 
that the relations between the American colonists and Great Britain 
had become strained almost to the |^oint of rupture, they showed their 
patriotism by subscribing to a paper which read as follows, dated June 
15, 1775: 

A General Association agreed to and subscribed by the Freemen Freeholders and 
Inhabitants of Lansiugburgh and Patent of Stone Arabia: 

Persuaded that the salvation of the rights and liberties of America depends, 
under God, on the firm union of its inhabitants in a vigorous prosecution of the 
measures necessary for its .safety, — convinced of the necessity of preventing the an- 
archy and confusion which attend a dissolution of the power of government, We, 
the Freemen, Freeholders and Inhabitants of the town of Lansingburgh and Patent 
of Stone Arabia, being greatly alarmed at the avowed design of the British ministry 
to raise a revenue in America, and shocked by the bloody scenes now acting in 
Massachusetts Bay Government, in a most solemn manner, 

Resolved, never to become slaves, and do associate ourselves under all the ties of 
religion, honor and love to our country, to adopt and endeavor to carry into execu- 
tion whatever measures may be recommended by the Continental Congress, or re- 
solved by our Provincial Convention, for the purpose of preserving our Constitu- 
tion, and opposing the execution of the several arbitrary and oppressive acts of the 
British Padiament, until a reconciliation between Great Britain and America, on 
Constitutional principles can be obtained, than which we wish for nothing more 
ardently, and we do hereby covenant, promise and agree that we will in all things 
48 



378 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

follow the advice of our General Committee respecting the purpose aforesaid, the 
preservation of peace, good order and safety of the individuals and private ])r<)perty. 

The paper bore the sio'iiatiires of Abraham Jacob Lansingh, Christo 
plier Tillman, John D. Wynkoop, Abraham Ten Eyck, Benjamin 
French, John Barber, James Selkirk, Daniel Toneraj-, Jonathan Severs, 
Henry Pollock, Michael Houseworth, John Fine, Stephen Marvin, 
James Boggs, Abraham Ouderkirk, Ephraim Griswold, Samuel Hig- 
gins, James Willson, Justus Brown, John Clark, David Layten, Francis 
Hoole, John vSloan, Gerry Lane, vSamuel Burns, Isaac Van Arnum, 
Robert Wendell, Pennell Brown, Frederic Weaver, Levin us Lansingh, 
William Thomkins, Joseph Bacon, John Dunbar, Peletiah Winchell, 
John Young, Levinus Leverse, (iershom French, Joseph Jones, John 
Sniffington, Thomas Cook, William Nichols, Alexander Boyd, John 
Winn, Josiah Rose, Daniel Shaw, Aaron Ward, William Conklin, Ed- 
ward Bruster, Samuel Bruster and Jacob A. Lansingh. 

That these men meant all that they said and promised is evidenced 
in the fact that, with very few exceptions, their names are found en- 
rolled upon the following lists of militia maintained during the War of 
the Revolution. Some of the names are those of persons then residing 
outside the bounds of the town, but there is no record distinguishing 
them from residents of Lansingburgh : 

The Lansingburgh company of Colonel Stephen J. Schuyler's militia, February 
17, 1777; 

Captain, Christopher Tillman ; lieutenants, Abraham Ten Eyck, Jonathan Sever; 
ensign, John Clarke; sergeants, Daniel Toneray. Aaron Ward, William Conklin, 
Jonathan Douglass; corporals, William Willoughby, James Barber, James Sloan, 
Stephen Marvin, jr. Privates, George Lane, Abraham J. Ouderkirk, Henry Van 
Arnum, Robert Thompson, Samuel Burns, Levinus Lansingh, William Tompkins, 
Samuel Bennet, Michael Houswirt, Comfort Shaw, George Masten, Robert Armstrong, 
Conrad Hentlebecker, John Dunbar, Robert Dunbar, John Hogg, Peletiah Winchell, 
Henry Campbell, Benjamin Bruster, Samuel Bruster, John Young, Levinus Leverse, 
Solomon Goewey, Francis Hogel, Isaac Van Arnum, Thomas Martin, Ephraim 
Griswold, Jabez Griswold, William Carr, John Wood, Christopher Pamser, John 
Barber, Job Paddock, William Spotteu, Nicholas Fisher, Justus Brown, James 
Perkins, John W^alker, George Van Vleck, George Boyd, Leonard Miller, William 
Boyd, John Follet, Phineas Bacon, William Douglass. 

Payroll of Captain Cornelius Noble's company in Colonel Stephen J. Schuyler's 
regiment of Albany militia to August 11, 1777: 

Captain, Cornelius Noble ; lieutenants, Samuel Shaw, John Clarke; ensign, John 
Byly; sergeants, Hugh McManus, William Greenfield, Samuel Lope, Hezekiah Hull, 
William Norton; corporals, James Barber, Stephen Marvin, Samuel Frazer, John S. 
Fine; drummer, Emanuel Hennicke; privates, Hercules Kronckhite, Abraham 




HERBERT E. De FREEST, M. D. 



TOWN OF LANSINGBURGH. 37!) 

Kronckhite, William Crannell, Hendriek Stnmck, Jacob Fellow, William Cooper, 
John Van Ostrander, Hendriek Ploss, jr., Jacob Smith, William Morris, John Han- 
nah, Isaac Crannell, Samuel Evans, Job Paddock, William Wdloughby, John Paget, 
Matthew Marvin, Andrew Colehammer, Daniel Grawbocker, John Vanderwerken, 
Ephraim Griswold, David Randall, Joseph Doty, Bethuel Greenfield, Solomon Grif- 
fiths, Stephen Millard, Joshua Randall, Stephen Randall, Reuben Bompis, Ephraim 
Jackson, Israel Brooks, Jacob Van Every, Philip Haner, Joseph Benson, Eleazer 
Hill, Andreas Barott, Ebenezer Baker, Francis Hogel, John Frazer, John Carner, 
Volkert Miller, Peter Minigh, Andries Parker, Casparis Valentine, Jest Harwick, 
John Walter, Frederick Conrad, John Graver, Gerrit Peck, Reulf Ostrom, John 
Lansingh, Thomas Martin, John Kelly, Solomon Battler, Hendriek Ploss, Peter 
Coons, Isaiah Durham. 

The first Masonic lodge in I^ansingbnrgh was Hiram lodge No. 35, 
F. & A. M., which was instituted upon a warrant granted August 10, 
1787. 

The growth of New City, as Lansingburgh was commonly called in 
contradistinction to the Old City (Albany), and the development of its 
various industries were so great that May 21, 1787, " Claxton 8: Bab- 
cock in King street between Hoosick and vSouth Streets," in answer to 
what they believed to be a demand for a local newspaper, brought out 
the first issue of the first newspaper published in I^ansingbnrgh — the 
Northern Centinel and Lansingborough Advertiser. It was a weekly 
publication and the first newspaper printed within the limits of the terri- 
tory now known as Rensselaer county. Strange as may seem, it did 
not contain a line of local news except the publishers' announcement to 
the public. Its contents consisted of several columns of European 
"news " three months old, a few brief items regarding events which 
had occurred nearly a month before in New York, Boston and Phila- 
delphia, some miscellany and five advertisements. The publication at 
once became popular and circulated through a large territory north 
and east of Lansingburgh. The name " Lansingborough," which ap- 
peared in the caption of the paper, was an error of the printers, but 
was not changed to Lansingburgh for several months. 

At the time of the establishment of the Centinel every inhabitant of 
Lansingburgh expected that the village was destined to become a large 
and prosperous city. New buildings were erected on all sides and the 
demand for residences and stores could not be supplied at times. Not 
infrequently persons who came here to locate were compelled to go 
elsewhere temporarily. The transportation business between this and 
other points had grown to large pro])ortions, and sailing craft of all 
descriptions came up to the southern part of the village, where they 



380 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

deposited their burdens and departed with new cargoes. An idea of 
the business transacted may be gleaned from the following list of mer- 
chants and others doing business in Lansingburgh between 1787 and 
1789:1 

1787: Merchants — Aaron and Derick Lane, Ezra Hickok, Janes & 
Dole, Piatt & Williams, Nathaniel Jacobs, jr., Thomas Bassel, William 
Bell & Co., William Chaise, Cogswell & Selden, Selden & Jones, Hoog- 
land & Seymour, John Van Rensselaer, James Hickok, James Magee 
& Co., Flores Bancker, W. & S. Brayton, George Tibbits, William 
Davis, Robert White & Co., William Spotten, Stephen & Shuball Gor- 
ham. William Willis, gunsmith and brass founder; John Stillwell, 
hotel keeper; Matthew Lyne, land office; Samuel Jones, joiner and 
tool maker; Smith & Whitney, Yates ik Rockwell, watchmakers; Caleb 
Smith, Enos Westover, coopers; Gideon Hinman, druggist. 1788: 
Merchants — Of the firm of Ephraim Morgan &• Co., Ephraim Morgan, 
Jonas Morgan and John Bordman; Samuel Chace, John Tibbits, God- 
dard Spencer, John T. Arden, Joshua Burnham, Collins & Sherlock, 
Caleb and T. Street. Annanias Piatt, proprietor of the Bull's Head 
Tavern; Thomas Dilks, boots and shoes; Aaron Noble, hatter; William 
Guest, leather; Stephen Jackson, manufacturer of cut nails; William 
Carter, land office. 1789: Merchants — George & Benjamin Tibbits, 
Christopher Tillman, Nathaniel Williams, Benjamin Winthrop, Red- 
field & Bradley, Jonathan Burr, John Harback; William Disturnell, 
clock and watchmaker; Andrew Glass, furniture. 

The expectations of the founder of Lansingburgh were more than 
met in its rapid development. In 1790, so numerous had become the 
population and so varied the business interests of the community, that 
it was deemed advisable to establish a more substantial form of gov- 
ernment than the "Proposals" first agreed to. Consequently, April 5, 
1790, the State Legislature passed the following act, the first charter of 
the village of Lansingburgh : 

An act to appoint trustees to take and hold certain lands therein mentioned, and 
for other purposes. 

Passed the oth of April, 1790. 

Whereas in that part of the town of Rensselaerwyck in the county of Albany here- 
in after described, a considerable number of houses are already erected, and occu- 
pied by merchants mechanics and others to the advancement of commerce and 
manufactures in this State; and in order to enable them to regulate their mternal 

' History of Lansingburgh, by A. J. Weise, 1877. 



TOWN OF LANSINGBTJRGH. 3HI 

police, and to secure the benefits of certain commonable lands lying within the same, 
have prayed that they might be enabled to appoint trustees. Therefore 

Be it enacted . . . That John Van Rensselaer Christopher Tillman, Elijah 
Janes Aaron Ward, Stephen Goreham, Ezra Hickock and Levinus Lansing shall be 
and they are hereby declared to be, the first trustees for the freeholders and inhab- 
itants of that part of the town of Rensselaerwyck, commonly called Lansingburgh, 
and shall continue to be trustees until the third Tuesday in May next, and that it 
shall and may be lawful to and for the said freeholders and inhabitants, qualified by 
law to vote at town meetings, to assemble on the third Tuesday of May next, and 
annually on the third Tuesday of May in every year thereafter, at such place and at 
such time of the day, as the trustees for the time being, or the major part of them, 
shall by public advertizement appoint, and under the direction of the said trustees, 
or such of them as shall be present, who are hereby made inspectors of such election, 
then and there by a majority of voices, to elect seven discreet inhabitants, being 
freeholders, to be trustees as aforesaid, who shall continue in office until the third 
Tuesday in the month of May in the next ensuing year 

And be it further enacted . . . That the said trustees hereby appointed, and 
their successors, are hereby enabled to take a grant or grants feoffment or feoffments 
of any lands lying and being in Lansingburgh aforesaid, and to hold the same to 
them and their successors forever, in trust to and for the common use and benefit of 
the freeholders and inhabitants aforesaid. 

And be it further enacted . . . That the said freeholders and inhabitants, at 
their annual meetings to be held as aforesaid, and at such other times in the year as 
the said trustees or a majority of them may think necessary and advertize for the 
purpose, shall be and they are hereby authorized and empowered from time to time, 
to make, ordain, constitute and establish, such prudential rules, orders and regula- 
tions, as a majority of such freeholders and inhabitants so assembled and having a 
right to vote, shall judge necessary and convenient for the better improving of their 
common lands, and for ascertaining and directing the use and management thereof, 
and respecting the cutting of wood on the same; and also to ordain and establish 
such prudential rules and orders, relative to the cleansing and keeping in order and 
repair the common streets and highways in Lansingburgh aforesaid, and removing 
nuisances therefrom — and also to make and ordain rules and regulations proper to 
compel the housekeepers in Lansingburgh aforesaid, to furnish themselves with a 
sufficient number of proper fire buckets, and with necessary tools and implements 
for extinguishing of fires, and to impose such penalties on the offenders against such 
rules orders and regulations, or any or either of them, as the majority of such free- 
holders and inhabitants so assembled, shall from time to time deem proper, not ex- 
ceeding forty shillings for any one offence, to be recovered by the said trustees for 
the time being in their own names with costs of suit, for the use of the said freehold- 
ers and inhabitants, by action of debt, before any justice of peace residing in the 
said county of Albany. 

And be it further enacted . . . That the said trustees hereby appointed, and 
their successors, shall and may from time to time, constitute and appoint, one fit 
person to be a common clerk for the said freeholders, whose duty it shall be, to re- 
cord all rules orders and regulations, made by the said freeholders and inhabitants 
at their meetings as aforesaid, in a proper book to be by him provided for such pur- 



382 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

pose, and also to do and perform all such matters and things as the said trustees or 
a majority of them shall lawfully from time to time, by writing under their hands 
appoint and direct. 

And be it further enacted . . . That it shall and may be lawful, to and for 
the said trustees or the major part of them, and they are hereby required with all 
convenient speed, to elect nominate and appoint a sufhcicnt number of men, willing 
to accept, not exceeding fifteen in number, out of the inhabitants residing in Lan- 
singburgh aforesaid, to have ihe care, management, working and use of the fire en- 
gine or engines belonging to the said freeholders and inhabitants for extinguishing 
hres; and the said trustees or the major part of them, are hereby authorized and em- 
powered to remove or displace all or any of the firemen so as aforesaid to be elected 
nominated and appointed, when and as often as they shall think fit, and others in 
their stead to elect nominate and appoint; and also to make establish and ordain 
such rules orders and regulations, for the government conduct duty and behaviour of 
such firemen as to them shall appear necessary and proper. 

And be it further enacted . . . That such persons as shall be elected and ap- 
pointed firemen, and each and every one of them during the time such person or 
persons shall remain firemen, and no longer, shall and hereby are declared to be, 
freed and exempted from serving in the oflRce of constable and overseer of the high- 
ways and of and from serving as jurors, and of and from serving in the militia, ex- 
cept in cases of invasion or other imminent danger. 

Soon after a fire company was organized, and in 1T'.)1 the hand lire 
engine kiKAvn as old No. 1 was purchased in l*hiladelphia. 

Abraham Jacob Lansingh, founder of Lansingburgh, died October 0, 
17!»1, in the seventy second year of his age. His wife, Catherine Lan- 
singh, di(;d the day before in the sixty-ninth year of her age. In the 
notice of his deatli printed in the American wSi)y October 14 he is re- 
ferred to as " the original ])roprietor of this town." 

The "Scotch Seceders," as they styled themselves, built a churcli in 
1789 or 1 71)0 on the ground later occupied by the brush factory of J. G. 
McMurray iv Co. The Rev. John Gausman was pastor, but the society 
died out after a l)rief career. 

The first post-ofiice in Lansingburgh was established in June, 170-2. 
Up that date letters for Lansingburgh were sent to Albany and there 
sent to their destination by a stage line operated by Annanias Piatt 
upon the authority of the Legislature. Stephen Gorham was made 
deputy postmaster in April, 1791. He was succeeded in the summer 
of 1792 by John Lovett, who became the first postmaster of Troy. 

As early as June 18, 1782, Rev. Brandt Schuyler Lupton preached in 
Lansingburgh, but he did not become the ]iastor of a congregation 
until November 3, 1788, being ordained on the third .Sunday of that 
month as pastor of the Reformed Protestant Dutch church. The first 




JAMES HHiNRY LYONS, M. D. 



TOWN OF LANSINGBURGH. ;-',83 

church edifice was erected on the northwest corner of Richard and 
John streets and was used as a house of worship until 1832. The 
congregation continued in existence until the close of the eighteenth 
centur3^ August 0, 17l»2, the First Presbyterian church was organized 
and the corner stone of the building subsequently used by the congre- 
gation as a house of worship was laid July 5, 1703, by Rev. Jonas Coe, 
pastor of the united congregations of Lansingburgh and Troy.^ The 
church was dedicated the following year. It was built on the north 
end of the village green and its walks were made of brick imported 
from Holland by Levinus Lansingh, which he originally intended to 
use in the construction of a residence for himself. 

The Lansingburgh library was opened September 9, 1794, with Will- 
iam Bell as librarian. The library was incorporated by act of the 
Legislature February 24, 1795, the incorporators named in the law 
being : 

John Van Rensselaer, Jonas Coe. Nathaniel Williams, Silvester Tiffany, Elijah 
Janes, William Bell, Elisha Putnam, Hiram Hopkins, Benjamin Tibbits, John D. 
Dickenson, John Wolcott, Shubal Gorham, Mathew Lyne, Annanias Piatt, Joseph 
Ale.xander, Levinus Lansing, John Ga.ston, Herculus Marriner, John Rockwell, Jon- 
athan Burr, David Spalding, Cornelius Lansing, Archibald Campbell, James Hickok, 
Lewis Beebe, Nicholas vSchuyler, Thomas Rattoon, Wheeler Douglass, John Keating, 
Michael Henry, Ashbel Root, Thomas Bassell, Stephen W. Johnson, William W. 
Wands, John Lovett, William Bradley, Bela Redfield, Charles Selden, Jonas Morgan, 
Simeon Johnson, Ezra Hickok, Abiel Bugby, Thomas Turner, Zachariah Garnwrick, 
Joseph D. Selden, Joshua Burnham, William Sim, David Thompson, James Reed, 
George F. Tennery, Samuel Stewart, Jacob A. Lansing, Guert Van Schoonhoven, 
Isaac Keeler, Joseph Lockwood, John Hutchinson, John Hazard, Hezekiah Ketcham, 
Mathew Gregory, Depuy Rosekrans, Joseph Robbins, Flores Bancker, Mathew 
Perry and George Tibbits. 

The trustees named in the charter were twelve in number: 

John Van Rensselaer, John D. Dickenson, Charles Selden, Benjamin Tibbets, 
Elijah Janes, John Keating, William Bell, Silvester Tiffany, Nicholas Schuyler, 
Nathaniel Williams, Jonas Coe and Guert Van Schoonhoven. 

February 10, 1795, the Legislature passed a law providing for the 
paving of certain streets in Lansingburgh and appointing John D. 
Dickinson, James Dole, Jonas Morgan, Annanias Piatt, Nicholas 
Schuyler, John Keating and Benjamin Tibbits commissioners to direct 
the work of improvement. The streets directed to be paved were King 
street, leading from what was called South street to Richard street; 

' See history of the First Presbyterian church in Troy. 



384 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAKR COUNTY. 

North street, leading- from Queen street to Water street; and Hoosick 
street, leading from Oueen street to Water street. 

The first water works in Lansingburgh of which any information is 
in existence were constructed prior to or during 1795. In December 
of that year water was supplied to all persons desiring it, from aque- 
ducts constructed and maintained by Luther Emes & Co. 

The Lansingburgh academy was chartered by the Regents of the 
University February 20, 1706, in response to a petition signed Decem- 
ber 24, 17!>o, by influential residents of the village. 

October 20, 179'), the village trustees passed this resolution: 

That the seal of the c<>r})oration shall be made with the following device, viz. : a 
heart festooned with an " L" in the centre, and shall be kept b\- the Clerk for the 
use of the corporation. 

January 10, 1S02, this preamble and resolution was adopted: 

Whereas, The seal adopted by the Trustees of Lansingburgh on the 2()th of Oc- 
tober, 1796, as a common seal, has been lost, and it has therefore become necessarj^ 
.to adopt another instead thereof; therefore, 

Resolved, That the seal of the corporation be an oval, with an " L" in the centre, 
ornamented above the "L" with a knot of ribband, by order of the Trustees. 

JosErn Alexander, clerk. 

The law erecting the village of Lansingburgh was soon found to be 
incomplete, uncertain and restricted. LTpon representations to this 
effect made to the Legislature that body, February Iti, 1798, enacted a 
new law, in which it was decreed in part as follows : 

That the district of country contained within the following bounds, to wit, begin- 
ning at a point in the division line between the counties of Albany and Rensselaer 
opposite the mouth of the creek on which John D. Vanderheyden's mill now stands, 
from thence runnmg on a line due east to the toot of the first range of hills thence 
northerly on a line along the foot of the first said range of hills until the said Ime 
strikes the north bounds of the said farm to the division line between the counties 
of Rensselaer and Saratoga thence along the westerly line of the said county of 
Rensselaer to the place of beginning, and that the district of country contained 
within the above limit, heretofore supposed to be that part of the town of Troy 
commonly called Lansingburgh shall hereafter be known and distinguished by the 
name of the village of Lansingburgh and the freeholders who may from time to 
time reside within the aforesaid limits may on the third Tuesday of May next meet 
at some proper place by any justice of the peace within said village to be appointed 
and notified to the inhabitants thereof, at least one week previous to the said third 
Tuesday and then and there proceed to choose five discreet freeholders resident 
within said village to be trustees thereof who when chosen shall possess the several 
powers and rights hereinafter specified and such justice shall preside at such meet- 
ing and shall declare the several persons having a majority of votes as duly chosen 




JAMES J. CHILD. 



TOWN OF LANSINGBURGH. 385 

trustees, and on every third Tuesday in May after the first election of Trustees there 
shall in like manner be a new election of trustees for said village and the trustees 
for the time being shall perform the several duties herein required from such justice 
in respect of notifying the meeting of the freeholders of the said village and presid- 
ing at such election. 

Provision was also made for the election of three assessors, a col- 
lector, treasurer and "as many fire wardens as the trustees for the time 
being- or the major part thereof may order and direct." The duties of 
the village officers were carefully defined. One of the peculiar provis- 
ions of this law, which was in reality the second charter of the village 
of Lansingburgh, is contained in the following clause: 

That if any one of the inhabitants of the village of Lansingburgh . . shall 
hereafter be elected or chosen trustee, or to the office of assessor or fire warden, and 
having notice of his said election, shall refuse, deny, delay or neglect to take upon 
him or them to execute such office to which he or they shall be elected, then . . 
it shall be lawful for the trustees . . to assess or impose upon every such person 
or persons . . such sum or sums of money as they . . may think fit, so as 
such fine for each refusal, denial, delay or neglect shall not exceed the sum of 
twenty-five dollars. 

March 30, 1708, by act of the Legislature, Alexander I. Turner and 
Adonijah Skinner were given the exclusive right, for five years begin- 
ning May 1, 1798, to conduct a stage line between the village of Lan- 
singburgh and the town of Hampton, Washington county, passing 
through the towns of Hebron, Salem and Granville. 

The Lansingburgh Gazette made its initial appearance September 
18, 1798, Gardiner Tracy being its first publisher. Before that time, 
in addition to the Northern Centinel and Lansingburgh Advertiser, the 
Federal Herald, the American Spy and the Northern Budget had been 
started. 

In the reports of cases adjudicated in the Supreme Court of Judica- 
ture of the State of New York is recorded the decision in the case of 
Van Rensselaer against Dole, a imique proceeding for damages on ac- 
count of alleged slander. The decision in the case was handed down 
in April, 1800, and since that time at least one lawsuit of a similar 
nature has been decided in favor of the defendant, the decision being 
based upon the law as laid down by the presiding judge in the case of 
Van Rensselaer against Dole. The opinion and decision in the case, 
being so imusual, are quoted: 

Van Rensselaer against Dole. This was an action of slander. The declaration 
charging the defendant with speaking of the plaintiff and others, the following 
49 



38G LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

words: " John Keating is as damned a rascal as ever lived, and all who joined his 
party and the procession on the 4th of July, (meaning the said John Van Rensselaer 
and the party and procession, in which the said John Keating acted as captain on 
the said 4th of July) are a set of blackhearted highwaymen, robbers, and murderers." 
The words were differently charged, with some additional expres.sions, in the other 
counts, but were in substance the same. Plea the general issue. 

The cause was tried before Mr. Justice Benson, at the last March sittings, in the 
city of Albanj'. The words charged were proved to have been spoken by the de- 
fendant. 

On the part of the defendant it appeared, that on the day previous to the speaking 
of the words, there had been a public procession to a church in Lansingburgh, where 
the parties resided ; that Keating commanded an artillery company, which formed 
part of the procession, attended with music ; that a Mr. Bird claimed one of the instru- 
ments of music, a bass viol, and went to the church to demand, or take it, but it was 
refused to be delivered, and retained by force; that upon this, an affray ensued, in 
which Mr. Bird received a dangerous wound. 

It was proved, that the conversation, in which the words were spoken, was under- 
stood by the witnesses to relate to the transactions of the preceding day, and that 
the terms highwaymen, robbers, and murderers, were u.sed in reference to the treat- 
ment of Mr. Bird in withholding the bass viol, and in stabbing him. 

The judge was of the opinion, that the words being spoken in relation to the trans- 
actions of the preceding day, and so understood, were thereby explained, and on 
that account not actionable. The jury, nevertheless, found a verdict for the plain- 
tiff, for 50 dollars damages and 6 cents costs. 

The defendant at this term, moved for a new trial, on the ground that the verdict 
was contrary to law, and the evidence. 

Woodworth, for the plaintiff. 

Van Vechten, for the defendant. 

Per Curiam. We agree in opinion with the judge at the trial. The words spoken 
by the defendant were clearly understood to apply to the transactions of the preced- 
ing day, and these were known not to amount to the charge which the words would 
otherwise import. Let the verdict, therefore, be set aside ; and there being no ques 
tion upon the evidence, the finding of the jury must be considered as contrary to 
law, and it is therefore ordered, that the costs abide the event of the suit. 

Rule granted. 

The limits of the village of Lansingburgh were again defined by the 
Legislature April 2, 1801, as follows: 

Beginning at a point in the division line between the counties of Albany and 
Rensselaer, opposite the mouth of the creek on which John D. Van Der Heyden's 
mill now stands, from thence running on a line due east to the foot of the first range 
of hills, thence northerly on a line along the foot of the said first range of hills, until 
said line strikes the north bounds of the farm of Cornelius Lansing, and on which 
the said Cornelius Lansing now lives, thence westerly along the north bounds of 
said farm, to the division line between the counties of Rensselaer and Saratoga, 
thence along the westerly line of the said county of Rensselaer to the place of be- 
ginning. 



TOWxNT OF LANSINGBURGH. 387 

By this law, or amended charter of Lansingburgh, the inhabitants of 
the village were accorded additional privileges and new duties were 
defined tor them. Provision was made for new village ordinances 
relative to markets, streets, drainage, fire department, liquor license 
and many other matters, all of which were left in the hands of the new 
trustees. 

The structure which spans the Hudson river between Lansingburgh 
and Waterford, Saratoga county, known as the Union bridge, is dis- 
tinguished as being the oldest wooden bridge in the United States. It 
stands intact to-day as strong apparently as in the early days of the 
century. When the bridge was constructed it was deemed a marvel of 
engineering skill. How the public looked upon the structure at that 
time is manifested by the elaborate character of the exercises which 
attended its opening. The Lansingburgh Gazette in its issue of De- 
cember 4, 180-4 said : 

Union bridge, lately erected over the Hudson, between this village and Waterford, 
was yesterday opened for passengers. The particulars of the celebration of this 
event will be given in our next paper. 

The next issue of the paper, December 11, 1804, devoted more than 
a column to a description of the event. Among the interesting clauses 
it contained were these: 

This handsome structure, which promises to be of durable and important public 
utility, was commenced early the present season, and is now so far completed as to 
be adjudged by the proper authority fit for the uses of travellers. The work was 
executed under the direction of Theodore Burr, principal architect; by James Mc- 
Elroy, head mason, and Samuel Shelly, master carpenter, and unites a degree of 
strength and elegance which reflects the highest credit on those gentlemen. 

The day was a holiday in Lansingburgh. A " very numerous pro- 
cession " was formed at noon at Johnson & Judson's hotel and marched 
to the bridge, and thence across to Waterford, "under the discharge 
of seventeen cannon," where a dinner had been provided at Van 
Schoonhoven's hotel at the expense of the stockholders of the bridge. 
Among the prominent persons in attendance were the governor, the 
secretary of state, the comptroller, " and a large number of respect- 
able gentlemen from Albany and the adjacent villages," who " partook 
in much harmony and conviviality." The structure is 800 feet long 
and thirty feet wide, comprising four arches, which are supported by 
three pillars and two abutments. It is owned by the Union Bridge 
company, of which Thomas A. Knickerbacker is president and John 
Knickerbacker treasurer. 



388 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

As early as 1803 Rev. Laban Clark and Martin Ruter preached to 
Methodist congregations in Lansingburgh. Seven years later a house 
of worship was erected on the bank of the river at the foot of Eliza- 
beth street and was occupied by the congregation until 18*27. The 
church was regularly organized July 23, 1827, and February 15, 1828, 
the trustees of the society bought of Derick Lane the lot on the south- 
west corner of North and Queen streets, where a church was after- 
ward erected. The first regular pastor was Rev. S. D. Ferguson. 

The First Baptist society of Lansingburgh was organized June 11, 
1803, and the first edifice was located on the corner of John and North 
streets. 

During the war of 1812 an artillery company, of which Reuben King 
was captain and Caleb Allen lieutenant, and which had been organized 
before that war, was sent to Ogdensburg, but was soon afterward sent 
home. When the draft was ordered for the 155th Regiment, in com- 
mand of General Gilbert Eddy of Pittstown, one-fourth of the artillery 
company was required for service, but before the regiment had pro- 
ceeded further than Granville hostilities had terminated and the regi- 
ment was dismissed. When Commodore Macdonough, the distin- 
guished commander of the flotilla on Lake Champlain, visited Lans- 
ingburgh, April 8, 1815, on his way to New York, he was welcomed by 
a large concourse of citizens, headed by a committee, who presented to 
him a pair of handsome pitchers and a dozen goblets. The pitchers 
were inscribed on one side: "Commodore T. Macdonough, with an 
inferior force, captured the British squadron on Lake Champlain Sep- 
tember 11, 1814;" and on the other: "Presented by the citizens of 
Lansingburgh to the Hero of Lake Champlain." The goblets were 
inscribed: "The citizens of Lansingburgh to Commodore Macdo- 
nough." The gift was acknowledged in a letter from Commodore 
Macdonough to the citizens' committee, consisting of James Hickok, 
David Smith, Elias Parmelee, John Topping, Elijah Janes, Gardiner 
Tracy, James Adams and James Reid. 

The bank of Lansingburgh was incorporated March 19, 1813, begin- 
ning business at No. 531 State street, then King street. Its first direc- 
tors were Elijah Janes, Shubael Gorham, Abraham C. Lansing, James 
Dennison, Gardiner Tracy, James Hickok, James Adams, Jonathan 
Burr, Timothy Leonard, Silvanus J. Penniman, Elias Parmelee, John 
Stewart, Calvin Barker, James Dougrey and Asa Burt. Elijah Janes 
was the first president and James Reid the first cashier. The bank 




p. ROMER CHAPMAN. 



TOWN OF LANSINGBURGH. 389 

started with a capital of $200,000, of which $(30,000 was paid in. Under 
the general banking- law of 1838 reorganization was effected, and June 
20, 1866, the name was changed to National Bank of Lansingburgh. 
March 9, 1869, it was changed back to a State bank and called the Bank 
of Lansingburgh. Its banking house was located on the northwest 
corner of State and Richard streets. After a career of sixty-four years 
the corporate existence of the Bank of Lansingburgh ceased March 19, 
1877, its last president being Horace W. Day, vice-president Leonard 
J. Abbott, cashier Alexander Walsh, teller E. H. Leonard, and book- 
keeper William C. Groesbeck. 

In 1819 a portion of the town of Schaghticoke was annexed to Lans- 
ingburgh, which contains the hamlet of Speigletown, in the northeast- 
ern part of the town. This hamlet received its name from the Vander- 
speigle families, early settlers of the southern part of the town of 
Schaghticoke. 

Soon after Hiram lodge, F. & A. M., ceased to exist, in September, 
1822, a dispensation was granted for the institution of Phoenix lodge, 
which was organized in the following year. A history of the lodge will 
be found in a separate chapter dealing with Masonrj' in Rensselaer 
county. 

The First LTniversalist church was organized December 15, 1832, but 
it was not until the summer of 18:)4 that a small wooden house of wor- 
ship was erected on the southwest corner of John and North streets. 
The society ceased to exist after a career of a few years and its church 
edifice was sold to St. John's Roman Catholic congregation. This 
congregation was organized in 1840 or 1841 and the church was dedi- 
cated in 1844 by Bishop McCloskey. St. Augustine's Roman Catholic 
church, erected in 1864 on the east side of John street between Eliza- 
beth and Market streets, at a cost of $40,000, was dedicated May 6, 
1866, by Bishop Conroy of Albany. Rev. Thomas Galberry, O. S. A., 
was the first pastor. St. Augustine Free Institute was established 
December 13, 1869, by Rev. Thomas Galberry, Edward A. Dailey, Mi- 
chael J. Collins, Ellen Wood and Mary Sullivan at the corner of John 
and North streets. It was afterward placed in charge of the vSisters of 
St. Joseph and its name was changed to St. Augustine's Free Insti- 
tute. 

By changes made in the bounds of the town by act of the Legislature 
in 1838, that portion oi' the village known as Batestown became a part 
of the city of Troy. 



390 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Lansing^burgh was visited by its first serious fire Sunday, July 0, 
1843, when nearly two entire blocks in the central part of the village 
were destroyed. The fire originated about 4 f. m. in the stables of the 
Rensselaer house and spread with great rapidity. The fire companies 
of Troy, Cohoes and Waterford responded to the call for assistance 
and their presence doubtless prevented the flames from destroying the 
entire village. About twenty five buildings were totally destroyed 
and several others damaged. The burned area was located between 
State and Congress streets and Elizabeth and Grove streets. Two 
weeks later, Sunday evening, July 23, about 10.30 o'clock, fire which 
originated in Jacock's barn destroyed about twelve more buildings. 

The Rensselaer County bank was established January 1, 1853, with 
a capital stock of $200,000 and John S. Fake as president. It was con- 
verted into a national bank in June, I860, but six years later it resumed 
its old title. It ceased to exist July 13, 1872. 

The 30th Regiment, N. Y. State Vols., the history of which is con- 
tained in a preceding chapter, had its inception in Lansingburgh, the 
first full company for that regiment being organized in this village. It 
was mustered into the service of the United States as Companj^ A, with 
Samuel King as captain, John H. Campbell as lieutenant and Francis 
Dargen as ensign. At the first battle of Bull Run Captain King, 
Ensign Dargen and five privates were killed. Lieutenant Campbell 
succeeded to the captaincy. The term of service of the company and 
the regiment was two years from June (I, ISlJl. Company K, Kli.'th 
Regiment, was organized by Captain Daniel Ferguson and Second 
Lieutenant E. R. Smith. The former was killed at the explosion of 
the mine at Fort l^'isher. The term of service of the company was 
three years from October C, 18(i2. Captain Charles S. Holmes and 
First Lieutenant Cornelius Kelleher were members of Company C, 
192nd Regiment. 

The Lansingburgh soldiers who lost their lives while in the service 
of the United States in the War of the Rebellion were: 

James Clark, George Lemon, Samuel King, David Ferguson, E. M. Smith, Albert 
Smith, Charles Remington, Artemus Wood, James Sickler, George Cook, George 
Lester, William McMurray, Edward Remington. James Kirkpatnck, Minot A. 
Thomas, Richard Barret, George Williams, James Denison, John A. Hardy, Andrew 
McAusland, Joseph Whinnery, William Johnson, Charles Smith, George Van Yilite, 
W. S. Carr, William Son, John Hardy, George H. Hubbard, Frank Nittin, William 
Bell, Joseph Stout, Edwin Moss, E. Alderdice, William Cottrell, Melford Clark, 
Robert Bell, Nicholas Benjamin, Joseph Graham, George Britton, Andrew Kirk- 



TOWN OF LANSINGBURGH. 391 

Patrick, William Rafter, Joseph Rafter, Daniel McGovern, Michael Connors, Al- 
mund D. Gardner, Silas Rowley, Albert White, Jacob Orth, Simon Ripley, Hugh 
Lennon, William Cooper, Andrew Wright, William E. Pratt, Joseph McKinney, 
Heman Spotten, Moses E. Newell, Jerome Lee, C. R. Burlingame, B. S. Williams, 
George H. Watson, John Trong, Henry Oliver, Francis Dargen, William O'Keeffe, 
Thomas O'Keeffe, Owen O'Keeffe, Cornelius Murphy, Lawrence Sands, Thomas 
Kelly, Hugh Brady, Christopher Farrell, Jarvis Smith, Thomas Winters, Jule Pres- 
cott, Louis Delair, William McArlee, John Brady, John Broidy, Richard Walker, 

Walker, Lawrence Dorsey, Thomas Hilroy, George Loomis, Thomas Bulson, 

Samuel Stapleton, William Welsh. Michael English, Corneller Kelleher, James 
O'Keeffe, James Fitzpatrick, John Brennan. 

March 48, 1875, Justice Westbrook of the vSupreme Court g-ranted an 
order for the appointment of John P. Albertson as secretary of the 
Exchange Bank of Lansing-burgh, and the following afternoon, with 
trucks and workmen, Isaac McConihe, president of the bank, with his 
counsel, John H. Colby, and Mr. Albertson, came to Lansingburgh 
from Troy and removed the safe, books, etc., loading them on the 
trucks and taking them to Mr. McConihe's office in Troy. 

In 1882 Mrs. Deborah Powers, then ninety-three years of age, de- 
sired to devote a portion of her estate to the use of those who had been 
less fortunate, and she decided to found a home for aged women. 
April 10, 188o, she purchased the property now known as the Powers 
Home for Old Ladies, formerly called the Daniel Davenport home- 
stead, which was remodeled and another story placed on both winos. 
The first inmate was received December 20, 1883. In 188-1 the build- 
ing was again enlarged. The grounds embrace a half block in the 
northern part of the village between Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth 
streets and Second and Third avenues. 

On the morning of Wednesday, December 11, 1895, a small house 
on Second avenue, just below Sixth street, was burned, the flames 
causing the death of Mrs. Hannah Eglin Sliter and Mary Harris, the 
former a well-known resident of the village. 

Institutions of Lansingburgh. 

When the public school system of the vState was organized by the 
Legislature in 1807, Charles vSelden and Thomas Wallace were chosen 
as the first school commissioners for Lansingburgh. Under the system 
of supervision by town superintendents in 1834, John G. Neal was 
elected to that office. In 1847 the Legislature passed an act permitting 
school district No. 1 of Lansingburgh to raise by taxation money 



392 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

enough, in addition to the public money, to establisli a free school. 
This was one 3'ear before the free school system of the vState was at- 
tempted by the Legislature, and four years before the fully developed 
system of 1851 was established. Prof. James C. Comstock was made 
principal of the new free school. 

The Lansingburgh academy is an old institution. The petition for 
its incorporation was signed December i>4, 1795, by Benjamin Tibbits, 
William Bell and twenty-five others, and the charter was granted by the 
Regents February 20, 1796. The first trustees of the academy were 
Rev. Jonas Coe, John D. Dickinson, John Lovell, William Bradley, 
Nicholas Schuyler, Michael Henry, George Tibbits, Christopher Hut- 
ton, Annanias Piatt, Elijah Janes, Cornelius Lansing, Charles Selden, 
Henlock Woodruff, Jonathan Brown, Philip Smith, Josiah AListersand 
John Thompson. The first building was erected on the site fronting 
the old "green," which is now the village park. It was of wood, and 
in it the school was maintained for twenty-five years. A new building 
was erected in 1820 on tne north side of Fourteenth street near Fourth 
avenue. In that building the school has since been maintained, and 
under the charter of 179G. The first principal of the academy was 
Chauncey Lee. After him came Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, Norris 
Bull, George A. Simmons, afterwards member of congress; Alexander 
McCall, E. B. Jones, 1835 to 1838; E. B. Foote, 1840; H. White, 1841 
tol842; Ebenezer D. Maltbie, 1842 to 1847; C. G. Pease, 1847 to 1849; 
Rev. Cyrus Bolster, 1849 to 1851; J. Hooker Magofifin, 1851 to 1854; 
Rev. John Smith, 1854 to 1856; Daniel J. Mann, 1859 to 1860; Peter 
R. Furbeck, 1860 to 1865; Rev. A. B. Whipple and Henry A. Pierce, 

1870 to 1873; C. T. R. Smith, 1873 to . Among those who received 

their early education at this time-honored institution were Chester A. 
Arthur, afterwards president of the United States; Judge John K. 
Porter, Thomas G. Alvord, and many others. 

The fire department of Lansingburgh was organized by act of the 
Legislature April 17, 1844, with Thomas C. Davenport as the chief en- 
gineer. This volunteer fire department came to an end December 9, 
1874, when a paid department was organized in accordance with an act 
of the Legislature, the first chief engineer being Thomas H. Mason; 
first assistant, John Franklin; foreman of hose, William M. Lea; assist- 
ant foreman, Milford Osborne ; superintendent of steamers, John Brooks ; 
assistant superintendent and engineer, Frank Spotten. 

Upon the failure of the Bank of Lansingburgh, the only one in the 




J. K. P. PlINH. 



TOWN OF LANSINGBURGH. 3!)3 

village, Albert E Powers, son of Mrs. Deborah Powers, became its 
receiver. In order to facilitate the liquidation, the firm of D. Powers 
& Son opened a bank under the title of Bank of D. Powers & Sons, the 
other partner being- Nathaniel B. Powers, the other son of Deborah 
Powers. From March, 1877, until the death of Deborah Powers May 
28, 1891, the mother and sons jointly conducted the bank in connection 
with their oilcloth factory. 

The factory was established many years before by Deborah Powers 
and her husband, William Powers. The couple were married Febru- 
ary 23, 181G, while Mr. Powers was teaching school in Lansingburgh. 
Having been successful in experiments in the manufacture of this product, 
Mr. Powers abandoned teaching in 1821 and devoted his time from that 
time on to this industry. Mrs. Powers was her husband's active helper in 
all his experiments, both in counsel and labor. In 1828, the building 
they occupied being too small for the accommodation of the work, the 
factory now standing on the west side of Second avenue was erected. 
In 1829 Mr. Powers lost his life while making varnish and Mrs. Powers 
was also severely burned in the same accident. But she bravely de- 
termined to carry on the business, which she did with great success to 
the day of her death, amassing a great fortune. In 1842 Albert E. 
Powers was admitted into the business as his mother's partner, and 
five years later Nathaniel B. Powers became a member of the firm, Jona- 
than E. Whipple, who had become a partner in 1832, retiring. After the 
death of Mrs. Powers both the oilcloth manufactory and the bank con- 
tinued under the ownership of the two sons. 

Since the failure of the Bank of Lansingburgh many years before no 
State or National incorporated banking institution had existed in Lans- 
ingburgh until 1888, when, October 19, it was decided by capitalists of 
the village to organize a bank with a capital stock of $68,500, to be 
paid in February 12, 1889, with a limit of $250,000. Subsequently the 
capital stock was reduced to $50,000 and these officers were elected: 
President, J. K. P. Pine; vice-president, Robert C. Haskell; cashier, 
Edward Van vSchoonhoven. The bank was named the People's Bank 
of Lansingburgh, and the lot No. 604 Second avenue was purchased 
for a site for a banking building, for $2,000. Ground was broken No- 
vember 2, 1889, and the bank began business in the following Feb- 
ruary. 

The Leonard hospital was incorporated in 1893, and the institution 
has since been under the direction of the State Board of Charities. The 
50 



394 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

property was formerly owned by Mrs. HnghL. Rose, who was adaughtcr 
of Dr. Leonard, and when she died she directed that the building should 
be devoted to the purposes of a hospital. Her wishes were fulfilled and 
the institution was named in honor of her father. It is located on the 
northeast corner of Fourteenth street and Sixth avenue, and the grounds 
surrounding it extend from Sixth to vSeventh avenues and from Four- 
teenth to Fifteenth streets. Thebuildingisa two-story brick structure 
and well adapted to the purposes for which it is used. 

Reference has been made to the establishment of the First Presby- 
terian church. The second church edifice was commenced in 1844 and 
opened for service April 25, 1845. In 18(J() and 18(i7 a commodious 
chapel was erected at a cost of $8,000, and since then the church has 
been enlarged and remodeled at a cost of $20,000. The work was 
completed in the siuiimer of 1S70 and the edifice, then practically a 
new one, was dedicated, the sermon being preached by the Rev. Anson 
J. Upson, D. D. 

The Methodist Episcopal church of Lansingburgh was organized 
July 23, 1827. The first house of worship was constructed at the foot 
of Elizabeth street near the river. A class had been formed as early 
as 17'J8, and in 1803 Rev. Laban Clark and Martin Ruter preached. 
In 1810 a house of worship was erected, and in 1828 and 182!) a church 
was built at the corner of North and Queen streets. Rev. S. D. Fer- 
guson was the first stated pastor, though others had preceded him be- 
fore the society became organized in due form. In 1848 a new church 
was built on the northeast corner of Elizabeth and Congress streets, 
which has been enlarged and remodeled. The society has always been 
a prosperous one. 

The John Street Baptist church was organized June 11, 1803, and the 
first church edifice was on the east side of State street between Hoo- 
sick and Lansing streets. September G, 1804, the work of erecting a 
larger and more convenient church was begun on the northwest corner 
of Congress and Richard streets. This Iniilding subsequently became 
the property of the Second Presbyterian society and was known as 
Olivet church. It later was given over to secular uses. The John 
Street Baptist church, having labored under heavy financial difficulties, 
was finally dissolved in 1857 and the church edifice was sold to satisfy 
a mortgage. The society was reorganized July 28, 1858, with A. B. 
Whipple as pastor. The edifice formerly occupied by the Second Pres- 
byterian church on John street was purchased and improved, and soon 
after occupied. 



TOWN OF LANSINGBURGH. 395 

The Second Presbyterian church, later named Olivet, was organized 
June 34, 1835, as the First Free Presbyterian Society of Lansingburgh. 
Soon after organization had been effected a brick church was erected 
on the east side of John street, between Elizabeth and Richard streets. 
The first pastor was the Rev. vSamuel P. Spear, and during his minis- 
try the name of the organization was changed to that of the Second 
Presbyterian church of Lansingburgh. May 17, 1861, the congrega- 
tion having been reorganized as Olivet church, it purchased the prop- 
erty formerly owned by the Baptist church, located on the northwest 
corner of Congress and Richard streets. In 1877 a chapel was erected 
on the northeast corner of Clinton and Congress streets. 

Trinity Protestant Episcopal church was organized January 5, 1804, 
and the first house of worship was erected on the corner of Market and 
John streets. The first rector was the Rev. Dr. David Butler, who 
serv^ed St. Paul's at Troy at the same time. The church was destroyed 
by fire on Christmas morning, 1868, but was rebuilt almost imme- 
diately, being ready for occupancy within two years. The new edifice 
cost about $60,000. 

The Reformed Presbyterian church of Troy and Lansingburgh 
was incorporated December 21, 1831, but in the following year sold its 
property and disbanded 

The Universalist church was organized in 1833, its edifice being lo- 
cated on the corner of North and John streets and its first pastor being 
the Rev. Charles Woodhouse. The society did not prosper and ulti- 
mately sold its property to St. John's Roman Catholic church and went 
out of existence. 

St. John's church was the first Roman Catholic church to be estab- 
lished in Lansingburgh. Its first house of worship was the building 
purchased of the Universalist society, located on the corner of North 
and John streets, which, after being repaired, was consecrated by 
Bishop McCloskey in 1844 as " The Catholic Church of the Village of 
Lansingburgh." The first pastor was the Rev. W. P. Hogan. For a 
while it was known as St. Joseph's church. The new church was built 
in 1864 and given the name of St. Augustine's. 

The African Methodist Episcopal church was incorporated May 18, 
1846, and after a career of twenty-five years it ceased to exist. The 
society maintained services at No. 549 Whipple avenue. 

The Free Methodist church was established in 1866 and its house of 
worship on Ann street, south of Elizabeth, was dedicated November 
15, 1867. The first pastor was the Rev. George E. Ferrin. 



39G LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

The Germondville Union church of North Lansingburgh, incorpo- 
rated July 23, 1844, occupied during its career the house of worship 
afterwards owned by the Methodist church at Speigletown. 

The English Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer started 
with four persons, John Knudsen and wife and John H. Lingenfelter 
and wife. During the summer of 1889 Paul Klingler, a student in the 
Lutheran Theological seminary at Philadelphia, Pa., spent his vaca- 
tion in an effort to gather together the anglicized Lutherans living in 
Lansingburgh, and succeeded in gathering fifty or sixty men, women 
and children. The time having arrived for Mr. Klingler to return to 
his studies in the seminary, the little flock was left without a shepherd. 
In the month of October Rev. Samuel G. Finckel came from Hartleton, 
Pa., to organize a congregation. In December about a score of mem- 
bers were incorporated, bought a lot and started a church, the corner 
stone of which was laid about March 1, 1890. The building was com- 
pleted and opened for service in May, 1890. 

The newspapers of Lansingburgh have been : The Northern Centinel 
and Lansingburgh Advertiser, established May 21, 1787; the Federal 
Herald, established May 5, 1788, by Babcock & Hickok; the American 
Spy, April 8, 1791, by Silvester Tifi:'any; the Northern Budget ;i the 
Lansingburgh Gazette, September 12, 1798, by Gardiner Tracy; the 
Rensselaer County Gazette, May 2, 182G, by Jesse C. and Jeremiah 
Young, subsequently, in the fall of 1828, becoming the Lansingburgh 
Democrat and Rensselaer County Gazette; the Farmers' Register, Jan- 
uary 25, 1803, by Francis Adancourt; the Democratic Press and Lans- 
ingburgh Advertiser, January 13, 1838, by William J. Lamb, subse- 
quently becoming the Lansingburgh Democrat, then the New Adver- 
tiser; the Literary Cabinet, November, 1841, by James J. Peck; the 
Golden Rule, January 1, 1844, by Rev. Rolla J. Smith, changed in 1847 
to the Young Ladies' Messenger; the Anti(iuarian and General Re- 
view, 1847, by Rev. William Arthur, who estal)lished it in Schenectady 
two years before; the Lansingburgh Daily Gazette, January 3, 1800, 
by Thomas Mitchell and Alexander Kirkpatrick; the Semi-Weekly 
Chronicle, April G, 18G4, by J. D. Comstock ; Our Little Paper, Sep- 
tember 13, 1872, by E. D. Ayres; The Enterprise, November 29, 1873, 
by J. C. Comstock; the Lansingburgh Courier, December 24, 1875, by 
Isaac L. Van Voast and William II. Engel; Lansingburgh Times, estab- 
lished by Alexander Kirkpatrick. 

' See newspapers, hi.story of Troy. 




STEPHEN PARKS. 



TOWN OF LANSINGBtJRGH. 397 

Among the other leading- organizations in Lansingburgh, the Sans 
Souci Yacht club was organized October 12, 18G7; the Lansingburgh 
Choral union was organized March 20, 1879. 

Industries of Lansinc; burgh. 

The population of Lansingburgh is composed largely of persons 
whose business is located in Troy, but the village sustains several 
manufacturing concerns which contribute greatly to its wealth and 
prosperity. Even while Troy was yet a comparativel}^ small village 
Lansingburgh enjoyed an immense trade with Vermont and Northern 
New York in grain, beef, pork, butter, cheese and other produce. 
There were many commission merchants or "middle-men " in the vil- 
lage. In the beginning of the nineteenth century there were at least 
a dozen warehouses on River street for storing grain. Lansingburgh 
was then the centre of a great grain trade, buying of the farmers for 
many miles around and selling at Albany, New York and other cities. 
About 1825, and even before that date, there were several leather tan- 
neries in operation in the village. Frederick Forsyth, Keating Raw- 
son, Cornelius Lansing, Asa Burt and William Guest owned the most 
important of these. There were also a number of slaughter and pack- 
ing houses, among them being those of Ives & Wilson, Tobias Loring, 
Noel Atwood and Thomas Turner. Before the year 1800 there were 
four or five "ship 3'ards " in town, where sailing vessels for navigation 
on the Hudson were made. Armington & Hawkins and John Stilson 
were prominent in this line. The oilcloth industry has been a prom- 
inent one for many years. Reference to the factory of D. Powers's 
Sons has been made in preceding pages. T. C. Davenport, Jonathan 

E. Whipple and Ferrin engaged in the business at an early day. 

Caswell's rifle factory began business about 1812 or 1813. Twenty- 
five men were employed for many years in the three shops. Brush 
manufacturing was also an early industry, David McMurray being the 
pioneer in the business. All of his five sons — William, John G., Rob- 
ert, David and Moses — were engaged in the same business. Large 
numbers of j)ersons were employed in the various works for many 
years. 

Edwin Chamberlain established a carriage factory in 1830, in Troy, 
removing to Lansingburgh in 1858. The business developed to large 
proportions and gave emphjyment to a number of skilled workmen. 



398 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

The Ludlow Valve Manufacturing company, which was located for 
many years in Lansingburgh, made preparations in 1896 to move to Troy 
and occupy a part of the former plant of the Troy Steel company in the 
southern part of the cityJ The plant was originall)- established in 
Waterford, but was removed to Lansingburgh in 1872, remaining in the 
village for twenty-four years. One of the earliest grist mills in town 

was started about 1785 or 1790 by Leversee, near the Brunswick 

line. There were also several other grist mills and a number of lum- 
ber mills in town. Sherrill & Hedges had a nail factory in the village, 
and Fisher & Co. conducted a thread factory for a few years. 

James McQuide began the manufacture of brushes about 1855, and 
eleven years later he erected a large brick building for use as a factory. 
Subsequently he admitted his son, Joseph McQuide, to the business 
under the firm name of James McQuide & Son, Sweney & Bradshaw 
began the manufacture of brushes in 1857. The firm afterward became 
Bradshaw & O'Bryan, and finally John G. O'Bryan became sole pro- 
prietor. The brush factory of George Scott was established in 1842. 
E. & C. Woods began the manufacture of brushes about 1843. The 
Rensselaer Valve works, now located in Cohoes, were founded in Lans- 
ingburgh in 1853 by P. Southwick. S, V. Arnold subsequently be- 
came interested in the business. In 1879 S. V. Arnold & E. L. Rowe 
came into possession, and not long afterward the energies of the pro- 
prietors were turned toward the manufacture of valves. The factory 
employs a large number of experienced workmen. Edward Tracy was 
the founder of the big malt house in Lansingburgh, said to be one of 
the largest in the country. Bilbrough's knitting mill, f<junded in Cohoes 
in 1854 as a cotton yarn factory, was removed to Lansingburgh about 
1880. Cross & Hoyt established a brush factory in the village in 1833. 
Frederick M. Hoyt succeeded to the business in 185S. Milford L. 
Fancher established an insurance business about 1858. The Cold 
Spring ale brewery was founded early in the century by John Topping. 
A brush factory was started in 1874 by James Reed. About 1875 A. Faden 
began the manufacture of carriages and sleighs. Owen Dennin began 
the manufacture of brushes in 1874, and Curran & Barker entered the 
same line of business in 1875. 

The greatest modern industry in Lansingburgh is that conducted by 
the United Shirt & Collar company. This concern was formed by the 

' See history uf the industries of Trov. 



TOWN OF LANSINGBURGH. H99 

consolidation of the houses of James K. P. Pine, S. A. House's Sons, 
Sanford & Robinson, Beiermeister & Spicer and Marshall & Brig-gs, 
and was incorporated May 7, 1890, with a capital of $2,000,000. July 
1 of that year it began business with these otificers: President, Samuel 
B. Sanford; vice-presidents, Frederick Beiermeister, jr., David C. 
Briggs; treasurer, James K. P. Pine; secretary, Edward O. House. 
The manufactories which comprise this giant concern had all been in 
business for several years, and the new corporation became at once one 
of the greatest in the world. The company started with three fac- 
tories — one in Lansingburgh, located on the corner of Second avenue 
and Twenty-first street; the Anchor factory, at Nos. 509, 511 and 513 
River street, Troy, and the factory on the corner of Fifth avenue and 
Broadway, Troy, 

One of the largest manufacturing industries in Lansingburgh is that 
of S. Bolton's Sons, located on the west side of Second avenue in the 
Fourth ward. It is known as the Eagle brewery and is one of the most 
important ale and porter breweries of Northern New York. The firm 
now consists of Samuel Bolton, jr., and Joseph Bolton, brothers. vSam- 
uel Bolton, jr., is the business head while his brother attends to the 
practical end of the business. The establishment has gained a high 
reputation and its output is enormous. Employment is given to a large 
number of hands. Samuel Bolton, jr., is one of the prominent citizens 
of the village. He is interested in the banking business and his real 
estate holdings are large, the firm being among the largest taxpayers 
of the village. The business was established in 1865 by the father of 
the present members of the firm, who came from England. From a 
small beginning it has grown to its present proportions and produces 
for its owners larg-e fortunes. 

Supervisors of the Town of Lansingburoh. 

1807-1818, Cornelius Lansingh; 1814-1816, James Hickok; 1817-1823, Levi Coley; 
1824-1826, Jacob C. Lansing; 1827, Elias Parmelee ; 1828-1880, E. W. Walbridge; 
1831-1882, Jacob C. Lansing; 1833-1836, John C. Filkins; 1837-1839, John M. Cas- 
well; 1840-1843, Jonathan E. Whipple; 1844, Edwin Filley; 1845, John C Filkins; 
1846, Charles C. Parmelee; 1847-1848, Edward P. Pickett; 1849, Thomas H. Fisher; 
1850, James L Adams; 1851, William Bradshaw; 1852-1855, G. W. Cornell; 1856, 
Marcus L. Filley; 1857-1858, James L Adams; 1859, Albert E. Powers; 1860, John 
S. Fake; 1861, Edward P. Pickett; 1862-1865, Jonathan E. Whipple; 1866, William 
A. Flack; 1867-1868, James Dougrey ; 1869-1878, Peter B. King; 1874, A. A. Peebles; 
1875-1877, John C Pushee; 1878, A. A. Peebles; 1879-1882, James H. Spotten ; 



400 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

1882-1887, John M. Chambers; 1888-1889, Isaac G. Flack; 1890-1892, Eugene L. 

Demers; 1893, Isaac G. Flack, John Roach;' 1894, H. W. Gordinier; 1895 , 

Eugene L. Demers. 

Cl.KKKS OF THK ToWN OK L.ANSINGHURG H. 

1807-1815, Ebenezer W. Walbridge: ISK! 1818, James Adams; 1819-1823, Jacob 
C. Lansing; 1824, Ebenezer W. Walbridge; 1825-1830, Jabez F. Parmelee; 1831- 
1832, Cornelius L. Tracy; 1833-1839, Jabez F. Parmelee; 1840-1846, John G. Neal ; 
1847, John V. Lansing; 1848, Lorenzo D. Aldrich ; 1849-1850, J. F. Knickerbocker; 
1851. Isaac Ransom; 1852, Lorenzo 1). Aldrich; 1853, Charles Clark; 1854, Jacob 
M. Adams; 1855, Milford L. Fancher; 1S56, Charles W. Hasbrouck ; 1K57, James W. 
Mills; 1858-1864, Daniel King; 1865, Francis Rising; 1866, John Bell; 1867-1869, 
William Davenport; 1870-1872, Josiah E. West; 1873, John A. Jones; 1874, John R. 
Engle; 1875, Joseph E. O'Reilley; 1870, Leonard A. Groesbeck ; 1877, Walter H. 
Ogden; 1878, Charles E. Porter; 1879, William H. Shumway; « 1880, William Gilles- 
pie; 1881, John Ames; 1882-1883, E. Warren Barker; 1884-1885, Robert A. Gibson; 
1886-1887, Crasto M. Clark; 1888-1889, E. Fred De Witt; 1890, Alfred J. Moss; 1891, 
James Orr, jr.; 1892, John W. Whike; 1893, George E. McMurray;* 1894-1895, 
George E. McMurray; 1896 , Nathan T. Shaw. 

JUSIICKS OF THF, PeACK OF L A NSINC. HUKO II. 

(Appointed by the courts.)— 1823, Jonathan Choate, Andrew Follett, Ebenezer W. 
Walbridge, B. W. Horr; 1827, John Ball, B. W. Horr, Jonathan Choate; 1828, 
Charles Tibbet. Jacob C. Lansing; 1830, Andrew Follett, B. W. Horr; 1832, Augus- 
tus Filley. 

(Elected at the annual town meetings.)— 1830, Benjamin W. Horr; 1831, Augustus 
Filley; 183'\ Jacob C. Lansing; 1833, Marcus L. Filley, Andrew F^ollett; 1834, An- 
drew Follett; 1835, John M. Caswell, John S. Fake, Daniel Whiting; 1836, John S. 
Fake; 1837, Marcus L. Filley; 1838, Andrew Follett, Richard L. McDonald; 1839. 
Richard L. McDonald; 1840, Philipp T. Heartt,2nd; 1841, Marcus L. Filley, Charles 
C. Parmelee; 1842, Stephen S. Hunt; 1843, John F. Miller; 1844, Charles C. Parme- 
lee; 1845, Marcus L. Filley; 1846, Stephen S. Hunt; 1847, John F. Miller; 1848. Isaac 
Ransom, John G. Neal, Ebenezer C. Barton, John Heartt; 1849, James Dougrey; 1850, 
John Heartt; 1851, John V. Lansing; 1852, Isaac Ransom ; 1853, Turner Barton, Chaun- 
cey W. Farnham, Marcus L. Filley; 1854, Charles J. Lansing; 1855, James W. Mills; 
1856, Isaac Ransom ; 1857, Daniel King 1858, Charles J. 1 ,ansing ; 1859, George H. Her- 
man ; 1860, Isaac Ransom ; 1861, Daniel King; 1862, Charles J. Lansing; 1863, Eugene 
Hyatt; 1864, George H. Herman; 1865, Abel Whijiple ; 1866, Charles J. Lansing; 1867, 

' Isaac G. Flack wasdeclared elected March 7, IS'.l.S, by the board of canvassers and held office 
until October l",', IH'.l."}, when, by order of the court, the board of canvassers reconvened and de- 
clared John Roach elected supervisor. 

f Resigned September 2, 1879, and William Gillespie appointed in his place by the town board. 

' By order of the court James H. Fagan was declared elected to the office. He superseded 
Mr. McMurray and served from October 12, 1893, to March 5, 1894. 




DAVID LINK. 



TOWN OF LANSINGBURGH. 401 

Alfred Seaman ; 1868, John George Neal, jr. ; 1869, George H. Herman; 1870, Charles 
J. Lansing; 1871, Thomas C. Davenport; 1873, Alfred Seaman ; 1873, George H. Her- 
man; 1874, C. H. Denio; 1875, Thomas C. Davenport; 1876, Henry E. Hawkins; 1877, 
Edwin K. Smith, Robert B. Stiles; 1878, Charles J. Lansing; 1879, Robert B. Stiles; 
1880,Thomas C. Davenport; 1881, Henry E. Hawkins; 1882, Charles J. Lansing; 1883. 
Edwin R. Smith; 1884, Robert B. Stiles; 1885, Henry E. Hawkins; 1886, George V. 
Gould; 1887, Edwin R. Smith; 1888, Robert B. Stiles; Isaac L. Ransom (to fill 
vacancy); 1889, Alfred Seaman ; 1890, Henry E. Hawkins; 1891, Isaac L. Ransom; 
18f2, Robert B. Stiles; 1893, Edwin R. Smith ;i 1894, Henry E. Hawkins ;2 1895, 
Andrew Meneeley; J. Charles Knudson (to fill vacancy); 1896, George B. Lucas; 
Louis Renhart (to fill vacancy). 

Presidents of the Village of Lansingburgh. 

1791, Abraham J. Lansingh; 1792, Levinus Lansingh; 1793, Aaron Lane; 1794, 
John Van Rensselaer; 1795-1798, James Hickok; 1799-1800, Elijah Janes; 1801- 
1805, John D. Dickinson; 1806-1808, David Allen; 1809, E. W. Walbridge; 1810, 
James Hickok; 1811-1831, records missing; 1832-1834, John M. Caswell; 1835, Will- 
iam McMurray; 1836-1837, John M. Caswell; 1838, E. W. Walbridge; 1839, Nicholas 
Weaver; 1840, John B. Chipman ; 1841, Nicholas Weaver; 1842, John B. Chipman; 
1843-1846, John S. Fake; 1847, John C. Filkin; 1848, John B. Chipman; 1849, John 
G. McMurray; 1850, John E. Whipple; 1851, Bailey G. Hathaway; 1852, John G. 
McMurray; 1853, Henry A. Mercer; 1854, Joseph Fox; 1855, F. B. Leonard; 1856, 
John G. McMurray; 1857. Thomas Curran ; 1858, Henry A. Mercer; 1859, Bailey G. 
Hathaway; 1860, Charles Clark; 1861, J. E. Whipple; 1862-1863, Robert Dickson; 
1864, Edward P. Pickett; 1865-1866, Robert Dickson; 1867-1868. William Allen; 
1869-1872, Seth P. Welch; 1873-1875, Robert Dickson; 1876, James McQuide; 1877- 
1878, Charles H. Dauchy; 1879-1880, Frederick E. Draper; 1881-1882, James Mc- 
Quide; 1883-1884, C. W. Witbeck; 1885-1886. J. G. Flack; 1887-1890, William Van 

Kleeck; 1891-1892, J. T. Dennin; 1893-1894, James H. Hallen ; 1895 , John 

Magee. 

Clerks ok the Village of IvAnsingburgh. 

1791-1795, John D. Dickinson; 1796-1805, Joseph Alexander; 1806-1808, Charles 
Selden; 1809-1810, James Dougrey; 1811-1831, records missing; 1832-1835, Marcus 
L. Filley; 1836, Richard McDonald; 1837, Marcus L. Filley; 1838, Richard Mc. 
Donald; 1839, Cornelius L. Tracy; 1840-1841, Richard McDonald; 1842, Stephen 
S. Hunt; 1843, Walter Chipman; 1844, Stephen S. Hunt; 1845-1847. Charles C. 
Parmelee; 1848, Isaac Ransom; 1849-1850, J. F. Knickerbocker; 1851. Isaac Ran- 
som ; 1852, Hiram Bleekman ; 1853-1855, Bailey G. Hathaway; 1856, William J. 
Lamb; 1857, James D. Comstock; 1858-1864, Daniel King; 1865-1866, Louis Ran- 
som; 1867, John W. Gaston; 1868. John Higgins; 1869. S. B. Kirkpatrick ; 1870- 
1871, John M. Chambers; 1872, John R. Burke; 1873, Milo Thompson ; 1874-1876, 

' Held office until October 1'2, 1S!)3, when, by order of the court, Russell Porter was declared 
elected for the balance of the term, and died while in office. 
2 Died in office. 

51 



402 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

C. W. Witbeck; 1877, John Quinn; 1878-1881, C. W. Witbeck; 1882-1886, Oliver 
McMurray; 1887-1893, John T. Graham; 1894 , George Gramm.i 

Treasurers ok the Viixauk of Lansingburoh. 

1791-1792, Aaron Lane; 179:}-179r), William Bell; l':9()-1797, Joseph Alexander; 
1798, William Bell; 1799-1805, Charles Selden; 1806-1810, E. W. Walbridtre; 1811- 
1831, records missing; 1832-1833, Horace Janes; 1834-1838, Jabez F. Parmelee; 1839- 
1846, Gerrit Fort; 1847-1848, Bailey G. Hathaway; 1849-1850, Charles Hitchcock; 
1851, John Mains; 1852, Edward P. Pickett; 1853-1855, Stephen Heimstreet; 1856- 
1861, Edward P. Pickett; 1862, Patrick Fitzgerald; 1863, Edward P. Pickett; 1864. 
Edwin Adams; "865-1866, Milford L. Fancher; 1867, Bailey G. Hathaway; 1868, 
Edward P. Pickett; 1869-1873, Edwin Adams; 1874-1878, Thomas Rourke ; 1879- 
1886, Josiah E. West; 1887-1890, H. S. Dickson; 1891-1892, R. C. Comeskey; 1893- 
1894, Jacob H. Whyland; 1895 , E. Warren Banker. 



CHAPTER XIX. 
TOWN OF GREENBUSH. 

The town of Greenbush, called by the Dutch Greene Bosch, from the 
pine woods covering the flats, is bounded on the north by the town of 
North Greenbush, on the west by the Hudson river and on the east 
and south by the town of East Greenbush. The Indians called the 
territory embraced in the limits of the town Petuquapoem and Juscum- 
catick. Later on it was known as De Laet's Burg, named after the 
historian De Laet, one of the original co-directors of Rensselaerwyck. 
The town as originally laid out contained about sixty-four square miles 
and included all of the present towns of East Greenbush, North Green- 
bush, a part of the town of Sand Lake and a small portion of the terri- 
tory which was annexed to Troy in 1836. 

Just when the town of Greenbush was first settled is not positively 
known, btit settlements existed there as early as 1G28, and were very 
nearly contemporaneous with those made on the west side of the river, 
or in Albany. Three years later than this date, or in KKU, it is known 
that Gerrit Tunnis De Reue^ occupied a farm in Greenbush, but how 

1 Credit is due Mr. Gramm for material assistance in the compilation of this chapter, 
'See page 3'J, history of Rensselaer county, 



TOWN OF GREENBUSH. 403 

long he ma}^ have been settled there it is impossible to determine. In 
all probability settlements were made on the east side of the river as 
early as upon the west side, making Greenbush coeval in its settlement 
with Albany. 

Among- the first settlers were several families who came over in 1030 
from the Texel in Captain Jan Brouwer's ship Eendracht. Soon after 
others, who came over in the ship Rensselaerswyck, located here. 
They included Van Buren Maessen and Catalyntje Martensen, his 
wife, and Cornells Maessen. Van Buren had five children, Hendrick, 
Martin, Maas, Steyntje and Tobias, the first of whom was born on the 
voyage to America. Van Buren Maessen had a farm on Papsknee isl- 
and. Tennis Cornelissen Van Vechten came over in 1G37 and eleven 
years later lived on a farm in the southern part of Greenbush. At the 
same time Tennis Dircksen Van Vechten, who came over with his wife 
and child in the Arms of Norway, had a farm north of that of the 
former. As early as 1042 a brewery was in operation in Greenbush by 
Evert Pels Van Steltyn. Before 1049 Gysbert Cornelissen Van Wesepe, 
sometimes called Gysbert op de Berg, occupied a farm in the southern 
part of the town, which subsequently became the property of Joachim 
Staats. ]\Iost of the records for the next century are missing. Some- 
time before 1707 farms located on the present site of the village of 
Greenbush were rented of Van Rensselaer by Peter Douw, John Wit- 
beck, Henry Cuyler and others. A large farm including most of the 
site of the village of Greenbush was purchased July 27, 1780, by Van 
Rensselaer, of the Indians. This territory was called by them Semes- 
sick. Seven years later he purchased more land, mostly south of his 
first purchase, giving him a property of over 700,000 acres. 

The records show that as early as the year 1042 a ferry was estab- 
lished by Hendrick Albertsen running from the mouth of Beaver Creek 
on the west side of the river to the spot now known as the south ferry 
in Greenbush. Gerrit Smith, who was commissioned schout or sheriff 
of Rensselaerwyck in 1052, was a resident of Greenbush from the start. 
Reference to the records on file in the office of the Albany county 
clerk show that he had several neighbors. Other records extant show 
that some of the inhabitants had engaged in commercial pursuits and 
even in manufactures before he arrived at Greenbush. In September, 
1057, Cornells Cornelissen and Jan Witmoudt sold at auction their 
brewery in Greenbush, the same being purchased by William Brouwer 
for 1,207 guilders, for which sum Cornells Wincopp became surety. 



404 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

The records of the colony also show that Jan Janse Oothout was a 
brewer in Greenbush about the same time. He left three sons and 
three daughters. One of his daughters married Cornelis Hendrikse 
\^an Ness, who came to Beverwyck in 1642. By this marriage Van 
Ness had three sons, Hendrick, Jan and Gerrit. He married the sec- 
ond time Maritie Dameus, a widow. 

February 8, 16G1, Anderies Herbertsen and Rutger Jacobsen pur- 
chased of the Indian owners — iMaghsaput, alias Machackniemanauw, 
Sansewanenwe, Paneenseen and a squaw named Pachonakellick, "be- 
ing among the chiefs of the Mahikandus " (Mohegans)— " a certain 
island named Pachonakellick, lying in the river obliquely opposite 
Bethlehem and by the Dutch named the Long or Mahikanders' Isl- 
and." 1 

At a convention held at Albany August 24, 1089, this resolution rela- 
to (jreenbush was adopted : 

The 24th day of August, 1689, Resolved that ye inhabitants of ye county be in- 
formed of ye alarm, which was last night at ye Green Bush occasioned by some 
malitious Persons fyreeing of several guns with Baale threw ye door and house of 
John Witment, which was done by letters accordingly. 

August 28, 1680: 

Resolved yt Barent Gerritse of Bethlehem, who is suspected to have had a hand in 
ye late disturbance, yt was at Green Bush, or least privy to it, give 50 pounds secu- 
rity to answer when he shall be called to be examined about yt Bussinesse. 

November 25, 1689, it was recorded: 

Capt. Bull arrived at ve Green Bush with 87 men from New England ; on Tuesday 
following marched with flying Collors into Citty, where he was Rec'd by ye May & 
alderman, at ye Gate, and bid welcome ; he drew up his men in ye middle of ye 
Broad'Street, gave three volleys, was answered by three gunns from ye fort ; ye men 
were orderly, quartered in ye Citty, and extremely well accepted. 

Chap. 59, laws of 1792, "An act for dividing the several towns there- 
in mentioned," covering towns in several counties of the State, con- 
tained this clause: 

That all that part of the town of Rensselaerwyck, which lies north of a line to be 
drawn, from a point on the east bank of the river Hudson, eight miles distant from 
the south west corner of the town of Rensselaerwyck, and running from thence east, 
to the west bounds of Stephentown, shall be and is hereby erected into a separate 
town, by the name of Greenbush; and that the first town meeting in Greenbush 
shall be held at the dwelling house of Abraham M. I)e Forest, in the said town. 

1 Pearson's .\lb;mv fDUiitv Records. 



TOWN OF GREENBUSH. 405 

And that all the remaining part of the town of Rensselaerwyck, shall be, and remain 
a separate town by the name of Rensselaerwyck; and that the first town meeting in 
Rensselaerwyck, shall be held at the dwelling house of John I. Miller in the said 
town. 

Chap. 20, laws of 1795, " An act to divide the town of Rensselaer- 
wyck, in the coitnty of Rensselaer," read as follows: 

Passed the 17th of March, 1795. Be it enacted by the people of the State of New 
York, represented in Senate and Assembly That all that part of the town of Rens- 
selaerwyck, bounded as follows. Beginning at the southwest corner of the town of 
Troy and running thence easterlj^ along the southern boundary line of the said town, 
to the western bounds of the town of Petersburgh thence southerly along the w^est- 
ern bounds of the towns of Petersburgh and Stephen Town six hundred and thirty- 
two chains thence south eighty six degrees and forty eight minutes west as the 
needle now points into Hudsons river thence northerly along the said river to the 
place of beginnmg, and including such of the islands in the said river as are nearest 
the east side thereof and are adjacent to the said last mentioned line shall, from and 
after the first Monday in April next, be erected into a separate town, by the name 
of Greenbush and that the first town meeting in Greenbush shall be held at the 
dwelling house of David M. De Forest in the said town and that all the remaining 
part of the town of Rensselaerwyck shall be, and remain a separate town by the 
name of Schodack and that the first town meeting in the town of Schodack shall be 
held at the dwelling house of John I. Miller in the said town. 

And be it further enacted That the freeholders and inhabitants of the said towns 
respectively shall be and hereby are empowered to hold town meetings and elect 
such town officers, and enjoy all the privileges that the freeholders and inhabitants 
of the other towns of this State may do by law. 

And be it further enacted That as soon as may be after the first Tuesday of April 
next the supervisors and overseers of the poor of the towns aforesaid shall by notice 
to be given for that purpose by the supervisors of the said towns meet together and 
apportion the poor maintained by the said town of Rensselaerwyck previous to the 
division thereof between the said town of Schodack and the town of Greenbush in 
an equitable manner and if the supervisors and overseers of the poor cannot agree 
upon such division of the poor as aforesaid then and in such case the supervisors of 
the county shall at their next meeting apportion and divide the poor maintained as 
aforesaid, in such manner as shall appear to them or a majority of them just and 
equitable and the said towns shall thereafter respectively maintain their own poor. 

By the general 'law dividing all the counties of the State into towns, 
passed April 7, 1801, the bounds of the town of Greenbush were de- 
scribed as follows : 

Beginning at a point on the east bank of Hudson's river, sixteen miles distant 
from the southwest corner of the county, and running thence east to the western 
bounds of the town of Petersburgh, thence southerly along the western bounds of 
the towns of Petersburgh and Stephen town, six hundred and thirty two chains, 
thence south eighty six degrees and forty eight minutes west as the needle pointed 



406 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

in the year 1795. unto the county of Albany, thence northerly along the same to the 
place of beginning and including such of the islands in Hudson's river as are nearest 
the east side thereof, and are adjacent to the last mentioned line. 

The village of Greenbush was originally laid out on a tract of land 
one mile square, which is that portion of the village between Partition 
street and Mill street. This was purchased in May, 1810, by William 
Akin, Titus Goodman and John Dickinson of Stephen Van Rensselaer 
and Stephen N. Bayard, assignees of John J. Van Rensselaer. A 
mortgage was given in part payment, which contained a stipulation 
that either of the purchasers upon paying his proportion of the addi- 
tional sum should be entitled to a discharge of his portion of the es- 
tates from the effect of the mortgage. Mr. Akin discharged his obli- 
gation, but Mr. Goodman and Mr. Akin failed to pay their share, 
consequently the patroon, Stephen Van R,ensselaer, would not release 
Mr. Akin. Foreclosure suits were begun against Goodman and Dick- 
inson and most of the land apportioned to them was retaken. John J. 
Van Rensselaer endeavored to recover possession of that poi'tion of 
the land for which Mr. Akin had paid, Init the courts sustained Mr. 
Akin's title. 

In ISIO the village was surveyed and a map made, but Greenbush 
was not incorporated imtil 1815. In the former year many lots were 
sold at aucticjn, but few buildings were erected until the following year. 
The founder of the village, William Akin, descended from an old 
Scotch family, his grandfather being William Akin, the first of the 
fatiiily who settled in Fair Haven, Conn. His son David, the father of 
William, removed from Fair Haven to Pawling before the Revolution- 
ary war and was a leading citizen at his home. William Akin was the 
youngest of ten sons and settled 'n Greenbnsli in 1810. His death 
occurred in 1841. 

Among those wh(^ lived in Greenbush prior to and about this time be- 
side those whose names have been mentioned were Mrs. Yates, Volkert 
P. Douw, Gerrit Van Vechten.GysbertVan Denbergh, Alex Cum niings, 
Harrow Gale, John Staats, James Rockwell, John W. Rockwell, John 
Van Rensselaer, Colonel Vischer, Rebecca Yates, M. Fryer, H. Van 
Housen, A. Van Deusen, John Van Schaick, James Smith and Isaac B. 
Fryer. Smith was the proprietor of a tavern located on the site of the 
old Broadway house and came to Greenbush before 1820. Fryer, a 
son-in-law, succeeded him as proprietor. On the opposite side of the 
street on the old Staats place a hotel was kept at the same time by 



TOWN OF GREENBUSH. 407 

Abram P. Staats. The old hotel known late in the nineteenth century 
as the Rensselaer house, for many years owned by Simeon Lodewick, 
was built by a man named Rockwell. As to the early stores, one was 
occupied in 1814 by Henry Starks on the corner of Broadway and 
Columbia streets. Others were maintained by John vSmith, Richard 
P. Herrick and Sheppard & Tufts. From 1802 to 1829 James Lansing 
kept a store at East Greenbush, removing to Greenbush in the latter 
year and engaging in business there, most of the time upon Columbia 
street, until his death, which occurred in 1852. His son, William 
Lansing, began business as a merchant in Greenbush in 1829. 

One of the earliest physicians in Greenbush was Dr. Jacob S. Miller, 
a brother of Dr. John S Miller of East Greenbush, who located here 
about 1820 and for many years was the leading physician in a large 
territory. He subsequently removed to New York, and soon after Dr. 
Isaiah Breaky and Dr. Charles Hale settled in the town. Dr. Leverett 
j\Ioore, who ultimately removed to Ballston Spa, Saratoga county, was 
also an early practitioner. Among those who located there later on 
were Dr. Andrew C. Getty, Dr. L. C. Frisbie, Dr. Francis B. Parmele, 
Dr. S. V. R. Goodrich and Dr. Charles S. Allen. Among the earliest 
lawyers were Walter Kinney and Samuel S. Cheever. 

Cantonment Greenbush, which for many years was one of the most 
historical spots in the town, was located about a mile and a half east of 
the village and was constructed in 1812. The tract of land on which it 
was located was the farm leased by Stephen Van Rensselaer to Chris- 
topher Yates, August 1(1, 1790. Gen. Dearborn, the agent of the gov 
ernment, in making the purchase May 8, 1812, supposed that the sellers 
held the land in fee simple, but their conveyance was only that of a 
tenancy under one of the Van Rensselaer manorial leases, and it was 
not until September 4, 1813, and after the erection of the buildings 
thereon, that a perfect conveyance was obtained from Mr. Van Rensse 
laer. The cantonment was the headquarters of a division of the 
American army during the War of 1812. The troops which first arrived 
were quartered in tents, but the construction of permanent buildings 
was immediately begun. The buildings were of wood, substantially 
built upon stone foundations. There were eight of them, 2')2 feet long, 
22 feet wide and two stories high, and they were arranged four upon each 
side of a parade ground. The quarters of the regimental officers, of 
which there were four, ninety feet long and two stories high, were 
ranged at right angles with a soldiers' barracks. On the north of this 



408 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAKK COUNTY. 

group of buildin<fs near by stood two large commissary store houses, 
and the barracks master's dwelling. A short distance to the east of 
the storehouses stood the brick arsenal, a fire proof building, and on 
the summit of the hill commanding a view of the entire camp, as well 
as extensive range of country on either side, were the general's head- 
quarters, the hospital and surgeons' headquarters, three large two- 
story buildings each 00 feet log. Besides the buildings enumerated, 
there were a number of buildings of smaller size, among which were 
the ordinary and provost guard liouses, seven large detached cooking 
houses and several medicine shops. There were also extensive stables 
and other less important buildings. The structures were all painted 
white and in their elevated positions were very conspicuous. 

At the close of the war the necessity for keeping a large force con- 
venient to the northern frontier ceased, but for several years thereafter 
a few soldiers were stationed at the cantonment ; but upon the reduction 
of the army in l<S22-'^3 this guard was withheld and the place was left 
in charge of a deputy quartermaster, Capt. H. A. Fay. The govern- 
ment sold the property May 2, 1831, to Hathorn McCulloch of Albany, 
who resided on the place until his death in 185!). In 1843 the original 
tract purchased by Mr. McCulloch was divided into two parts, one of 
which he conveyed to his son, Wm. A. McCulloch, who immediately 
erected a dwelling upon it. The other portion of the original tract is 
held by Wm. H. Kirtland, a grandson of Mrs. Augusta G, Genet, wife 
of George C. Genet, ganddaughter of Ilathorn McCulloch. George C. 
Genet is a son of Edward C. Genet, who was the French minister to 
the United States in 1783. 

The following account of the execution of a deserter at this place 
was written by an officer of the United States army, and is contained 
in a history written before 1850: 

In 1814 I was stationed with a detachment of United States troops at Greenbush. 
in the State of New York. One morning several prisoners, confined in the provost 
guard house, were brought out to hear the sentence which a court-martial had an- 
nexed to their delinquencies read on parade. Their appearance indicated that their 
lot had already been sufficiently hard. Some wore marks of long confinement, and 
on all the severity of the prison house had enstamped its impressions. They looked 
dejected at this public exposure and anxious to learn their fate. I had never seen the 
face of any of them before, and only knew that a single one of them had been ad- 
judged to death. Soon as their names were called and their sentences pronounced; 
I discerned by his agony and gestures the miserable man on wliom that sentence was 
to fall, a man in the bloom of youth and the fuHness of health and vigor. 



TOWN OF GREENBUSH. 409 

Prompted by feelings of pity, I called next morning to see him in prison. There, 
chained by the leg to a beam of the guard house, he was reading the Bible, trying to 
prepare himself, as he said, for the fatal hour. I learned from him the circum- 
stances of his case. He was the father of a family, having a wife and three young 
children thirty or forty miles from the camp. His crime was desertion, of which he 
had been three times guilty. His only object in leaving the camp in the last instance 
was to visit his wife and children. Having seen that all was well with them, it was 
his mtention to return. But whatever was his intention, he was a deserter, and as 
such taken and brought into the camp, manacled and under the guard of his fellow 
soldiers. The time between the sentence and his execution was brief; the authority 
in whom alone was vested the power of reprieve or pardon distant. Thus he had no 
hope, and only requested the attendance of a minister of the gospel and permission 
to see his wife and children. The first part of his request was granted, but whether 
he was permitted or not to see his family I do not now remember. 

Dreading the hour of his execution, I resolved, if possible, to avoid being present 
at the scene. But the commander of the post. Colonel L., sent me -an express order 
to attend, that, agreeable to the usage of the army, I might in my official capacity 
as surgeon see the sentence finally executed. 

The poor fellow was taken from the guard house to be escorted to the fatal spot. 
Before him was his coffin, a box of rough pine boards, borne on the shoulders of two 
men. The prisoner stood with his arms pinioned between two clergymen; a white 
cotton gown, or winding sheet, reached to his feet. It was trimmed with black, and 
had attached to it over the place of the real heart the black image of a heart, the 
mark at which the executioners were to aim. On his head was a cap of white, also 
trimmed with black. His countenance was blanched to the hue of his winding sheet 
and his frame trembled with agony. He seemed resolved, however, to suffer like a 
soldier. Behind him were a number of prisoners, confined for various offenses; next 
to them was a strong guard of soldiers with fixed bayonets and loaded muskets. My 
station was in the rear of the whole. 

Our procession was formed, and with much feeUng and in low voices on the part 
of the officers we moved forward with slow and measured steps to the tune of the 
death march (Roslyn Castle) played with muffied drums and mourning fifes. The 
scene was solemn beyond the powers of description. A man in the vigor of life walk- 
ing to the tune of his own death march, clothed in his burial robes, surrounded by 
friends assembled to perform the last sad offices of affection, and to weep over him 
in the last sad hour ; no, not by these, but by soldiers with bristling bayonets and 
loaded muskets, urged by stern command to do the violence of death to a fellow sol- 
dier. As he surveys the multitude he beholds no look of tenderness, no tear of .sensi- 
bility; he hears no plaint of grief; all, all is stern as the iron rigor of the law which 
decrees his death. 

Amid reflections like these we arrived at the place of execution, a large open field, in 
whose centre a heap of earth , freshly thrown up, marked the spot of the deserter's grave. 
On this field the whole force then at the Cantonment, amounting to many hundred 
men, was drawn up in the form of a hollow square, with the side beyond the grave 
vacant. The executioners, eight m number, had been drawn by lot. No soldier 
would volunteer for such a duty. Their muskets had been charged by the officers 
52 



410 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

of the day, seven of them with ball, the eighth with powder alone. Thus prepared 
they were placed together and each executioner takes his choice. Thus each may 
believe that he has the blank cartridge, and therefore has no hand in the death of 
his brother soldier; striking indications of the nature of the service. 

The coffin was placed parallel with the grave and about two feet distant. In the 
intervening space the prisoner was directed to stand. He desired permission to say 
a word to his fellow soldiers, and thus standing between his coffin and his grave 
warned them against desertion, continuing to speak until the officer on duty, with 
his watch in his hand, announced to him in a low voice: "Two o'clock, your last 
moment is at hand; you must kneel upon your coffin." This done the officer drew 
down the white cap so as to cover the eyes and most of the face of the prisoner, still 
continuing to speak in a hurried, loud and agitated voice. The kneeling was the 
signal for the executioners to advance. They had before, to avoid being distinguished 
by the prisoner, stood intermingled with the soldiers who formed the line. They 
now came forward, marching abreast, and took their stand a little to the left, about 
two rods distant from their living mark. The officer raised his sword. At this sig- 
nal the executioners took aim He then gave a blow on a drum which was at hand. 
The executioners all fired at the same instant. The miserable man, with a horrid 
scream, leaped from the earth and fell between his coffin and his grave. The ser- 
geant of the guard a moment after shot him through the head with a musket re- 
served for this purpose in case the executioners failed to produce instant death. 
The sergeant, from motives of humanity, held the muzzle of his musket near the 
head; so near that the cap took fire, and there the body lay upon the face, the head 
emitting the mingled fumes of burning cotton and burning hair. O war, dreadful 
even in thy tenderness ; horrible in thy compassion ! 

I was desired to perform my part of the ceremony, and placing my hand where 
just before the pulse beat full and life flowed warm, and finding no symptom of 
either I affirmed " He is dead." The line then marched by the body, as it lay upon 
earth, the head still smoking, that every man might behold for himself the fate of a 
deserter. 

Thus far all had been dreadful indeed but solemn, as it became the sending of a 
spirit to its dread account; but now the scene changes. The whole band struck up 
and with uncommon animation our national air, " Yankee Doodle," and to its lively 
measures we were hurried back to our parade ground. Having been dismi.s.sed the 
commander of the post sent an invitation to all the officers to meet at his quarters, 
whither we repaired and were treated to a glass of gin and water. Thus this mel- 
ancholy tragedy ended in what seemed little better than a farce a fair specimen— 
the former of a dead severity, the latter of the moral sensibilities which prevail in 
camp. 

Probably the onl}' duel ever fought in Rensselaer county occurred 
in the town and village of Greenbush. It was fought June 7, 1813, by 
two soldiers of the army of the War of 1812 — Captain Clark and Lieu- 
tenant Bloomfield. The latter was killed and buried where he fell, on 
the bank of Hudson river in the northeastern corner of the village. 
The village of Greenbusli was surveyed and mapped out in 1810 but 



TOWN OF GREENBUSH. 411 

was not incorporated by act of the Legislature until April 14, 1815. 
A new charter was granted April 5, 1828, which was amended March 
22, 1854, and April 20, 1863. All acts were consolidated by the Leg- 
islature April 25, 1871, when the present charter of Greenbush was 
passed. The first section of the act reads as follows: 

All that district of country in the county of Rensselaer comprised within the fol- 
lowing boundaries, to wit: Beginning at a point in the Hudson river opposite the 
city of Albany, on the division line between the counties of Albany and Rensselaer, 
on aline running one hundred and fifty feet north of the northerly line of Catharine 
Street; thence running easterly, parallel to, and one hundred and fifty feet north of, 
the northerly line of said Catherine Street, to its terminus; thence easterly in the 
same parallel, across the lands now owned by Dr. James McNaughton, to a point 
one hundred and fifty feet east of the westefly line of the lands known as the Mason 
farm ; thence southerly, one hundred and fifty feet east of the westerly line of the said 
Mason farm, to a point one hundred and fifty feet south of the southerly line of Par- 
tition_ street; thence westerly parallel to and one hundred and fifty feet south of the 
southerly line of Partition street, to a point one hundred and fifty feet east of the 
easterly line of Cottage Hill Street; thence southerly, parallel to and one hundred 
andfiftyfeeteastoftheeasterlylineof Cottage Hill Street, to a point one hundred and 
fifty feet south of the southerly line of Mill Street, to a point where said line will intersect 
the west bounds of the county of Rensselaer ; thence north along said west bounds to the 
place of beginning, shall be known and distinguished as the village of Greenbush, and 
the inhabitants residing in said district are hereby declared to be a body politic and 
corporate by the name of the village of Greenbush ; ^ and as such shall have perpetual 
succession, and may sue and be sued, complain and defend, in any court of law and 
equity; may take, hold, purchase, and convey real estate, as the purposes of said 
corporation may require; may make and use a common seal, and alter the same at 
pleasure, and may exercise such other power as is or shall be conferred bylaw, or as 
shall be necessary under this act, to carry the powers conferred on such corporation 
into effect. The oflficers shall be a president, eight trustees, clerk, street commis- 
sioner, and treasurer, and three inspectors of election in each ward. 

The charter of 1871 provided for the establishment of the village 
fire department under the direction of the board of trustees. Since 
that time the village has maintained an excellent fire department with 
two steam fire engine companies. A board of police commissioners 
was established by an act of the Legislature passed May 6, 1870, 
under which the police regulations of the village have since been main- 
tained. 

The first newspaper in Greenbush was established in August, 1856, 
by A. J. Cotnstock, and was called the Greenbush Guardian. A post- 
office was also established at an early day, one of the earliest post- 

' As amended by Section 1, Chapter IHO, law.s of 1870. 



4l'2 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

masters being wStorm T. Vanderzee. During the term of Postmaster 
Philip Cornell Greenbush was made a sub-station of Albany, since 
which time the mail has been delivered in the village by carriers from 
the Albany post-office. 

The East Albany Banking and Trust company was founded in 1873 
by W. P. Irwin, and was located in a brick building erected by the 
founder. A few years later Mr. Irwin died and the company ceased 
to exist. 

Greenbush contributed her full quota of soldiers upon the opening 
of the War of the Rebellion. Besides this the town raised large 
amounts of money for bounties and other expenses of the war. Those 
of her soldiers in the civil war who died in the service were : 

George Hatch, Thomas Manny, WilHani Schultz, Nicolas Mooseman, Joseph 
Schinfer, John Slocum, George Brightmeyer, John Fryer, PhiHp Brightmeyer, Will- 
iam Snyder, Jefferson Kinsley, Andrew Finlay, John Marshal, Charles Warner, 
Conradt P. Gester, John McElroy, Augustus Smith. 

Greenbush has excellent transportation facilities. The railroads 
running through the town and village have been described in the his- 
tory of the county. They are the New York Central & Hudson River, 
the Boston & Albany and the Troy & Greenbush. Beside this the city 
of Albany is reached by two bridges, one at the lower part of the vil- 
lage and one at the upper part, which in recent years has been known 
as East Albany. Beside this steam ferry boats make regular trips to 
Albany 

The industries of Greenbush, aside from the shops of the Boston & Al- 
bany railroad and one or two other good-sized concerns, are not very large 
nor very extensive. The old round house and machine shop of the Boston 
«& Albany railroad were built in 1848 and replaced by the present 
structures in 1872. The car shops were established in 1880. In both 
large numbers of expert workmen are employed. The coaling dock 
south of the railroad was erected about 1883. T. Miles & Co. estab- 
lished extensive saw mills in 1863. In 1870 C. C. Lodewick estab- 
lished a grain, flour and feed store which has been run by his sons 
since his death. There are several other smaller industries in town in 
addition to those referred to in preceding pages. 

The East Albany Congregational church had its inception in a Metho- 
dist Sunday school established about 1850. The Sunday school pros- 
pered and in 1870 a Methodist Episcopal church was organized in con- 
nection with the church at Bath. Three or four years later it was dis- 



TOWN OF GREENBUSH. 413 

continued in deference to the wishes of the presiding elder of the 
district, who thought it inadvisable to have three Methodist churches 
on the east side of the river. Various attempts were made to reor- 
ganize as a Methodist church, but finding no encouragement from the 
mother church a Congregational church was organized March 19, 1879. 
A new church was constructed, in which the first services were held 
December 25, 1879. March 30, 1880, Rev. Benjamin Staunton became 
pastor. His successors have been: Rev. Dwight Edwards Marvin, 
1881-1884; Rev. D. C. McNair, 1884-1887; Rev. N. J. Gulick, 1888- 
1892; Rev. C. W. Hardendorf, 1893 to the present time. 

The First Presbyterian society of Greenbush was organized in the 
summer of 1823. Services had been held for some time in the upper 
room of the district school house, and these were continued until 1827, 
when a building was erected for the use of the congregation, being 
dedicated August 1 of that year. September 26, 1827, a church was 
organized by the Presbytery of Albany, with twenty- two members. 
The first church of this society was the first erected in what is now the 
town of Greenbush. A school building was erected in the rear of the 
church in 1850 and was used in connection with the Sunday school un- 
til 1885, when the present school building was erected at a cost of $3,- 
300. The church edifice was enlarged and remodeled in 1894, the 
rededication taking place October 29 of that year. The first pastor 
was the Rev. Thomas vS. Wickes, who began his labors about 182r). 
His successors were: 1830, Joseph Wilson; 1832-1837, supplied by 
Jared Dewey, J. H. Martyn and Leonard Johnson; 1837, James G. 
Cordeli; 1844, Rev. Samuel Fisher (supply); 1850, J. H. Northrop; 
1851. William A. Miller (supply); 1854, E. M. Rollo; 1861, Stephen 
Bush; 1864, William Whittaker; 1866, J. R. Young; 1868, F. S. Jewell; 
1874, Edward Stratton; 1884, R. A. Davidson; 1893, Edwin F. Hal- 
lenbeck. 

The first religious services held by the Methodists in Greenbush were 
in 1828. Three years later a class was formed, which was connected 
with the Division Street church in Albany, and in 1833 a regular or- 
ganization was formed. In the same year the church, a wooden build- 
ing, was erected and dedicated June 11, 1834. Rev. James Walker, a 
local preacher in Greenbu.sh, served the society from 1831 to 1836, and 
in the latter year the Rev. Joshua Poor was chosen as the first regular 
pastor. A new house of worship was erected in 1853 a short distance 
south of the site of the first one. 



4U LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

The Greenbush Baptist church is the outgrowth of a mission founded 
by the Albany Baptist Missionary union. The organization of the 
church was effected in 1870 and the first pastor, the Rev. Ralph H. 
Bowles, was installed February 1, 1870. From 1873 to 1874 the church 
was without a pastor, but in the latter year the Rev. Adoniram Water- 
bury accepted a call and was installed. 

St. John's Roman Catholic church was founded about 1850 by the 
Rev. John Corry, formerly of St. Peter's church, Troy, who after- 
wards became the first resident priest. A temporary edifice was 
erected in the rear of the church built in 1857. The latter cost $12,- 
000. Before his death in 1863 Father Corry erected the convent of the 
Sisters of Mercy in East Albany. During the pastorate of the Rev. 
Cornelius Fitzpatrick, who served from 18G7 to 1875, the pastoral resi- 
dence and school house in the rear of the church were built. 

The Church of the Messiah, Protestant Episcopal, was founded in 
1851, and though the house of worship on the corner of Third avenue 
and Washington street in Greenbush was not erected until two or three 
years later, the Rev. Robert Lowry, the first rector, began his duties 
upon the organization of the society. One of the principal promoters 
of the early church was Dr. Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, who was senior 
warden from the date of the organization of the church to his death. 

The Church of the Epiphany of East Albany, Protestant Episcopal, 
is the outgrowth of a mission established in 1871 by Bishop William 
Croswell Doane of Albany. The first services were held in the old 
Baptist church at Bath. Church organization was effected in 1873 and 
the society moved to East Albany. The house of worship on the cor- 
ner of Third and Catharine streets was erected in 1875. The Rev. 
Richard Temple was the first rector. 

SUPKKVISORS OK TIIK ToWN OF GrKENBUSH.'' 

1795-97, J. Van Alstyne; 1798-1799, L. Gansevoort; 1800, John Stevens; 1801, 
Daniel Brown; 1802-1806, Asa Mann; 1807, Daniel Coons; 1808-1812, C. Thompson; 
1813-1814, John D. Woods; 1815-1819, Martin De Freest; 1820-1822, M. Van Alstyne; 
1823-18B8, James Wood; 1839-1842, H. Goodrich; 1843, Rinier Van Alstyne; 1844, 
Samuel S. Fowler; 1845-1849, Abram Witbeck ; 1850-1853, John I. Fonda; 1854, 
Abram Witbeck; 1855-1857, Henry Goodrich; 1858-1860, John L. Van Valken- 
burgh; 1861-1862, James H. Miller; 1863-1867. Martin Miller; 1868. James H. 

' For much of the information as to the officers of the ti>\vn credit is due James L. Wiltse, 
town clerk of Greenbush in 18!)U. 



TOWN OF GREENBUSH. 415 

Miller; 1869-1871, Charles Melius; 1872, Alfred F. Snyder; 1873, Cyrus Water- 
Twry; 1874, Lawrence Rysedorph; 1875-1876, John J. Cassin ; 1877-1878, James 
Murphy; 1879, William Smith ; 1880-1883, records missing ; 1883, William T. Miles; 
1884-1886, Thomas J. Neville; 1887-1888, Cornelius A. Ryan; 1889-1890, John B. 
Miller; 1891-1893, Charles J. Quinn; 1893-1896, John Winn. 

Cl.KRKS OF THE ToWN OF GrEENBUSH. 

1843, Martin D. De Freest; 1844, Rutger VanDenburgh; 1845, Elijah Dygert ; 
1846-1847, Harvey S. Raymond; 1848, Martin Miller; 1849, Thomas B. Simmonds; 
1850-1854, John Ruyter; 1855-1856, John S. C. Goodrich; 1857, John Kuyter; 1858- 
1860, James H. Miller; 1861-1863, John S. Hamlin; 1864, James Hickey; 1865, George 
T. Diamond; 1866, Frederick A. Reynolds; 1867, George H. Curreen ; 1868-1869, Wm. 
McGarvey; 1870, Burnham Reynolds; 1871, J. S. Callender ; 1872-1873, Gilbert Van 
Valkenburgh; 1874, Wm. J. Miles; 1875, John Russell; 1876, Wm. Smith; 1877, 
Charles H. Noyes; 1878, Wm. J. Smith; 1879, Daniel H. Ryan; 1880-1883, records 
missing; 1883-1884, William H. Heffern ; 1885, J. J. Sullivan; 1886-1888, Michael J. 
Ryan; 1889-1890, Philip Beresford ; 1891-1893, Daniel H. Ryan; 1893-1895, James 
J. Riley; 1896, James L. Wiltse. 

Justices of the Pe.\ce of the Town of Greenkush. 

Date of election. — 1843, Abram Witbeck ; 1844, Peter L. Hogeboom ; 1845, Henry 
Frazer; 1846, Henry Goodrich; 1847, Elijah Dygert; 1848, Abram Miller, John E. 
Van Alen; 1849, Henry Frazer; 1850, Henry Goodrich; 1851, John P. Luther; 1853, 
Frederick R. Rockafeller, Wm. Witbeck: 1853 Henry Frazer; 1854, Henry Good- 
rich; 1855. Jonas Whiting, Richard C. Hamblin, James M. Albright; 1856, R. C. 
Hamblin, Jonas Whiting ; 1857, Isaac Binck, R. C. Hamblin; 1858. Henry Goodrich, 
Sylvanus Parsons; 1859, George Clark ; 1860, Cyrus Waterbury; 1861, Hazard Morey, 
John Butler; 1862, Henry Goodrich; 1863, John Butler; 1864, Cyrus Waterbury; 
1865, Evert G. Lansing; 1866, Henry Goodrich; 1867, Sylvester L Delany; 1868, 
Edwin S. Norton ; 1869, E. G. Lansing; 1870, LukeSlade; 1871, J. F. Gillman ; 1872, 
R. J. Hermance; 1873, Duncan MacFarland; 1874, LukeSlade, Evert G. Lansing; 
1875, Jabez F. Gillman; 1876, R. J. Hermance; 1877, L. L. Conley ; 1878, Luke 
Slade; 1879, Jabez F. Gillman; 1880, Murtaugh Dempsey; 1881, Michael Vaughn; 
1882, LukeSlade; 1883, Cyrus Waterbury, sr. ; 1884, Alonzo Sliter; 1885, Michael 
Vaughn; 1886, Luke Slade; 1887, Cyrus Waterbury, sr. ; 1888, Alonzo Sliter; 1889, 
Michael Vaughn; 1890, LukeSlade; 1891, James Clark; 1892, Alonzo Sliter; 1893, 
Michael Vaughn; 1894, W. K. Waterbury; 1895, James Clark; 1896, D. Oscar 
Dennison. 

The villa<;e records from 1S50 to 18()8 are missino-. As far as can be 
ascertained the principal officers of the village have been filled as fol- 
lows: 

Presidents of the Village of Greenbush. 

1868, F. S. Fairchild, jr.; 1869. John S. Hamlin; 1870-1871, Duncan MacFarland; 
1872, J. N, Ring; 1873, Martin Miller; 1874-1875, Merritt H. Waterbury; 1876, 



416 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Thomas Miles; 1877, George H. Simmons; 1878, A. J. Dings; 1879-1882, records 
missing; 1888, Benjamin Evans; 1884, George H. Russell; 1885, George C. Redden; 
1886. William T. Miles; 1887, Daniel H. Shell; 1888-1895, William Smith; 1896. 
Charles S. Allen. 

Cl.KRKS OF THE ViLLAC.E OK GrEENBUSH. 

1828-1829, James Hallenbeck; 1830, William II. Thomas; 1831, William Lansing; 
1832-1834, Alexander Morris; 1835. William Lansing; 1836, Martin Miller ; 1837, B. 
N. Jordan; 1838, Martin Miller; 1840, Joseph H. Mathews; 1841-1842, Thomas 
Walker; 1843, R. H. Northrop; 1846-1848, Henry Goodrich; 1849, Martin Miller; 
1850, Henry Goodrich; 1868. Charles Harris; 1869-1871, Alexander D Schutt; 1872, 
William F. Burnham; 1873-1874, C. P. Crouch; 1875. W. J. Miles; 1876. William T. 
Smith; 1877-1878, Thomas McAvoy ; 1879-1882, records missing; 1883. John J. Hart; 
1884-1885, Willard K. Waterbury; 1886. Thomas J. Fitzpatrick; 1887-1888, William 

H. Heffern; 1889-1891, James A. MacDonald; 1892, James D. Glenn; 1893 . C. 

A. Ryan. 



CHAPTER XX. 
TOWN OF HOOSICK. 

The title to the soil of the town of Hoosick comes from three origi- 
nal patents — the Hoosick, the Walloomsac and the Schneider. 

The Hoosick patent was granted June 3, 1638, by Governor Thomas 
Dongan to Maria Van Rensselaer of Albany, Hendrick Van Ness of 
Albany, Gerrit Teimis Van Vechten of Kaatskill and Jacobus Van 
Courtlandt of New York. This patent covered between 05,000 and 
70,000 acres and is described as follows: 

All that tract of land with its appurtenances situate, lying and being above 
Albany, on both sides of a certain creek called Hoosick, beginning at the bounds of 
Schackoock, and from thence extending to the side creek to a certain fall called 
Quequick, and from the said fall upwards along tMs creek to a certain place called 
Nochawickquaak, being in breadth on each side of the said creek two English miles; 
that is to say, two English miles on the one side of said creek, and two English 
miles on the other side of said creek, the whole breadth being four English miles; 
and as in length from the bounds of Schackook aforesaid to the said place called 
Nochawickquaak. 

The Walloomsac patent lay north of the Hoosick patent but extended 
farther east. This grant was made June 15, 1739, to Edward Collins, 



/ 







S. S. STEVENS. 



TOWN OF HOOSICK. 417 

James De Lancy, Gerardus Stuyvesant, Stephen Van Rensselaer, 
Charles Williams and Frederick Morris. Its area was about 12,000 
acres along the Walloomsac river, partly in what is now Washington 
county and partly in Rensselaer county. 

The Schneider patent was issued March 24, 1762, upon a petition 
presented July 8, 1761, by Hendrick Schneyder, John Watteck, Hen- 
drick Lake, John Johnson, Garret Williamson, Nathaniel Archerly, 
Benjamin Abbott, William Taylor, Martinus Voorhees, all of New Jer- 
sey, and Daniel Hallenbeck of Albany. This patent was "bounded 
northwardly by the patent of Wallumshack, southwardly by the patent 
of Rensselaerwyck, westwardly by the patent of Hoosick and east- 
wardly by other vacant lands, containing- about the quantity of 10,000 
acres." 

The town of Hoosick is the most northern in the county. It is 
bounded on the north by Cambridge and White Creek in Washington 
county; on the east by Bennington in Vermont; on the south by 
Petersburgh and Grafton and on the west by Pittstown. The revised 
statutes of the State describe the town as follows: 

The town of Hoosack shall contain all that part of said county bounded northerly 
and easterly by the bounds of the county, southerly by Petersburgh and Grafton and 
westerly by Pittstown. 

The surface of the town consists of the mountainous regions of the 
Taghkanick range on the east and those of the Petersburgh on the 
west, with the narrow valleys of the Hoosick and Walloomsac rivers. 
Fonda's hill in the southeast and Potter's hill in the southw^estern 
part are said to be about 900 feet above the level of the sea. The 
Hoosick river runs through the centre of the town. The northern por- 
tion of the town is drained by the Walloomsac river, which flows from 
the east line in a generally westerly course to the Hoosick. The Hoo- 
sick river runs through a valley which was the warpath along which 
the French and Indians marched tipon the villages of New England in 
the earlier French and Indian wars, and it was also a part of the 
famous so called "eastern trail," over which the Iroquois and Algon- 
quin tribes marched in their long series of wars of extermination long 
before America was settled by the white men. It dees not appear that 
the original grantees of the town of Hoosick took any very early steps 
for the settlement and cultivation of their lands. For more than half 
a century the sole inhabitants of these lands were a few Dutch families 
and some Mohican Indians. 
53 



418 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

The capture of Fort Massachusetts, located near North Adams, Mass., 
then known as East Hoosick, occurred August 20, 174G. This expedi- 
tion passed along the old warpath over the ground now occupied bj- 
Hoosick Falls, and upon its return destroyed every settlement in the 
Hoosick valley. At this time these settlements must have been 
wealthy and prosperous, for the loss in that neighborhood alone by this 
incursion was estimated at 50,000 pounds, New York currency. 

Among the pioneer settlers of the town of Hoosick was Jan Oothout, 
who prior to 1754 had built a home just inside the present boundaries 
of the village of Hoosick Falls on lands subsequently owned by Henry 
Barnhart. Soon after Pitt Hogle built a residence about two miles 
farther south. Near the juaction of the Little Hoosick and Hoosick 
rivers was a settlement known in colonial times as Hoosack. It lay 
between Hoosick Corners and North Petersburgh and was partly within 
the limits of the town of Petersburgh and in the manor of Renssclaer- 
wyck. 

Among other early settlers were the families of Breese, Fonda, 
Ouderkirk, Bovie, Vanderrick, Huyck, Brimmer, Roberts, Cott and 
Barnardus Bratt. The latter married Catherine Van Veghten, daugh- 
ter of Johannes Van Veghten and granddaughter of Gerrit Tennis Van 
Veghten,^ one of the original grantees of the patent of Hoosick, ac- 
quiring by this marriage and by later purchases from other heirs a 
large interest in the lands held under that patent. His great owner- 
ship of lands and his assumption of manorial rights gave him a high 
social position and he was generally referred to as the " patroon of 
Hoosick." The first grist mill and the first sawmill in the district 
were built by him. 

Near the junction of the Walloomsac and Hoosick rivers in the north 
part of the present town was a hamlet called St. Croix in colonial 
times, probably so named by French missionaries who evidently ex- 
plored the country as far south as the Hoosick river and there estab- 
lished a mission. Aside from this mission the first permanent settle- 
ment here probably was made by Gerrit Cornells Van Ness, a 
descendant of the family named as one of the grantees in the patent. 
Other settlers following soon after Van Ness were Jacob A. Fort, John 
Van Denberg, Arendt Van Corlaer, John Fonda, David Van Rensse- 
laer, Stephen Van Rensselaer, William Nichols, Robert Laekc and 
families named Van Veghten and Norwood. 

' Sometimes also spelled Van Vcehlen. 



TOWN OF HOOSICK. 419 

Early settlers in the northern portion of the patent were Peter Sur- 
dam, Isaac Bull, Samuel Hodges, Stephen Kellogg, Francis Bennett, 
Thomas Sickels, Joshua Gardner and William Waite. Early settlers 
of what is now known as West Hoosick included Thomas Brown, 
David Cass, Joseph Guile, Samuel Stillwell and others, some of whom 
had made settlements before the first French and Indian war. Joseph 
Guile was a noted scout in the early Indian wars. 

Among the early settlers of the Schneider patent were several of the 
grantees. John Quackenbush of Schaghticoke settled on this patent 
about 1705. Among others who were early settlers were Peter Os- 
trander, John Palmer, Benjamin W. Randall, William Helling, John 
Patten and others. 

In 1772 Jonathan Fuller leased from Augusta Van Home of New 
York for a term of twenty-one years, 220 acres of land on the Hoosick 
patent, which included practically all of the present village of Hoosick 
Falls south of the old homestead of J. Russell Parsons and east of Main 
street. Mr. Fuller doubtless was the first settler at this point. 

Henry Northrup subsequently purchased the entire tract of Mr, Van 
Home and settled there, where he remained until his death in 1797. 
Isaac Turner and Joel Abbott settled at the Falls about 1774. Mr. 
Turner conducted the first store in Hoosick Falls. Phillip Haynes 
came from Connecticut in 1783 and located about a mile west of the 
falls. Deacon Goff made an early settlement on the west side of the 
road leading to North Hoosick. Joseph Dorr came from Connecticut 
in 1778 and worked ii; the mill of Stephen Kellogg on White Creek, 
where he soon afterward established fulling and carding works in con- 
nection with the mills. An early cabinet maker was Comfort Curtis. 
Among other earlier settlers in the latter days of the eighteenth cen- 
tury were John Pease, Jacob Pease, Benjamin Walworth, John Com- 
stock, John Chase, Thomas Osborn, Dr. Aaron D. Patchin, Nathaniel 
Bishop and Isaac Webb. 

Henry Breese of Greenbush located near Hoosick Corners in 1765. 
His farm subsequently became the property of Moses Warren, for 
several years surrogate of Rensselaer county, and later of Gideon 
Reynolds, one of the most prominent residents of the county and at 
various times member of assembly, congressman and internal revenue 
collector. The Breese family was prominent in the history of the town. 
Hendrick Schneider, one of the original patentees, settled about 1762 in 
the southern part of his patent. At an earlier date, perhaps 1749 or 



420 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

1750, Jacob Ouderkirk removed from Albany and located on a large 
farm two and one-half miles south of the Falls on the west bank of the 
Hoosick river. About 1780 Elijah Wallace came from Connecticut and 
settled in Hoosick Falls. Thomas Lottridge, Jonathan Eddy, John 
Carpenter and Henry Clark were other early inhabitants of this locality. 

Among- the earliest tavern keepers of the district of Hoosick were 
Jacob Van Ness, Henry Brown, William Roberts, jr., Daniel Kimball, 
Godfrey Stock, Jonathan Twiss, John Bovee, Caleb Hill, John Mattison, 
Joseph Ellsworth and Morris Pearce, all of whom were in business 
prior to or during 1791. Later proprietors in the eighteenth century 
included Simeon Hiscock. Luke Frink, Daniel Lyon, Reuben Baldwin, 
John Potter, Freelove Aylesworth, Jehial Fox and Cornelius Vru 
Vechten. 

The first bridge built over the river in Ploosick Falls was constructed 
in 1791. The old "rainbow bridge, "a mile above, had been destro3'ed 
prior to that year, and for a time thereafter a ferry had been maintained 
opposite the residence of Col. Dorr. 

The first physician in Hoosick Falls was Dr. Thomas Hartwell, who 
came from New London, Conn., in 1778. He was one of the foundei's 
of Federal lodge, No. 33, F. & A. M., organized in 1782. Dr. Gleason 
came from Pittstown in 1806 and after practicing medicine a short time 
began the study of law. Dr. Salmon Moses ^ removed to Hoosick Falls 
in 1818. 

In the legal profession among the earliest in practice in the town 
was the famous lawyer, Reuben H. W^alworth. George Rex Davis, 
later in life one of the most prominent lawyers and honored residents 
of Troy, came to Hoosick Falls about 1799 and opened a tailor shop. 
Four or five years later he began the study of law and entered upon its 
practice in the village about 1810. Nineteen years later he removed 
to Troy to become a judge of the Court of Common Pleas. Hezekiah 
Munsell, jr., practiced law in Hoosick Falls for many years. Lyman 
Sherwood practiced for a short time and then removed to Wayne 
county. Later on Lorenzo Sherwood, brother of Lyman; James W. 
Nye, John Fitch and Charles M. Dorr had offices in the village of 
Hoosick Falls. 

The district of Hoosick was formed March 24, 1772. Its boundaries 
were not identical with those of the present town and are not clearly 

' See history of the Medical Profession. 



TOWN OF HOOSICK. 421 

defined. Hoosick remained a district sixteen years and was organized 
as a town March 7, 1788, three years before the erection of Rensselaer 
county. While a district it enjoyed all the privileg-es of a town, except 
that of having" a representative in the State Legislature. The annual 
meetings of the district were held at the old settlement of St. Croix, 
now North Hoosick, and many of the earlier town meetings were also 
held there. The records of this district are not in existence. The town 
records are complete only from the year 1789, when the full list of offi- 
cers was : 

Supervisor, Thomas Sickels; town clerk, Zachariah W. Sickels; assessors, Jacob 
Van Ness, Henry Breese, Nicholas Snyder, Reuben Thayer, Isaac Bull, John John- 
son, Zachariah W. Sickels; collector, Henry Brown; commissioners of highways, 
Thomas Sickels, William Kerr, Nicholas Snyder; overseers of the poor, Ebenezer 
Arnold, William Kerr; constables, Henry Brown, Squire Read, Henry Walker, 
Samuel Latham; fenceviewers, James Williamson, Henry Snyder, John Van Buren, 
Henry Breese, John Van Ness, Zachariah W. Sickels, Godfrey Stark, Asel Gray; 
poundkeepers, Squire Read, Harper Rogers, Timothy Graves, Benjamin Waite; 
pathmasters, John Milliman, Samuel Latham, John Ryan, Anthony V. Surdam, 
George Nichols, Samuel Surdam, Garret Van Home, Isaac H. Lansing, Daniel 
Rogers, John Bovee, Godfrey Stark, Jonathan Case. Ezekiel Hodges, Jonathan 
Moasby, William Briggs, William Mellen, jr., David Brown, John Johnson, Luke 
Frink. 

The first recorded public action regarding the common schools was 
taken at the town meeting of 179G, when John Comstock, Sylvester 
Noble, Peter Van Dyck and Joseph Dorr were elected school commis- 
sioners. Under the law of 1812-1813 reorganizing the public school 
system of the State, Joseph vSlade, Nathaniel Bishop and Daniel Rogers 
were elected school commissioners in the spring of 1814. In 1844, un- 
der the law providing for town superintendents, Simeon Curtis was 
elected to that office for Hoosick. One of the earliest school houses in 
the town was built in 1788 at the expense of Edmund Haynes, Joseph 
Dorr, Isaac Bull and others on the south side of the river near the 
bridge. Among the names of the earliest teachers appear those of 
Waterman Dailee, Field Dailee and Elam Buel. There have been 
numerous excellent private schools in the village, one of the earliest of 
which was conducted by the Rev. David Rathbun. 

The assertion has been made, and it is now accepted as a fact by most 
persons, that the " Leatherstocking " of James Fenimore Cooper's 
novels was Nathaniel Shipman, one of the earlier settlers of the north- 
eastern part of the town of Hoosick. He was a noted trapper and 



422 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

hunter, a close friend of the Mohican Indians, and fought with them 
against the French and the Canadian Indians. He was a Tory during 
the War of the Revolution and was tarred and feathered for his disloy- 
alty. vSoon after he disappeared and nothing was heard of him for 
years. Mr. Shipman's daughter Patience married John Ryan of Hoo- 
sick. Mr. Ryan became acquainted with the novelist Cooper while the 
former was serving in the State Legislature about 1804 or 1805, and in 
their conversations it was found that the missing hunter had been liv- 
ing in the forest near Otsego lake for some time. He was finally in- 
duced to return to Hoosick and reside with his daughter and her hus- 
band, though he fre([uently returned to liis western home at intervals. 
He died in 1809 at the house of Mr. Ryan and was buried in the village 
churchyard.' 

One of the most important battles of the War of the Revolution was 
fought entirely within the present limits of the town of Hoosick, yet 
that great event is recorded in history as the Battle of Bennington ! 
The battle ground is one of the most interesting of the many historic 
points in the county, and many of the spots are so plainly marked that 
they are at once evident to the visitor who has read a detailed account 
of the fight, which is found in preceding pages of this work, carefully 
compiled from the best authorities. - 

The interest taken by the patriotic residents of Hoosick in the war 
of 1812 and the events leading up to it was very marked. In few com- 
munities was the cause so warmly espoused before events had so de- 
veloped that it was seen that recourse to anything but war was impos- 
sible. As early as 1808 a meeting was held in Hoosick in pursuance of 
a call signed by Seth Parsons, Joseph Dorr, Benjamin Walworth, Heze- 
kiah Munsell, jr., John Ryan, J. N. Northrup, Benjamin Lewis, J. C. 
Walworth, Aaron Haynes, John Palmer, Asher Armstrong and Thomas 
Osborne, " to deliberate on the embarrassment which foreign nations 
and the advocates of rebellion and insurrection have brought upon the 
country." As a result of the meeting a letter was sent to the president 
of the United States offering the services of the patriotic men of 
Hoosick in the event of war. Other public meetings followed and the 
patriotic sentiment of all the inhabitants was kept at high pitch. When 
troops were required to enforce the embargo acts, a military company 

' The statements here contained, regarding: .Shipnian and " Leath erst coking'," are according 
tothe story told by Judge Ball, father of L. Burke Ball of Hoosick Falls,in his "Annals of Hoosick." 
* See Chapter V, history of Rensselaer County. 



TOWN OF HOOSICK. 42.5 

was formed in Hoosick Falls, with Gideon Gifford as captain, Gilbert 
Barnes as lieutenant, Samuel Tappan as ensign and John B. Dickenson 
as orderly sergeant. In 1808, soon after the first meeting referred to, 
Ebenezer Cross, upon receiving a captain's commission from General 
Dearborn, secretary of war, raised a company and when war was de- 
clared performed two years' service. Others who served included Wil- 
liam Palmer, John H. Haynes, Captain John Walworth, Reuben H. 
Walworth, afterwards chancellor, Benjamin G. Sweet, Captain Lem- 
uel Sherwood, Ensign John Hallenbeck, Benjamin Baker, Solomon 
Wilson, Stephen Chapman, Clark Baker, Gerrit Hallenbeck, Jacob 
Haight, Job Cass, Jacob Case, Sergeant Watkins, Jacob Vandenburgh, 
Ouderkirk, Tallman Chase and William Coon. 

In 1814 there were three companies of militia in Hoosick — an artil- 
lery company commanded by Captain Thomas Osborne, a company of 
infantry commanded by Captain Abram Keach and a company of in- 
fantry commanded by Captain Nathaniel Bosworth. One hundred and 
twenty-eight volunteers under George R. Davis joined these organiza- 
tions, and all marched from Troy to Plattsburgh, but the battle at that 
place had been fought before they reached there. 

The men of Hoosick furnished one company for the Thirtieth regi- 
ment New York Vols., which went to the front during the early days 
of the War of the Rebellion. The first meeting was held at the Bap- 
tist church April 24, 1861, when more than forty men signed the enlist- 
ment roll, the first being L. Burke Ball of Hoosick Falls. Money was 
voted liberally and soon the full company was ready for the field, hav 
ing been designated as Company H. New recruits were received from 
time to time during the war, and 416 all told left Hoosick for the front 
during that memorable struggle. Those who died in the service ^ 
were: 

William Sears, - Frank Williams, Martin Barrel, Jedediah Varnum, Matthew 
Dvvyre, David E. Conger, Pardon S. Fuller, Edward Conger, James Riley, James 
Van Acker, James Congdon, William A. Call6n, Bartholomew Carmody, Jesse T. 
Dunham, David Donahue, Albert S. Hall, Jeremiah Kimball, George W. Kenyon, 
Jason Love, Robert Patterson, Jesse Potter, Ralph Selby, John Cumber, Henry C. 
Link, Thomas Hall, Charles H. White, John J. V. Grover, Robert Robinson. 

The largest and most important village in the town of Hoosick is 

' The records are not perfect. The figures and names are from the town records and Judge 
Bair.s " Annal.sof Hoosick." 

* Killed at Harper's Ferry September 15, 186:i; fir.st man killed in th^ Thirtieth regiment. 



424 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Hoosick Falls. It is located on the Hoosick river at the falls, and has 
one of the finest water powers in the State. Early settlements in the 
village and its immediate vicinity have been described in preceding- 
pages. Through the influence of Seth Parsons, who conducted a ma- 
chine shop there, a post-office was established in Hoosick Falls in 1822 
and Mr. Parsons became its first postmaster. He located the office in 
his shop and appointed David Ball as his deputy. Mr. Parsons was re- 
tained in the office nineteen years, during which time the development 
of the village was very rapid In its early days the post route to Hoo- 
sick Falls, or " the Falls," as the village was first known, was a branch 
of the, route from Albany to Brattleboro, Vt., and the mail was carried 
to and from Hoosick Corners by a boy, who walked. 

Hoosick Falls was incorporated as a village in 1827, and Mr. Parsons, 
who evidently was one of the most public-spirited men of his day, was 
chiefly instrumental in bringing this about. At the time of the incor- 
poration of the village it had a population of two hundred. The first 
village was one mile square, with the old Caledonian cotton factory as 
the centre. 

A new charter was granted the village of Hoosick Falls March 26, 
1859. Some of the most important sections read as follows: 

All that part of the town of Hoosick in the county of Rensselaer contained within 
the following Hmits shall constitute the village of Hoosick Falls, to wit: Beginning 
at a point due north, one hundred and sixty rods from the southwest corner of the 
brick building known as Gordon's or the Caledonian factory, in said village, and 
running thence due east one hundred and twenty rods; thence due south three hun- 
dred and twenty rods; thence due west two hundred and forty rods; thence due 
north three hundred and twenty rods; thence due east one hundred and twenty rods, 
to the place of beginning ; and the inhabitants residing therein are hereby constituted 
and declared a body politic and corporate, by the name of the village of Hoosick 
Falls. . . . 

The officers of the village shall be as follows: A president, four trustees, a police 
justice, one or more police constables, a collector, a chief engineer of the fire depart- 
ment, a treasurer, a clerk, a superintendent of streets, a poundmaster, a fire warden. 

The law further provided that the president and trustees should be 
elected by the people; that the chief engineer and two assistants should 
be elected by the fire department, subject to the approval of the board 
of trustees; that the clerk, police constables, street superintendent, 
treasurer, collector, fire warden and poundkeeper should be appointed 
annually by the board of trustees; that the police justice should be ap- 
pointed by the board of trustees. The village was also prohibited from 




HLMEK E. BARNHS. 



TOWN OF HOOSICK. 425 

borrowing money, and any village officer incurring any liability on be- 
half of the village was made personally liable for the same. 

The Hoosick Falls Gazette, formerly the Cambridge Valley News, 
which was moved from Cambridge to Hoosick Falls about 1862, and of 
which A. C. Eddy was proprietor at the time, was the first paper pub- 
lished in the village. It continued but a year. Soon afterward 

Botsford established the Hoosick Falls Independent, but this too died 
at the end of a year. The Rensselaer County Standard was established 
November 15, 1873, by James H. Livingston, and since that time it has 
been one of the representative papers of the county. 

The first school of high grade in the village was Ball seminary, which 
was incorporated by the Regents of the University April 11, 1843. The 
work upon the building" was begun the previous summer. Judge 
Chandler Ball donated a large portion of the money necessary to its 
construction, and the institution was named in his honor. The first 
board of trustees consisted of L. Chandler Ball, Seth. Parsons, Lyman 
Wilder, Harvey Patterson, Adin Thayer, Hial Parsons, Thomas Gordon, 
Andrew Russell, John White, William Palmer, Willard Herrington and 
John Renwick. The seminary was eventually closed by reason of the 
lack of funds to carry on the good work auspiciously started, and in 
1863 the property was conveyed to school district No. 1 for the purpose 
of founding a free school. Of the new school the first trustees were 
Walter Abbott Wood, Charles H. Merritt and the Rev. A. De Witt. 

The early history of the schools of Hoosick Falls is embodied in the 
school history of the town of Hoosick, which appears in preceding 
pages of this chapter. Since the early days the schools of the village 
have risen to a high rank in the State. The educational facilities of 
the village are now equal to any found in any village of its size in the 
State. The afi^airs of the district are administered by a board of edu- 
cation composed of three trustees. The community is quite particular 
into whose hands it commits its educational interests and hence there 
are selected for this important office men who are prominent for busi- 
ness capacity and enterprise, executive ability and intellectual attain- 
ments. The trusteeship has been graced by such names as Hon. Wal- 
ter A. Wood, J. M Rosebrooks, Joseph Buckley, Hon. J. Russell Par- 
sons, M. J. Barley, William Hyland and Ambrose Carr. The district 
owns and uses four large buildings. For many years Mrs. Julia M. 
Dewey, a scholarly lady, was principal of the schools. She resigned 
in 1887 and has since held responsible positions in the educational 
54 



426 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

world. John E. Shull became her successor and continued serving as 
principal for three years, at the expiration of which time the board 
of education elected him superintendent. Mr. Shull was succeeded by- 
Prof. Arthur G. Clement, who was followed by Prof. H. H. Snell, the 
present superintendent. An able corps of twenty-five teachers is em- 
ployed. Many have had the benefit of normal school, college, and 
high school training. Nearly all have had considerable experience in 
the school room. A teachers' training school is in connection with 
the school, in charge of Miss Tuthill. The district is under the su- 
pervision of the Regents of the University of the State of New York. 
The number of pupils in attendance in 1896 was over 1,500, and the 
average daily attendance was about 90 per cent, of the enrollment. 
The district owns a large and well selected library open to the public 
and pupils. In 1887 the free text book system was adopted. 

Besides the public schools St. Mary's church supports St. Mary's 
academy, which opened September 8, 1891, with 550 pupils. There 
are twelve vSisters of St. Joseph in charge. The academy was char 
tered under the State Board of Regents December 12, 1894. Tlie 
school is noted for its high standard of educational and moral disci- 
pline. The building is a three-story brick and besides commodious 
and modern school rooms there is a large hall known as Columbus 
hall. 

Hoosick Falls is supplied with pure water by the Hoosick Falls 
Water Supply company. The source is a gigantic well twenty five feet 
in diameter located on the flats above the falls. Water is pumped into 
the main pipes direct, and also into a storage reservoir located on one 
of the eminences in the extreme eastern part of the village. The com- 
pany has about eight miles of street mains and supplies the village 
with eighty-eight fire hydrants. The officers are George H. Norman, 
president; G. Norman Weaver, treasurer, and Ezra R. Estabrook, sec- 
retary. The water was first turned on June 1, 1886. The capital stock 
of the company is $100,000. 

Hoosick Falls is supplied with an excellent system of sewerage at a 
cost of about $50,000. The system, which consists of about fourteen 
and one-half miles, was completed during November, 1893. That it 
is giving entire satisfaction is apparent from the fact that already over 
600 families have laid connections with the mains and the number is 
annually increasing in large numbers. The system is equipped with 
automatic flush tanks. Since the introduction of the sewerage system 




WALTER A. WOOD. 



TOWN OF HOOSICK. 427 

the average sickness has been largely decreased. Previous to its intro- 
duction, at certain seasons of the year, contagious diseases were preva- 
lent, consequently the system has proven a blessing in this direction. 
The first members of the board of sewer commissioners were: Joseph 
Buckley, president; Lyman C. Wilder, clerk; John F. Murray, Dan- 
forth Geer and Thomas Gleason. Lawrence E. Buckley has been the 
superintendent since the organization of the board or since the system 
was completed. The outlet is below the dam of the Hoosick river. 

By a special act of the Legislature passed March 19, 1888, a police 
force was established in the village, regulated and governed by a board 
of police commissioners. Previous to this time the patrolmen were 
under authority and special fee compensation of the village board of 
trustees. The first board of police commissioners consisted of Francis 
Riley, president of the village and board, Charles C. Spencer and John 
H. Cronin. Their first meeting was held March 26, 1888. The first 
patrolmen were Thomas McManaway, chief, who is at present acting 
in the same capacity, John McPartlin and Hugh Reed. The present 
force consists of Thomas McManaway, chief; Byron Willis and Auer 
Powers. 

Hoosick Falls boasts of several handsome public buildings. P'ore- 
most is the armory of the Thirty-second Separate company, a descrip- 
tion of which is contained in the history of the company. ^ Seth 
Parsons steamer house on Church street, a two-story building, was 
erected of brick at an original cost in 1882 of $4,800. . The total cost of 
the building has been $10,000. The village also has four public school 
buildings. One, on Main street, was erected about 1884; the High 
school building, a three-story brick edifice with basement, with large 
hall on the top floor; the building on the corner of Centre and Second 
streets, known as the Centre Street school, erected about 1880; and the 
Classic Street school, formerly the old Ball academy. Another school 
is in Trumanville and is now known as Parsons school. 

The history of the extensive Walter A. Wood Reaping and Mowing 
Machine company centres from the early history of Hon. Walter A. 
Wood, whose interesting biography is contained in this work. He was 
a blacksmith by trade and afterwards mastered the trade of machinist. 
After a time he became interested in the manufacture of agricultural 
implements. In 1850 he purchased a territorial right to make and sell 

' See Chapter XIV. 



428 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

the reaper known as the John P. Mann}' reaper, and began its manu- 
facture in Hoosick Falls. The date of the first introduction of the 
celebrated Wood machines was 1852, when Mr. Wood commenced their 
manufacture in a small way. In 1855 he added to his facilities b)- buy- 
ing the premises of the Tremont cotton factory. In 1859 the increas- 
ing- business compelled him further to extend his premises by renting 
the place formerly occupied by a competitor. In November, 18G0, the 
entire plant was annihilated by fire. The sales had averaged 5,000 
machines for the two years previous. The same year the work of re- 
building began and the factory was established with improved facili- 
ties. The Wood mower had already been added to his manufactures 
and has remained a specialty ever since. It made a great success from 
the start. In 18G1 Walter A. Wood patented his "chain rake reaper," 
a machine so unique and different from anything ever before conceived 
that perhaps no one ever looked upon it the first time without being 
startled. 

Wood's reapers and mowers had by this time acquired wide fame and 
his business was not only attracting attention from farmers, but from 
financial people in the business world. It now became an easy matter 
to enlist large capital and in the year 18(iG the Walter A. Wood Mow- 
ing and Reaping Machine company was organized with these officers: 
Walter A. Wood, president; William B. Tibbits, vice-president and 
secretary; Willard Gay, treasurer. The Wood establishment met with 
a second interruption by fire in 1870, but the check was in part neutral- 
ized by the lately acquired ownership of the Caledonia Mill buildings, 
which furnished a workshop while the burned premises were rebuild- 
ing. From the date of the fire of 1870 new buildings have year by 
year been added to meet the heavy growth of business. In 1873 the 
reel rake reaper, known as the "Walter A. Wood sweep rake reaper," 
was put forth with great success. In 1874 the most striking enterprise 
in Mr. Wood's career occurred in the introduction of the harvesting 
machine, which not only reaped the grain and separated it into gavels, 
but bound it into sheaves ready for the shock or stack. In 1878 was in- 
troduced "Wood's enclosed gear mower," which was at once adopted 
as a type by European manufacturers. In 1880 the company brought 
out their "twine binder harvester," to which was added "Wood's 
bimdle carrier," which deposited the sheaves in groups. Novelties 
were brought out almost every year after that. 

The works stand on a tract of eighty-five acres of land on the west 



TOWN OP HOOSICK. 429 

bank of the Hoosick river. The company has its own malleable iron 
works, besides all the other necessary workshops, constituting' one of 
the most commodious and conveniently equipped plants of its kind in 
existence. On a high point of land in the midst of the company's 
tract stands a large reservoir, considerably higher than the roofs of the 
factory buildings and connected by pipes with all parts of the premises, 
with automatic sprinklers fastened to the ceilings. There is also an in- 
dependent fire apparatus. All parts of the works are connected by 
railroad tracks, which comprise seven miles, with a full outfit of freight 
cars and two locomotives for switching cars to the public railroad and 
moving machines and material on the premises. Whole freight trains 
are quickly loaded at the company's freight houses and hauled by the 
company's locomotives to the track of the Fitchburg railroad, thus 
bringing their works into prompt communication with all parts of the 
world. The shops are lighted by electricity by the company's private 
plant, and the various departments are steam heated. The river 
furnishes a fine water power, the steam engines of the company being 
used merely as accessories in case of emergency. The company has 
sent forth inventions which have received the highest prizes at nearly 
all of the world's fairs, and made the names of Walter A. Wood and 
Hoosick Falls familiar in every country. In 1895 the company met 
with reverses, having been placed in the hands of receivers, Seymour 
Van Santvoord and Danforth Geer. The demand for machines, espe- 
cially for the foreign trade, however, has been larger than ever, and 
the works were operated to fill the demands under the receivers' hands 
in 1805 and 1896. 

Among the prosperous industries of the place established during 1895 
was the Superior Knitting company, located on Water street. The 
concern was organized November 1, 1895, for the purpose of manufac- 
turing ladies' and children's ribbed underwear. The first members of 
the firm were Robert Clark and his brother, George W. Clark. Later 
Clarence Rowland and Francis Riley were taken into the firm. The 
concern occupies a building 50 by 50 feet, basement and three stories, 
and employs about sixty h&nds. 

The Miller, Hall & Hartwell shirt shop occupies a three story brick 
building at the corner of John and Lyman streets. About 200 hands 
are now employed. E. W. Williams is superintendent. The concern's 
present quarters were completed in May, 189G, by the Hoosick Falls 
Industrial & Building association. 



430 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Among- the other industries of the town is the Noble & Johnston 
Machine works, located at the foot of First street A foundry and car- 
penter shop is connected with the shop. The concern was organized 
under this name in 1 894 for the manufacture of paper-making machinery, 
which is sold in all parts of the country and abroad. About twenty- 
five hands are employed. The factory was lornierly used for the man- 
ufacture of Pruyn potato diggers. 

The Wm. Rowland Paper Box factory has been in existence several 
years. About fifty hands are employed in the manufacture of paper 
boxes. 

The First National bank of Hoosick Falls is the only banking insti- 
tution in the village. It was organized March 11, 188U, with a capital 
stock of $00,000 and began business in its present quarters, corner of 
Classic and Main streets, May 3, 1880. The first officers were: Presi- 
dent, Truman |. Wallace; vice-president, Charles A.Cheney; cashier, 
Addison Getty; directors, Walter A. Wood, T. J. Wallace, A. L. John- 
ston, S. S. Stevens, C. E. Stroud, W. S. NichoUs, J. Russell Parsons, 
Benjamin V. Ouackenbush, J. P. Armstrong, Charles J. Eldredge, F. 
A. Cheney, E. P. Markham, Benjamin F. Herrington. Its present 
officers are: President, E. P. Markham; vice-president, A. L. John- 
ston; cashier, Addison Getty; directors, S. S. Stevens, William Kel- 
yer, C. W. Easton, Addison Getty, A. L. Johnston, E. P. Markham, 
H. S. Moseley, Jos. Buckley, E. R. Estabrook, Charles O. Eldredge, 
Ira J. Wood, A.H. Sherwood, Walter A. Wood, jr. 

Among the flourishing secret organizations of the town is the Benevo- 
lent Protective Order of Elks, No. 178, organized December 9, 1890, 
with twenty charter members. On that day about forty members of 
the Troy and Albany lodges were present and the installation occurred 
in tlie K. of P. hall, conducted by D. D. Sol Davis of Albany. The 
following were the first officers elected: Exalted ruler, Dr. F. R. Hud- 
son; esteemed leading knight, Edward Levy; esteemed loyal knight, 
Thomas H. Hayfield; secretary, Louis Markstone; treasurer, Peter 
Gaffney; tiler, Forrest D. Varnum; trustees, William Powell, jr., Alex. 
A. Levy, James King. 

The village of Hoosick, sometimes known as Iloosick Corners, orig- 
inally was an important point in the old stage line running from Troy 
to Bennington, Vt. Hezekiah Munsell was probably the first post- 
master, in the latter part of the eighteenth century. Dr. Asher Arm- 
strong held the office continuously from 1799 to 1832. Dr. Asher 




ALONZO L. JOHNSTON, 



TOWN OF HOOSICK. 431 

Armstrono' located in Hoosick about 1796, and for more than thirty- 
five years, or until his death, November 23, 1832, enjoyed a large 
practice. An early industry at "the Corners" w^as a tannery main- 
tained for many years by William Goodrich. The Tibbits butter fac- 
tory was established about 1871. 

North Hoosick is located on the Troy & Bennington railroad and the 
Walloomsac creek. Several small industries have been conducted there 
from time to time. A carding mill w^as established there about 1807, 
and later was operated by Timothy McNamara as a woolen factory In 
1840 Thomas and Samuel Fowler changed it to a flannel factory. A 
few years later O. R. Burnham & vSon of New York converted it into 
a shawl mill. The property was used for various purposes after that, 
and was burned in 1870. 

Eagle Bridge is located on the Fitchburg railroad, and not far from 
the Hoosick river in the northwestern part of the town. It has become 
quite an important town for the railroad and is the point at which con- 
siderable shipping is done. The industries of the town are small. 

Walloomsac is a small hamlet on the Troy & Bennington railroad in 
the northeastern part of the town. The paper mills at this point were 
established by A. & W. Orr of Troy, manufacturers of wall paper. 
The buildings were originally devoted to the purposes of the McNamara 
scythe works, established very early in the nineteenth century. A. & 
W. Orr converted the property into a paper mill, which for many years, 
under different firms, has been one of the prominent industries of that 
locality. The mill at Walloomsac and the mill at North Hoosick, about 
a mile apart, for many years were run in connection. 

Buskirk, formerly known as Buskirk's Bridge, is located in the north- 
ern part of the town. Its industries are not very important nor nu- 
merous. 

West Hoosick is a small hamlet in the western part of the town. 

Truman ville, a hamlet located opposite Hoosick Falls, was incorpo- 
rated into the latter village many years ago. 

Potter Hill is an imimportant hamlet, containing a post-ofiice, located 
in the southwestern part of the town. 

The first place of Christian worship in the town of Hoosick probably 
was estal)lished by the early Catholics at St. Croix as a mission for the 
Indians. Authentic data in relation to this institution is lacking. 

The first church of which we have any definite and satisfactory record 
is the old Protestant Dutch church at St Croix. The building stood 



432 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

on the road to Cambridge. The house of worship, which was built 
principally through the offices of Cornelius Van Ness, was abandoned 
in 1800, but was not torn down until twenty-five years later. 

In the northeastern part of the town, near Walloomsac, a Baptist 
church was founded as early as 1T78. Three or four years later a house 
of worshij) was erected, and in 1788 a second one was built at Waite's 
Corners. One authority' says that the church was established in 1772. 

The Hoosick Baptist church was founded March 16, 1785. Who the 
first pastor was does not appear in the records. The first of whom 
anything is known was the Rev. vSamuel Rogers, who served from 1797 
to 1801. For four years the society was without a pastor. The Rev. 
David Rathbun preached from 1805 to 1809. The society was first 
known as the Mapleton church, but during the pastorate of the Rev. 
James Glass the name was changed to Hoosick church. About 1831 
the church was transferred to Hoosick Corners. 

The Reformed church at Buskirk's Bridge (now Buskirk) was organ- 
ized May •>, 179:2, and was the outgrowth of a church formed in 1714 
in vSchagticoke. The Rev. Samuel Smith first served the society as 
pastor, preaching but once a month. The first house of worship was 
located near the site of the present one, the locality then being known 
as Tiashoke. In 1823 a building was removed from Pittstown and 
dedicated May 2 of that year. In 1872 it was enlarged and remodeled. 

The Walloomsac Methodist Episcopal church was organized April 
18, 1811, with Isaac Mosher, John Matthews, John Comstock, Simeon 
Sweet, Benjamin Barnet and Thomas Milliman as trustees. The first 
meeting house was completed the same year and some time afterward 
the society was incorporated as the Methodist Episcopal church of Old 
Hoosick. June 2, 1858, it was reincorporated as the Walloomsac 
Methodist Episcopal church, and soon after the old church was aban- 
doned and services were held in the school house at North Hoosick. 
Soon after the church was reorganized at that place. 

January 25, 1825, a number of the inhabitants of Hoosick FaUs as- 
sembled at the Warren meeting house on Main street and there or- 
ganized a religious society by the name of the " Presbyterian Society 
of Hoosick." In 1829 the congregation erected on Church street a 
frame meeting house, which, when finished, was dedicated by the Rev. 
N. S. S. Beman, D. D., of Troy. This building cost $1,800 and had 

' l'>c'iK'(lict's History of the Baptist churclius of the I'nitt'd States. 



TOWN OF HOOSICK. 433 

seats for about three hundred persons. In 1854 the old building was 
removed and the present church edifice was erected at a cost of about 
$7,000, and having a seating capacity for about five hundred persons. 
It was dedicated in the spring of 1854, the Rev. N. S. S. Beman, D. D., 
LL. D. of Troy, the Rev. J. H. Noble of Schaghticoke and the Rev. 
A. M. Beveridge officiating. The church edifice was enlarged and im- 
proved in 1879 at an expense of $6,500. The different pastors of this 
church have been: 

The Rev. C. Cheever, 1825-6; the Rev. Samuel W. May, 1826-9; the Rev. Robert 
Shaw, 1830-1 ; the Rev. Luther P. Blodgett, 1831-6; the Rev. Leonard Johnson, 
1837-9; the Rev. Thomas Gordon, 1841-50; the Rev. A. M. Beveridge, 1851-8; the 
Rev. A. De Witt, 1859-65; the Rev. A. B. Lambert, D. D., 1865-8; the Rev. John 
Tatlock, D. D., 1868-93; the Rev. George W. Plack, 1893-96; the Rev. E. Payson 
Berry, 1896 . 

The new church of the original Mapleton church society, located at 
Hoosick Corners upon the renewal of the organization, was erected 
about 1831. At that time Rev. Israel Keach, who had accepted a call 
in 1824, was pastor, and he remained as such until 1889. About 1869 
a new house of worship was erected at a cost of $11,000, and in 1874 a 
parsonage costing $4,000 was built. 

The Liberal Religious society at Mapleton was incorporated January 
23, 1836, and occupied the property of the old Mapleton church. It 
was established as a mission church, and persons of several religious 
denominations worshipped there in its early days. 

The First Baptist church of Hoosick Falls was organized October 30, 
1847. In the meeting house of the "Warren Society," May 8, 1851, the 
organizers of the church elected these trustees: John Lyon, Jonathan 
Case, Allen Spencer, Hosea Daniels and Edmund Leonard. The cer- 
tificate of incorporation is dated May 16, 1851. The following have 
been pastors of the church: 

The Rev. John M. Gregory, 1847-50; supplies for .several years, the Revs. Grant 
and Thomas Rogers of Hoosick Corners; the Rev. O. C. Kirkham, 1860-63; the 
Rev. Thomas Rogers, the Rev. William A. Doolittle, the Rev. William Wilcox, the 
Rev. William Garnet, 1867-69; the Rev. E. T. Hunt, 1869-1873; the Rev. A. B. 
Whipple, 1873-74; the Rev. II. W. Webber, 1874; the Rev. H. A. Morgan, 1875-76; 
the Rev. George R. Robbins, 1876-88; the Rev. A. Chapman, 1888-95; the Rev. 
W. E. Webster, 1895 . 

The congregation until recently occupied what was called "the 
meeting house " of the Warren society, erected in 1800. During 1884 
a beautiful and commodious house of worship was built at a cost of 

55 



434 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

over $12,000 with a seating" capacity of 700. It was dedicated October 
31, 1884. 

The first masses were celebrated in Hoosick Falls in 1834 by the Rev. 
J. Shannahan in the old school on l^^lm street, and in the Bai)tist church 
(then used as a union church). The Rev. J. B. Dailey attended this 
place in 1830-37, and subsequently the Rev. Fathers Havermans, Far- 
ley, Finnelly and Quigley officiated until 1849. In that year the Rev. 
Hugh Quigley built a church on Church street, which was afterward 
enlarg-ed by the Rev. John AIcDermott, who officiated until 1862. In 
1802 the Augustinian Fathers took charge of the parish. The Rev. J. A. 
Darragh, O. S. A., was appointed first pastor and remained in charge 
until 1865, being succeeded by the Rev. E. A. Dailey, O. S. A., who 
remained in charge until 1874. The church proving too small the cor- 
ner stone of a new church on Main street was laid August 15, 1800, by 
the Very Rev. E. P. Wadhams, V. G. , of Albany. It was dedicated 
December 10, 1871, by the Very Rev. T. Galberry. A bell weighing 
2,'JOO pounds was placed in the tower in August, 1872. In July, 1874, 
the Rev. J. D. Waldron, O. S. A., was appointed pastor, and in 18!i0 
he was succeeded by the Rev. P. J. O'Connell, O. S. A. The Rev. D. D. 
Reagan, the present pastor, has served since 1894. A new organ was 
placed in the church August 15, 1881. The present edifice is a sub- 
stantial brick structure with stone trimmings, and cost $58,000. Its 
seating capacity is 1,050. 

The Methodist Episcopal church of Hoosick Falls was incorporated 
April 12, 1858. In 1860 a frame church was erected on Main street, in 
which services were first held on Christmas day of that year, at which 
time it was dedicated, the Rev. J. E. King, D.D., preaching the sermon 
on the occasion. The building cost about $3,300, and had a seating 
capacity of 300. It was further enlarged in 1877. A fine toned bell, 
weighing 1,866 pounds, and costing $042, was placed in the belfry in 
the summer of 1874. In 1887, during the pastorate of the Rev. C. W. 
Rowley, it was determined to build a new church, the old one having 
been outgrown. The Russell homestead was purchased, the old house 
converted into a parsonage, and the corner stone of a new church laid 
October 20, 1887. The edifice was completed in about a year, at a cost, 
including furnishing, of about $30,000; the value of the entire prop- 
erty, lot, parsonage and church, being about $40,000. This building 
was dedicated October 31, 1888. The society is in a strong and flour- 
ishing condition. The first pastor of the church was the Rev. Reuben 
Washburne. 



TOWN OF HOOSICK. 435 

The Baptist church at West Hoosick was incorporated April 16, 18G1, 
with Stephen Paddock, Philip Herring-ton and Isaac Shedd as trustees. 

St. Mark's Protestant Episcopal parish, of Hoosick Falls, was organ- 
ized under the ministrations of the Rev. Nathaniel O. Preston. It was 
incorporated November 1, 1834. The parish continued to exist in a 
very uncertain condition till 1858, when anew organization was effected. 
The corner stone of the church was laid in the summer of 1858 by the 
Rt. Rev. Horatio Potter. The first services in the church were held 
Sunday, August 26, 1860, and the edifice was consecrated May 5, 1863. 
The church was partially destroyed by fire in 1886; was restored the 
same year, and enlarged in 1888-89. This church contains a town- 
clock and a fine chime of bells presented by J. Hobart Warren, in 
memory of his wife. A beautiful carved oak reredos, representing the 
Lord's Supper, is the gift of William M. Cranston, of England, in 
memory of his wife. A brass lectern and oak pulpit are the gift of 
John G. Darroch, in memory of his wife. The rectors of the parish 
have been : 

Rev. Nathaniel O. Preston, 1833-38; the Rev. Ebenezer Williams; the Rev. James 
Henry Morgan, 1861-63; the Rev. Geo. A. Weeks, 1863-65; the Rev. Geo. H. Nich- 
olls, 1865-81; the Rev. Geo. 1). Silliman, 1881-93; the Rev. Chas. C. Edmunds, jr., 
1893, now rector. 

Supervisors of Hoosick. 

1789-1794, Thomas Sickels; 1795-1796, John Ryan; 1797-1799, Joseph Dorr; 1800, 
Joseph Dorr; 1801-1803, John Ryan; 1804-1805, Joseph Dorr; 1806-1809, JohnRyan'; 
lHlO-1812, Joseph Dorr; 1813-1814, Jonathan Eddy; 1815-1818, Nathaniel Bishop; 
1819-1823, Jirah Baker; 1824-1825, Reuben Clark; 1826-1827, Amasa Kenyon ; 1828," 
Abraham Reach; 1829-1833, Harry Patterson; 1834-1835, Reuben Clark; 1836, 
Daniel B. Bratt; 1837-1S38, Palmer S. Shrieves; 1S39-1841, David Harrington (2d)'; 
1842-1845, David S. McNamara; 1846, Jonathan Cottrell (tie), D. M. Cooley (ap- 
pointed); 1847, Lucius M. Cooley; 1848-1849, Alvah H. Webster; 1850-1851, Nicholas 
Danforth; 1852-1853, Joseph Haswell; 1854, Jirah E. Baker; 1855, Augustus John- 
son; 1856, Harry Patterson; 1857, Alvah H. Webster; 1858, George W. Ostrander; 
1859, William Hayes; 1860-1867, J. P. Armstrong; 1875, Gideon Reynolds; 1876- 
1877, Alvah H. Webster; 1878, Jonathan P. Armstrong; 1879-1880, J. Russell Parsons; 
1881-1882, E. C. Reynolds; 1883-1884, Le Grand Tibbits; 1885, William P. Harwoodj 
1886, Le Grand C. Tibbits; 1887, Levi E. Worden ; 1888-1889, Joseph Buckley; 1890,' 
Levi E. Worden; 1891-1892, Francis Riley; 1893-1895, Watson M. Holmes;' 1896i 
Salem H. White. 

Town Clerks ok Hoosick. 
1789-1792, Zaehariah W. Sickels; 1793-1799, Thomas Hartwell; 1800-1809, Sylves- 



436 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

ter Noble; 1810-1812, Thomas Osborn ; 1813-1818, John Comstock ; 1819-1820, Thomas 
Osborn; 1821, Seth Parsons; 1822, Samuel Burrell; 1823-1827, Seneca Dorr; 1828, 
Dow Van Vechten; 1829-1834, Hiram Ha-.rington; 1885, Jonathan Eddy; 1836-1838, 
Jonathan Eddy, jr.; 1839, Abram K. Sanders; 1840, Samuel F. Burrell; 1841-1842, 
Adin Thayer, jr.; 1843, Abram K. Sanders; 1844, Andrew Russell; 1845, Jason Bur- 
rell; 1846, Isaac N. Joslin ; 1847, Truman J.Wallace; 1848, Willard Harrmgton ; 
1849-1850, Ezra R. Estabrook: 1851, Marshall F. White; 1852, J. Gordon Russell; 
1853, S. Parsons Cornell; 1854, J. Gordon Russell; 1855, Marshall F. White; 1856- 
1857, S. Parsons Cornell; 1858, Charles H. Hawks; 1859-1862, Edward M. Jones; 
1863, Ezra R. Estabrook; 1864, Manley W. Morey; 1865. Charles E. Morey ; 1866, 
John P. Brown; 1867-1868, Ezra R. Estabrook; 1869-1870, Eli P. Forby; 1871, 
George E. Wilcox; 1872, Edward F. Bru.sh ; 1873, Henry D. C. Hanners; 1874-1877, 
Henry O. Peters; 1878, Henry D. C. Hanners; 1879-1881, Warren F. Peters; 1882, 
Joseph Haussler, jr.; 1883, C. A. Johnston; 1884-1886, Joseph Haussler, jr.; 1887, 
W. H. Estabrook; 1888, W. F. Peters; 1889, George W. Van Hyning; 1890, B. C. 
Armstrong; 1891-1892, P. McKearin; 1893, Ambrose Carr; 1894 , F. H. Esta- 
brook. 

Justices of the Peace of Hoosick. 

Harry Patterson, February 24, 1823; Clark Baker, February 24, 1823; Seth Par- 
sons, March 11, 1823; Stephen Eldfred, September 30, 1823; David Gleason, October 
18, 1823; Herr Munsell, jr., October 24, 1823; Harry Patterson, January 1, 1828; 
Herr Munsell, jr., January 10, 1828; David S. Benway, January 18, 1828; Nathaniel 
L. Milliman, January 25, 1828; David S. Benway, January 7, 1829; Lemuel Sher- 
wood, ir., December 9, 1829. 

Commencing" in 1830, these officers were elected at the annual town 
meetings as follows: 

1830, Seth Sweet; 1831, Harry Patterson; 1832, John J. Viele; 1833, Moses War- 
ren; 1834, John Fitch, Prosper M. Armstrong; 1835, Nathan Wait; 1836, George 
Manchester, L. Chandler Ball; 1837, George W. Rogers; 1838, David L. McNamara; 
1839, Hezekiah Mun.sell, William C. Raymer; 1840, David S. Benway; 1841, Albert 
Brown; 1842, David S. McNamara; 1843, Jason Burrell; 1844, George Manchester, 
Henry B. Clark; 1845. Henry B. Clark; 1846, David S. McNamara; 1847, John Ren- 
wick; 1848, James J. Allen; 1849, Henry B. Clark; 1850, George Chase; 1851, Jason 
Burrell; 1852, Jirah E. Baker; 1853, Henry B. Clark; 1854, George Chase; 1855, 
Briggs Reach; 1856, Andrew Houghton; 1857, Henry B. Clark; 1858, George Chase; 
1859, Marshall F. White; 1860, J. Oscar Joslin ; 1861, Henry Hawks; 1862, George 
Chase; 1863, Marshall F. White; 1864, Eli Barton, jr.; 1865, J. Merritt Bratt ; 1866, 
George Chase; 1867, Marshall F. White; 1868, J. O.scar Joslin ; 1869, (Jideon Rey- 
nolds; 1870, George Chase, Henry Hawks; 1871, Joseph Buckley; 1872, Henry D. Har- 
rington; 1873, George W. Brown ; 1874, Alexander Frier; 1875, Joseph Buckley; 1876, 
George W. Allen; 1877, Albert H. Hawks; 1878, Alexander Frier; 1879, Joseph 
Buckley; 1880, George W. Allen; 1881, Albert H. Hawks; 1882, Edward Hayes; 
1883, Joseph Buckley; 1884, Elon Percey ; 1885. Albert H. Hawks; 1886, A. G. 
Hayner; 1887, Alexander Frier; 1888, George H. Kincaid ; 1889, Elmer E. Barnes; 



TOWN OF HOOSTCK. 437 

1890, Warren S. Reynolds; 1891, Charles E. Cunningham; 1892, William A. Cahill ; 
1893, Henry A. Johnston; 1894, John M. Percey; 1895, Franklin B. Surdam; 1896, 
William A Cahill. 

Presidents of the Village of Hoosick FallsJ 

1827, Seth Parsons; 1829, S. S. Crocker; 1830, Jonathan Hurlburt; 1831, Hiram 
Harrington; 1832, Joseph Dorr; 1833, Harry Patterson ; 1834, S. S. Crocker; 1835, L. 
Chandler Ball; 1836, Thomas Bussey; 1837, Matthew Wait; 1838-1839, L. Chandler 
Ball; 1840, Hiram Herrington ; 1841, Seth Parsons; 1842, Doel Sanders; 1843, L. 
Chandler Ball; 1844, Hial Parsons; 1845, L. Chandler Ball; 1846, John White; 1847, 
John Renwick; 1848, Willard Herrington; 1849, L. Chandler Ball; 1850, Harry Pat- 
terson; 1851, L. Chandler Ball; 1852, Willard Herrington; 1853. Henry Gill; 1854- 
1857, L. Chandler Ball; 1858, Walter A.Wood; 1859-1868, records missing; 1869, W. 
H. Burchard; 1870-1871, L. Chandler Ball; 1872-1874, J. Russell Parsons; 1875-1876, 
Albert T. Skinner; 1877, Joseph Buckley; 1878, J. M. Rosebrooks; 1879, Isaac A. 
Allen; 1880, M. V. B. Peters; 1881,2 Edgar Leonard; 1882-1H84, C. C. Spencer; 
1885-1887, W. P. Parsons; 1888-1890, Frank Riley; 1891-1893, Thomas Canfield; 
1894 , J. M. Rosebrooks. 

Clerks of the Village of Hoosick Falls. 

1827-1832, Hezekiah Munsell, jr. ; 1833, S. S. Crocker; 1834, Sidney A. Page; 1835, 
Walter Clark ; 1836, Hezekiah Munsell, jr. ; 1837. Samuel Shuffleton ; 1838-1839, Isaac 
N. Joslin; 1840, Hezekiah Munsell; 1841, Hial K. Parsons; 1842, John Renwick; 
1843-1845, Isaac N. Joslin; 1846, William Dorr; 1847, Isaac N. Joslin; 1848, Truman 
J. Wallace; 1849-1852, Elliot C. Aldrich ; 1853-185.-), Truman J. Wallace; 1856-1857, 
M. F. White; 1858, Truman J. Wallace; 1871, John E. Wilcox; 1872-1875, Albert C. 
Eddy; 1876-1879, Edward Matthews; 1880-1881, Henry O. Peters; 1882-1887, Wal- 
lace Barnes; 1888-1893, W. H. Slocum ; 1894 , Edward J Lane. 

1 The reuords for some of the years are missing'. The list here given is as nearly complete as 
it is possible to make it. It was compiled by Edward J. Lane, village clerk. 

' Since 1881 the president, treasurer and police justice of Hoosick Falls have held office for 
terms of three years each, the term of the clerk remaining one year. 



438 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

TOWN OF SCHAGHTICOKE. 

Schaghticoke is situated in the northwest corner of the county, and 
is bounded on the north by the town of Easton, Washington county; 
on the east by Pittstown, from whicli it is separated in part by the 
Hoosick river; on the south by Pittstown and Lansingburgh, and 
on the west by the towns of Halfmoon and Stillwater, in .Saratoga 
county, from which it is separated by the Hudson river. The Revised 
Statutes of the State describe the town as follows: 

The town of Schaghticoke shall contain all that part of said county bounded as 
follows: Beginning in Hudson's River, at the northwest corner of the county, and 
running thence east along the north bounds of the county to the middle of Hoosick 
River; thence down along said river to Viele's or Toll's bridge; then a direct course 
to the westernmost corner of the grist-mill heretofore or late of Michael Cook, of 
Cooksburgh ; thence westerly along the bounds of Lansingburgh to the bounds of 
the county ; then northerly along the same to the place of begmning. 

The first grant to lands in the limits of the present town of Schagh- 
ticoke was given to inhabitants of the city of Albany by the charter of 
IG86. The city diil not take advantage of the privileges thereby ac- 
corded it, and in 1G98 a patent was granted to Hendrick Van Rensse- 
laer. The year after he sold his rights to the city of Albany, which, 
in 1707, secured from the Indians a tract of land of an area of thirty- 
six square miles. The price paid the aboriginal owners l)y the city of 
Albany was "two blankets, two body coats, twenty shirts, two guns, 
twelve pounds of powder, thirty and six pounds of shot, eight gallons 
of rum, two casks of beer, two rolls of tobacco, two gallons of Madeira 
wine, and some gin." Part of the town is also within the limits of the 
original Hoosick patent, which began at the " .Schaghticoke tract" 
and extended up the valley of the Hoosick river two miles in width on 
each side of the river. 

The town of Schaghticoke was the home of the Mohican, then the 
Schaghticoke Indians. ' It is probable that the territory so frequently 

' See Page II. 



TOWN OF SCHAGHTICOKE. 439 

referred to in the early records as the " Schaghticoke tract" was the 
land set apart for the nse of these Indians. 

The physical conditions of the town do not differ materially from 
those of its neighbor, Pittstown. In the southern portion of the town 
are high hills, from which fertile fields slope gradually to the Hudson 
river on the west and the Hoosick on the north. The Tomhannock is 
the principal creek, flowing northwesterly through the town and 
emptying into the Hoosick river. The valley at the junction of these 
two streams is exceedingly picturesque. Some of the small streams 
flow for part of their courses through deep, picturesque glens, and 
in many places there are pretty waterfalls and cascades. At one 
point there is a fall of fifty feet in the Tomhannock, and at another 
point, just above, a fall nearly as great. 

The earliest settlements in the town doubtless were made near the 
junction of the Tomhannock with the Hoosick before the year 1670. The 
first permanent settler of whom any record exists was Lewis Viele, son 
of Cornelis Cornelise Viele of Schenectady, who moved to Schaghticoke 
in 1668 or the following year. He was a man of considerable wealth for 
those days and laid out a farm, which he purchased of the Indians, 
near the site of what for more than a century was known as Viele's (or 
Veile's) bridge. He brought laborers with him, and probably a con- 
siderable family, and soon after he moved there he was followed by 
others who had learned of the great fertility of the valley and the 
splendid water power which aboundtd for miles thereabouts. 

Comparatively nothing is known of Viele's neighbors, or any other 
settlers until 1707, when the city of Albany offered the lands of Schagh- 
ticoke for settlement. Among those who took advantage of this offer 
were John Heermans Vischer, who soon removed from the town; 
Corset Voeder; John De Wandelaer, jr., who also removed from the 
town about 1712 or 1713; John Knickerbocker, who located on the 
farm which has always remained in the family he founded ; Derick 
Van Veghten, who came either from Albany or Schenectady; Daniel 
Kittelhuyn (or Kittle), who lived "on the banks of the Hudson, 
eighteen miles above Albany; " Wouter Quocumbos (whose name after- 
ward appears as Adriaen Quackenbush), ancestor of Hon. John A. 
Ouackenbush; Cornelius Vandenburgh, who located opposite the vil- 
lage of Stillwater at the eastern terminus of the old ferry; Abram Fort, 
who settled a little more than a mile northeast of old Schaghticoke; 
Ignace Kipp, Philip Livingston, Samuel Doxie, Martin Daniels, Simon 



440 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Daniels and Peter Winne. Seventy-five years later among those re- 
siding in Schaghticoke were Jacob Overocker, near Melrose; George 
Wetsel, his neighbor; Samuel Rowland, south of Johnsonville; Cornel- 
ius Wiley, on the east side of the present line dividing Schaghticoke 
and Pittstovvn ; Lewis Van Antwerp, near Schaghticoke Hill ; Sybrandt 
Viele, proprietor of a tavern at Schaghticoke Hill; John W. Groesbeck, 
William McCleaver, Thaddeus S. W. Conant, Gerrit Wenat, Daniel 
Elst, Thomas Hicks, Sybrant (Cebra?) Quackenbush, Fennel Bacon, 
David Browning, Walter N. Groesbeck and Reuben Morehouse. 

The first saw mill built in the town was located at Johnsonville and 
was owned by Thomas L. Whitbeck. Early tavernkeepers were Wan- 
dell Overocker, whose house was near the Hudson river; John Travis, 
Caleb Gifford, Jared Esbell, Ephraim Lyons, Moses Canfield, Samuel 
Stearns, Isaac Bull, James Brookings, Jesse Buffett, Elias Ray, Jacob 
Overocker and Jonah Moore. Later David Bryan and Sybrandt Viele 
kept inns at Schaghticoke Hill. Early merchants included Samuel 
Wilbur, Edwin Smith, Judge Smith, Charles B. Stratton, Henry N. 
Wales and Fellows & Briggs. The leading earliest physicians were 
Dr. Zachariah Lyon and Dr. Ezekiel Baker. One of the first lawyers 
was Herman Knickerbocker, who had an office and residence at Schagh- 
ticoke Hill, who was frequently referred to as the Prince, from the 
fact that while in Congress he frequently asserted that he was "the 
Prince of the tribe of the Schaghticoke Indians." Another lawyer 
who located early at the same place was Henry L. Wales. Charles J. 
Wilbur and Thomas C. Ripley practiced law at Hart's Falls in its early 
days. 

The town of Schagticoke was organized by law March 7. 1788, and 
the first town meeting was held April 7 and 8, 1789, at the house of 
John Carpenter. At this meeting the following officers were chosen : 

Supervisor, Jacob A. Lansing; town clerk, Silas Wickes; assessors. Nicholas 
Groesbeck, Zephaniah Russell. Abraham Viele. Jacob Yates, Martin Weatherwax; 
overseers of the poor, Walter N. Groesbeck, James Masters, Pennel Bacon; com- 
missioners for roads, James S. Masters. John W. Groesbeck, William Kittle; consta- 
bles, John Story. Sybrandt Viele, Jacob Groesbeck ; collector. William Groesbeck ; 
pathmasters. Jared Esljell, Ashley (Goodrich, Richard Bennett. John Kinnion, Wal- 
ter N. Groesbeck, Athniel Williams, John Weatherwax, Jeremiah Spalding, Nathaniel 
Samburns, Harrison (Juackenbush. John W. Groesbeck, Abraham Viele, Garret 
Waldron, Peter Yates; fenceviewers, Walter N. (Jroesbeck, Asa Havens, Nathaniel 
Rusco; poundmaster, Walter N. Groesbeck. 

An interesting bit of history is contained in Chapter XXXIV of the 



TOWN OF SCHAGHTICOKE. 441 

laws of 1792, passed March 2o, 1792. It describes the manner in which 
the State of New York came into possession of the first bridge across 
the Hoosick river: 

That it shall and may be lawful, to and for the commissioners of the land office, 
and thej'are hereby directed to cause to be laid out for William Chaceat his expense, 
a tract of unappropriated land nor exceeding twelve thousand acres, in such part of 
the State as they may think proper to the northward of the Mohawk river, as a com- 
pensation for the bridge lately erected by him over Hoosick river in the county of 
Rensselaer, and to cause the same to be granted by letters patent under the great 
seal of this State, to him and his heirs, upon his granting and conveying the same 
bridge, and all his right title and interest of, in and to the same, and of, in and to the 
highway leading to and from the said bridge, on each side of the said river, to the 
people of this State. 

That the commissioners of the highways for the town of Schachtekoke, for the time 
being, shall cause the said bridge from time to time, to be maintained and kept in 
repair at the expense of Rensselaer county ; such expense to be assessed, raised and 
collected in the said county, in the same manner as the other contingent charges of 
the said county, are assessed, raised and collected ; which monies so raised for the 
expense of the said bridge, shall be paid to the commissioners of the highways in the 
town of Schachtekoke for the purpose aforesaid; Provided the sum so to be raised 
for such expense shall not exceed in any other year, the sum of fifty pounds. 

Exactly seven years afterward, the bridge meantime having reverted 
to the town of Schaghticoke, or on March 23, 1799, the Legislature 
authorized John Knickerbacker, jr., Silas Weeks, John Travis, Zepha- 
niah Russell, Bethel Mather and Charles Joy to build a bridge "over 
the Hoosick river, at the same place, where William Chase formerly 
built a bridge. " These men were also authorized to collect toll from 
those using the bridge at stipulated rates. The location of the bridge 
was then known as Schagtikoke Point. The Legislature prohibited 
the erection of other bridges across the same river within one mile of 
this point, except for private use. 

In 1798 the town was divided into nineteen road districts and the 
work of improving the public highways was begun on a scale which 
soon gave that town thoroughfares as good as any within a radius of 
of many miles, and better, on the whole, than many of the principal 
roads in towns which had been settled permanently many years before. 
But several years previous to that time systematic work in this field 
was undertaken. August 31, 1793, it was recorded: 

This may certify that a highway is laid out in the following manner, viz. : Begin- 
ning at the Sancoik road, at or near a swing-gate on the north side of said road; a 
few rods east of the dwelling house of Stephen Hunt ; thence a northerly course 
56 



442 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

through the lands of Richard Green ; thence the same course through the land of 
Wandle (Wandell) Overocker to the land of Jacob Weeks; and nearly the same 
course through the land of said Weeks until it intersects or enters the road that leads 
from said Sancoik road to the Point, or Stephenson Mills. 

By Garnet Winne and Nathaniel Jacobs, commissioners for the town of Schagh- 
ticoke. 

By the general law dividing all the counties of the State into towns, 
passed April 7, 1801, the bounds of the town of Schaghticoke were de- 
scribed as follows : 

Southerly by Troy, westerly by the bounds of the county, northerly bj' a line be- 
ginning at the mouth of Lewis's creek or kill, and running from thence south eighty 
four degrees east to Hoosick river, and easterly and southeasterly by a line running 
from thence down along Hoosick river as it runs to Veile's or Toll's bridge, and then 
in a direct course to the westernmost corner of Michael Vander Crook's grist mill in 
Cooksburgh, and from thence in the same direction to the mannor of Rensselaerwyck. 

The first official action in regard to the common schools in the town 
of Schaghticoke was taken in 1796, according to the records, when 
Nicholas Masters, Harmon I. Groesbeck, Silas Goodrich, Peter W. 
Groesbeck and John Crabb were appointed school commissioners under 
the then existing law. Early commissioners under the law of 1812-13 
were Josiah Masters, Harmon Knickerbocker, Isaac De La Vergne, 
Wooster Brookins, Munson Smith and John Pierson. Early inspectors 
under the same law included John Beneway, Munson Smith, Nicholas 
Masters, John Van Veghten, David Bryan, Joseph Levins and Epene- 
tus Holmes. The town superintendents were: 1844, Merritt M. 
Wickes; 1845, Peter Wetsel; 1846, D. Bryan Baker; 1847, Stephen L. 
Kenyon; 1848-1852, Henry N. Wales; 1852-1854, S. V. R. Miller; 
1854-1856, Daniel F. Groesbeck. In 1856 the management of the 
public schools was placed in the hands of the district commissioners. 

Tradition says that the early settlements in Schaghticoke suffered 
greatly by fire and massacre during the long series of French and In- 
dian wars. Furthermore, being located directly in the great eastern 
warpath of the Indians as well as in the great northern warpath, the 
early inhabitants of the locality were frequently compelled to flee from 
bands of invading Indians. The old Schaghticoke fort was garrisoned 
in 1746 with two companies of soldiers, in response to the demand of 
the frightened inhabitants, and thus maintained until French domain in 
Canada came to an end. One of the most noteworthy of the numer- 
ous tragedies of these wars occurring in Schaghticoke was the massa- 
cre of the Kittle family. The date of the occurrence unfortunately 



TOWN OF SCHAGHTICOKE. 443 

has not been preserved. The family consisted of Daniel Kittle (form- 
erly written Kittelhuyn and Ketlyne), his wife, a daughter Anna and 
an infant son. A brother of Mr. Kittle and his wife also resided with 
the family, and at the time of the massacre another brother, Henry 
Kittle, was a member of the household. The head of the family 
settled in Schaghticoke in 173(3; the brothers had resided in Fort Ed- 
ward, but had removed to vSchaghticoke at the solicitation of David, 
who feared that they would share the fate of other inhabitants of the 
former place who had met death at the hands of the French or Indians. 
Tradition says a fourth brother also resided on the homestead at the 
time of the massacre. 

Fearing an attack by the redskins the Kittle family decided to remove 
to Albany, though most of the Indians in the neighborhood professed 
the warmest friendship for all the members of the famil3^ Upon 
receiving renewed assurances of fidelity from the Indians Mr. Kittle 
unwisely delayed starting for Albany, a delay that was fatal, Mr. 
Kittle and his brother Peter went into the woods to hunt the day after 
receiving these friendly assurances, when two savages fired upon the 
brothers, killing Peter instantly. Mr. Kittle then shot one of the 
Indians and clubbed his companion with the butt of his gun, leaving 
both for dead. He then carried his dead brother home and started for 
Schaghticoke village to procure vehicles to carry the family to Albany. 
Before he had proceeded far on his journey a band of savages attacked 
the defenseless family, murdered the married brother and his wife, 
burned the house, the children perishing in the flames, and took Mrs. 
Kittle and Henry Kittle prisoners. Mr. Kittle returned to find his 
family gone. He supposed those who had not been murdered had per- 
ished in the burning buildings. But the Indians had taken their cap- 
tives to Montreal, where Mrs. Kittle found one of her former neighbors, 
the wife of a pioneer named Bratt, who previously had been made a 
prisoner by the Indians. Some time after the prisoners were ransomed 
and the remnant of the family reunited before the close of hostilities. 

Among the other pioneers who were murdered by the Indians during 
this war was Herman Van Veghten, son of Derick Van Veghten, who 
was killed in 1746. 

During the August preceding the famous battle of Bemis Heights, 
Major Derick Van Veghten, accompanied by Solomon Acker, crossed 
the river one afternoon to look at the crops, when both were fired upon 
either by Indians or Tories. They returned the fire, and Major Van 



444 LANDxMARKS OP RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Veghten was mortally wounded. Upon the advice of the latter Mr. 
Acker sought safety in flight. Reaching the American army on the 
other side of the river he told of the murder, and a detachment of 
soldiers at once crossed over and secured the body of the dead warrior. 
Schaghticoke furnished a large body of soldiers for the American 
army in the War of the Revolution. The muster roll of officers of the 
Fourteenth Regiment for the Hoosick and Schaghticoke district con- 
tained these names: 

Colonel John Knickerbocker, Lieutenant-Colonel Daniel Bratt. First Major Denck 
Van Veghten, Second Major John Van Rensselaer, Adjutant Charles H. Toll, Quar- 
termaster Ignas Kip. 

First company. — Captain Hendrick Vanderhoof, First Lieutenant Samuel Ketchum, 
Second Lieutenant Nathaniel Ford, Ensign Jacob Hallenbeck. 

Second company.— Captain Walter N. Groesbeck, First Lieutenant Wynant Van- 
denbergh. Second Lieutenant Peter Davenport, Ensign Jacob Yates. 

Third company. — Captain John J. Bleecker, First Lieutenant John Snyder, Second 
Lieutenant Matthew D. Garmo, Ensign Stephen Thorn. 

Fourth company. — Captain Lewis Van Woerdt^ First Lieutenant John Schouten, 
Second Lieutenant Jo.seph Boyce, Ensign Morrel. 

Fifth company. — Captain Fenner Palmer, First Lieutenant John Johnson, Sec. 
end Lieutenant James Williamson, Ensign Jonathan Davis. 

Sixth company. — Captain Daniel B. Bratt, First Lieutenant Michael Campman, 
Second Lieutenant Isaac Lansing, Ensign Francis Hogal. 

Seventh company. — Captain Van Rensselaer, First Lieutenant Michael 

Ryan, Second Lieutenant , Ensign Peter Hartwell. 

Minute men.— Captain John J. Bleecker, First Lieutenant William Thorn, Second 
Lieutenant Thomas Hicks, Ensign Jonathan Rowland. 

Owing to the absence of some of the records it is impossible to com- 
pile an absolutely accurate list of the officers and men from Schaghti- 
coke who died in the service of the United States during the War of 
the Rebellion. As far as can be learned the list includes the fol- 
lowing : 

Lafayette Travis, Morgan L. Wood, George A. Bryan, Archibald Fisher, Douglas 
Fisher, Isaac Kip, Jacob Houck, John Smith, Alexander Whyland, David Milks, 
Charles Stratton, Chauncey White, Ezra Burch and William Carr. 

The most important village in the town is Schaghticoke, for many 
years known as Hart's Fall's.^ It is located about twelve miles from 
Troy on the "Great Falls" of the Hoosick river and near the Fitch- 
burg railroad. The water power here is one of the finest in the State, 

1 Harry A. Askins, Esq., of Schaghticoke has rendered to the author of this work material 
service in securing valuable data and statistics relative to the town of Schaghticoke. 



TOWN OF SCHAGHTICOKE. 445 

the descent in a distance of about half a mile being nearly one hundred 
feet. The scenery in and about the village, particularly in the locality 
of the river, is most picturesque, even since the vandals of civilization 
have partially despoiled it. In old times the hamlet from which the 
village has sprung was known as Schaghticoke Point. 

Mills were built there at an early day. Even before the year 1800 
clothing works and carding mills were established there. In 1805, per- 
haps earlier, C. Joy had a wool-picking mill in the village, and this 
was succeeded in 1813 by a cotton and woolen mill. Early postmasters 
included Edwin Smith, Charles Stratton and Merritt M. Wickes. The 
office was called Schaghticoke until 1867, then Hart's Falls imtil 1881, 
when, the name of the village having been changed by act of the Leg- 
islature, the old post-office name was resumed. 

For a place of its size no village in this State offers a more prolific 
theme for favorable comment than Schaghticoke, one of the oldest 
settlements in the thirteen original colonies. Its very location on the 
Hoosick river, surrounded by beautiful and historic points, furnishes 
agreeable surprises to the stranger and traveler who for the first time 
approaches the village from any direction. The village was incorpo- 
rated as Hart's Falls March 20, 1867, and the first election was held 
May 7 following, the officers at that time being: President, Oliver A. 
Arnold; trustees, John A. Baucus, William P. Bliss, Sidney S. Cong- 
don and Chauncey B. Slocum ; clerk, Alphonso Merrill; treasurer, 
Julius E. Butts. 

A fire department was organized during 1867 and held meetings in 
the building situated at the corner of Main and Mill streets, on the 
property now owned by Mrs. Elisha Baucus. In 1895 exemption 
papers were granted to the old company and a hook and ladder company 
consisting of twenty four members was organized at the drug store of 
J. W. Richards under the direction of the village board, Thomas L. 
Doremus at that time being president. 

A police department was organized the same year the village was in- 
corporated, and on August 22, 1867, John W. Askins was appointed 
chief and has served upon the force consecutively since that time. 

"An act to incorporate the village of Hart's Falls in the county of 
Rensselaer and to change the name thereof to vSchaghticoke" was 
passed by the Legislature March 30, 1881, since which the village has 
been known as Schaghticoke. 

December 15, 1874, the voters of districts 1, 4 and 16 convened and 



446 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

adopted resolutions requesting- the trustees of each district to consent 
to the consolidation of each district with the other in order that a 
graded school might be established, and that a new district be formed, 
embracing- the territory contained in the three school districts, and 
designating such a new district as district No. 1. The consent of the 
three trustees, Sidney S. Congdon, No. 1, Michael McGrath, No. IG 
and Charles Albro, No. 4, was given, and April 29, 1875, A. H. Allen, 
school commissioner of the second district, residing at Petensburgh, 
ordered the districts to be consolidated and the same went into effect 
May 1 of the same year. June 15, 1875, the taxable inhabitants con- 
vened at. Baker's opera house. Clark C. Hill, Michael McGrath and 
Lorenzo Baker were elected trustees, Thomas L. Doremus was ap- 
pointed clerk of the district and Samuel Bratt collector. June 29, 
1875, a resolution was adopted for the building of a new school house 
and August 23 the contract for excavating and grading was awarded to 
A. L. Vial. September 1 the contract for building the school house 
was awarded to William F. Thompson for the sum of $8,952. The 
building was given into the possession of the trustees August 24, 1876. 
The cost of the building, grading, etc., amounted to $12,633.90. The 
first teachers in this building were Misses Ogden, Gunner, Richmond, 
Munger and Prof. Ira H. Lawton. 

February 6, 1895, this building was destroyed by fire. March 15, 
1895, a special meeting was held in Eagle hall, when it was decided to 
change from the graded to the union free school system. At an ad- 
journed meeting held May, 11, 1895, the plans submitted by M. F. 
Cummings & Son of Troy were adopted and May 17 the plans were 
approved by Schocjl Commissioner Byron F. Clark of Hoosick Falls. 
July 1, 1895, the bid for the construction of the edifice was awarded 
to Thomas Campaign for $11,548, and March 23, 1896, the building 
was given into the possession of the board of education, consisting of 
J. Bryan Baucus, president; David Myers and Frederick Wiley, and 
E. Burlingame, clerk, it having been completed at a cost of $16,403. 
The building is of brick and fully equipped with electric bells and all 
the latest improvements. The school is under the professorship of C. 
W. Dunn of Canton, N. Y., assisted by Miss Delia Barrows, Helen 
Story, Lizzie Smith, Matie Ackart and Clara Thompson. 

Among the prominent industries of the village is the Schaghticoke 
Woolen company's works, which were built in 1864 by a stock company, 
the officers being: President, Amos Briggs; treasurer, D. Thomas 



TOWN OF SCHAGHTICOKE. 447 

Vail; directors, John A. Griswold, Seth B. Hunt, William Burden, D. 
Thomas Vail and Amos Brig-g-s. Robert Dobson was superintendent. 
In March, 1879, these mills were purchased by J. J. Joslin and in 1886 
Stephen W. Barker became the proprietor. This company employs 
three hundred and fifty to four hundred operatives and makes from 
three to five hundred thousand yards of worsted, cassimeres and all wool 
goods per year. In 1895 extensive improvements were made to the 
mills, a new storehouse and sorting room being built, and electricity 
introduced for lighting purposes. The officers of the company are: 
President, Stephen W. Barker; secretary, Elmer E. Leonard; treas- 
urer, George W. Sweet; superintendent, Andrew Schouler. The com- 
pany has a branch office at 175 River street, Troy, N. Y. 

Another prominent industry is the Cable Flax Mills, manufacturers 
of hemp, flax and jute cordage and threads. This is the oldest manu- 
facturing concern in the town, its history dating back to the year 1800, 
when it was founded by Charles and Benjamin Joy for the manufac- 
ture of duck. The mills were carried on successfully for many years 
and were at last remodeled for the present company. In 1871 this 
company was incorporated with Thomas Lape as president, E. A. 
Hartshorn as secretary and R. E. Starks as treasurer. An addition 
was built to the mill in 1880 and further improvements were made in 
1895, when a three story brick storehouse was erected. The company 
has suffered serious losses by fire. October 23, 1893, the storehouse 
was discovered on fire, which totally destroyed their entire stock of 
manufactured goods and raw material as well as the hackling shop. 
The loss incurred was $00,000. The company employs from two hun- 
dred and fifty to three hundred hands. It consumes daily an aver- 
age of six thousand pounds of raw material, while it turns out nearly 
five thousand pounds of manufactured goods per day. February 18, 
1894, a mill, located near the Empire Coal and Milling company's plant, 
and which was used jointly by the Woolen and Flax company, was 
burned, the total loss being nearly $100,000. In 1881 E. A. Hartshorn 
was elected president of the company and George H. Stevenson secre- 
tary, while L. H. Gibbs was elected treasurer in 1892, succeeding R, 
E. Starks. The above now constitute the oflicers of the firm, with 
Amos B. Ralston as superintendent. The company has a branch office 
at 52 Leonard street, New York. 

The Empire Milling and Coal company is a new industry. This 
company was incorporated May 6, 1896, with a capital stock of $10,000 



448 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

and with David Button, president and treasurer; W. E. Wiley, secretary, 
and J. Warren Button, vice-president. The company has in process of con- 
struction a grist mill on the site of the old paper mill which was built 
in 1850. This company recently purchased the old Stratton property, 
which will be used as a storehouse. A steam grist mill is also to be 
erected by David Ewart on East street. 

The Schaghticoke Powder Co.'s works were established by Josiah 
and Nicholas Masters in 1813, the first named at this time being a mem- 
ber of congress. In this year there was a great need of powder to sup- 
ply our troops on the northern borders of the State of New York. 
Nearly all the mills in operation during the Revolution, finding the 
bulk of their demand gone when peace was declared, had ceased oper- 
ations, and the new war rendered the revival of old or the establish- 
ment of new mills necessary. President Madison and Gov. Tompkins 
separately and unitedly used their personal influences with the Masters 
to secure the establishment of these works. The mills of the company 
are located on the south bank of the Hoosick river about half a mile 
southeast of the village, and comprise twenty separate structures, each 
of which is devoted to some single process in the manufacture of a 
special grade or kind of powder. The grounds comprise about one 
hundred acres. This company manufactures about 60,000 kegs or 
1,500,000 pounds of powder per year. It is one of the oldest in the 
United States, and during the eighty years of its existence it has 
held a leading position as a manufacturer of superior goods. In 1858 
William P. Bliss became secretary of the company, which position 
he held until 1868, when he was elected to the presidency of the con- 
cern. Thomas L. Doremus succeeded Mr. Bliss as secretar)' until 
the death of Mr. Bliss. In February, 1896, Mr. Doremus became pres- 
ident and A. W. Higgins of New York secretary. In June, 1893, work 
was commenced in erecting an electric plant for operating the machinery. 
The company now has three kinds of motive power, steam, water and 
electricity, each independent of the other. 

Post Hartshorn No. 487, G. A. R., was organized June 3, 1884, when 
Edward E. Pinkham, John Hines, jr. , Lewis Hunt, Elbridge D. Green, 
Daniel H. Tarbell, Henry Campbell, Thomas McMillan, Herbert H. 
Dill, Lorenzo Guest, Jesse B. Armstrong, Eugene Munn, John H. 
Conde, Charles H. Wolf, John Bacon, Michael O. Keefe, Leander 
White, Charles Turner and Timothy Herlihy were mustered in as char- 
ter members. Of these the following were elected officers for the re- 
mainder of that year; 



TOWN OF SCIIAGHTICOKE. 449 

Commander, Edward E. Pinkham ; S. V. commander, John Hines, 
jr.; J. V. commander, Lewis Hunt; quartermaster, Eugene Munn; 
surgeon, Henry Campbell ; chaplain, D. H. Tarbell ; officer of the day, 
Thomas McMillan; officer of the guard, Herbert H. Dill; adjutant, E. 
D. Green. July 12, 1884, the organization was named "E. A. Harts- 
horn Post," and at a later meeting the initials " E. A." were dropped 
so the name might conform to the rules and regulations of the order. 

Schaghticoke lodge No. 526, I. O. O. P., was instituted June 9, 
1885. The charter members were: John Kenyon, Wesley Winton, 
Robert Hasbrouck, Daniel H. Viall, Edward N. Masters, William 
Geddis, John McGregor and David Geddis. The first officers of the 
lodge were: W. H. Scougal, N. G. ; Albert Allen, V. G. ; Seth E. Firth, 
recording secretary; Frank Firth, financial secretary; and John J. 
Stewart, treasurer. The first meetings of the lodge were held in the 
building on Pleasant avenue now occupied by Lorenzo Baker. July 6, 
1885, the lodge rented Eagle Hall and in February, 1886, removed to 
Stewarts' Hall. May 15, 1889, several members withdrew to institute 
a lodge at Raymertown, and in November, 1893, members were given 
withdrawal cards to institute a lodge at Valley Falls. It was through 
the instrumentality of this lodge that a new district was constituted. 
G. H. Stevenson, past grand, was the first district deputy grand master, 
holding the office two terms, Albert Allen serving one term and Myron 
L. Van Wert, P. G., holding the office of district secretary one term. 
Since its institution this lodge has disbursed for relief over $1,200. 

The Empire club is one of the prominent social clubs in the village. 
Tt was organized October 28, 1892, with twenty members, and since 
that time the membership has increased rapidly. The club has rooms 
in the Congdon block. Its membership is composed of young men 
and its objects are mutual pleasure and recreation. 

Schaghticoke Hill is a village located on the Tomhannock creek and 
near the Fitchburg railroad. One of the early influential residents of 
the place was Hon. Harmon Knickerbocker, the "Prince of the tribe 
of Schaghticoke Indians. " The Tomhannock creek at this point fur- 
ishes excellent water power, which is utilized by a saw mill, a grist 
mill and other small manufactories. Samuel Harwood's powder fac- 
tory was once a leading industry of the place. 

Melrose and Grant's Hollow are about a mile apart in the extreme 
southern end of the town, near the Lansingburgh line. They are on 
the line of the Fitchburg" railroad and both have excellent transporta- 
57 



450 LANDMARKS OF KENSSELAER COUNTY. 

tion facilities. The ancient Lutheran church is located a short distance 
from Melrose. The business of Melrose was never very extensive. 
Of late years the hamlet has become a popular summer resort for resi- 
dents of Troy and other places, some of whom have erected handsome 
homes and otherwise been instrumental in beautifying the village. 

Grant's Hollow for many years supported an extensive factory for 
the manufacture of fanning-mills, grain-cradles and other agricultural 
implements. For along time this concern, founded in 1836, was owned 
and operated by D. H. Viall, J. P. Leavens and Ezra Banker. It 
finally became the property of the Grant- Ferris company, which em- 
ployed about twenty-five hands. One of the principal stockholders of 
the company is Albert E. Powers of Lansingburgh. The company's 
plant was burned in 1895 and the business was removed from Grant's 
Hollow. 

Valley Falls lies partly in Schaghticoke and partly in Pittstown. A 
sketch of the place will be found in the history of Pittstown. 

Old Schaghticoke, once the principal village in the town, has taken 
the last place in the list of the villages of Schaghticoke. In Old 
Schaghticoke were located the early Dutch church and the old Knick- 
erbocker cemetery, and several taverns and stores. Very little business 
has been done in the place in recent years. 

The First Presbyterian church of Schaghticoke dates from the year 
1803, the first meeting for organization having been held May 24 of 
that year. Work upon the meeting house was begun the following 
year, but the structure was never completed or dedicated. In 1814 a 
movement was inaugurated to move the church to Hart's Falls, and 
February 14, 1820, the design was consummated, the dedication occur- 
ring the following December. In 1847-1848 a new church was erected; 
in 1865 it was enlarged, and in 1874 further improvements were made. 
There was no regular pastor while the church occupied the site first 
selected for it. Rev. Mr. Lansing preached occasionally but not regu- 
larly. The Rev. Jonas Coe of Troy frequently occupied the desk and 
took an interest in the struggling society, presiding at the reorganiza- 
tion in Hart's Falls July 17, 1815. There was no regular preaching for 
four or five years after this, and when services were held it was either 
in the dance hall of the old Schaghticoke house or elsewhere. The 
first settled pastor was the Rev. Thomas Fletcher, who came to the 
church August 11, 1824. A Sunday school was organized July 31, 1823. 
July 19, 1831, a new certificate of incorporation was filed. In July, 



TOWN OF SCHAGHTiCOKE. 451 

1869, a meeting was held to consider the propriety of erecting a par- 
sonage, and during the year following the project was carried out, the 
building costing about $2,000. September 4, 1884, the church was 
damaged by fire and January 39, 1885, a committee was appointed to 
make necessary repairs. The work was completed in the fall of the 
same year at a cost of about $1,500. In the same year the church debt, 
amounting to ^3,400, was paid. In 1894 the church was again repaired 
and painted and new stained glass windows were placed in position 
at a cost of $1,700. 

The organization of the Reformed church of Schaghticoke was the 
outcome of meetings held as early as 1707. vSeven years later, or in 
1714, the parish of Schaghticoke was organized and a log meeting- 
house, the earliest north of the city of Albany, was erected. Tradi- 
tion says that the first log church was succeeded by one or two others, 
the early ones having been burned during the Indian border wars. A 
more pretentious church was erected in 1760 and served the congrega- 
tion until 1833. In the latter year a more commodious and better 
furnished edifice was constructed on the site of the former one. This 
was burned about 1870 or 1871 and a new one was erected about a 
mile from the old site, where it is more accessible by its attendants. 
The society was newly incorporated April 8, 1872, with John A. Van 
Veghten and H. A. Hemstreet as elders and James Webster, Ira But- 
ton and William H. Fort as deacons. The record of the early pastors 
is incomplete. It is known that the Rev. Theodore Frelinghuysen of 
Albany served from 1745 to 1759 and the Rev, E. Westerlo of Albany 
from 1760 to 1773. The first regularly installed pastor was the Rev. 
Elias Van Benschoten, who served from 1773 to 1784. It is related of 
the Rev. Theodore Frelinghuysen that while he was pastor at Albany 
his sermons displeased the soldiers quartered there and one morning 
he found beside his door a staff, a pair of shoes and a coin. Believing 
this to be a hint that his services were no longer desired he left town 
and sailed at once for Holland; but the incident so affected his mind 
that he committed suicide before reaching his home. 

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church is another old religious in- 
stitution of Schaghticoke. Up to the year 1850 the church united 
with Gilead Lutheran church of Brunswick, but since that time it has 
had its own pastors. The first church was erected in 1776 and the first 
pastor was the Rev. George Joseph Wichtermann. A new house of 
worship was erected about 1854. The church was legally incorporated 
May 13, 1851. 



452 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

The Lutheran church in the locality known as Bryan's Corners was 
organized March G, 1852. The Rev. Rufus Smith, the first pastor, en- 
tered upon his duties immediately upon the organization of the church, 
and the society was regularly incorporated April 6, 1852. 

Trinity Episcopal church of Schaghticoke was incorporated Sep- 
tember 26, 1846, the first rector being Rev. George B. Eastman. Ros- 
well J. Brown and James Akhurst were church wardens and Zachariah 
Lvons, Tibbitts Briggs, Benjamin Rodgers, Joseph Brown, William 
Searles, Charles Haywood, John Quintan and Edwin Smith were the 
vestrymen. It was some years before services were regularly held. 
During 1868 the Rev. J. H. Brown of Cohoes performed services with 
more or less regularity, assisted by neighboring clergy. May 30, 1869, 
the Rev. William Bogart Walker commenced holding regular services 
and April 1, 1871, was called to the rectorship, taking charge at the 
same time of the missions at Johnsonville and Crandall's Corners. Sep- 
tember 1, 1874, the corner stone of the present church was laid. The 
Rev. William B. Walker resigned as rector July 26, 1875, and was suc- 
ceeded by the Rev. R. G. Hamilton, who took charge October 14, 1875. 
Trinity church is pleasantly situated on Main street, Schaghticoke. 
There are forty-three families in the parish and fifty-three communi- 
cants. The church and property are valued at about $8,000. 

As near as can be ascertained the first Catholic services in Schagh- 
ticoke were held in the brick school house on the Tibbits estate near 
the present church, Catholic pastors journeying from Lansingburgh on 
foot to conduct the same. Previous to the year 1842 (about 1840) a 
movement was inaugurated for the building of a church, John Breslin, 
William Graham, Patrick Butler and Patrick McGowan being the chief 
promoters of the project. Their duties were arduous but at last were 
crowned with success, for in the year 1842 the church was erected at a 
cost exceeding $5,000. The site was donated by George Tibbits of 
Troy and later two adjoining lots were purchased of Mr. Tibbits, as 
the church was situated in such a position that it was impossible for the 
members to attend the services without going out of their way a con- 
siderable distance. At the time of la5nng out the village a new street 
was to be created, passing directly in front of the edifice, but this was 
afterwards changed. At the time the edifice was built the Catholics of 
Schaghticoke, Johnsonville and Valley Falls constituted one parish. 
The church when built was very small. In October, 1859, the Rev. 
Fr. Louis M. Edge, O. S. A., took charge of the parish and during his 



TOWN OF SCHAGHTICOKE. 453 

pastorate the church was enlarged and improved about 18G3. The 
spire of this church is one hundred and fifty feet above the level of the 
street. The first priest to take charge was the Rev. W. P. Hogan, 
who came in 1843. The church at Johnsonville was built by the Rev. 
J. T. O. Reilly, and the Pittstown church was built by the Rev. George 
S. Mahar, both pastors of the Schaghticoke church. 

The first Methodist meetings in Schaghticoke were held in private 
residences imtil the year 1825, when a church was erected on the prop- 
erty of Alex Diver on Sixth street, the Rev. Mr. Howe being the pas- 
tor. The church was incorporated January 15, 1831, Daniel Chase, 
Samuel Welch and Franklin Miller being named as trustees. In the 
year 1835 the present church was erected on Main street. The pres- 
ent structure was remodelled in 1895 at a cost of nearly $3,000, and 
now has a seating capacity of nearly four hundred. 

The Methodist church at Melrose, or more properly Grant's Hollow, 
was organized in 1853 as part of the Raymertown circuit. The trustees 
were John D. Perry, jr., Oliver H. Perry, Frederick S. Cole and Daniel 
H. Viall. Mr. Viall has held the same position continuously since that 
time. October 19, 1853, land was conveyed to the trustees by Isaac 
Grant and wife and later a church was erected at a cost of $600. The 
dedicatory prayer was made by the Rev. Thomas A. Griffin, afterward 
presiding elder of the Troy district, who acted as supply for the Rev. 
J. C. Simmons, who was disabled by an accident. Extensive improve- 
ments have since been made to the church at a cost of $400. The first 
pastor, in 1852, was the Rev. J. C. Simmons. 

The Methodist Episcopal society at Schaghticoke Hill was organized 
as a class about the year 1789-90 and continued to be a regular preach- 
ing appointment of the Pittstown circuit until 1850, when, with 
Schaghticoke Point, it was set off. In 1863 Grant's Hollow, then 
known as the Junction, was joined to Schaghticoke. In 1864 Schagh- 
ticoke was set off by itself and since that time Schaghticoke Hill 
and Grant's Hollow (Melrose) have been under one pastor. 

The first meeting with a view to organizing a Presbyterian church 
at Melrose was held January 28, 1882. The incorporators were Adam 
M. Hayner, Alexander B. Reid, T. Newton Wilson, George W. Sinsa- 
baugh, C. C. Schoonmaker, Frederick A. Lasser, Thomas W. Griffin 
and Charles W. Bonesteel. The following were chosen as the first 
board of trustees: Charles E. Dusenberry, Thomas W. Griffin, George 
W. Sinsabaugh, John J. Sipperley and C. C. Schoonmaker. The beau- 



464 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

tiful site upon which the church is situated was given by T. Newton 
Wilson, and a commodious church was erected in 1882. The societ}- 
was ecclesiastically organized by the presbytery of Troy January 10, 
1883, with thirty charter members, John J. Sipperley, Michael L. Over- 
ocker, Dewitt C. Halstead and Frederick A. Lape being chosen elders. 
The Rev. Mark A. Denman was installed as the first pastor May 12, 
1886, serving until September 1, 1888. The Rev. C. H. Van Wie, the 
present pastor, was installed May 27, 1890. During the present pastor- 
ate a debt of $2,200 has been removed and a number of improvements 
have been made. 

Supervisors of Schach ticoke. 

1783-1786, Casper Rouse; 1787-1788, Isaac Thompson; 1789-1795, Jacob A. Lan- 
sing; 1796, Josiah Masters; 1797, Silas Wickes; 1798, Josiah Masters; 1799, Silas 
Wickes; 1800, Jacob Yates (probably) ; 1801-1804, Jacob Yates; 1805-1806, Herman 
Knickerbocker; 1807-1811, Munson Smith; 1813, Jacob Yates; 1813, Herman Knick- 
erbocker; 1814-1815, Munson Smith; 1816-1817, Wooster Brookins; 1818-1823, Her- 
man Knickerbocker; 1824, Munson Smith; 1825-1829, Herman Knickerbocker ; 1830- 
1831, Alexander Bryan; 1832, Isaac Tallmadge; 1833, Alexander Bryan ; 1834-1835, 
AmosBriggs; 1836-1837, Edwin Smith; 1838-1840, Amos Briggs; 1841-1842. Nich- 
olas M. Masters; 1843, John Bancker; 1844-1847, Charles B. Stratton : 1848, Jacob 
Sipperly; 1849-1850, William Van Veghten ; 1851, Freeman Baker; 1852, Charles B. 
Stratton; 1853, R. M. Hasbrouck ; 1854, Zachariah Lyo i ; 1855-1856, R. M. Has- 
brouck; 1857-1858, John A. Baucus; 1859, Wyatt K. Swift; 1860-1862, John A. 
Quackenbush; 1863, William Baucus; 1864-1866, William Allen; 1867, William H. 
Buckley; 1868-1870, Elisha S. Baucus; 1871 Daniel F. Wetsel; 1872, William Allen; 
1873, Daniel F. Wetsel; 1874, John N. Bonesteel; 1875-1876, George Haner; 1877, 
Solomon V. R. Miller; 1878, Alonzo P. Cooper; 1879-1880. Charles J. Starks; 1881, 
James Nutt; 1882, Amos Bryan ; 1883-1884, J. Irving Baucus; 1885, Alonzo P. Cooper; 
1886-1888. Frederick Wiley; 1889-1891, James Beecroft; 1892-1893, Merritt Button; 
1894-1895, Nelson L. \'iall ; 1896 , James Evans. 

Town Clerks oi' vSchaoh ru <»ki:. 

1783-1788, Evans Humphrey; 1789-1792, Silas Wickes; 1793, Cornelius Van 
Veghten ; 1794-1796, Silas Wickes ; 1797, David Bryan ; 1798, John V. D. Spiegel ; 1799, 
Edward Ostrander ; 1800. Edward Ostrander (probably) ; 1801 . John V. D. Spiegel ; 1802, 
-1804, Herman Knickerbocker; 1805-1806, Sybrandt Viele; 1807-1812. Wooster Brook- 
ins; 1813. Jacob Kingsley; 1814-1815, Wooster Brookins; 1816-1819, Allen Cornell ; 
1820-1826. Lewis B. Slocum ; 1827, Lewis Buffett; 1828-1832, Lewis B. Slocum ; 1833- 
1835, Edwin Smith; 1836, Henry N. Wales; 1837, Charles B. Stratton; 1838-1839, 
Franklin Miller; 1840, Henry Ensign; 1841, Nelson Mosher; 1842. Edwin Smith; 
1843-1844, D. Bryan Baker; 1845. William McGregor; 1846-1847. John B. Perry; 
1848-1849, James Nutt; 1850, Otis Robinson; 1851-1852, Norman Briggs; 1853-1854, 



TOWN OF SCHAGHTICOKE. 455 

Lorenzo Baker; 1855, Pardon Briggs; 1856-1860, James Nutt; 1861-1863, David 
Myers; 1864-1868, Sidney S. Congdon ; 1869, Charles A. Pickett; 1870-1872, Job 
Viall; 1873-1874, John Downs; 1875-1876, Frederick Wiley ; 1877, Richard C. Gun- 
ner; 1878, Charles Buffett; 1879-1880, William W. Bryant; 1881-1882, John W. 
Banker; 1883-1885, N L. Viall; 1886-1890, T. J. Wiley; 1891, John W. Richards; 
1892, E. E. Pinkham; 1898-1895, John W. Richards; 1896 , E. E. Pinkham. 

Justices of the Peace of Schaghticoke. 

Daniel Goewy, sworn in February 26, 1823; Allen Conner, sworn in March 13, 
1823; Alexander C. Tracy, sworn in October 8, 1823; David Tallmadge, sworn in 
November 25, 1823; Orman Doty, sworn in March 15, 1825; Alexander Bryan, sworn 
in December 31, 1827; Nicholas M. Masters, sworn in January 5, 1828; Nicholas M. 
Masters, sworn in April 3, 1829. 

Chosen at the annual town meetings; 1830, Levi Nelson; 1831, Alexander Bryan; 
1832, Hiram Slocum ; 1833, John D. Brown; 1834, Benjamin Perry; 1835, Levi Nel- 
jon; 1836, William Van Veghten ; 1837, John D. Brown; 1838, Benjamin Perry; 1839, 
Cyrus A. Lockwood ; 1840, William Van Veghten; 1841, Henry N. Wales; 1842, 
Henry N. Miller; 1843, Hawley Ransom, Daniel F. Wetsell, Osborn Evans, 1844, 
Herman Knickerbocker; 1845, Henry W. Miller; 1846, Daniel F. Wetsell; 1847, 
Charles Joy Wilbur; 1848, John Bancker, Henry Burch; 1849, Ephraim Congdon; 
1850, Matthew Webster; 1851, Charles J. Wilbur; 1852, Samuel Herrick; 1853, 
Chauncy B. Slocum; 1854, George Baucus; 1855, Charles J. Wilbur; 1856, Elihu 
Butts; 1857, Thomas Esmond; 1858, Ephraim Congdon; 1859, Chauncy B. Slocum; 
1860, Elihu Butts; 1861, Charles J. Miller; 1862, John Bancker, Daniel H. Viall; 
1863, Chauncy B. Slocum; 1864, David Myers; 1865, Alphonzo Merrill; 1866, Elihu 
Butts; 1867, Samuel Harwood; 1868, Sylvester Veits; 1869, Chauncy B. Slocum; 
1870, J. S. Welling; 1871. D. F. Groesbeck ; 1872, Samuel Harwood, Alphonzo Mer- 
rill; 1873, Charles A. Pickett; 1874, John R. Hmds, same for vacancy; 1875, Danus 
Gifford, Elihu Butts; 1876, E. F. Frost; 1877, Elihu Butts; 1878, James Evans; 1879, 
William V. V. Reynolds; 1881, J. P. Leavens; 1882, William V Reynolds; 1883, 
John Kenyon; 1884, Elihu Butts; 1885, S. S. Congdon; 1886, E. Burlingame; 1887. 
William H. Hawkins; 1888, James Evans; 1889, N. M. Hayner; 1890, Frederick 
Wiley; 1891, John Kenyon; 1892, W. V. V. Reynolds; 1893, E. Burlingame; 1894, 
; 1895, Chauncey Kinney; 1896, Franklin Harwood. 

Presidents of the Village of Schaghticoke. 

1867-1869, Oliver A. Arnold; 1870-1873, Charles A. Pickett; 1874-1875, James 
Nutt; 1876-1877, Michael McGrath; 1878, John Downs; 1879, Sidney S. Congdon ; 
1880, Ehhu Butts; 1881-1883, A. Sipperly; 1884-1885, Frederick Wiley ; 1886, Frank E. 
Phillips; 1887. J. Bryan Baucus; 1888-1889, James Beecroft; 1890, John W. Rich- 
ards; 1891-1892, George F. Allen; 1893, John W. Richards; 1894, W. E. Wiley; 
1895, Thomas L. Doremus; 1896, Dr. D. H. Tarbell. 

Clkkks of the Village of Schaghticoke. 
1867-1870, Alphonzo Merrill; 1871, Charles H. Harrison; 1872-1882, R. J. Horn- 



456 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

brook; 1883-1885, E. Burlingame; 1886, A. H. Doty; 1887-1889, E. Burlingame; 
1890, A. H. Doty; 1891-1892, E. Burlingame; 1893, C. H. Button; 1894 , Fred- 
erick M. Askins. 

TkKASURKRS of the VlM-AGF, OK SCH AGHTICOKF,. 

1867-1870, Julius E. Butts; 1871-1872, Charles Baker ; 1873-1874, Andrew Sipperly; 
1875, E. M. Congdon; 1876-1877, Alphonzo Merrill; 1878, Sidney S. Congdon ; 1879, 
E. Morgan Congdon; 1S80-1885, John Downs; 1886, James Beecroft; 1887, D. 
Myers; 1888-1889, E. E. Pinkham; 1890, H. S. Fowler; 1891-1892, E. E. Pinkham; 
1893-1894, James Beecroft; 1895 , E. E. Pinkham. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

TOWN OF SCHODACK. 

The town of Schodack was organized March 17, 1795, when Rensse- 
laerwyck was divided.! By the general law dividing all the counties 
of the State into towns, passed April 7, 1801, the bounds of the town 
of Schodack were defined as follows: 

Bounded southerly by the county of Columbia, westerly by the county of Albany, 
including such of the islands in Hudson's river as are nearest the east side thereof, 
northerly by Greenbush and easterly by a line continued from the north bounds of 
the manor of Rensselaerwyck at a place nine miles distant from Hudson's river, 
southerly to a place in the north line of the county of Columbia ten miles distant 
from Hudson's river. 

In 1806 parts of the towns of Nassau and Berlin were taken off. 
The town is situated in the southwestern corner of the county. It is 
bounded on the north by the towns of East Greenbush and Sand Lake, 
on the east by the town of Nassau, on the south by the towns of Kin- 
derhook and Stuyvesant in Columbia county, and on the west by the 
Hudson river, or Albany county. It is one of the most populous and 
fertile towns in the county, as well as one of the most picturesque. 
Beeren island, containing about ten acres, is located south of Coey- 
man's Landing. 

The chief village of the Mohican Indians was for many generations 
located in Schodack, and nearby were other Indian villages of less im- 

1 See history of Greenbush, 



TOWN OF SCHODACK. 457 

portance. The name Schodack is a corruption of the Indian name 
Esquatak, meaning " the fireplace of the nation," so called because 
the council-seat of the famed Mohican Indians was located in this town. 
Beside Esquatak the Indians had villages called Potkoke, Wyomenock 
and others. 

It appears to be a settled fact that the first white man to set foot upon 
the soil of the town of Schodack and of Rensselaer county was Henry 
Hudson, in 1609, whose voyage and exploration in this vicinity have 
been described in a previous chapter. His landing probably was at or 
very near the present site of the village of Castleton. 

The exact date of the first white settlement of the town is not defi • 
nitely known, though the records show that the first civilized inhabit- 
ants were tenants under the first patroon, Killiaen Van Rensselaer. 
As near as can be determined the date of settlement was about 1630, 
though it may have been a year earlier. No reliable records of the 
earliest Dutch settlers are in existence, though there are on file in the 
office of the Albany county clerk a number of papers relating to trans- 
fers of real estate and other afi^airs occurring a few years later. Other 
documents on file in the office of the secretary of state in Albany give 
a hint at some of the early transactions. One of the latter shows that 
September 2, 1675, about forty-five years after the first settlements 
had been made, Barendt Myndertse, a master shoemaker, received a 
deed to about seventy-four acres of land from the Mahikander Indians. 
From the description of this grant it probably embraced a part of the 
present site of Schodack island. Myndertse settled in Beverwyck as 
early as 1659. His two brothers, Myndert and Carster Frederickse, 
were among the earliest settlers. October 4, 1663, Volckert Janssen 
[Douw] and Jan Tomassen bought of two Indians — Wattawit and Pe- 
pewitsie, his mother — "their certain land lying on the goojer's kil on 
Apjen's island, or by the Indians called Schotack, their portion of said 
Apjen's island is the north end. . . ." January 17, 1664, the same men 
bought of two other Indians, Panasit and Wapto, brothers, the land on 
the east side of the island. December 29, 1670, Jan Laurense [Van 
Alen] purchased of Volckert Janse [Douw] and Jan Thomase land in 
Schodack formerly occupied by Adriaen Dirruxse De Vries, so the latter 
also must have been an early settler. 

Among the first permanent settlers of the town was Hendrick Maase 
Van Beuren or Van Buren, son of Maas Hendrickse Van Buren, who 
preceded him in the settlement of the town. The latter's father came 
58 



458 LANDMARKS OP RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

from Holland and had a farm at Papsknee island. Descendants of 
this family settled in various parts of the town. Other pioneers were 
Wouter Barhuydt [BarheitJ, Jeronimus Van Valkenburgh, Casparus 
Springsteen and Jacob Cornelius Schermerhorn. Another vSchermer- 
horn family settled in the town early in its history. Jacob Schermer- 
horn lived in the northern part of the town and his children were Jacob, 
Barney, Cornelius, Catalina and Geralty. Hanse Van Valkenburgh 
and Nicholas Ketel [Kittle] resided near the river in the northern part 
of the town in 1767, and not far from them about the same time lived 
Isaac Muller, Hendrick Schevers, Peter Lodewick, Anthony Poel, 
Hendrick Beekman and Jonathan Witbeck. On the island since called 
Staats island lived Joachim Staats and Gerrit Staats. In the northern 
part of the town lived Casper Ham and Henry Shans. John E. Lan- 
sing and Obadiah Lansing also settled in the northern part of the town 
in the early part of the eighteenth century. Jacob John made one of 
the early settlements in the middle of the town, about three miles east 
of Castleton. 

The western part of the town, near the Hudson river, was undoubt- 
edly settled some time before the country further to the east. The 
rich alluvial soil in the western portion was more tempting to farmers, 
and nearly all the first settlers were farmers. Some confined them- 
selves to trading with the Indians and trapping fur-l)earing animals, 
but farming was the principal industry. 

Many of the early settlers of Schodack took a prominent part in 
public affairs. Among these was Anthony Ten Eyck, who was the first 
county judge of Rensselaer county, to which position he was appointed 
February 18, 1791. 

The old post road between Troy and New York was doubtless the 
first improved turnpike running through the town of Schodack, and is 
said to be one of the oldest public highways in the State. It was origi- 
nally called Kingsbrut and is believed to have been constructed by the 
English during the first French and Indian war. The road known as 
the Farmers' turnpike along the river was constructed soon after the 
war of the Revolution. The Boston and Albany turnpike was laid in 
the year 1800. These and the other roads were the courses used by 
the numerous early stage lines which passed through every part of the 
town. 

The first town meeting in Schodack was held April 7, 1795, Thomas 
Frost acting as moderator. At this meeting these officers were chosen: 



i 



TOWN OF SCHODACK. 459 

Supervisor, Aaron Ostrander; assessors, Cornelius Schermerhorn, Nicholas Staats, 
Thomas Frost, Jonathan Hoag, Nathaniel Brockway ; overseers of the poor, James 
McKown, Isaac Phillips; collector, Henry Sheffer; commissioners of highways, 
Elijah Kelsey, Hosea Hamilton, Walter Carpenter; constables, Henry Sheffer, 
Charles Mason, Reuben Burton, Joseph Burch, Thomas Bremijahm; poundmasters, 
John Van Ness, Jonathan Hoag; fence viewers, Jacobus Vanderpoel, Jacob Barhite, 
Barent Vandenbergh, David Arnold, Jesse De Freest, Peter Althuyser, George 
Milleas Nathaniel Brockway, Samuel Brown, Germond Filkin, Richard Yates; 
pathmasters, John E. Lansing, St. Leger Cowles, Darius Sherman, Jacobus Van 
Ness, Jacob Van Valkenburgh, David Bell, Joseph Bell, Joseph Vickery, Cornelius 
Schermerhorn, Jacobus Volmsbee, John Van Ness, jr., and Harmon Coun. 

One of the first physicians locating in Schodack was Dr. Samuel 
M. Leonard, who early in the nineteenth century lived in the eastern 
part of the town. Soon after he settled there Dr. Ebenezer Balentine 
located at Schodack Landing, subsequently removing to Ohio. Dr. 
Joseph Shirts came after Dr. Balentine, but he died two years later, in 
the midst of a highly successful practice, -of typhus fever. Other early 
physicians were John Squires at Schodack Landing, Henry P. Van 
Dyke at Muitzes Kill, Cornelius Van Dyke at the same place, and John 
Van Buren and James Hogeboom at Castleton. Among the early 
lawyers were George W. Bulkley, who located at Schodack Landing 
about 1848 or 1849, and G. P. Jenks, who settled in Castleton in 1861. 

Many of the inhabitants of Schodack served in the Revolutionary 
War with the American army, among whom were Colonel Jacob 

Schermerhorn, William Van Benthusen, Green and Poel. 

Among those who served in the War of 1813 were Captain Abram C. 
Huyck, who commanded a company; John I. Ketel [Kittle], Jeremiah 
Miller, David Simmons, Braddard Yale, Jacob Milham, Vandenberg 
and Schermerhorn. Schodack also sent its full quota to the front in 
the War of the Rebellion, most of those serving enlisting in companies 
in the 30th, IGOth and 125th Regiments. The names of those who 
died in the service of the United States are : 

Andrew W. Van Buren, Adam H. See, Franklin Comstock, Rensselaer Knapp, 
Beth F. Johnson, Abraham Cornelius, WiUiam H. Southwick, David Rose, Jacob 
Slummer, Alexander Springsteen, William Acker, Charles S. Hogeboom, John 
Rourke, Abiel Smith, Franklin G. Wright, Philetus Brown, Caleb Higgins, Casper 
Herbert, George H. Race, Philo Wilkinson, Selden E. Boughton, Chester C. Folmsby, 
Augustin Reger, John Moser, James Gleason and Edward Gleason. 

The principal village in Schodack is Castleton, located on the banks 
of the Hudson river eight miles below Greenbush and in about the 
centre of the extreme western portion of the town. Castleton was 



460 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

named after Castle Hill, east of the village, on which was once located 
the chief Indian castle of that locality. The earliest settlers in this 
vicinity have already been referred to. Among later settlers were 
Captain Eslik, James L. Hogeboom, Joseph Proseus, Jabez Robinson, 
George Noyes and Nathan Noyes. 

The village was incorporated in 1827 at a time when it contained not 
more than twenty-five houses and a hundred inhabitants. One of the 
earliest stores there was located on the dock extending into the Hudson 
river, and was kept by Livingston, Hurd & Co. Another was owned 
by Daniel Wilcox. Still others were kept by Mr. Gregory and Mr. 
McCloskey, Sybil & Hogeboom, and later J. W. Van Hoesen. One of 
the earliest taverns was kept by Joseph Proseus. It was located in the 
northern part of the village. Later tavern-keepers were Jeremiah 
Gage, Jabez Robinson and Manasseh Knowlton. 

The first village meeting was held May 7, 1828, and was presided 
over by William Fitch, justice of the peace. The village voted to be- 
come a new corporation in 1870 under the general laws relating to vil- 
lages. 

For some time the project of a system of water works was agitated 
and in the spring of 1896 the village trustees appointed a commission 
consisting of Barent W. Stryker, C. P. Willis, Seth Wheeler, William 
A. Phibbs, August Hounghstine and Henry Steinberger. This com- 
mission is now considering the feasibility of the project. It is proposed 
to have constructed in connection with the water works system a sys- 
tem of sewerage. 

There is but one bank in the village, the National Bank of Castleton. 
This bank was organized January 25, 1865, by seven of the most promi- 
nent residents, who, under the charter, comprised the original board 
of directors. This board consisted of Joel D. Smith, Frank H. Hast- 
ings, Castle W. Herrick, J. V. D. Witbeck, Russell Downer, Andrew 
Harder and Edwin H. Griffith. The first officers were Joel D. Smith, 
president; Andrew Harder, vice-president; Edwin H. Griffith, cash- 
ier. In 1885 the charter of the bank expired and it was extended 
twenty years. On the morning of April 13, 1889, the bank building, 
which was then situated on the west side of River street near the rail- 
road station, was totally destroyed by fire. The books of the corpora- 
tion were in the safe and these, together with a number of notes and 
checks, were also destroyed. The directors purchased the property 
almost opposite the burned structure and converted it into a banking 




BARhNT W. STRYKER. 




FRANK P. HARDHR. 



TOWN OF SCHODACK. 461 

house. It is on this site that the bank now stands. Of the original 
board of directors all are dead with the exception of J. V. D. Witbeck. 
The present board of directors consists of Franklin P. Harder, James 
R. Downer, Barent W. Stryker, James Kingman, Frank H. Downer, 
L. vS. Kellogg, James H. Kingman, N. A. Schermerhorn and George 

E. Barringer. The present officers are Franklin P. Harder, president; 
James Kingman, vice-president; James R. Downer, cashier. 

Castleton has an excellent graded school system under the supervis- 
ion of Principal Frank Clapper. About 300 pupils attend. The course 
of study extends from the primary branches to academic subjects, some 
of the graduates having been prepared for admission to college. When 
the village was first organized the necessity of a school was appreciated 
by the residents and one was built The records of this school were 
lost and excepting what can be recalled by early residents nothing can 
be learned. About eighty years ago Catherine Van Buren, who was subse • 
quently Mrs. Hannibal Finck of Valle}^ Falls, donated to the village a 
lot upon which was to be erected a building for school purposes. A 
frame structure was built in 1820 on the rear of the ground. Eighteen 
years afterwards this building was demolished and a brick one substi- 
tuted. The school house at present in use was built in 1866 and its 
dimensions are fifty-six feet by thirty-four feet, two stories in height. 

The village has a very efficient fire department, consisting of the 
Frank P. Harder engine company and the J. W. McKnight hose com- 
pany. The Frank P. Harder engine company was organized in 1871, 
it having been found necessary on account of the frequency with which 
fires occurred. On a plat of ground which had been given the village 
by William Custis in 1864 for the location of a school house, a structure 
was erected for an engine house and a new fourth class engine pur- 
chased. About 1,600 feet of hose was also bought and this, with other 
necessary paraphernalia, comprised the department apparatus. A 
meeting of residents of the village who composed the fire workers was 
called and a company organized with the following officers: President, 

F. P. Harder; chief engineer, W. P. Smith; foreman, William P. 
Smith; first assistant, James M. Dawson; second assistant, P. H. 
Finkle; third assistant, George Hudson, jr. The present officers are 
E. J. Earing, chief; George Knower, foreman; Louis Cook, first as- 
sistant; Martin Hotfman, second as.sistant; Silas Cargon, treasurer; 
O. D. Woodford, secretary. At present there are thirty members on 
the active roll. 



462 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

The J. W. McKnight hose company was organized in 1891 and has 
twenty active members. The original officers were Stephen Com- 
stock, foreman; Abraham Shortsleeves, first assistant; John Van Buren, 
secretary; J. W. McKnight, treasurer. 

The principal manufacturing establishments of Castleton are the 
mills of Ingalls & Co., the Riverside paper mill and the postal card 
works. 

The Oak Grove mills, which are conducted by Ingalls eK: Co. for the 
manufacture of binders' board, trunk board, wagon board and album 
board, came to Castleton in 1888 from South Manchester, Conn., where 
the business was established in 1873. The mills furnish employment 
to twenty-seven persons and have a daily capacity of i;),000 pounds. 

The Riverside mills are the property of the Castleton Paper company, 
but at present are being operated by Horton Harder, agt. The mills 
were built in 1863 and for a number of years manufactured straw 
wrapping paper, having a capacity of five tons a day. For the past 
few years the product of the mills has consisted of tissue paper, the 
daily capacity being two and one half tons. The mills give employ- 
inent to about twenty hands. 

In 1850 Charles Van Benthuysen constructed the mills now used for 
the manufacture of paper and postal cards. The mills were sold to 
Woolworth & Graham, who now operate them, in 1881. Since the 
plant has been under the present management the product has increased 
from one to sixteen tons per day. The manufacture of postal cards 
for the U. S. government has been conducted, with the exception of 
one contract term of four years, since Woolworth & Graham assumed 
proprietorship. The product in the postal card works is 2,000,000 
cards per day. The product of the paper mill consists of writing and 
blank books, white and colored paper, envelopes, pads and tablets. The 
entire plant requires 200 hands in its operation. 

Castleton has one lodge of Odd Fellows, Shadyside lodge No. 721. 
It was organized December 18, 1804, with five charter members. They 
were Andrew Hauck, Lewis H. Pardee, Herman Signer, Thomas J. 
Lape and William S. Castle. At the first meeting eleven new mem- 
bers were initiated. The lodge is now in a flourishing condition. 

There are several other villages in the town, but none have ever at- 
tained the important position occupied by Castleton. Schodack Land- 
ing in the southwestern part of the town on the Hudson river, was set- 
tled soon after Castleton. Early settlers were John C. Schermerh(jrn, 




JOHN w. Mcknight. 




RANSHN GARDENIHR. 



TOWN OF SCHODACK. 463 

who is believed to have been the first postmaster ; Dr. John Squires, 
Philip Schermerhorn, Smith Peters and others. The old Kittle tavern 
was one of the earliest, perhaps the first, of the public houses. 

Schodack Depot is a small hamlet located on the Boston & Albany 
railroad near the centre of the town. 

Schodack Centre is located near by. The old brick tavern, the first 
in the place, was built by John Witbeck in 1816. The post-office was 
established in 1830 and the first postmaster was James Richardson. 
Schodack C,entre occupies more territory than any other hamlet in the 
town, its extent being about two miles from north to south. Masonic 
hall, one of the old taverns, was conducted in the early part of the cen- 
tury by Manasseh Knowlton, who afterward had charge of the Brad- 
bury house at Castleton. In those days the militia and independent 
uniformed military companies were required by law to meet occasion- 
ally for drill and inspection, and Masonic hall was one of the principal 
places designated for the purpose. The tavern subsequently passed 
into the hands of Jacob W. Lewis. The hotel received its name from 
the fact that Schodack Union lodge, F. & A. M., had rooms in it. J. W. 
Boyce, a well known local historical writer, in a recent newspaper 
article said : 

For years the Schodack Centre post-office has been located at Masonic hall. When 
the Hon. Martin I. Townsend of Troy was representative in Congress from the 
Rensselaer- Washington district, an effort was made to remove the post-office to the 
Brick hotel, situated about one mile nearer Albany, and the effort was temporarily 
successful, but such a breeze was raised by the inhabitants living around Masonic 
hall, that the office was moved back in twelve days. 

The blacksmith shop occupied in 1896 by Thomas Early, opposite 
the brick hotel, has been in use nearly a century. In it the stage horses 
of the olden time were shod. The Brick hotel, located on the Boston 
and Albany turnpike about a mile north of Masonic hall, was built soon 
after the latter. One of its earliest proprietors was John H. Vanden- 
burgh.._It was a famous stopping place for the fashionable people of 
Albany in the early days of the century. Colonel N. S. Miller, who 
lived for many years on the road to Castleton, was prominently identi- 
fied with the best interests of the town for many years. 

His tastes led him early to engage in the military operations of the State, having 
arisen from the ranks to be a colonel of a regiment under the old military regula- 
tions of the State, and, when the national guards were organized, he became colonel 
of the Seventy-second Regiment, N. G. S. N. Y. He was captain of the old " Bun- 



464 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

ker Hill Barefoots" — but whether he was in command when the Barefoots were in 
ambush, watching the old Silver Greys of Nassau, history sayeth not. He was an 
efficient commander and had the respect of his command, as well as of those high 
in authority.' 

South Schodack is located on the Boston & Albany railroad in the 
southern part of the town. 

East wSchodack, formerly called Scott's Corners, is located in the 
northeastern part of the town. Among^ its early settlers were Nathan 
Frost and a family named Lewis. A tavern was built there about 1810 
by a man named Scott, after whom the place was called Scott's Cor- 
ners. The first store, established in 1826 or 1827, was kept by Cornel- 
ius Burdwell. Nicholas Lester was probably the first postmaster, 
about 1854. Scott's hotel was situated on the corner, and the store was 
so located that it faced the three roads that met there. The name of 
the hamlet was changed to East Schodack about 1845. In the early 
days of the hamlet there were two wagon shops there, one run by 
James Hawkins and the other by William Taber. 

Muitzes Kill is situated in the southern part of the town on a creek 
bearing the same name. One of the earliest storekeepers was John S. 
Clapp. The postoffice was not established until 1876, when Mr. Folms- 
bee was made postmaster. 

Masten's Corners is a small hamlet located two miles south of Castle- 
ton, and Clark's Corners is in the northeastern part of the town. 

The exact date of the establishment of the Reformed Protestant 
Dutch church of Schodack is not known. The earliest record in exist- 
ence begins with 1770, but as early as 1754 preaching services had been 
conducted at Schodack. Whether a church edifice was erected before 
that time is not known. Until 1810 the church and parsonage were 
located near Schodack Landing. In the latter year the site was 
changed to Muitzes Kill, the building being used until February 7, 
1876, when it was burned. A new church was at once erected at a cost 
of $6,000 and was dedicated December 6, 1876. The first regular 
pastor was Johannes Casparus Fryenmoet, who also served the congre- 
gation at Kinderhook, Columbia county He continued for about 
eight years, when he died, and for twelve years the society was with- 
out a regular pastor. Rev. James Romeyn, the second pastor, began 
his labors in 1788, serving also a church in Greenbush. In 1820 the 
connection between the Schodack and Nassau churches, which had 

1 J. W. Boyce. 



I 



TOWN OF SCHODACK. 465 

existed since the organization of the latter in 1803, was dissolved, and 
in May, 1821, the Rev. Isaiah Y. Johnson was called to the Schodack 
church, becoming the first pastor who devoted his services exclusively 
to the Schodack church. 

The Reformed church at Schodack Landing was founded by mem- 
bers of the Reformed Protestant Dutch church November 2, 1858, and 
for a time was under the direction of the parent church. In 1866 it 
became independent, its first pastor, the Rev. Isaac L. Kip, serving 
from 1867 to 1875. 

The Schodack Baptist church was founded- in 1780, its first pastor 
being the Rev. Mr. Tubbs. The first house of worship was a log 
meeting house, which was succeeded in 1800 by a more pretentious 
edifice. After the death of Mr. Tubbs the church was without a pas- 
tor until 1797, when the Rev. Stephen Olmstead accepted a call, serv- 
ing the church for thirty-five years. 

The Castleton Methodist Episcopal church began in 1836 as a mission 
station in the Chatham circuit. The church edifice was built in 1838 
and the Rev. Philetus Green became the first pastor. In 1852 a par- 
sonage was purchased, but in 1870 a new one was built at a cost of 
$3,000. In 1861 the church was remodeled at a cost of about $2,200. 

The corner stone of the Reformed church at Castleton was laid July 
19, 1852. The architecture of the building was pure Gothic and con- 
sistently maintained throughout. In response to an application from 
forty-two persons to the classis of Rensselaer, a church organization 
was effected December 27, 1852. The dedication services were held 
February 22, 1853. Divine worship was regularly held in this church 
until 1886, when the building was torn down and the present attractive, 
commodious edifice was erected in its place. Until 1887 the church 
owned a parsonage, but this was sold to reduce the mortgage indebt- 
edness upon the church property. Regular preaching services are held 
in the summer season at what is called the White school house, and 
also at the Brick school house. The church has had six pastors and 
one stated supply. Rev. Edward P. Stimson served from 1853 to 1861, 
Rev. Edgar L. Hermance from 1861 to 1869, Rev. George H. Mills 
from 1870 to 1882, Rev. Alan D. Campbell from 1882 to 1889, Rev. 
John Dunlap served as a supply from 1889 to 1890, Rev. Cornelius E. 
Wyckoff was pastor from 1891 to 1893, Rev. Eugene E. Thomas began 
his pastorate in April, 1894, and still continues to enjoy the esteem and 
co-operation of his parishioners. 

59 



466 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

The East Schodack Evangelical Lutheran church was organized May 
15, 1842, and the Rev. H. L. Dox was the first pastor. The first house of 
worship was erected in 1844. The Second Lutheran church at West Sand 
Lake and the church at East Schodack were under one pastorate for 
many years, but the congregation at the East Schodack church became 
so large that it was found necessary either to enlarge the church or 
build a new one. The latter course was taken and in 18T2 a new church 
was erected at an expense of about $10,000. This church was subse- 
quently struck by lightning, which damaged it very much, but it was 
thoroughly repaired and the inside walls ceiled, and it is now regarded 
as one of the finest church buildings in this part of the State. 

About the year 1 888 a few Dutch speaking families who had emigrated 
from Holland at different times during the past quarter of a century, 
began to hold religious services in the Reformed church at Castleton. 
These meetings were at first conducted by Domine Dykstra, then pas- 
tor of the Holland church in Albany. Some of these families are reg- 
ular communicants in the Castleton Reformed church, but a large 
number still retain their church membership in Holland. These ser- 
vices are conducted mainly for the benefit of those who cannot speak 
English, but at the same time a Sunday school has been established for 
the religious training of children. Many of these children also receive 
instruction in the Reformed Church Sunday school. While these fam- 
ilies do not now receive the ministrations of a regularly ordained clergy- 
man, 3^et for the past two years they have profited by the preaching of 
Mr. Voosje van Bruggen, an elder in the Holland church at Albany. 

Supervisors of Schodack. ^ 

1795-1799, A. O. Ostrander; 1800-1809, C. Schermerhorn ; 1810-1813, William 
Lewis; 1814-1816, C. L Schermerhorn; 1817-1819, W. Brockway; 1820-1822, S. R. 
Cambell; 1823, J. Witbeck ; 1824, S. R. Cambell; 1825-1833, A. Buckman ; 1834-1839. 
J. Shibley; 1840-1843. A. Buckman; 1844, P G. Ten Eyck; 1845, S. McClellan; 
1846-1847, J. N. Vedder; 1848, William N. Budd ; 1849, E. Conklin ; 1850-1852, G. 
Lansing; 1854-1856, 8. W. Tallmadge; 1857-1859, M. Knickerbocker; 1860, B. L. 
Van Hoesen; 1861-1862, H. B. Howard; 1863, J. Schermerhorn; 1864, H. B. How- 
ard; 1865, M. J. Miller; 1866-1867, John Green; 1868-1869, H. P. Van Hoesen; 1870- 
1871, N. S. Miller; 1872-1873, J. V. D. Witbeck; 1874, G. Van Voorhis; 1875, Isaac 
Carpenter; 1876-1877, W. R. De Freest; 1878-1879, Frank P. Harder; 1880-1881, 
George R. Miller; 1882, John W. McKnight; 1883, Isaac Carpenter; 1884-1885, 

' Much of tht; information regardini,' the officers of the town of Schodack was courteously 
furnished by Town Ck-rk Oscar J. Lewis. 



TOWN OF SCHODACK. 467 

Frederick Hill; 1886-1887, Jacob P. Lansing; 1888-1889, John Moore; 1890-1891, 
Charles Hyde Smith; 1892-1895, George Anderson; 1896 , Frank M. Boyce. 

Town Clerks of Schodack. 

1795-1797, Theodosius Drake; 1798-1800, James Vandenburgh ; 1806, John vSmith, 
1808, John D. Smith; 1811, Henry Livingston; 1813, Jesse Brockway; 1817, Matthias 
Hulst; 1821, Jeremiah Shibley; 1827, Abraham Hogeboom ; 1828, Milo Cragin; 
1829, Samuel R. Cambell; 1832, Barent Hoes; 1833, Henry C. Lodewick ; 1839, 
Garret Lansing; 1843, Peter Hogeboom; 1844, William Spring; 1845, Marcus W. 
Lasher; 1846, Nicholas S. Miller; 1848, George Van Voorhis; 1849, Nicholas L 
Miller; 1856, J. V. D. Witbeck; 1857, George D. Shibley; 1860, George Van Voorhis; 
1861, Henry Van Denburgh; 1863, Samuel S. Warner; 1865, Frank P. Canedy; 1867. 
Richard Packman; 1870, Garret G. Lansing; 1871-1872, David Becker; 1873, Oscar 
J. Lewis; 1874, David Becker; 1878-1879. John Moore; 1880-1881, David Becker; 
1882-1887, John Moore; 1888-1893, Frederick Hill; 1894-1895, Charles I. Miller; 
1896 , Oscar J. Lewis. 

Justices of the Peace of Schodack. 

1832, Jacob W. Lewis; 1833, William Van Dusen, Abraham V. Schermerhorn ; 
1834, Lawrence C. Hogeboom, Samuel Stevenson; 1835, John Garrison; 1836, Abial 
Buckman, William Harris; 1837, Abial Buckman, John Garrison; 1838, Abial Buck- 
man, John Alberton ; 1839, Elisha C. Conklin, John Carpenter; 1840, Nathaniel 
Griffith; 1S41, John Carpenter; 1842, Abial Buckman; 1843, Elisha C. Conklin; 1844, 
Henry M. Smith; 1845, John Carpenter; 1846, Abial Buckman; 1847, David Booth; 
1848, Henry M. Smith; 1849, James M. Debous, Milton Knickerbocker; 1850, Abial 
Buckman; 1851, David Booth; 1853, Milton Knickerbocker; 1853, Isaac Carpenter; 
1854, Lawrence C. Hogeboom ; 1855, Abel N. Garrison ; 1856, Milton Knickerbocker ; 
1857, Nathan N. Seaman; 1859, Abel H. Garrison; 1860, Josiah W. Boyd; 1861, Joel 
Carpenter; 1862, Nathan N. Seaman; 1863, Abel H. Garrison; 1864, Seneca S. 
Smith; 1865, Joel Carpenter; 1866, Silas Cargon ; 1867, Abel H. Garrison; 1868, 
George Eckes; 1869, Joel Carpenter; 1870, Silas Cargon; 1871, EH Shafer; 1872, P. 
S. Miller; 1873, Isaac Carpenter; 1874, N. N. Seaman; 1H75, Eli Shafer; 1876, P. S. 
Miller; 1877, Isaac Carpenter; 1878, Nathan N. Seaman; 1879, Eli Shafer, William 
R. De Freest (appointed to fill vacancy); 1880, Lewis N. S. Miller; 1881, Isaac Car- 
penter; 18S2, Silas Cargon; 1883, Wesley B. Smith; 1884, Justin Burwell; 1885, 
Isaac Carpenter; 1886, Silas Cargon; 1887, Nicholas S. Miller; 1888, Clark Water- 
bury; 1889, Isaac Carpenter; 1890, Silas Cargon; 1891, Sylvanus Finch; 1892, Charles 
C. Warner; 1893, John K. Holmes; 1894, Silas Cargon; 1895, Sylvanus Finch; 1896, 
Peter A. Miller. 

Presujents of CastletonI. 

1827, John Stearns; 1828-1829, Lawrence C. Hogeboom; 1830-1831, Jeremiah 

' Mr. Cliarles E. Buckman, village clerk of Ca.slleton, has rendered material assi.stance in fur- 
nishing information regarding the village officers of Castleton and the local Masonic lodge. 



468 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Gage; 1832, James Hogeboom; 1833, William Civill; 1834, Henry Gage; 1835, Law- 
rence C. Hogeboom; 1836, Ralph Buss; 1837-1838, Lawrence C. Hogeboom; 1839, 
John Stearns; 1840, Jacob Brucher; 1841-1842, John P. Ostrander; 1843, Philip H. 
Smith; 1844-1845, Abial Buckman ; 1846-1851, Henry Gage; 1852-1853, Samuel B. 
Campbell; 1854, Joel D. Smith; 1855, Samuel B. Campbell; 1856, Andrew Harder; 
1857-1859, Isaac V. Schermerhorn ; 1800, Jeremiah \V. Van Hoesen ; 1S61-1862, Isaac 
V. Schermerhorn; 1863, John V. D. Witbeck; 1864-1865, Isaac V. Schermerhorn; 
1866, Jacob Seaman; 1867, John V. D. Witbeck; 1868, Isaac V. Schermerhorn; 
1869. Philip Lansing; 1870-1871. Franklin P. Harder; 1873, James R. Downer; 1873, 
Silas Cargon ; 1874, James R. Downer; 1875-1877, George Anderson; 1878, Abram 
Van Buren; 1879-1882, Samuel B. Campbell; 1883, James A. Sloan; 1884. J. V. D. 
Witbeck; 1885, James R. Downer; 1886-1887, James A. Sloan; 1888. C. G. Rich- 
ards; 1889-1890. Clarence Seaman; 1891, George Anderson; 1892-1893, Barent W. 
Stryker; 1894, C. P. Woolworth; 1895 , John Flynn. 

Vili.a(;e Clerks ok Castleton. 

1828-1829, Robert Hitchcock; 1830-1831, J. E. Stearns; 1832, Henry Gage; 1833. 
Horace Bell; 1834, Humphrey Witbeck; 1835-1838. N. N. Seaman; 1839, James B. 
Witbeck; 1840, Peter Hogeboom; 1841-1843, John C. Davis; 1844, Harrison H. 
Hall; 1845, James B. Witbeck; 1840-1851, Joel D. Smith; 1852-1853, Phihp H. 
Smith; 1854, C. G. Richards; 1855, James L. Hogeboom; 1856-1858, Horace Bell; 
1860, James L. Hogeboom; 1861-1865, Rufus Rose; 1866, Jacob Boucher; 1867-1868, 
Franklin P. Harder; 1869, Silas Cargon and Garret G. Lansing; 1870, Silas Cargon, 
Garret G. Lansing and William P. Smith; 1871-1875, William P. Smith; 1876, Silas 
Cargon; 1877-lSSl, William P. Smith; 1882-1891, Osborne Earing; 1892, C. W. 
Kuowlton ; 1893 , Charles E. Buckman. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 
TOWN OF PITTSTOWN. 

Pittstown is the central of the three towns of the northern tier in the 
county. It is boinicled on the north by portions of Schag^hticoke and 
Hoosick, one corner being exactly on the boundary line between Rens- 
selaer and Washington counties; on the east by Hoosick, on the south 
by Grafton and Brunswick and on the west by Lansingburgh and 
Schaghticoke. The land in the northern part of the town, within 
two miles of the Hoosick river, was originally embraced in the Hoosick 
patent. The southern part of its territory, that lying between the 



1^ 



'.'ll«»«* 





MARTIN BAUCUS. 



TOWN OF PITTSTOWN. 469 

patent of Hoosick and the manor of Rensselaerwyck, became the 
property of several individuals ; being sold to them in comparatively 
small tracts. The surface of the town generally is moderately hilly 
and in the south and east are some rugged elevations a thousand feet 
or more above the level of the sea. Numerous sinall streams flow 
westwardly and northwardly into the Hoosick river, the Tomhannock 
being the principal of these streams. 

Neither history nor tradition relates who the first settler or settlers 
of the town were, nor when the homes of the first white inhabitants 
were erected. The only thing left to guide posterity in this matter is 
the early history of communities near at hand, on either side of the 
town, from which it may be inferred that the immediate territory was 
settled about the same time. In 1709 the first settlements were made 
at Old vSchaghticoke, to the westward; and between 1735 and 1740 
Dutch farmers began locating in Hoosick and Petersburgh. It there- 
fore is reasonable to expect that the first settlements in Pittstown were 
made not much later than 1740, if not before that date. 

The first inhabitants of whom any clear record exists were those 
located in various parts of the town just prior to the beginning of the 
War of the Revolution. Michael Vandercook, from whom the local 
name of Cooksborough was derived, located there as early as 17G3. 
He is the first white settler of whom any positive record is left. Wil- 
Ham Shepard came from New England in 1770 and purchased a farm 
of 500 acres near by. Two years later Ludovicus Viele settled at 
Valley Falls and Christian Fischer at Cooksborough, though they found 
others there before them. Among others who located in the town 
during or soon after the Revolutionary War were Benjamin Aiken, who 
came from Dutchess county in 1778 or 1779; and Edmund Aiken, who 
located in the same vicinity a year or two later. This locality after- 
ward became known as the Aiken neighborhood. William Pendergast 
settled near Johnsonville before 1780 and Caspar Rouse came about the 
same time. Stephen Hunt, Israel Thompson, Abner Van Name, Al- 
exander Thompson, Benjamin Milks, Evans Humphrey, William Mc- 
Cleaver, Stephen Clapp, Isaac Carpenter, Cornelius Wiltsey (or 
Wiltse), Joseph Gifford, Gilbert Eddy and Hazael Shepard located in 
town between 1780 and 1785. Among those who came, probably a little 
later but all during the eighteenth century, were the following :i 

' History of Rensselaer County, Natlianiel B. Sylvester. 



470 LANDMARKS OP RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

John Francisco, near Raymertown; James Newcomb, near Pitts- 
town Corners; Simon Newcomb, an early and long-time physician, 
settled at Tomhannock village nearly opposite the grist mill ; Isaac 
Stonghton, half a mile above Tomhannock village, a place known as 
Stoughtontown in early times; David Norton, near the Quaker meeting 
house; William Jackson, in the same neighborhood; Daniel Newcomb, 
a mile east of Tomhannock village; Peter D. Goes, near East Pitts- 
town church; John Davenport, at North Pittstown, formerly known as 
Millertown; Samuel Douglass; Thomas Prendergast, at Millertown; 
Gilbert Williams, at Raymertown ; Lovett Head, near Pittstown Cor- 
ners; Abijah Ketchum, near Cooksboroiigh ; Jonas Halsted, beyond 
Pittstown Corners; Simon Vandercook, at Cooksborough ; Abraham 
Van Arnam, near the Quaker meeting house; Robert Bostwick; 
Nathaniel Wallis, two or three miles east of Tomhannock ; Eliphalet 
Hyde, at Pittstown Corners; Noah Miller, at North Pittstown; John 
Lee, on the turnpike near the "shilling-gate;" Joseph Wadsworth, on 
the farm owned by his descendants; Charles Chase, near Raymertown, 
not far from (lilljert Eddy's; Lodewick Stanton, near the south line of 
the town. 

One of the earliest taverns in Pittstown was located on the Albany 
Northern turnpike in the brick house afterward the property of Peter 
Doty. The Finney hotel was another well known public house. It 
was at the latter hotel that the draft of 1812 was made. Another 
tavern was at the Daniel Carpenter place, and later ones were the 
Union house and Reed's hotel at Pittstown. The old Follett house 
was at North Pittstown. The Aiken tavern was also an old landmark 
on the Aiken ])roperty. The hotel kept by Mordecai Lothridge was 
probably the first at Valley Falls. At Boyntonville the earliest was 
the Wadsworth tavern. 

The two leading jihysicians of the town for many years, and the 
earliest, as far as is known, were Dr. Simon Newcomb, who located at 
Tomhannock about 1790; and Dr. Theodore E. May. At Raymer- 
town Dr. \"an Name settled very early. 

At the time of the division of the ancient county of Albany and the 
erection therefrom of the counties of Tryon and Charlotte, March 
24, 1772, the territory now constituting Rensselaer county, then still 
a part of Albany county, was divided by the Provincial Legislature 
into four districts — Rensselaerwyck, Hoosick, Pittstown and Schagh- 
ticoke. The district of Pittstown was erected as a township by 



TOWN OF PITTSTOWN. 471 

patent July 23, 1761, and thus remained until after the War of the 
Revolution. The first civil organization of which there is any record 
was effected in 1772, being- that of the " Schaghticoke district." 
March 7, 1788, the towns of Schaghticoke and Pittstown were created 
out of the "Schaghticoke district," and the two towns began their 
separate existence at the town meetings held in April, 1789 The 
Pittstown town meetings probably were held in a house near the 
Quaker meeting house, then the tavern of James Stitt, for a dozen 
years The officers elected at the first town meeting were as follows: 

Supervisor, Israel Thompson ; town clerk, Evans Humphrey ; assessors, John 
Francisco, Harmon Vanvarter, Hazael Shepard, Benjamin Milks, John Rowan ; 
collectors, Gilbert Eddy, Hazael Shepard; poormasters, Simon Vandercook, George 
Gage, Stephen Hunt; constables, Gilbert Eddy, Hazael Shepard, Aaron Van Namee, 
John Rowan, jr., and Stephen Hunt. 

A change in the western boundary of Pittstown was effected by act 
of the Legislature passed February 14, 1793, as follows: 

Whereas the division line between the towns of Schactekoke and Pitts Town, in 
the county of Rensselaer, has been found inconvenient to the inhabitants of both 
towns. For remedy whereof, 

Be it enacted . . That from and after the first Monday in April next, the divis- 
ion line of the said towns, shall be continued from Veile's or Toll's bridge on the 
Hoosick river, in a direct course to the westernmost corner of Michael Vander Cooks 
grist mill, in Cooksburgh, and from thence in the same direction to the manor of 
Rensselaerwyck. . . . 

By the general law dividing all the coiinties of the State into towns, 
passed April 7, 1801, the bounds of the town of Pittstown were de- 
scribed as follows : 

Southerly by Troy and Petersburgh, westerly by Schactikoke, northerly by Schacti- 
koke, and the north bounds of the county of Rensselaer, and easterly by a line be- 
ginning at the distance of ten miles east from Hudson's river on the north line of 
Schactikoke continued east, and running from thence to a place in the north bounds 
of Petersburgh, at the distance of thirteen miles from Hudson's river. 

The military history of Pittstown does not differ greatly from that of 
the other towns in the county. But few names of those inhabitants of 
the town who served in the War of the Revolution have been preserved. 
Among these were General Gilbert Eddy, Lieutenant John Van Woert, 
William Ray and Lsaac Van Woert. The names of others doubtless 
will be found in the rolls of Revolutionary soldiers from Schaghticoke, 
Lansingburgh and perhaps Hoo.sick. In the War of 1812 General Gil- 
bert Eddy's expedition to Plattsburgh was accompanied by a consider- 



472 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

able number of Pittstown soldiers. Among them were Nathaniel Bos- 
worth, Winslow Eddy, William Chapman, William Pennie, Samuel 
Hyde, Benjamin Reed, Abel Harwood, Evans Ray, James Van Name 
and James vStitt. 

The people of Pittstown took an early active interest in the War of 
the Rebellion, and when the 2nd Regiment, New York Vols., was 
organized the town was represented therein by twenty- six brave men. 
At every succeeding call men left their homes and their business to go to 
the front. Beside the twenty-six who went out with the 2nd Regiment 
of Infantry, Pittstown was represented by twenty-five men in the 
Black Horse Cavalry, which was never mounted and consequently 
never saw service; four in the 104th New York Regiment, five in the 
New York Harris Cavalry, sixty-six in the r25th New York Regiment, 
twenty-five in the IfiOth New York Regiment, and eleven in the Gris- 
wold Cavalry. During the war meetings were held in the town at 
various times and the patriotic sentiments of the inhabitants were kept 
constantly excited. Thousands of dollars were raised, a tax of $:}5,000 
being voted at one meeting alone — a special town meeting held Sep- 
tember 7, 1864. The names of the Pittstown soldiers who died in the 
service of tlie United States during the Rebellion follow: 

William vSlocum, John Lyons, Theodore May, Adam Lohnes, James Donahue, 
John McMurray, Rufus Kipp, Charles H. Brownell, Onesimus Philardo, Lewis Smith, 
Jordan G. Hall, Alonzo Jones, Albert Wager, John Wager, Marshal Hkscox, Theo- 
dore P. Pyser, Levi B. Brundage. 

There is little out of the usual line to be related regarding the schools 
of Pittstown. The first school is supposed to have been established 
about 1785 by William Hammonds at North Pittstown. Four or five 
years later a second school was established at Sherman's Mills by 
Rebecca Thompson. At the town meeting in the spring of 1796 Israel 
Thompson, Hazael Shepard, Jonathan Rouse, Simeon Button and 
Samuel Douglass were elected commissioners. In pursuance of the 
law of 1813 Jesse Finne, Michael S. Vandercook and Stephen L. Viele 
were elected school commissioners. Under the system of supervision 
by school superintendents, inaugurated in 1844, the first to hold office 
was Peter P. Abbott. Johnsonville and Valley Falls both maintain 
excellent graded schools. 

From an industrial and commercial standpoint Johnsonville is the 
leading village of Pittstown. It is located on the Hoosick river, the 
Fitchburg railroad and the Greenwich & Johnsonville railway. The 




IRA R. TRAVELL. 



TOWN OF PITTSTOWN. 473 

principal industry supporting the place is the big axe factory now con- 
trolled by the American Edge Tool company. Johnsonville was named 
in honor of William Johnson, who settled there early in the nineteenth 
century and established a brick grist mill and saw mill. Entirely 
through his energy and enterprise the village grew rapidly. The place 
originally had been known as "the Lick;" but he disliked the name 
and arbitrarily changed it to Johnsonville. It was not until after his 
death, however, that that name was generally adopted. In 1852 the 
Troy & Boston (Fitchburg) Railroad company painted the name of 
Johnsonville across its station there, and from that time all opposition 
to the change was at an end. 

The bridge across the Hoosick river at Johnsonville was established 
as a toll bridge about 1825, and the first gate-keeper was a man named 
Miller. 

The axe factory owned by the American Edge Tool company is a 
large institution, employing many hands when in operation. It was 
established about half a century ago, and for many years it was the 
property of Lane, Gale & Co. It turns out hundreds of thousands of 
axes annually, which are sent to all parts of the world. The factory 
was badly damaged by fire September 13, 1896. There are also several 
other less important manufacturing concerns, and the village is liber- 
ally supplied with stores. 

Within recent years the village of Valley Falls has grown to be one 
of the principal ones in the town.^ It lies partly in Pittstown and 
partly in Schaghticoke. Less than a score of years ago the industries 
of the village were enumerated as follows : ^ 

The old Eagle mower factory, now E. F. Herrington's general machine works; the 
grist mill by H. J. Herrington ; the linen mill of James Thompson, a large establish- 
ment making Imen cords, mosquito-netting and many similar varieties of work ; the 
station and other buildings on the Troy & Boston railroad ; a new store, by James 
Thompson, the proprietor of the linen mill; a store by James Doran; a carpenter 
shop by William Miller, and a hotel by L. S. Reed; Herrington's foundry, Joseph 
Parker's hardware store and tin shop; Valley Falls hotel, Walter A. Groesbeck ; store 
of David C. Newcomb; E. D. Merrick, builder; carriage shop; Lohnas &• Cunning- 
ham, dealers in coal and lumber, and general produce buyers; Silas J. Herrington, 
selling agricultural implements, and general produce dealer; Albert J. Stover, simi- 
lar business; George W. Finch, civil engineer; H. D. Stover, hay and straw press, 

' The author is indebted to Harry A. Askins, Esq., of Schaghticoke for much of the informa- 
tion contained in this chapter. 

* Sylvester's History of Rensselaer County, 1879. 
60 



474 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

dealing in country produce; tin shop and hardware, by Joseph Parker; Patrick Cas 
sidy, blacksmith; Sheldon & Merrick, builders; Elwell & Miller, builders; William 
and James Miller, wagon-making, woodwork; Martin Hoyt, blacksmith, wagon - 
making, iron-work; Benjamin Street, shoemaker. 

The principal manufacturing concern of this village to-day is the 
firm of James Thompson & Co., who are engaged in the manufacture 
of flax and hemp twines, mosquito netting, tarlatans and buckram, 
occupying a mill site on the south bank of the Hoosick river. These 
mills were originally operated by James Thompson, who has been a 
practical manufacturer since 1852, and who acquired the property on 
which the present building stands in 1870. Mr. Thompson demolished, 
with one exception, all the old buildings which were on the premises, 
and which had been operated as a twine mill by Lape & Sproat, and 
commenced the erection of a large brick mill in 1871. Several years 
later he built a large cotton mill in which to conduct the manufacture 
of mosquito netting and buckram, which had been previously carried 
on in New York city. In 1878 the firm of James Thompson & Co. was 
formed, Mr. Thompson taking as a partner R. A. Schoneman of New 
York. Four additional buildings were erected in 1880 and still an- 
other in 1881. 

In 1881 the Valley Falls Water Power Co. built a new dam, this firm 
being the leading spirit in the enterprise. Further improvements in 
water power were made in 1886 by the firm building a new flume and 
making extensive rock excavations. In 1887 the old building was de- 
molished and a substantial brick structure erected. Previous to this 
the company had built a commodious storehouse along the line of the 
Fitchburg railroad. During 1894 the company acquired possession 
of the Valley Falls Paper Co. property on the north bank of the 
river. In 1895 the large brick structure was added to the mills to be 
devoted to the finishing of cotton goods. The mills are equipped with 
all modern improvements, including an automatic sprinkling system 
and electric lights. The present members of the firm are James Thomp- 
son of Valley Falls and Rosa B. Schoneman of New York, the latter 
being represented at the mills by Edwin Buchman. 

The Eagle Mills operated by Hunter Bros, are another industry. Rye 
flour is manufactured and other grain is ground. 

In the year 1866 District No. 1 1 of Pittstown and District No. 4 of 

. Schaghticoke were consolidated and a new district formed, embracing 

the territory contained in the aforesaid districts, which was called Dis- 




JAMES THOMPSON. 



TOWN OF PITTSTOWN. 475 

trict No. 11, Thomas Lape, E. A. Balch and A, Hunter being named 
as trustees. During this year the sum of $2,000 was voted to build 
and furnish a new frame school house. Lots were deeded by Thomas 
Lape free from all claims as long as used for school purposes. An 
effort was made at this time to establish a union free school system, 
but the plan failed. In February, 1893, it was voted to bond the dis- 
trict for $10,000 to build a new brick school house. The contract was 
awarded Easton, Rising & Worden of Hoosick Falls and the building 
was completed and accepted in November, 1893, at a total cost of $11,- 
601. The board of trustees at this time consisted of G. W. Lohnes, 
John F. Cunningham and James Thompson, sr. June 9, 1894, it was 
decided to establish a union free school system, the board of education 
elected at this time being C. J. Olds, James Thompson, John Kenyon, 
W. H. Shannon and J. W. Parker. In February, 1896, F. C. Church 
was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Olds. In 
November, 1895, application was made to place the school under the 
Board of Regents and form an academic department, which was ac- 
cepted and the charter was granted in March, 1896. The present board 
consists of James Thompson, president; John Kenyon, W. H. Shan- 
non, T. C. Church and Alden S. Hoyt. The present faculty consists 
of George S. Ellis, Mary J. Elmer, M. Blanche Sheldon, Lena Knapp 
and Emma Male. The new building is situated on Charles street. 

Columbian Lodge No. 687, I. O. O. F., was instituted by Edwin F. 
Gaul, G. M. ; Sidney F. Rowland, D. G. M. ; Alfred A. Guthrie, G. W. ; 
and Charles Neher, G.T. The charter members were James Murphy, 
John F. Cunningham, Charles A. Clum, Charles H. Edmonds, John C. 
GifTord, W. A. Manley, Alfred J. Butler, C. C. Percy, C. A. Sproat, 
W. H. Shannon, W. H. Sproat and Adam Lohnes. Meetings were held 
in Shannon's Hall until May 15, 1896, when they moved intp their pres- 
ent quarters in Columbian hall, which was purchased by them March 
1, 1896. The first officers of this lodge were: N. G., John F. Cunning- 
ham; V. G. , Charles H. Edmonds; recording secretary, John S. Gifford; 
permanent secretary, D. Corbin. 

Tomhannock was known in its early days as Reed's Hollow, being 
so named in honor of Joseph Reed, who, in 1805, built the second tavern 
there, and ten years later a grist mill, both of which flourished for many 
years. The first tavern in the hamlet was built before the year 1800. 
The earliest settlements made in this vicinity were at a spot which was 
known as Stoughtontown, a short distance east of the present site of 



476 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

the place. Otter creek, a branch of the Hoosick, runs through Tom- 
hannock and furnishes good water power. The post-ofifice was estab- 
lished soon after the hamlet was and Jonathan Rouse was the first post- 
master. It is believed that the name of the office and the place was 
changed upon his recommendation. 

Raymertown is located in the southern part of the town on the line 
of the old stage route frotn Troy to Bennington. It is a small village, 
or hamlet, and its principal industries are saw mills and grist mills, 
blacksmith shops and stores. The name is believed to have been de- 
rived from a family named Raymer, which settled at that point at an 
early date. The post-office was established in 1838 and the first post- 
master was Robert T. Cushman. The local lodge of Odd Fellows was 
organized June 7, 1893, with five charter members and these officers: 
N. G., Charles W. Snyder; V. G., William B. Yates; secretary, B. W. 
File; treasurer, Clarence H. Ryan. 

The other hamlets are North Pittstown, originally called Millertown; 
East Pittstown; Boyntonville, in the southeastern part of the town, 
named after a pioneer family bearing the name of Boynton. Charles 
M. Todd was the first postmaster and the office was established in 1873 
or 1874. Pittstown Corners, and Cooksborough, located in the south- 
western part of the town, complete the list. 

The first church established in Pittstown was the Reformed Dutch 
church, how early is not known. The first edifice was located near 
the centre of the town, and subsequently the congregation removed to 
Buskirk's Bridge. The legal certificate of the church bears date of 
March 25, 1800, but the society must have held religious services long 
before that time. The society ceased to exist about 1818 and most of 
the families became founders of the Presbyterian church at Tomhannock. 

The second church established in the town apparently was that of the 
society of Friends, toward the close of the eighteenth century. The 
first meeting house was built about the time the society was founded 
and a second one was erected in 1819. It was repaired in 1874 and has 
served the society for many years. One of the earliest ministers was 
Mrs. Rose Eddy. 

The Baptist Church of Christ in Pittstown was founded in 1784 or 
1787, on which point authorities disagree. Two early pastors were the 
Rev. Amos Burrows and the Rev. Isaac Webb. Early meetings were 
held in the school house at Pittstown Corners, and the first regular 
house of worship was erected in 1789. The church was finally divided 



TOWN OP PITTSTOWN. 477 

over questions of doctrine and in 1838 or 1839 part of the congregation 
withdrew and joined the Baptist church of Hoosick. The cliurch prop- 
ert}^ and records remained in the hands of the Baptist Church of Christ, 
and the old church practically ceased to exist. 

The Second Baptist church at Pittstown was founded prior to or 
during 1797, when it was under the pastoral charge of Elder Stephen 
Hunt. There is no record of the society after 1800. 

The Disciples' Church of Christ was the outgrowth of the division of 
the old Baptist Church of Christ in 1838, when those members who did 
not withdraw and enter the Baptist church reorganized under the name 
of the Church of Christ. The society was incorporated in 1847 as "The 
Baptist Church in the town of Pittstown," and the first pastor was the 
Rev. Porter Thomas. It was in this chvirch that President James A. 
Garfield preached when he was a student at Williams college. The 
old Baptist meeting house, the first property of the society, was re- 
modeled in 1860 and dedicated in the fall of that year. 

The members of the old Baptist Church of Christ who withdrew and 
joined the Baptist church of Hoosick continued to hold meetings in the 
old meeting house in Pittstown, by permission of those in possession, 
until about 1846. The society was reorganized and constituted a new 
church December 25, 1846, the first minister being the Rev. D. S. 
Deane. The society died out about 1873. 

.The Presbyterian church of South Pittstown was located at what is 
now Raymertown and was organized in 1816. Two years later the 
first house of worship was erected. The Rev. John Coe, who was the 
prime mover in the establishment of the church, became its first pastor. 
Soon after 1835 the society died out, but it was reorganized and main- 
tained until 1868, when it ceased to exist and the church became the 
property of the Evangelical Lutheran church. 

The Presbyterian church of Tomhannock was organized October 3, 
1819, under the style of the "United Dutch and Presbyterian Society," 
and among its earliest preachers were the Revs. James G. Ogilvie, 
Mark Tucker, Jonas Coe and Lebbeus Armstrong, supplies. The 
house of worship was built about 1820, and remodeled in 1859. The 
first regular pastor was the Rev. Solomon Lyman, who served the 
South Presbyterian church conjointly with the Tomhannock church. 

The Methodist Episcopal church at Tomhannock was organized in 
1811. In 185(» the churches at Tomhannock and Schaghticoke were 
one charge, and may have been long befc^re that time. The records 



478 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

are very indefinite. It is known, however, that meetings had been 
held at this point by the Methodists many years before the organiza- 
tion of the church. 

About the year 1825 the first Methodist society was formed in Valley 
Falls. The house of worship was a school house now remodeled, then 
situated at the junction of the Tomhannock and old Troy turnpike in 
the vicinity of the residence now occupied by Daniel Stover. Some 
time after a shop on the vSchaghticoke side of the Hoosick river near 
the present residence of Charles J. Starks was fitted up for Sunday 
school purposes. In 1839 a church was erected on Main street at a 
cost of $1,300. It was dedicated in October, 183'.), by the Rev. Noah 
Leving, presiding elder of the Troy district. In 1854 the church was 
remodelled by the removal of the galleries, which at first covered the 
sides and ends, and by the addition of a lecture room in the rear. In 
1874 the parsonage was built under the pastorate of Rev. A. McGilton. 
For several years the Valley Falls church was one of the churches com- 
prising the old Pittstown circuit, but in 180G the congregation concluded 
to separate from Tomhannock, and E. Goss, at that time a supernume- 
rary, took charge as a supply. He served until 1800, when the Rev. 
J. K. Cheeseman, a local preacher of West Troy, was appointed and 
served one year. At the conference in 1868 Valley Falls was united 
with Hart's Falls and the Rev. W. J. Heath was appointed pastor. In 
1882 the present church was built on Main street at a cost of $15,000. 
The corner stone was laid in 1883 and the church was dedicated April 
3, 1884, the Rev. J. J. Eaton preaching in the morning and the Rev. 
T. A. Griffin in the evening. This edifice is a frame building of old 
colonial style, the extreme dimensions being 7(i by 98 feet. The spire 
is 100 feet in height, supporting a 2,000 pound bell. In 1884 the old 
church was purchased by Albert Hunter and was removed to the op- 
posite side of the street, and transformed into dwellings. 

The Methodist Episcopal church at Cooksborough dates from Jan- 
iiary 20, 1815, though services had been held for several years previous 
to that date. A house of worship was also in use, having been dedi- 
cated before 1815. The trustees named in the certificate were William 
Hayner, Cornelius Filkins, John Freiot, Anthony Lockrow and Andrew 
Follett. The church was reincorporated March 17, 1821. 

The Christian church of Pittstown was organized soon after 1835, 
though a certificate of incorporation was not filed until July 25, 1855. 
Elder John Spoor was first in charge of the services. The society 



TOWN OF PITTSTOWN. 479 

worshipped in a school house in Pittstown until 1841, when the first 
church was opened for the regular meetings. The dedication occurred 
in February of that year. The first settled pastor was Elder Wilson 
Mosher. 

The Pittstown Corners Methodist Episcopal church was incorporated 
September 5, 1843. It has always been connected with some other 
church as one charge, generally with Boyntonville and Potter Hill. 
There is a church edifice at each place, that at Boyntonville having 
been erected a few years after that at Pittstown Corners. The Boyn- 
tonville society was incorporated November 16, 1859. 

The Evangelical Lutheran church at Raymertown was incorporated 
in April, 1853, though the society had been organized nearly thirteen 
years at that time, or since August 27. 1840. The Rev. Isaac Kimball 
was the first pastor. Soon after organization the society came into 
possession of the property formerly owned by the Raymertown Pres- 
byterian church. In 1870 the structure was rebuilt at a cost of nearly 
$9,000. 

The Methodist Episcopal society organized May 18, 1835, in the 
southern part of the town, is extinct. 

St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal church at Johnsonville was incorpo- 
rated November 4, 1873, and meetings were maintained for a few years 
in a chapel built soon after organization. The society finally dis- 
banded and sold its property to the Catholics of Johnsonville, who soon 
after began to hold regular services there under the supervision of the 
Catholic church of Schaghticokfe. 

The Johnsonville Presbyterian church was organized February 11, 
1856, and soon after erected a house of worship near the centre of the 
village. 

The Methodist Episcopal church located in the northern part of the 
town was incorporated April 8, 1851. 

The church of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Catholic, located in Val- 
ley Falls, was built during the pastorate of the Rev. Father Murphy, 
having been begun at the earnest solicitation of Father Gallagher, who 
held Sunday school in the school house every Sunday after his return 
from Pittstown. The ground upon which the church is erected was 
purchased from Mr. Hoey of Troy for $1,800. Ground was broken 
March 19, 1889, and the basement was dedicated August 28 of the same 
year. Services were held in the basement until May 4, 1890, when the 
building was dedicated by Rt. Rev. Bishop McNierney. The build- 



480 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

ing is of brick with granite facings, and the cost up to the time of the 
dedication $14,172. By an accident supposed to be due to the powder 
mill explosion in 1891 the building was damaged. During the repair- 
ing of the church services were again held in the basement until July 
21, 1895, when the church was again opened. 

In 1892 Rev. C. F. Stanley of Lansingburgh started a Baptist mis- 
sion in Spier's hall at Valley Falls. March 23, 1 893, a church was organ- 
ized with nineteen members. The ecclesiastical council met May 11 
of the same year and recognized it as a Baptist church. After the organiza- 
tion the Rev. A. M. Hendricks of Fultonville, N. Y., was called to as- 
sume the pastorate, holding the same from June 11, 1893, to October 1, 
1895. In 1893 the present church was built, the corner stone being 
laid in October, 1893, and the building dedicated March 22, 1894. The 
present pastor, Rev. L. Schemerhorn, assumed the pastorate Novem- 
ber 23, 1895. The principal benefactor and those to whom the establish- 
ment of the church are due are James Thompson, sr., Lewis E. Gurley 
of Troy, John Allen, E. P. Chase, B. J. Holly of Lena, 111., and J. E. 
Hoag of Easton, N. Y. 

Supervisors of Pittstown. 

17S9, Israel Thompson ; 1790-1795, Benjamin Milks; 1796-1799, Israel Thompson; 
1800, Jonathan Brown; 1801, James L. Hogeboom ; 1803-1803, Jonathan Rouse, jr.; 
1804, John Thompson; 1805, Jonathan Rouse, jr.; 1806-1808, Israel Shepard ; 1809- 
1810, Henry Warren; 1811-1812, Jonathan Rouse, jr.; 1813, Jonathan Rouse; 1814- 
1815, Simon Newcomb, jr.; 1816, George Fake, jr.; 1817, Reuben Halsted; 1818, 
. Simon Newcomb, jr. ; 1819-1820, Reuben Halsted ; 1821-1829, Joseph Wadsworth ; 
1830-1831, Jacob P. Yates; 1832, Charles Haskins; 1833, Thomas Tillinghast; 1834- 
1835, John Van Namee; 1836, Norman Baker; 1837-1844, .Nath an Browne H^; 1845- 
1846, Charles H. Barry; 1H47, John P. Hall; 1848, David Norton; 1849, SmTtHTler- 
rington; 1850-1851, Samuel Douglass; 1852-1853, Ananias Cronk; 1854-1855, Thomas 
Hoag; 1856-1859, Samuel Douglass; 1800, James N. Halsted; 1861, Christopher 
Snyder; 1862, Smith Herrington; 1863-1865, George W. Banker; 1866-1868, Edward 
Akin ; 1869-1870, John W. Campbell ; 1871-1872, Theodore C. Richmond ; 1873-1874, 
Charles W. Snyder; 1875-1876, Royal Abbott; 1877, Abraham Herrington; 1878, 
Eli Perry; 1879-1880, Jonathan Norton ; 1881-1883, Charles W. Snyder; 1884-1887, 
Jonathan Hoag; 1888-1890, George W. Lohnes; 1891-1892, Hiram File; 1893-1895, 
Charles W. Snyder ; 1896 , Joseph W. Parker. 

Town Clerks of Pittsiown. 

1789, Evans Humphrey; 1790, Roberts. Bostwick ; 1791-1794, Benjamin Hicks; 1795- 
1796, Robert S. Bostwick; 1797-1798, Levy Stoughton ; 1799-1802, Jonathan Rouse; 



TOWN OF riTTSTOWN. 481 

1808-1809, Michael S. Vandercook; 1810-1812. Simon Newcomb, jr. ; 1813-1815, John 
Stitt; 1816-1818, William P. Haskin; 1819, Jacob P. Yates; 1820, Nathan Bostwick ; 
1821, Lodovicus Viele; 1822, Hiram P. Hunt; 1823, Theodore May; 1824-1829, John 
B. Williams; 1830-1833, Charles Ranney ; 1834-1835, Lodovicus Viele; 1836, Francis 
Benjamin; 1837, Peter B. Abbott; 1838, Job Andrew; 1839-1840, Royal Abbott, 
jr.; 1841-1846, David Norton; 1847, Jacob F. Hall; 1848, Paul D. May; 1849-1850, 
Hugh McChesney; 1851, William Boles; 1852, Royal Abbott, jr.; 1853, Jacob F. 
Hall; 1S.54, Smith Herriugton ; 1855, De Witt C. Halsted; 1856-1857, Melancthon 
R. Tyler; 1858-1859, David Norton; 1860, Benjamin F. Currier; 1861-1866, Peter F. 
Abbott; 1867-1869, Charles May; 1870-1871, Peter B. Abbott; 1872-1876, William J. 
Ray; 1877-1878, Hulbert B. Welling; 1879, William J. Ray; 1880-1884, Isaac N. 
Wiley; 1885-1892, William J. Ray; 1893 , John B. Cushman.i 

Justices of the Peace of Pittstown, 

Lodovicus Viele, James Yates, Samuel S. Hyde, sworn in February 22, 1823 ; 
James Mosher, February 23, 1823; Stephen Eldred, September 30, 1823; Jonathan 
Reed, December 19, 1827; James Mosher, December 31, 1827; James Yates, January 
1, 1828; Abraham L. Viele, December 25, 1828; James Yates, January 1, 1830. 

Elected at town meetings: 1830, Jonathan Read; 1831, William L. Brown; 1832, L. 
A. Viele; 1833, Gerardus How; 1834, Perry Warren, jr. ; 1835, Charles H. Barry; 1836, 
Timothy Banker; 1837, Christopher Snyder ; 1838, Perry Warren, jr. ; 1839, Charles H. 
Barry; 1840, Job Andrew; 1841, Jacob L. Van Woert; 1842, Perry Warren, jr. ; 1843. 
Charles H. Barry; 1844, James Mosher; 1845, Jacob L. Van Woert; 1846, William 
Sturges;1847, James N. Halsted; 1848, Job Andrew; 1849, Jacob L. Van Woert; 1850, 
Perry Warren; 1851, James N. Halsted; 1852, Job Andrew; 1853, Justus H. Akin, jr. ; 
1854, Royal Abbott, jr. ; 1855, Norman Baker; 1856, Nathaniel Brownell; 1857, Theo- 
dore C. Richmond; 1858, Libbeus Lamson, Christopher Snyder; 1859, Charles H. 
Barry; 1860, Edward McChesney; 1861, Theodore C. Richmond; 1862, Royal Abbott, 
Royal Abbott (vacancy); 1863, William Carr; 1864, Merritt Herrmgton, Merritt Her- 
rington (vacancy); 1865, Theodore C. Richmond; 1866, Ebenezer A. Balch ; 1867, John 
E. Twogood; 1868, William Boynton; 1869, Theodore C. Richmond; 1870, Edward F. 
Frost; 1871, John L. Snyder; 1872, William Boynton; 1873, Theodore C. Richmond, 
Ebenezer A. Balch ; 1874, Albert E. Hunter, Eli Perry ; 1875, Hiram File ; 1876, Charles 
Russell; 1877, E. N. Aiken, Charles Terry ; 1878, Charles Terry; 1879, Harry Van 
Wert; 1880, William Boynton ; 1881, Emmit N. Aiken, John Allen (short term); 1882, 
John Allen; 1883, Hiram File; 1884, William Boynton; 1885, Theodore C. Rich- 
mond; 1886, John Allen; 1887, Hiram File; 1888, Gilbert E. Chapman; 1889, 
Jonathan Hoag; 1890, Albert Hunter; 1891, Clarence E. Akin; 1892, William H. 
Rowland; 1893, Jonathan Hoag; 1894, Albert Hunter; 1895, Jay D. Van Wirt; 
1896, William Boynton. 

1 Mr. Cushnum luis icMulcrt'd valualjlf scrvico in tlie compilatiim of tin's chapU-r. 
61 



482 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 
TOWN OF BERLIN. 

The town of Berlin is located near the centre of the eastern tier of 
towns. It is bounded on the north by the towns of Grafton and Peters- 
bury^h, on the east by the State of Massachusetts, on the south by 
Stephentown and on the west by Poestenkill and Sand Lake. It is one 
of the largest towns in the county. The town was erected March 21, 
1806, from Petersburgh, Schodack and Stephentown; 'and June 19, 
1812, a part was taken off, on the west, to form Sand Lake. 

The topography of the town does not differ greatly from those of its 
companions on the north and south— Petersburgh and Stephentown. 
It consists principally of a narrow valley — the Little Hoosick^ — running 
about north and south, which separates two ranges of high hills, parts 
of which are very precipitous. As a rule the ground is fertile, espe- 
cially on the lowlands and the gently sloping hillsides. The principal 
stream beside the Little Hoosick river is Kinderhook creek, the former 
flowing toward the north and the latt-^r in a southerly direction. 

Many of the towns of Rensselaer county were quite thickly settled, 
particularly those on the west and north, when the wilderness of the 
site of Berlin was first permanently settled by white men. A number 
of the family of John George Brimmer,^ pioneer settlers of Petersburgh, 
subsequently took up their abode in Berlin, and as far as can be learned 
were its first permanent settlers. In 1765 Godfrey Brimmer, son of 
John G. Brimmer, journeyed southward through the valley of the Little 
Hoosick as far as the site of Berlin village, formerly called North Ber- 
lin. Finding the soil productive and easy of cultivation i^nd the loca- 
tion highly desirable, he cleared a piece of land, erected a log house 
and began life anew. In all probability he was the first white man to 
found a home within the limits of the town. If he was not already mar- 
ried at the time he took a wife soon after, and when the couple died at 

' See history of the town of Petersburgh. Mr. Sylvester's aceount is a condensation of that 
appcarinjr in Hall's History of Berlin. 



TOWN OF BERLIN. 48.3 

an old age they left four sons — Jacob, John, Henry and George — and 
two or more daughters. 

Mr. Brimmer had been located in Berlin only two or three years 
when Reuben Bonesteel built a home near him. Soon after Peter 
Simmons located about three miles south of him, at what is now Centre 
Berlin; and about 1770 Daniel Hull, a Yankee, located on the site of 
Berlin. Reuben Bonesteel is said to have been a Tory during the War 
of the Revolution, sending all six of his sons to serve in the British 
army. Three of them subsequently deserted from the ranks and joined 
the patriot army, where they served for some time. At the close of 
tl:e war Mr. Bonesteel refused to recognize his three sons who fought 
in opposition to his wishes. He died in 1793 and was buried on what 
is now the highway between Berlin and Petersburgh. 

Colonel Caleb Bentley was another early settler, his home being a 
little more than a mile south of the site of the village of Berlin. He 
had three sons — Alexander, Melancthon and Rudolph. About the same 
time William O. Cropsey settled in the town. Others who came 
soon after were Hezekiah Hull, Paul Braman, Ebenezer Crandall, his 
son, Thomas Crandall, Thomas Sweet, James Dennison, Daniel Den- 
nison, Abraham Simmons, Nathaniel Niles, Joseph Green, Peleg 
Thomas, Simeon Himes (Hyams?), Joshua Whitford, William Satterlee, 
Samuel vSweet, J. H. Wheaton, John Bly, Silas Jones and others. 
Among other prominent residents about 1805 were Thomas Babcock, 
Zephaniah Clark, James Mosher, Jesse Saunders, Phineas Stewart, 
James Young, Joshua Whitford, Ebenezer Weeks, Isaiah Hall, Joseph 
King, Stephen King, Joseph Reynolds, Samuel Shaw, Ebenezer 
Rhodes, Samuel Rhodes, Moses Hammond, Gideon Hall, Jonathan 
Hakes, Daniel Arnold, John Aylesworth, John Adsit, David Burdick, 
Ebenezer Bentley, Benjamin Bentley, Eliphalet Johnson, Benjamin 
Stillman, Augustus Sheldon, Arnold Davis, David Davis, Paul Maxon, 
Stephen Maxon, jr., Samuel Phelps, John Rathbone, John Ostrander, 
James Denison, John Green, Thomas Green, James Green, Jonathan 
Green, Samuel Green, Silas Jones, Daniel Gray, Joseph Taylor, Joseph 
Doty, Jonas Odell, James Main, John Westcott and David Kendall. 
These are but a few of the many householders in the town at that period. 

Among the prominent later inhabitants of the town may be inen- 
tioned a few: Alonzo G. Hammond was a son of Dr. Burton Hammond 
and practiced law in the town for some time. He subsequently re- 
moved to Brooklyn, became a lawyer of prominence and was elected 



484 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

to the State Legislature. Rensselaer Bentley was a son of Joshua 
Bentley and eventually became an author and publisher of school text 
books. Samuel N. Sweet, who was born in 1805, became a prominent 
lawyer and politician, also an editor and publisher. In 1842 he was 
appointed professor of elocution in Auburn Female seminary and de- 
livered scientific lectures in various parts of the country. His lecture 
tours were continued up to his death in 1875 and were uniformly suc- 
cessful. Rus.sell Griswold was born in 1808 and became a prominent 
physician at Lanesborough, Mass., and Stamford, Conn. William F. 
Taylor, who died in 1896, was a member of the State Legislature in 
1875 and 187(3. Other representative men have been John Reeve, 
Horace C. Gifford, Zadoc T. Bentley, Henry D. Barron, George T. 
Denison, and John Green. The town of Berlin has produced many 
men who have attained great prominence in the various walks of life. 

The first tavern in Berlin was kept by Daniel Hull and was located 
in the southern part of the town several years before the Revolution. 
About 1785 or 1786 another was established by Hezekiah Hull. Jonas 
Odell was proprietor of the first tavern at the village of Berlin. In 
1781 one was established in the north part of the town by James Main, 
In 1806 the Niles hotel was erected by Dr. Burton Hammond and 
the Wadsworth hotel was opened in 1843 or 1844 by Sheldon Morris. 
The town has always been liberally supplied with hotels. 

The earliest physician in Berlin of whom there is any record was Dr. 
John Forbes, who located in 1775 at Sweet's Corners. About 1800 Dr. 
Job Tripp located at the village of Berlin, and soon after the practice 
of that locality was shared by Dr.. Peter T. Olds. Dr. Burton Ham- 
mond, Dr. Emerson Hull and Dr. Henry Brown were in practice in the 
town a little later. Dr. Hull was one of the most successful practition- 
ers who ever made Berlin their home. 

Alonzo G. Hammond was probably the first qualified lawyer to locate 
in the town, opening an office in Berlin village between 1815 and 1820. 
About the latter year Charles M. Davis began practice at the same 
place, and the two subsequently formed a copartnership. Later law- 
yers were Robert A. Lottridge and Leonard R. Saunders. 

Amono- the residents of the town who served with the American 
army in the War of the Revolution were the Rev. Justus Hull, who be- 
came captain; Colonel Randall Spencer, John Green, James (ireen, 
Oliver Bates, Elias Bentley, Wells Kenyon, William Sweet, Charles 
Saunders, Joshua Smith, Samiiel wSweet, William Bell, Bradick Peck- 



TOWN OF BERLIN. 485 

ham, Isaiah Hall, Samuel Rhodes, Thomas Crandall, Daniel Gra}^ M. 
Griswold, Wait vStillman, James wShaw, Thomas Burdick, Job Taylor, 
Silas Jones, William Johnson, Jabez Burdick, Reuben Bonesteel, jr., 
Caleb Bentley, Daniel Hull, William vSweet, Simeon Bonesteel, Zacheus 
Burdick, Moses Hendrick, Paul Braman, Job Wilcox, Jehial vStewart, 
Gideon Simpkins, Samuel Hoard and Nathan Beebe. None of those 
who volunteered during the W^ar of 1812 were called into active 
service. 

The full quotas of men called for during the War of the Rebellion 
were promptly filled by the people of Berlin. Most of those going to 
the front served in the regiments organized in Rensselaer county, but 
some enlisted elsewhere. Those who died in the service of the United 
States were: 

Joel A. Greenman, Alfred Vars, J. B. Parks, George B. Manchester, D. M. Brim- 
mer, Joseph Reynolds, George Coon, J. N. Taylor, Charles Buckbee, Philip Bright- 
meyer, Lewis Eltaman, J. B. Sweet, Hiram Horton, Thomas J. Horton, E. B. Hull, 
Martin Thompson, George R. Conner, H. M. Tracy, W. H. H. Green, D. S. Lam- 
phire, R. Northrup, A. Northnip, C. W. Judwin, J. Watson, D. A. Nicholas, Curtis 
Lookey, Adam Hiser, William Welbrant, E. L. Green, Marcus Merrill. 

There are three villages in Berlin, each of which bears the name of 
the town — ^Berlin, Berlin Centre and South Berlin. 

Berlin village was formerly known as North Berlin, and is some- 
times still called by that name. It is the most northerly of the trio of 
villages, and like the others is located on the Hoosick river and the 
Lebanon Springs railroad. The first signs of a concentration of set- 
tlers at that point appeared about the year 1800. Prominent among 
the founders of the village were Dr. Burton Hammond, John Reeve 
and other men who saw that the site was an admirable one for the vil- 
lage they planned. The location is most picturesque on account of the 
precipitous mountains on either side of the verdant valley of the Little 
Hoosick. The Niles hotel, erected in 180G by Dr. Burton Hammond, 
is the oldest hotel in the village. The post-office was established about 
1S30 or 1831, with Dr. Ebenezer Robinson as postmaster. 

The principal manufactures in Berlin are the shirt factories of G. 
W. Maxon and the Manhattan Shirt company and the laundry of W. 
H. Whyland. The factory of G. W. Maxon was established in 1891 for 
the manufacture of shirts. At present in it are employed sixty hands 
and the output of the establishment is about 250 dozen a week. The 
Manhattan factory is a branch of the house of Levi Wechsler & Co. of 



486 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Paterson, N. J., and is in charge of Superintendent H. N. vStillman. 
The business was first started in the villaoe in 1S90 in a buildino- owned 
by J. Whelan, but the place was found inadequate and the ])resent 
location in River street was secured. About eighty hands are em- 
ployed and about :5()0 dozen of shirts are made in a week. The laundry 
of W. H. Whyland employs about sixty hands and was started in ISTS. 
The capacity of the establishment is about lOO dozen a day. The 
work done consists chiefly of laundering goods for Cluett, Coon & Co, 
of Troy. 

Little Hoosick lodge No. 578, I. O. O. F., was organized April 2»j, 
18'.)0. A meeting was held over Green's store in the G. A. R. rooms. 
There were five charter members — J. V. Nichols, S. C. vSatterlee, 
Frank Crandall, L S Green and W. H. La Farge. The first officers 
of the lodge were J. Y. Nichols, N. G. ; S. C. Satterlee, V. G. ; Frank 
Crandall, treasurer; Thomas Greenman, warden; L. S. (ireen, secre- 
tary; W. H. La Farge, inside guard. The lodge has about seventy 
members in good standing. 

The Order of the Sons and Daughters of Rechabites of Berlin was 
organized by a man named Cross, who came from Pittsfiekl, Mass. 
The first meeting was held June 26, 1889, and the following officers 
were elected: W. M., E. J. Tufts; W. V. M., Evelina Satterlee; W. 
C, Charles Dufee; D. C, Eliza Vars; W. T., Cynthia Baldwin ; W. 
F. S., Iva Merritt; W. R. S., Grace Vars; W. C, Nettie Lamphere; 
W. A. S., Nettie Whelan; W. L G., Porter Lamphere; W. O. G., E. 
Reynolds. This lodge existed until 1891, when dissensions arose over 
the payment of the tax to the Grand lodge and it was decided to l)ecome 
an independent organization under the name of the Home Tem])lars, 
which title it still bears. The meeting for the reorganization of the 
order was held November 23, 1891, and these ofificers w^ere cho.sen : 
King, G. T. Lemon; Queen, Emma Reynolds; i:)rophet, T. E. (ireen- 
man; high priest, H. F. Brown; chancellor, William Tubes; scribe, 
Susie Meeker; treasurer, Etta Barber; marshal, Adelbert Smith; col- 
lector. Porter Lamphere; sentinel, John Broderick ; guard, IC. W. 
Miller. 

The Berlin Chess club was formed by a number of prominent young 
residents of the village for a purpose wliich its name implies. The 
first meeting was held January 16, 1894, and the first ofificers were: 
President, A. C. Niles; secretary, W. H. Whyland; treasurer, W. H. 
Meeker. The club has pleasant quarters, in which is situated a library, 
the books of which are free to all. 




JONATHAN UENISON. 



486 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Paterson, N. J., and is in charge of Superintendent H. N. Stillman. 
The business was first started in the village in 18'.)0 in a building owned 
by J. Whelan, but the place was found inadequate and the present 
location in River street was secured. About eighty hands are em- 
ployed and about 300 dozen of shirts are made in a week. The laundry 
of W. H. Wliyland employs about sixty hands and was started in ISTK. 
The capacity of the establishment is about 100 dozen a day. The 
work done consists chiefly of latmdering goods for Cluett, Coon & Co. 
of Troy. 

Little Hoosick lodge No. 578, I. O. O. F., was organized April 20, 
18'J0. A meeting was held over Green's store in the (t. A. R. rooms. 
There were five charter members— J. V. Nichols, S. C. vSatterlee, 
Frank Crandall, L S Green and W. H. La Farge. The first officers 
of the lodge were J. V. Nichols, N. G. ; S. C. Satterlee, V. G. ; Frank 
Crandall, treasurer; Thomas Greenman, warden; L. S. (ireen, secre- 
tary; W. H. La Farge, inside guard. The lodge has about seventy 
members in g(jod standing. 

The Order of the Sons and Daughters of Rechabites of Berlin was 
organized by a man named Cross, who came from Pittsfield, Mass. 
The first meeting was held June 26, 1889, and the following officers 
were elected: W. M., E. J. Tufts; W. V. M., Evelina Satterlee; W. 
C, Charles Dufee; D. C, Eliza Vars; W. T., Cynthia Baldwin ; W. 
F. S., Iva Merritt; W. R. S., Grace Vars; W. C, Nettie Lamphere; 
W. A. S., Nettie Whelan; W. I. G., Porter Lamphere; W. O. (x., E. 
Reynolds. This lodge existed until 1891, when dissensions arose over 
the payment of the tax to the Grand lodge and it was decided to become 
an independent organization under the name of the Home Tem]:>lars, 
which title it still bears. The meeting for the reorganization of the 
order was held November 23, 1891, and these officers were chosen: 
King, G. T. Lemon; Queen, Emma Reynolds; prophet, T. E. (ireen- 
man; high priest, H. F. Brown; chancellor, William Tubes; scribe, 
Susie Meeker; treasurer, Etta Barber; marshal, Adelbert Smith; col- 
lector, Porter Lamphere; sentinel, John Broderick ; guard, E. W. 
Miller. 

The Berlin Chess club was formed by a number of prominent young 
residents of the village for a purpose which its name implies. The 
first meeting was held January 18, 1894, and the first oflScers were: 
President, A. C. Niles; secretary, W. H. Whyland ; treasurer, W. H. 
Meeker. The club has pleasant quarters, in which is situated a library, 
the books of which are free to all. 




JONATHAN DENISON. 



TOWN OF BERLIN. 487 

Sheldon's Cornet band of Berlin is composed of twenty pieces and was 
org-anized in 18S8. The officers are W. H. Sheldon, leader; G. D. 
Niles, manager; A. C. Niles, treasurer. 

The Baptist church of Berlin, 1 formerly called the Baptist church of 
Christ, was constituted December 30, 1783. Before that time services 
had been held, and the first Baptist preacher in the town of whom 
there is any record was the Rev. Joseph Barnes. Soon after his arrival 
a log meeting- house was erected near the present line of Berlin and 
Stephentown, on what is called the west road. If there was any church 
organization at that time it became extinct. The first members of the 
Baptist church of Christ were Joseph Bates, Elisha Clark, Walter 
Rhodes, Roger Jones, Henry Case, Eleazer Arnold, George Baily, Sa- 
rah Baih^, Eunice Bly, Mary Rhodes, Silence Case, Lucy Case, Mary 
Bates, Henry Reynolds, Sarah Reynolds and vSusannah Case. The first 
officers chosen were: Elder, Justus Hull ; deacons, Joseph Bates, James 
Green, Elisha Berry; clerks, Eleazer Arnold, Edward Renbies and 
Benjamin Pierce. At this time the church was called the Little Hoo- 
sick church, afterwards the Stephentown church, and still later the 
Petersburgh church. When the town of Berlin was organized the 
society took the name it still bears. In 1798 a frame building was 
erected for a house of worship. In 1830 the present edifice was erected. 
In 1794 a colony withdrew from this society and organized a Baptist 
church at Williamstown, Mass., and in 181-4 another colony withdrew 
and formed a church at Sand Lake, now East Poestenkill. In 1827 
and 1828 the Baptist churches at Grafton and Petersburgh respectively 
were organized by members of the Berlin society. The first pastor of 
the Berlin church was the Rev. Justus Hull. Between 1830 and 1839 
a number of members withdrew and instituted the Second Baptist 
cluirch; but the differences between the two factions were subse- 
quently healed and the Second church organization was dissolved. 

The Seventh-Day Baptist church of Berlin village probably ante- 
dates the Baptist church first referred to, but the records aire not 
quite clear on this point. Some authorities say the church was or- 
ganized September 24, 1780; others say the formal organization did 
not occur until 1785. There is also a question as to who was the first 
pastor. The two pastors named for the office by different authorities 
are Elder Charles Saunders and Elder William Coon. The first meet- 

' The material for this sketch was furnished by Mr. William J. Shelilon of Herlin, and was 
gleaned from the records of the church, which have been preserved from the bejjinning. 



488 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAKR COUNTY. 

ing-house was built in 1800. This was demolished by a hurricane in 
August, 1821. February 8, 1824, the society was reorganized and 
steps were taken for the erection of a new meeting house. In Decem- 
ber, 1824, the structure was completed and the pastor, the Rev. Alonzo 
Brown, was installed. Three years after, during the pastorate of 
Elder Hull, the building was destroyed by fire. A new church was 
built in 18:51. The early promoters of the church were Charles Saun- 
ders, Thomas Crandall, Edward Whitford, Benjamin \'ars, Robert 
Davis, John Green, Amos Green and George Maxon. 

The Christian church of South Berlin was organized January 27, 
1830, and the house of worship, a chapel, was erected the following 
year. The first regular supply in the pulpit was Elder John Spoor, 
and the first regular pastor was the Rev. John H. Crum. 

The Lutheran church of South Berlin was organized about 1841. 
The number of Lutherans in that section is small, and the member- 
ship of the church has never been large. 

The Methodist Episcopal church of Berlin was erected on a piece of 
ground given by W. F. Taylor in November, 1875. At that time the 
pulpit was supplied by the Rev, Dr. Ford, who has since died in the 
west. Previous to that time meetings were held Sunday afternoons in 
the church of the Seventh Day Baptists. When the church was built 
there were really but three families of Methodists in the village, the 
families of H. F. Brown, John M. Potter and William F. Taylor. The 
first pastor sent to this village by the conference was the Rev. William 
Appleman. In 1878 the Rev. A. H. Eaton was designated as pastor 
by the conference, and through the generosity of Mr. Taylor, who 
gave another piece of ground, a parsonage was built. During Mr. 
Eaton's pastorate the church was rebuilt and enlarged. At present it 
has a large and growing congregation. 

SUIM-'.RVISORS OF BkKLIN. 

1806-1810, John Reeve; 1811, E. Niles; 181'2-1813, Daniel Gray; 1814-1810, Johu 
Reeve; 1817, Eliphalet Niles; 1818, Daniel Gray; 1819, Ed. Whitford; 18L>0-1821. 
B. Hammond; 1822, John Reeve; 1823, William H. Murrey; 1824, L. Stanton; 1825- 
1829, B. Hammond; 1830, John Vars; 1831-1832, B. Hammond; 1833-1834, E. Rob- 
inson; 1835-1836, Winter Green; 1837-1838, J. J. Murrey; 1839-1840, D. Babcock; 
1841-1842, R. A. Lottridge; 1843, H. Hull; 1844, J. A. Culver; 1845-1846, Jonathan 
Denison; 1847, Thomas N. Jones; 1848, S S. Streeter; 1849, J. W. Niles; 1850-1851, 
S. Greenman; 1852, J. B. Mooney; 1853-1854, A. G. Niles; 1855-1856, S. Green; 
185i'-1858, John Whitford; 1859-1860, S. Greenman; 1861-1802, H. D. Hull; 1863, 



^^ IR^^: 




W. F. TAYLOR. 



TOWN OF BERLIN. 489 

S. Hewitt; 1864-1865, H. D. Hull; 1866-1868, E. W. Greentnan; 1869, W. R. Jones; 
1870, William A. Smith; 1871, W. R. Jones; 1872-187:3, A. P. Hull; 1874-1876, W. F. 
Taylor; 1877, W. R. Jones; 1878-1882, Jonathan Denison ; 1883, William R. Jones; 
1884-1885, Malevin Cowee; 1886-1890, Daniel J. Hull; 1891-1892, George D. Niles; 
1893, Russell H. Satterlee ; 1894-1895, Daniel J. Hull; 1896 , A. E. Sands. 

Town Clerks of Berlin. 

1806, Hezekiah Hull; 1810, John Green; 1812, Daniel Gardner; 1814, John Green; 
1820, Stephen J. Brown; 1824, A. G. Hammond; 1825, Joel Mallary; 1831, John 
Reeve; 1835, Charles F. Mallary; 1838, Thomas T. Gray; 1839, Squire L. Allen; 
1841, S. S. Streeter; 1844, John Whitford; 1846, Samuel S. Streeter; 1847, Horace 
P. Jones; 1848, Job T. Wilcox; 1850, Albert G. Hall; 1851, Job T. Wilcox; 1852, 
Jacob K. Simmons; 185'3, E. R. Green; 1856, Horace C Griffin; 1857, William F. 
Taylor; 1859, Job T. Wilcox; 1860, Albert P. Hull; 1861. Charles H. Taylor; 1867, 
N. J. Nichols; 1868, J. Bryan Whitford; 1869, Harvey W. Saunders; 1870, Halsey B. 
Green; 1871, Alonzo E. Hull; 1872, Alanson B. Niles; 1873, Halsey B. Green; 1875, 
Harvey S. Denison, J. B. Whitford ; 1877, Thomas E. Greenman ; 1879 to 1881, Isaac 
J. Gifford; 1882, Harris G. Hull; 1883-1884, J. Valancourt Nichols; 1885, A. E. 
Sands; 1886-1887, L. Sheldon Green; 1888, John H. Satterlee; 1889, L. Sheldon 
Green; 1890, W. H. Sheldon; 1891, W. H. Lewis; 1892, L. Sheldon Green; 1893, 'J : 
Valancourt Nichols; 1894-1895, Marshal J. Eldred; 1896, William H. Meeker. 

Justices of the Peace of Berlin. 

1846, Rufus R. Allen; 1847, Schuyler Green; 1848, Harry B. Hewitt; 1850, Rufus 
R. Allen; 1851, Schuyler Green; 1852, Henry Hewitt; 1853, Henry E. Denison; 1854, 
R. R. Allen: 1856, Harry Hill; 1857, Henry E. Denison; 1859, Henry Hewitt; 1860, 
L. R. Saunders, Schuyler Green ; 1861, Alanson N. Green; 1862, Alanson G. Niles; 
1867, Philander Woodward; 1869, Alanson G. Niles; 1870, William F. Taylor, Daniel 
J. Hull; 1871, Joseph D. Wells; 1872, William A. Smith; 1873, William J. Sheldon, 
jr.; 1874. Arra G. Harris; 1875, George Sering; 1876, Ebenezer J. Mattison, J. B. 
Whitford;. 1877, William J. Sheldon; 1878, Horace P. Jones; 1879, Ebenezer J. Matti- 
son; 1880, J. B. Whitford and A. G. Niles; 1881, W. J. Sheldon; 1882, Halsey B. 
Green and Frank S. Jones; 1883, Albert P. Hull; 1884, Halbert H. Jones and John 
Feathers; 1885, U. J. Nichols; 1886, H. E. Denison; 1887, H. J. Brown; 1888, H. H. 
Jones; 1888, George B. Niles; 1890, Halsey B. Green; 1891, Isaac J. Gifford; 1892, 
Halbert H. Jones; 1893, F. H. Munson; 1894, H. B. Green; 1885, Isaac J. Gifford; 
1896. H. H. Jones. 

62 



490 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY, 



CHAPTER XXV. 
TOWN OF STEPHENTOWN. 

Stephentown was formed from Rensselaerwyck March 29, 1784, and 
named in honor of Stephen Van Rensselaer. In 1791 the town of 
Petersburgh was taken off, and in 1806 the size of the town was still 
further decreased by taking off parts of Nassau and Berlin. The town 
is in the southeastern part of the county. It is bounded on the north 
by Berlin, on the east by the State of Massachusetts, on the south by 
Columbia county and on the west by Nassau. In shape it is an equi- 
lateral quadrangle. 

The town is one of the most picturesque in the county or within a 
radius of many miles, rivaling the famed Berkshire hills of Massachu- 
setts. Hills, many of them rocky and precipitous, abound everywhere. 
The Taghkanic mountains traverse the eastern part of the town and the 
Petersburgh mountains the w^estern part, both extending in a northerly 
and southerly direction. Through the narrow and deep valley between 
them the Black and Kinderhook creeks flow toward the south. There 
is very little level or lowland in the town, and some of the highest 
mountain peaks are nearly 2,000 feet above the level of the sea. A 
very large proportion of the town is covered by forests, and many of the 
hills are surmounted by bare rocks. The most mountainous sections 
are full of interest to the geologist, quartz, sandstone, limestone, slate, 
shale and other forms of stone being abundant. The entire district is 
wild and rugged, an ideal resort for a lover of the grander forms of 
nature. In the Taghkanic range the highest peaks are Round moun- 
tain, Butternut hill and Whitney hill ; in the Petersburgh range they 
are Webster mountain and Brockway hill. The soil generally is best 
adapted to grazing, though in some parts of the valley it is moderate!}'' 
fertile. 

The earliest settlements in Stephentown were made in the same year 
in which Berlin was first settled — 1765 — but the pioneers entered the 
precincts of what is now known as Stephentown from an entirely dif 
ferent direction. Godfrey Brimmer, the pioneer of Berlin, came up 



TOWN OF STEPHENTOWN. 491 

the Little Hoosick valley from the north and located in the northern 
part of Berlin. The pioneers of Stephentown were from New England, 
mainly Rhode Island and Connecticut, and entered the town from the 
southeast, locating upon the high hills in the southeastern part of the 
town. 

It seems to have been settled that the earliest inhabitants of Stephen- 
town came, not as individuals or as single families, but in small col- 
onies of a dozen or a score each, following some explorer who went 
ahead to ascertain the nature of the new country and the most ad- 
vantageous site for the establishment of a colony. Asa Douglas and 
William Douglas were very early inhabitants, possibly the very first ; 
though descendants of Elnathan Sweet, Benjamin Gardner, Joseph 
Rogers and others claim this honor for the families of the latter. Asa 
Douglas came from Plainfield, Conn., and took up a large tract of land 
in the extreme southeastern portion of the town. His son William \ 
came with his family about the same time and became a prominent 
settler. The other children were Benjamin, Eli, Amos, Abiah, Dei- 
damia and Hannah. The family became very numerous and prominent 
in the town. Elnathan Sweet located very early in the southern part 
of the town. About the same time Nathaniel Rose, Edward Carr, 
Caleb Carr, Jonathan Howard and Joseph Rogers located in the same 
neighborhood. Alexander Brown came from Connecticut when a boy, 
about 1774, and located five or six miles west of the original settle- 
ments. His sons — Alexander S., Hiram W., Samuel J., George C, 
Morgan L., Frederick H. and Roswell D. — ^all settled in the town. 
Among other early inhabitants were Adam Brown, who came from 
Stonington, Conn., and raised a large family, which became prom- 
inent in the town; Major Daniel Brown, Ephraim Pierce, Beriah Hol- 
comb. Dr. Calvin Pardee, Dr. Joshua Griggs, Henry Piatt, James 
Adams, General Rosea Moffitt, who represented his district in Congress 
from 1813 to 1817; James Sweet, Justus Brockway, whose sons George 
and Samuel located in town; Ezekiel Parks, Daniel Parks, John Dixon, 
William Kittle, John Babcock, Isaac Finch, Lebbeus Brockway, Jacob 
Green, David Gould, Captain Benjamin Sackett, Jesse Bennett, Nathan 
Jones, Nathaniel Spring, Jeremiah Jolls, Nathan Williams, John 
Horton, Jonathan Nile;, Nathaniel Rose, George Arnold, Stephen 
Arnold, John Wylie, Talman Chase, Benjamin Herrington, James 
Jones, Dr. Nicholas Harris, Langford Green, Jonathan Howard, Abijah 
Bass, Joshua Palmer, Silas Babcock, John Curtis, Jacob Green, Isaac 



I 



492 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Humphrey, Eli Young, John Coleman, Elihu Adams, Shubael Adams, 
Marcus Dimond, Daniel Rowe, John W. Schermerhorn, Timothy Mat- 
tison, Gideon Brayton, Ezekiel Huntington. 

An old record of the survey of the township of Stephentown con- 
tains some interesting facts regarding the earliest known work of this 
kind performed in accordance with the law.^ After citing the act 
authorizing the survey, the minutes of the various meetings of the 
commissioners read as follows: 

Proceedings of the Commissioners at Steventown.- Daniel Hull, Daniel Dennison 
& Sam' Sherman. 

January 9th 1775. — Benjamin Sheldon, Benj"' Gardener and Jazeb-'' Spencer, ad- 
vertised in John Holts and Hugh Gaines News Papers, the Undivided lands to be 
Divided by Commissioners to meet on Wednesday the 12th day of April at the house 
of Othneil Gardener at Little Hosick. 

April 19th, 1775.— The Commissioners in the same papers their appointment and 
to meet at Jazeb Spencers on the 25th July to Proceed on the said Partition. 

July 25, 1775. — The Commissioners Meet agreeable to their Advertisement and 
adjourned to Monday the 16th October to Meet at the House of Jabez Spencers. 

PROrRIETOKS. 

• i Benjamin Sheldon. No. 18. 

James Gray... \ 

i Caleb Carr. No. 37. 

i Ploward. No. 48. 

Samuel Brown . - 

( Jonathan Niles. No. 38. 

James Gray, Jun. 

i Joseph Rogers. No. 13. 

David Pixly - 

f Joseph Carpenter. No. 11. 

i Jazeb Spencer. No. 32. 

Ben- Willard - 

Janled Woodbridge. 
Nathan Ball. 
Joseph Willard. 
Josiah Ball. 
Elijah Wilson. 
Phineas Whitney 
Abel Rowe. 
Elix Pixly. 
Ebenezer Noble. 

1 This record is now the property of Jonathan Denison, esq., of Hcrlin. 

* The name of the town is spelled Stephentown, Steventown, Su-plu'n Town, and Steven 
Town in various early records. 
' Should be Jabez. 



TOWN OF STEPHENTOWN. 493 



Amos Beard. 



( Benj. Gardner. No. 31. 

/ Paterson. 



Jonth" Walker. 
Dan' Hubbard. 
David Noble. 
Will'" Wright. 
Sami Wilson. 



David Bagg. 

David Pixly, Jun. 



( Isaac Rogers. 



Steventown, Monday, 16th October, 1775. 

The Commissioners Meet according to adjournment and chose Wm. Cockburn of 
Kingston in the County of Ulster for their surveyor, who was sworn accordingly 
Truely & Impartially to Perform the Several Surveys, Required by the Commission- 
ers in the Division of Stephentown,— They thier chose John Fox, Jim & John Philips 
their chain Bearers, who was likewise Sworn to Perform that Service, According to 
the Best of their Skill & Judgement, and to Render a just account of the length of 
every line chained by them to Wm. Cockburn the Surveyor. They also chose John 
Cox for their dark. 

Tuesday the 17th October 1775.— Went with Benjm Sheldon to the South West cor- 
ner of the town a Birch Tree Place of Beginning of the Township and Traced the 
South bounds from thence along a line of Marked Trees, to a Basswood Stump & 
stones, the Reputed Corner of Steventown formerly marked for the S. E. Corner of 
the Township. Lodged at Benj"' Sheldons. 

Wednesday 18th October 1775. — Began at the Basswood Corner and Run the East 
bounds of the Township, a Birch Corner to the Westward of Messengersline, Then 
Run the North bounds to the Road. Lodged at Benj™ Gardeners. 

Thursday 19th October. — Continued the North bounds across Benj'" Gardeners 
lot. Rainy Weather. Lodged at Gardeners. 

Friday 20th October. — Rainy Weather still. Continuing, adjourned till Monday 
the 23d, to Meet at Gardeners, at 8 oclock in the forenoon. 

Monday 23d October. — The Commissioners Meet According to Adjournment and 
Proceeded on the North bounds of the Township Marked a large I'eech, the N. W. 
Corner of the Township, Then Run the West bounds a Mile & a Ouarter. Lodged 
at Isaac Tapplins. 

Tuesday 24th October. — Proceeded on the West bounds and Run Six chains to the 
Westw' of the Birch Corner, Then Run & marked the True line back from the Birch 
along the West bounds to Schermerhorns Road. The Commissioners went to Hills, 
the Surveyor & chainmen to Spencers. 

Wednesday 25th October. — Continued the line to the N. W. Corner. Lodged at 
Ben Gardeners. 

Thursday 2Gth October.— Surveyed Round No. 39 (to Witt) that part which lies 
within the bounds of the Town also the Common lands that lies in the N. E. Corner 
also that that part of Lot No. 31 that lies within the Town, & then Traced along the 
Westerly bounds of the Home lots to the N. E. Corner of Lot 17. Went to Benj"' 
Sheldens & Lodged. 



494 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Friday 27th October.— Continued along the bounds of the Home lots to the South 
bounds. Went to Jazeb Spencers, P. M. the Surveyor employed in Protracting & 
casting up the Quantity of the home lots. Lodged at J. Spencers. 

Saturday 28th October. — Rainy Weather, the Commissioners adjourned till Mon- 
day 30th, Then to Meet at Jazeb Spencers at 12 o'clock. 

Monday October 30th. — The Commissioners Meet According to Adjournment, & 
Surveyed the length & Breadth of No. 34 a Pitched lot, at Jazeb Spencers. 

Tuesday 31st October.— Surveyed the length & Breadth of No. 32 & No. 3."), and 
their Distance and Situation to the home lots.— P. M. Measured the South bounds 
at No. 33, & the Breadth of No. 48, Lodged at Deacon Roger's. 

Wednesday 1st Nov''. — Run the South bounds of No. 37. The Commissioners ad- 
journed till the 3d Tuesday in April next to Meet at the house of Ben. Gardeners at 
10 oclock in the forenoon. 

They agreed to Meet the Surveyor in Albany the last Wednesday in January at 8 
oclock in the forenoon at Rich Cartwright's in Albany. 

The entries following are of little importance. The la.st one reads: 

October 3, 1780.— The Commissioners met again but the Surveyor Not Coming By 
reason of the War they further adjourned to the tirst Tuesday in October Next then 
to Meet at the house of Dan' Denison. 

One of the earliest taverns in vStephentovvn was the one located at 
North Stephentown and kept by Rowland Hall. Later proprietors of 
the same inn were Lawrence \'an Valkenbiiryh and Erastns Brown. 
Ichabod Croffut and Abner Bull were proprietors of other early tav- 
erns, that of the latter being located at Stephentown village. In the 
western part of the town Richard Spencer established an early inn, 
and later one was kept by Daniel Allen. Caleb Carr was an early inn- 
keeper at Stephentown Center. Other early proprietors were Joseph 
Gardner and Benjamin Carpenter. The first store in the town of 
which there is any positive knowledge was kept by Joseph Westcott at 
North Stephentown as early as 177S. 

As nearly as can be learned, the first physician to open an office in 
Stephentown was Dr. Baker, who located in IItc southeastern part of 
the town soon after the close of the War of the Revolution, perhaps as 
early as 1787 or 1788. Soon after Dr. Nicholas Harris began prac- 
ticing at a point about five miles north of Dr. Baker's office. Both en- 
joyed an extensive practice, not only in Stephentown, but in other 
towns in Rensselaer county and in Massachusetts. Ten or twelve 
years later Dr. Calvin Pardee and Dr. Brighton located in town. Dr. 
Pardee came direct from Lebanon Springs, Columbia county, and 
originally from Connecticut. His home in Stephentown was at the 
point called Presbyterian Hill. Dr. Joslnia Criggs was another early 



TOWN OF STEPHENTOWN. 495 

physician, and had an office at "the flats." Dr. Cuyler Tanner came 
to vStephentown village about 1838. Dr. Philander H. Thomas was 
alsf) a successful practitioner later on in the eastern part of the town. 
Among later practitioners were Dr. Beriah Douglas, Dr. F. A. Carpen- 
ter, Dr. George H. Dickinson, Dr. G. F. Dickinson, Dr. Charles N. 
Reynolds. 

Stephentown has an abundance of water-power, which formerly 
operated numerous industries. In late years, however, most of these 
have been abandoned and the manufacturing industries are small and 
few, the inhabitants being engaged principally in agriculture and stock- 
raising. One of the first grist mills in the town was located in what 
was known as "Goodrich Hollow," on the branch of the Kinderhook 
creek, where about the earliest settlements were made. About 1800 
a foundry and grist mill was built by William Landon in the south- 
western part of the town. At "the flats" a carding mill was located 
at an early day by Cherevoy & Perry. Younglove's grist mill and 
saw mill, Humphrey & Perry's carding mill and Samuel Udell's card- 
ing mill and cloth-dressing works were located in the same vicinity 
not long afterward. About 1838 a satinet mill was located on Kinder- 
hook creek by Adams & Chapman, and a flannel factory was conducted 
further down the stream by George W. Glass. These enterprises have 
been extinct many years. 

By the general law dividing all the counties of the State into towns, 
passed April 7, 1801, the bounds of the town of Stephentown were de- 
scribed as follows: 

Easterly by the east bounds of this State, southerly by the county of Columbia, 
westerly by Schodack and by the line aforesaid forming the east bounds of the said 
town of Schodack, and northerly by a line drawn east and west from the south 
bounds of the farm now or late of Peter Seaman to the east line of Abel Lewis's 
farm and extending thence along the summit of a certain mountain in the north part 
of Stephen town, and the range of that summit continued easterly to the east bound- 
ary of this State. 

The Stephentown turnpike corporation was established by act of the 
Legislature April 3, ISOl, when John W. Schermerhorn, Abijah Bush, 
Henry Piatt and William Douglas were named as incorporators. The 
route of the road was "from the dwelling house of Henry Piatt, in the 
town of Stephen town in the county of Rensselaer in the nearest and 
most direct route as far as circumstances will admit, till it intersects 
the Rensselaer and Columbia turnpike road at the dwelling house of 



496 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

John W. Schermerhorn or between that house cand the one of Abijah 
Bush." William Douglas, John W. Schermerhorn and Henrj' Piatt 
were named as commissioners to superintend the work of construction. 
The capital stock of the company was $8,000, divided into 800 shares 
of ten dollars each. It was directed that the road should be four rods 
wide, "twenty-four feet of which shall be bedded with wood, stone, 
gravel, or any other hard substance compacted together a sufficient 
depth, to secure a solid foundation to the same; and the said road shall 
be faced with gravel or other hard substance, in such manner as to 
secure, as near as the materials will admit, an even surface, rising to- 
wards the middle, by a gradual arch." The rates of toll were specified 
in the act. Other turnpikes were the Western Union turnpike, passing 
through the town from Schodack Landing to Hancock, Mass., and the 
Eastern Union turnpike, which extended from Hancock, Mass., to Al- 
bany, by way of vSand Lake village. Road building and improvement 
began at an early day, but on account of the hilly and rocky nature of 
the town the efforts of the friends of good roads necessarily have been 
limited. 

The civil proceedings of the town were not recorded in a very satis- 
factory way in its early days. Local legislation which may have been 
quite important to the early inhabitants is referred to in the minutes 
of the proceedings of the town boards in the briefest and most indefi- 
nite way. The early settlers evidently suffered fi'om the depredations 
of wolves, for April C, 1802, there is an entry in the records of the town 
showing that the authorities that day offered a bounty of fifteen dollars 
for the head of a full-grown wolf and half that amount for the head of 
a young wolf. 

The first legislative enactment that we can find providing for the 
establishment of a common school district is in the law passed March 
22, 1799, which provided that "the freeholders residing on that part 
of Stephentown known by the name of The Twelve Thousand Acres, 
are hereby constituted and declared to be one body corporate and poli- 
tic, in fact and in name, by the name of ' The Trustees of Schools in 
Stephentown.' " The amount of property to be held by this corpora- 
tion was restricted to $3,000. The law was passed upon the represent- 
ation to the Legislature "that there is a certain fund given the inter- 
est of which is to be appropriated for the encouragement of schools " at 
The Twelve Thousand Acres. The first trustees of the school district 




REV. JAMES G. PHILLIPS. 



TOWN OF STEPHENTOWN. 497 

were, as named in the law, Hosea MofifatJ David Gould and Jonathan 
Niles. 

One of the first school houses of which there is any record was located 
on Presbyterian hill, and one of its earliest teachers was a man named 
Frazer. Schools existed in the Carpenter district and in the Brown 
district early in the history of Stephentown. For many years the Rev. 
Eber M. Rollo was the principal of the school established on "the 
fiats " as early as 1830. 

The records of Stephentown fail to state how many men living in the 
town served in the American army during- the War of the Revolution, 
or what their names were. While the list probably can never be com- 
pleted, among the names of the patriots which have been preserved 
are Captain William Douglas, Captain Israel Piatt, Major Daniel Brown, 
Nathan Williams, John Horton, Abel Tanner and Justus Brockway. 
Colonel Caleb Carr commanded a regiment during the War of 1812, 
and among the men of Stephentown who joined it or served elsewhere 
in that war were Captain Leonard Ross, John Cranston, William B. 
Douglas, Eleazer Morton, Ichabod Morton, Peleg Kittle, Warren Swan 
and Samuel Babcock. 

Stephentown was not outdone by any other town in the county 
when the government called for troops to put down the rebellion of 
18fJl-186o. September 11, 1862, a special town meeting voted a large 
appropriation for the pay of volunteers, and additional money was 
raised from time to time as occasion demanded. Of the seventy-seven 
soldiers who represented the town in the War of the Rebellion, the 
majority served in the Rensselaer county regiments. Those who died 
in the service of the United States were: 

Ebenezer Kittle, John W. Blake, Abner Williams, Daniel Waters, John Gibson, 
Charles S. Daniels, Albert E. Hinkley, Charles F. Chapel, William B. Andrews, J. 
De Witt Coleman, Horace D. Woodward, Amos J. Daboll, George Coutan, Justus 
Whitman, Jonas Sykes, Peter Berry, George Dimond, Zopher Wheeler and Elizur 
G. Chase. 

Every village or hamlet in the town of Stephentown bears its name. 
The principal village is Stephentown, which is located southeast of the 
centre of the town on Kinderhook creek and the Lebanon Springs rail- 
road. The post-office here was established in 180-1 and is the oldest in 
the town. The first postmaster was Nathan Howard. 

) S.iinelimcs also spi'llcd MDrtU and .MolViU, 



498 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

The residents of Stephentown village, as well as those of the entire 
town, are engaged chiefly in farming. About 187G seven manufactur- 
ing establishments existed in the village, but depression in business 
caused a suspension of operations. The flood which visited this section 
in August, 18!)0, did but little damage as compared with that of the 
adjacent towns. Roads were torn out and some farm land damaged. 
The educational department of the town consists of a district school, 
which is not graded, and has an attendance of about sixty-flvc during 
the year. The meetings of the town board are held in Mt. Whitney 
school house. 

Mount Whitney lodge, I. O. O. F., of Stephentown was instituted 
September 20, 1892. The first officers were: N. G., A. Currier; V. G., 
A. B. Clifford; secretary, E. G. Eldridge; treasurer, C. A. Chaloner. 

Stephentown Centre, formerly sometimes called Mechanicville, is a 
small hamlet located in the centre of the town. In 187T a post-office 
was established at that point with Ezra Chase as postmaster. The 
principal industry of the hamlet is farming, though there are several 
small manufacturing industries employing a small portion of the pop- 
ulation. 

North Stephentown, in the northeastern part of the town, is a little 
hamlet. The post-office there was established in 1823, with Eawrence 
Van Valkenburgh as the first postmaster. 

Stephentown Flats, on Kinderhook creek, about a mile southwest of 
Stephentown village, once sustained several small mills and factories, 
but these for the most part were abandoned many years ago. When the 
place was first settled it was believed that its location would insure its 
prosperity, but after a few years its population began to decrease. 

West Stephentown, in the northwest corner of the town, is also a 
small settlement. It has a post-office, established many years ago. 
To-day it is principally a farming community. 

South Stephentown is a small settlement in the southern part of the 
town which formerly supported several industries. In recent years it 
has ceased to be a place of much importance. 

The oldest church in Stephentown appears to be the Free Baptist 
church, which was organized September 13, 1783, as the " Free or 
Open Communion Baptist Church of Stephentown," by Elder Cran- 
dall and others. For nearly half a century the society had no regular 
place of worship, meeting at various places, generally at Black River 
district school house In 1828, at a cost of $800, the house of worship 



TOWN OF STEPHENTOWN. 409 

known for man}' years as the old Black River meeting- house was con- 
structed. About 1858 this was removed to its more convenient loca- 
tion, enlarged and remodeled. It was not until 1875 that the society 
was incorporated by law. The first regular pastor of whom, there is 
any record was Elder Benajah Corpe, who served from 1785 to 1797. 

The Presbyterian church at Stephentown Fiats was in existence in 
1793, and perhaps before that year. The elders in that year were 
William Boardman and Jacob Wylie. The first regular pastor was the 
Rev. Aaron Jordan Boage, who served from 1800 to 1809, though the 
pulpit had been supplied since 1794, the first stated supply being John 
Warford. The first house of worship was erected in 1794 and stood on 
"Presbyterian hill," so named from the church. In 1836 it was taken 
down and a new church built. The second building was burned on 
Christmas day, 1868, and a new one erected at once. 

A second Free Communion Baptist church was organized March 20, 
1793, ten years after the first of that denomination, at " Little Hoosick 
hollow," in the eastern part of the town. ' The only pastor the church 
ever had was an uneducated man named Nicholas Northrup, who was 
ordained as the "watchman " of the little flock. Soon after his death, 
which occurred about 1830, the church became extinct. 

Another old Baptist church once existed in the northern part of the 
town, the log meeting house being located on the line between Stephen- 
town and Berlin. The Rev. Joseph Barnes was its pastor.'' Soon after 
the close of the War of the Revolution the society became extinct, its 
members joining a Berlin church. 

A Christian church, which had a house of worship near Stephen- 
town, was organized about 1840 by Elder John Spoor. After an exist- 
ence of about twenty years the meetings were abandoned and the 
society ceased to exist. 

The earliest record of the First Baptist church of Stephentown bears 
date of March 25, 1795. which is believed to have been the date of or- 
ganization. The first pastor of the church was Elder Robert Niles. 
The first meeting house was built soon after the society was founded. 
The society was incorporated November 24, 1825, as the First Baptist 
Church and Society of Stephentown. 

The Free-Will Baptist church at West Stephentown began its ex- 
istence November 11, 1829, with the Rev. A. H. Miller as pastor. The 

' See history of the Haptist church of Hcrlin prepared from .lata furnished bv .Mr. William 
J. Sheldon. 



600 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

meeting'-house was erected at once, on the hill near the burying' ground, 
and nearly forty years later was remodeled and enlarged. 

The Methodist Episcopal church of Stephentown began its existence 
as a mission in charge of the Troy conference in April, 1868, with 
George Hudson, a local preacher, as the first supply. Work was be- 
gun the following year on the first house of worship, which was ded- 
icated April 4, 1871. The first regular pastor was the Rev. E. A. 
Braman, who assumed charge soon after the opening of the church. 

Supervisors of Stephentown. 

1784-85, Caleb Bentley; 1786-90, John W. Schermerhorn ; 1700, Jonas Odell; 1791- 
94. John Wylie; 1795-97, Samuel Vary; 1798-1805, Henry Piatt; 1806-09, Hosea 
Moffitt; 1810, Henry Piatt; 1811-16, Rowland Hall; 1817, John Babccck ; 1818, 
William Douglass; 1819-21, James Jones; 1822-33, Henry Piatt; 1824, Simon Crans 
ton; 1825-26, Henry Piatt; 1827, James Jones; 1828-30, C. Moffitt; 1831-33, R. A. 
Brower; 1834-35, Rufus Rose; 1836-39, E. G. Green; 1840-43, H. W. Brown; 1844, 
E. G. Green; 1845-46, S. V. R. Jones; 1847, G. W. Glass; 1848-49, J. L. Sheldon; 
1850-52, Rufus Rose; 1853-54, R. A. Brown; 1855, T. G. Piatt; 1856-57, E Adams: 
1858, R. Rose; 1859-60, S. Carpenter; 1861-63. T. G. Carpenter; 1864-67, Lewis 
Brown; 1868-69, Ezra Chase ; 1870-71, S. E. Brown; 1872, Rufus Sweet; 1873, Wm. 
A. Gile; 1874, Rufus Sweet; 1875, Gideon S. Hall; 1876-77, Rufus Sweet; 1878, 
Gideon S. Hall; 1879-1881, Rufus Sweet; 1882-1883, W. A. Gile; 1884-1885, John D. 
Kittle; 1886-1888, Rufus Sweet; 1889-1891, E. G. Eldridge; 1892-1893, W. C. Wood- 
ward ; 1894 , Henry Snell. 

Town Clerks of Stephentown. 

1784, Jonathan Niles; 1790. Hezekiah Hall; 1791, Hosea Moffitt ; 1792, Henry Piatt; 
1795, Ichabod Cone, Jonathan Niles; 1796, Henry Piatt; 1797, Hosea Moffitt; 1798, 
William Douglas, jr.; 1815, Eber Moffitt; 1817, Aha Pardee; 1823, Ira Gardner; 
1829, Randall A. Brown; 1831, Elijah Graves; 1834, Hosea VV. Brown; 1840, Caleb 
Chapman; 1843, Henry Piatt; 1844, Alexander Gardner; 1848, Theodore D. Piatt; 
1.S49, Eber M. Rollo; 1850, Joseph R. Reynolds; 1851, Thomas G. Carpenter; 1852, 
Edwin Adams: 1853, Philander Woodward; 1856, Ezra B. Chase; 1860, Lewis 
Brown; 1863, Orra G. Strait; 1864, Charles H. Vary; 1869, Walter B. Goold; 1870, 
Andrew J. Brown; 1872, E. A. Cranston; 1873, W. B. Goold; 1874, W. H. Brimmer; 
1875, Edwin E. Dotty; 1876, William H. Brimmer; 1877-1883, Andrew J. Brown; 
1884-1885, George T. Chittenden; 1886-1887, John Reynolds; 1888, E.G. Eldridge; 
1889-1891, William C. Woodward; 1892-1893, John R. Palmer; 1894-1895, Fred G. 
Gardner ; 1896 , John R. Palmer. 

Justices of the Peace of S i'ephentowxN. 

1826, John Babcock, Silas Thomas, Caleb Carr ; 1<S30, Meshach Strait, Nathan How- 
ard; 1832, Rufus Sweet; 1833, Amos James; 1S34, John L.Sheldon; 1836, Philander 



TOWN OF PETERSBURG H. 501 

Woodward; 1837, Amos James; 1S38, John L. Sheldon; 1839, Meshach Strait; 1840, 
Philander Howard; 1841, Daniel H. Gardner; 1842, John L. Sheldon; 1S43, Joseph 
Tayer; 1844, William J. Potter; 1N45, William J. Potter, James M. Glass; 1846, Zeb- 
ulon Simmons, Lyman Kingman; 1847, Joseph Tayer; 1848, William Hand, Me- 
shach Strait, Joseph M. Young; 1849, Ira Tifft; 1850, Henry Reynolds, Ezekiel 
Huntington; 1851, George W. Glass; 1852, Alanson N. Green, William Hand, Silas 
V. Thomas; 1853, Ira Tifft, Calvin M. Jones; 1854, John L. Sheldon. Edmond Bailey 
1855, Meshach Strait, Silas V. Thomas; 1856, William Hand; 1857, Isaac Dunham 
1858, John L. Sheldon, Ira Tifft; 1859, Tabor B. Roberts; 1860, Theodore D. Piatt 
1S61, Halbert H. Jones, Allen Kittel; 1862, Spencer C. Brown; 1863, Tabor B. Rob- 
erts; 1864, Allen Kittel; 1865, Halbert H. Jones; 1866, Egbert Jolls; 1867, Rensse- 
laer Delevan; 1868, Allen Kittel, Joseph C. Huntington; 1869, Henry T. Douglas; 
1870, Thomas M. Greenman, James M. Glass; 1871, George A. Tayer; 1872. Ira 
Tifft; 1873, John D. Kittel; 1874, George W. Jones, W. T. Bradway; 1875, John D. 
Kittel; 1876, George A. Tayer; 1877, Jonathan J. Carpenter; 1878, D. H. Newton; 
1879, William H. Eldridge; 1880, T. A. Piatt; 1881, Jay Segar; 1882, D. H. New- 
ton; 1883, Charles Shumway; 1884, long term, T. A. Piatt, short term, F. A. Green; 
1885, Jay Segar; 1886, D. H. Newton; 1887, A. M. Fredenburgh; 1888. E. G. El- 
dridge; 1889, long term, William H. Brimmer, short term, George A. Taylor; 1890, 
William H. Bailey; 1891, long term, W. W. Sweet, short term, W. H. Bailey; 1892, 
George A. Taylor; 1893, long term, F. A. Green, short term, George Shillinger; 1894, 
D. H. Newton; 1895, Albert Provost; 1896. Elbert Bateman. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

TOWN OF PETERSBURCJH. 

The town of Petersburgh is composed of territory orig-inally included 
in Rensselaerwyck. Stephentown was formed in 1784, and as that 
town embraced the territory now the town of Petersburgh, the inhab- 
itants of the latter town were under the dominion of the authorities of 
vStephentown. As the town was too large to be conveniently governed, 
a new town, named Petersburgh, was erected March 18, 1791. It was 
subsequently considerably reduced in size. In 1793 its boundary on 
the line of Berlin was changed; in 1806 other portions were cut off to 
enter into the new towns of Lansingburgh and Berlin, and in 1807 still 
more territory was cut off to form parts of the towns of Nassau and 
Grafton. Tradition says that Petersburgh was named in honor of Peter 
Simmons. No record of the matter is extant. 

The act erecting the town of Petersburgh is contained in a general 



502 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

law passed by the Legislature March 18, 1791, which provided for the 
division of several towns in various parts of the State. The clause re- 
lating specifically to Petersburgh is the first in the act, and reads as 
follows: 

Be it enacted . . . That from and after the first Monday in April next, all that 
part of the town of Stephen Town, in the county of Rensselaer, which lies north of 
a line to be drawn east and west from the south bounds of Peter Seamons farm, until 
it intersects the east and west bounds of the said town of Stephen Town, shall be, 
and is hereby erected into a distinct and separate town by the name of Petersbursrh, 
and that the first town meeting of the inhabitants of Petersburj^h, shall be held at 
the house of Hezekiah Coone in the said town ; and that the next town meetmg of 
the inhabitants of the town of Stephen Town, shall be held at the dwelling house 
now occupied by Joshua Gardner in said town. 

Chapter 10, Laws of 1793, passed January 4, 179:5, contains the fol- 
lowing clause: 

That all that part of Stephen Town to the north of the following boundary, tcj wit, 
beginning on the line that divides the aforesaid town, at the cast line of Abel 
Lewis's farm, and to extend ihence along the summit of a certain mountain, in the 
north part of Stephen Town, and the ranges of that summit continued easterly to 
the east boundary of this State, shall be, and hereby is annexed to, and shall here- 
after be considered part of the town of Petersburgh. . . . 

By the general law dividing all the counties of the State into towns, 
passed April 7, 1801, the bounds of the town of Petersburgh were de- 
scribed as follows: 

Southerly by Stephen town, easterly by the east bounds of this State, northerly 
by the north bounds of the manor of Rensselaerwyck, and westerly by a line be- 
ginning in the same north bounds at a place nine miles distant from Hudson's river, 
and continued from thence southerly to the northwest corner of Stephen town. 

The revised statutes of the State of New York describes the town 
as follows: 

The town of Petersburgh shall contain all that part of the said county [Rensselaer] 
bounded southerly by Berlin, easterly by the east bounds of the county, northerly 
by the north bounds of the manor of Rensselaerwyck, and westerly by Grafton. 

The town is one of the niost mountainous in Rensselaer county, its 
surface consisting of two mountain ranges, one on either side of the 
Little Hoosick river. There are several peaks in the town at elevations 
of from 1,000 to 2,000 feet above the level of the sea. The scenery in 
all parts of the town is most delightful. 

The earliest settlement was made in the northern part of the town near 
the junction of the Little Hoosick with the Hoosick river, and was known 



TOWN OF PETERSBURGH. 503 

as Hoosick or Hoosac. The year 1754 saw a few settlements at this 
point, and though there is no proof of the fact it is extremel}' possible 
that some farmers located there even before that date. In 1767 a 
score or more of houses dotted this localit3^ Among those occupying 
farms there at this time were Peter Backus, Hans Backus, John 
Ruyter, Henry Letcher, Hans Lantman, Barent Hoag, John G. Brim- 
mer, Jacob Best, Petrus Vosburg, Bastian Ueil, Juriah Kreiger, Franz 
Burns, Henry Young, Schole Martes Watson and Peter Simmons. A 
few years later the families of John Church and Nathaniel Church ; 
William W. Reynolds, who came from Rhode Island; Ichabod Prosser, 
from \"ermont; Joshua Thomas and Benjamin Randall, the Dayfoot 
brothers, Abraham and Augustus Lewis, Simeon Odell, Olivier Spencer, 
Stephen Card, Sylvanus Stephens, Stanton Bailey, Gideon Clark, 
Sterry Hewitt, Asa Maxon, David Maxon, Joseph Allen, William 
Hiscox, James Weaver and Thomas Phillips settled there, all before 
the close of the eighteenth century. Other early settlers were Heze- 
kiah Coon, Benjamin Hanks, John Nichols, Aaron Cole, Ichabod 
Irish, David Hustis, William Clark, Archibald Thomas George Gard- 
ner, Laban Jones, Stephen Potter, John G. Croy and Lyman Maine. 

The first town meeting was held April 5, 1791, at the residence of 
Hezekiah Coon. The officers then elected were: 

Moderator, Hezekiah Coon; supervisor, Jonas Odell; town clerk, John Greene; as- 
sessors, Benjamin Hanks, Randall Spencer and John Nichols; commissioners Abel 
Russel, Luke Greene and Matthew Randall; poormasters, David Randall and Heze- 
kiah Coon. 

It is believed that the first tavern in the town was maintained at 
North Petersburgh by Cornelius Letcher. Soon afterward another 
was built by Hezekiah Coon on the property known in later years as 
the Adelbert Moses place. A short distance north of Coon's inn an- 
other was kept by John Woodburn. 

Probably the earliest ph3'sician in Petersburgh was Dr. Maxon, who 
located in town about the year 1794 or 1795. Five or six years later 
Dr. Ebenezer Robinson began to practice. He subsequently kept a 
store at Berlin. Dr. Hiram Moses came to Petersburgh in the fall of 
1825 and entered upon a practice which extended over several towns in 
Rensselaer county and in \^ermont and Massachusetts. Dr. Hull was 
also an early practitioner. Among the early lawyers were Michael W. 
Van Avery, James Van Avery and Joseph D. White. 

During the last and greatest French and Indian War the inhabitants 



504 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

of Petersburgh were called upon on several occasions to take precau 
tions against an attack by the Indians. The following- incident is re- 
lated in connection with this period : ^ 

On the fifteenth of June, 1754, Mr. John G. Brimmer - was at work in the field 
with his sons, Jeremiah, Godfre)' and John, when Indian blankets were discovered. 
This agreed with previous suspicious indications. Mr. Brimmer immediately started 
for the house, telling his sons to unharness the horses and follow him. Before they 
could comply with their father's request, two Indians were discovered coming 
towards them. The boys mimediately grasped their guns, and just as Jeremiah was 
getting on the horse, one of the Indians fired at him and he fell dead. Godfrey 
seeing his brother fall ran and hid behind a brush fence. While concealed he saw 
the Indians looking for him. He drew up his gun to fire, but a leaf falling upon the 
sight he changed his position and was discovered by the Indians. He and one of 
the Indians then stepped out and fired deliberately at each other without effect. 
The discharge was so simultaneous, that thinking the Indian had not fired, and that 
he would immediately do so, Godfrey dropped the butt of his gun on the ground, 
placed one hand over the muzzle and extended the other in token of surrender. The 
Indians came to him, one of them grasped him by the collar and passed around him 
three times with one finger within his shirt-collar, then laid his hand upon his head, 
signifying, "You are my prisoner." The Indians took John prisoner also. The 
plucky boy often picked up stones and threw at the Indians as they were lead- 
ing him through the river, at which the savages laughed in admiration of 
his grit. The prisoners were taken to St. Johns, Canada, where about 300 In- 
dians formed a circle around them and ordered them to sing. They refused, and 
were ordered the third time, but they still declared they could not sing. The In- 
dians being exasperated were about to strike, when Godfrey discovered in the crowd 
an Indian who had partaken of the hospitality of his father's house. He spoke to 
the Indian, who recognized him, and interfered to save the prisoners from torture. 
They remained at St. Johns for six weeks, and were then sold to the French, by 
whom they were treated as slaves. After a servitude of more than five years, they 
secured their freedom upon the surrender of Quebec to the English in 1759. They 
immediately started for Albany, and at Lake George were taken by the British and 
thrown into prison They were soon released through the influence of Mr. Van 
Rensselaer, and made their way to Albany. They there learned that their parents 
had moved to Rhinebeck, and had heard nothing from them since their capture. 
The family afterwards went back to the Hoosick valley. Mr. Hezekiah Coon re- 
members John as living in Petersburgh, and heard him talk of the capture. 

Peter.sbnrgh was sparsely settled at the beginning of the War of the 
Revolution, and the number of men it sent to engage in that struggle 

' lli.stdry of Rensselaer County, Natlianiel Hartlell Sylvester, ISKO. 

2 According to Hall's History of Berlin John George Brimmer and his family made the first 
settlement "on the north bank of the Hoosick river, about a mile east from where the Little 
Hoosick empties into the Hoosick. The house was en or near what is now called the I'cter Brim- 
mer farm. North l'clersburi;li." 



TOWN OF PETERSBURG II. 505 

therefore was not large. Among those who did serve in that war, 
however, were James Weaver, Lyman Maine, Ichabod Prosser, Gideon 
Clark, Sterry Hewitt and Arnold Worden. 

In the war of 1812 Petersburg!! furnished her share of soldiers. As 
far as can be learned from existing records these were the following: 

Captain Aaron Worthmgton, Captain William Coon, Captain Raper Andrus, 
Gardner Maine, Lewis Hewitt, John S. Brimmer, Amasa Lamphere, Sanford Hewitt, 
Peter Church, Silas W. White, Benjamin B. Randall, Josephus Jones, William Miner, 
Benjamin Babcock, Thomas Randall, Justus Nolton, Nathan Nolton, Benjamin 
Weaver, Cornelius Henning, John Hennmg, Oliver Buddington, Isaac B. Maine, 
George Hakes, Luther Clark, Charles Grogan, Christopher Armsbury, Spicer 
Chesebro. 

The list of residents of Petersburgh who served in the War of the 
Rebellion is a long one. Those who died in the service, as far as can 
be learned from existing records, were : 

George N. Parks, Henry Bass, Harvey H. Odell, Washington Brimmer, David 
Cruikshank, Stanton Wilcox, Lyman Brimmer, Edward Ready, Eugene Davis, 
Porter E. Jones, James A. Maine, Clark W. Hall, Thomas H. D. McGregor, Adel- 
bert Peckham, Charles F. Manchester, Coonradt Holmes, Silas E. Sweet, L. W. 
Thurber, L. E. Odell, Thomas Carter, Henry R. Green, Wellington W. Whipple, 
John A. Dean, Edwin H. Brock, Horace R. Merrihew, Columbus Steward, Darius 
M. Brimmer, Andrew McDermott, Clark L. Brown, Benjamin Landau, Bartholomew 
Carmody, F. Reynolds, Manser G. Phillips. 

As far as can be learned the first public action in regard to schools 
in Petersburgh was taken in 1796, when John Greene, Mansur Greene 
and William W. Reynolds were elected school commissioners. A new 
school system was organized under the law of 18r2-'13; the first com- 
missioners chosen were Ichabod Randall, William Coon and John 
Bowles, and the first inspectors were Ebenezer Robinson, Paul Maxon, 
jr., and Asa Stillman. The school system changed again in 1843, when 
the office of town superintendent was created. The first incumbent in 
that office in Petersburgh was Almond E. Reynolds, who was chosen 
in 1844. The first school house in the town was located opposite the 
Methodist church in Petersburgh. Later on a log school house was 
erected at " Dayfoot Hollow," and also one near Frazer's bridge. 

The principal village of Petersburgh bears the same name as the 
town. It formerly was known both as Petersburgh and South Peters- 
burgh, and originally called Rensselaer Mills. It is located on the 
banks of the Little Hoosick river and on the Lebanon Springs railroad. 
Probably the earliest store in the southern part of the town was kept 
64 



506 LANDMARKS OK RENSSKLAKR COUNTY. 

by Jonas Odell before the year 1800. Mrs. Randall also established a 
store there soon after. The first hotel was kept by Joseph Sanborn 
and owned by Noyes D. W. Reynolds. U. P. Babcock was another 
early landlord. The post-office was established in IS'22 and the first 
postmaster probably was Major-General Aaron Worthington. Ileze- 
kiah Coon served in the office after him. 

Petersburgh has always been the leading industrial village of the 
town. A shirt factory was maintained there for many years. In the 
early part of the present century a carriage factory was established by 
Paul vStillman, and long before the Revolution a saw mill did a thriv- 
ing business there. George and Asa Gardner were early in trade there, 
running a general store, as was also Eben C. Reynolds. Squire Allen 
opened a grocery store as early as 1825. 

The principal industry of the residents of the town of Petersburgh is 
farming, ])ut in the village of Petersburgh there are to-day several 
manufacturing establishments which furnish employment to a number 
of persons. 

The shirt factory of Frank Reynolds furnishes employment to twenty- 
five hands. It was started over Mr. Reynolds's store in 1870. June 
28, 1895, the store was destroyed by fire and the factory was removed 
to a grist mill owned by Mr. Reynolds, where it now is located. 

The shirt manufactory of Kellyer & Reynolds was started in 1871 
under the firm name of Kellyer, Reynolds & Sweet. In 1874 Mr. Sweet 
retired from the firm to conduct a general store and the firm continued 
to the present. In 189G Mr. Kellyer died. The firm employs but little 
help in the factory but has a list of employes numbering about 400, 
who do the work at their homes. 

The Petersburgh Co-operative Laundry company is an organization 
formed by young men, residents of the village. The village authori- 
ties constructed the laundry building and presented it to the company. 
The principal work done is for Kellyer & Reynolds, and the laundry 
turns out about 300 dozen shirts a week. The officers of the company 
are: President, E. B. Maxon ; secretary, D. H. Hull; treasurer, Charles 
L. Shafer; directors, E. C. Herring, E. W. Gifford, N. H. Niles, E. 
Dano and A. Goodermote. 

North Petersburgh is at the north end of the town on the railroad 
and the Little Hoosick river. It was settled before Petersburgh and 
is in the tract originally known as Hosac. The earliest settlers doubt- 
less located there as early as 1745, possibly before that. Among them 



TOWN OF PETERSBURGH. 507 

were Barnardus Bratt, to whom reference has been made in the history 
of Hoosick, who built the first saw mill and grist mill at this point; 
Hans Creiger, Peter Voss, and families named Breese, Ouderkirk, 
Fonda, Vanderrick, Bovie, Huyck, Brimmer, Kott and Roberts. Bas- 
tian Deil was also an early settler. The old Lutheran chi:rch of early 
•times was just north of the village. Among the early physicians was 
Dr. Bannister. David Russell of Salem built the old grist mill which 
originally was conducted by Nathan Hakes, and which was abandoned 
about 1825. Among the first tavern-keepers of the village were men 
named Lewis and Dyer. 

The first church which existed in Petersburgh left no records of its 
career. It was located at North Petersburgh and was a Lutheran 
church. The congregation worshipped in a log house afterward used 
as a school house, located east of North Petersburgh. When the church 
was started and by whom or how long a career it had is not known. It 
ceased to exist some time during the eighteenth century, and possibly 
many years before the 5^ear 1800. 

The First Methodist Episcopal church of Petersburgh was built in 

1821, the pastor at that time being the Rev. John Nixon. Previous to 
that time however there was an organization of Methodists which held 
meetings in a building situated in the " Hollow " and owned by Joshua 
Lamb. The first preacher this society had was the Rev. Mr. Mitchell, 
an itinerant from the South who preached in Berlin and supplied in 
Petersburgh in 1811. The early promoters of the church were Jabez 
Y. Lewis, Job W. Madison, Justus Hakes, and the Rev. Zebulon Lewis, 
and it was mainly through their efforts that the church was erected. 
In 1892 the edifice was wholly remodeled. The present pastor is the 
Rev. Arthur Davies. From this church is supplied the clergyman for 
the M. E. church at North Petersburgh, which was built in 1821. In 
this latter church about fifty years ago preached the eccentric and once 
famous Lorenzo Dow. 

The Baptist church of Petersburgh was constituted May 12, 1828, 
though the society was incorporated several years earlier — July 20, 

1822. The first pastors of whom there is any record were Nathan 
Lewis and J. D. Rogers, both of whom are down as serving the society 
in 1832. Amos Fuller and Daniel Brimmer were the first deacons. 
The house of worship was erected in 1828 and remodeled in 1878. 

The Christian church of Petersburgh, which ceased to exist in 1895, 
was erected in 1850, but the society was not incorporated until Septem- 



508 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

ber 10, 1855. The first pastor was the Rev. J. Dexter. The last preacher 
to occupy the pulpit in the church was the Rev^ John McLaughlin, who 
is now in charge of a church at Red Rock, Columbia county. 

Supervisors of Petersp.uroh. 

1791-1793, Jonas Odell; 1793-1794, Caleb Wentley; 1795-1796, Randall Spencer;" 
1797-1798, Abel Lewis; 1799-1800, George Gardner; 1801-1803, William W. Rey- 
nolds; 1804-1805, John Reeve; 1806-1807, George Gardner; 1808-1810, Asa Still- 
man; 1811-1813, Silas Maxon ; 1814-1815, Joseph Case, jr. ; 1816-1818, Thomas Rey- 
nolds; 1819-1820, Aaron Worthington; 1831-1822, Ebenezer Robmson ; 182:5-1826, 
Aaron Worthiugton; 1827-1831, Parley Reynolds; 1832-1833, Joshua Randall, jr.; 
1834, Parley Reynolds; 1835-1836, Stephen Reynolds, jr. ; 1837-1838, Parley Rey- 
nolds; 1839-1840, Aaron Worthington; 1841-1842, Noel J. Reynolds; 1S43-1844, 
Aaron F. Worthington; 1845-1846, David G. Maxon; 1847-1848, William W. 
Reynolds; 1849-1850, Noyes H. W. Reynolds; 1851, Joseph Case; 1852-1853, Eben 
C. Reynolds; 1854-1855, O. D. Thyrber; 1856-1857, William W. Reynolds; 1858- 
1859, Aaron F. Worthington; 1860-1S61, David G. Maxon; 1862-1863, Lucius E. 
Green; 1864, Horace W. Wells; 1865-1867, Lucius E. Green; 1868-1869, William H. 
Crandall; 1870-1872, W. T. Reynolds; 1873-1874. John F. Tifft; 1875, Stephen H. 
Eldred; 1870, William T. Reynolds; 1877, Lucius E. Green; 1878-1880, Silas E. 
Reynolds; lSSl-1 882, William T. Reynolds; 1883-1885, H. E. Stewart; 1886-1887, 
William H. Crandall; 1888, A. Jay Taylor; 1889-1891, Frank E. Reynolds; 1893-1895, 
Frank Welch ;» 1896 , C. W. Reynolds. 

Town Clerks ok Petersburc.h. 

1791-1790, John Greene; 1797-1798, George Gardner; 1799, Randall Spencer; 1800- 
1805, William Clark; 1806-1807, Asa Stillman ; 1808-1810, John Bowles; 1811-1813, 
Russell Wilkinson; 1814-1815, Ichabod Randall; 1816, Asa Stillman; 1817-1821, 
Benjamin Clark; 1822-1825, John W. Reynolds; 1826-1829, Benjamin Clark; 1H30- 
1834, Benjamin B. Randall; 1835-1837, Squire Allen; 1838-1839, Daniel C. Morey ; 
1840-1841, Benjamin Weaver; 1S42-1844, Isaac B. Maine; 1845-1847, Seth Worth- 
ington; 1848-1853, Robert Reynolds; 1853-1854, Hiram Moses, jr.; 1855, Robert 
Reynolds; 1856, Jeremiah Allen, jr.; 1857, Silas W. Waite; 1858-1859, Jeremiah 
Allen, jr.; 1860-1861, Thomas L. Nichols; 1863, Aaron F. Worthington; 1863, Heze- 
kiah Coon; 1864, Hiram Moses, jr.; 1865, Silas W. Waite; 1866, Bilhngs B. Hewitt; 
lS07,David G. Maxon; 1868-1869, Hiram Moses, jr. ; 1870-18:2, C. W. Reynolds; 1873- 
1H74, Hezekiah Coon; 1875-1816, Edson J. Allen; 1877, Robert Reynolds; 1878-1H82, 
Hezekiah Coon; 18H3-1884, Edson J. Allen; 1885-1886, A. Jay Taylor; 1887, F. G. 
Green; 188S, Jeremiah Allen; 1889-1891, Hezekiah Coon; 1893-1893. A. J. Tefft; 
1894, H. J. Moses; 1895, Fred D. Nichols; 1896, C. H. Maxon. 

1 Frank Wflc)i dioil dtirin^; I lie Uist ye;ir <if liis term and his jjliuf was fUk-d by liis son, Frank 
Welch, jr. 




CHARLES W. REYNOLDS. 



TOWN OF PETERSBURGH. 500 

Justices of the Peace of Petersburg h. 

Isaac Saunders, sworn in February 25, 1823 ; Thomas Reynolds, sworn in Febru- 
ary 25, 1823; Joseph Case, sworn in September 30, 1823; Isaac Saunders, sworn in 
January 1, 1828; Nathan Nolton, sworn in January 2, 1828; Elihu P. Powers, sworn 
in January 5, 1828; John Henning, sworn in January 15, 1828; John Henning, sworn 
in January 1, 1829; Nathan Nolton, sworn in January 5, 1830. 

Electedat annual town meetings; 1830, Elihu P. Powers; 1831, Isaac Saunders; 1832, 
Sanford Hewitt; 1833, Nathan Nolton; 1834, Alonzo H. Eldred; 1835, Benjamin B. 
Randall; 1836, Sanford Hewitt ; 1837, Nathan Nolton ; 1838, Alonzo H. Eldred ; 1839, 
Nathan G. Green; 1840, Orlando D. Thurber; 1841, Nathan Nolton; 1842, Daniel M. 
Brimmer; 1843, Simeon Worden ; 1844, Tarrant D. Cutler; 1845, Nathan Nolton, 
Ziba H. Scriven; 1846, Elihu P. Powers; 1847, Simeon Worden; 1848, Elijah S. 
Randall; 1849, Hezekiah Coon, Simeon Worden; 1850, James H. Eldred; 1851, Dar- 
win D. Maxon; 1852, Giles S. Odell; 1853. Hezekiah Coon; 1854, Elihu P. Powers; 
1855, Silas C. Eldred; 1856, Justus Nolton; 1857, Giles S. Odell; 1858, Daniel M. 
Brimmer; 1859, Silas C. Eldred; 1860, Samuel J. Phillips; 1861, Giles S. Odell, Robert 
Reymonds; 1862, Andrew G. Coomer; 1863, James H. Eldred; 1864, Jared A. Wells; 
1865, James F. Greenman; 1866, Henry Lee Maxon; 1867, James H. Eldred; 1868, 
John H. Bonesteel ; 1869, Edwin R. Clark, George E. Powell; 1870, George E. Powell; 
1871, citizens are unable to give the name; 1872, D. Richmond Webster; 1873, Ed- 
win R. Clark, Silas E. Reymonds; 1874. George E. Powell, W. B. Odell; 1875, 
Henry G. Brimmer; 1876, David Allen, D. Richmond Webster; 1877, Orlando D. 
Thurber, Silas E. Reymonds; 1878, George E. Powell; 1879. Eugene Brimmer. Will- 
iam H. Randall; 1880, Ebenezer Stevens; 1881, A. F. Babcock ; 1882, W. H. Ran- 
dall; 1883, Eugene Brimmer; 1884, George E. Powell; 1885, Reuben Waite; 1886, 
Myron E. Clark; 1887, Eugene Brimmer; 1888, George E. Powell; 1889, Henry 
Goodermote; 1890, Jeremiah Allen; 1891, F. B. Green; 18f2, George E. Powell; 
1893, Frank G. Green; 1894, William H. Crandall; 1895, Henry Goodermote ; 1896, 
George E. Powell. 



510 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

TOWN OF SAND LAKE. 

The town of Sand Lake was formed from Greenl)nsh and Berlin 
June 11), 1812. In 1843 apart of Greenbush was taken off, and in 
1848 the northern half wa.s set ofif as a separate town under the name 
of Poestenkill. Sand Lake is south of the centre of Rensselaer county. 
It is bounded on the north by Poestenkill, on the east by Berlin, on the 
south by Nassau and Schodack and on the west by East Greenbush 
and North Greenbush. 

While the surface of the town is undulating- in the west, it is cjuite 
mountainous in the east, a part of the Petersburgh range extending' 
through that section of the town. Oak hill, near the centre of the 
town, and Perigo hill, in the northeast corner, rise to a height of about 
900 feet above the lev^el of the sea. The soil is very fertile in many 
parts of Sand Lake, especially in the comparatively low land in the 
eastern ])ortion. Agriculture and grazing have always been carried on 
with success. In recent years numerous garden farms have been es- 
tablished, the markets of Troy being supplied largely by these in the 
proper season. vSand Lake strawberries and other berries and small 
fruits are among the finest produced in Eastern New York. One of 
the principal characteristics of the town is its numerous small lakes, 
in which iish of nearly all kinds inhabiting still freshwater abound, and 
the number of summer guests in all parts of the town is constantly in- 
creasing. Sand lake is near the centre of the town, and is the largest 
body of water lying entirely within the limits of the town. Burden 
lake and Crooked lake are in the southern part, the former lying 
partly in the town of Nassau. Glass lake is between Sand lake and 
Crooked lake. Big Bowman and Little Bowman ponds are close to- 
gether in the eastern part, and Richard pond is in the northwestern 
part near Averill Park. The Wynants kill and the Tsatsawassa are the 
principal streams. The former rises in Crooked lake and flows through 
Glass lake and Burden lake into the Hudson river at North Green- 
bush. It also drains Richard pond. The latter drains the eastern 



TOWN OF SAND LAKE. 511. 

part of the town and flows southerly into Nassau. The Wynants kill 
furnishes one of the finest water powers in eastern New York. 

The first permanent settlements in Sand Lake were made in its 
western part, probably in 1705 or 1700. The earliest inhabitants located 
in the western part of the town. They were sturdy Dutch farmers who 
had come from Holland a few years after the settlement of Albany, 
or who had first located further down the valley of the Hudson. In 
1767 there were but two families, as far as is known, residing within 
the limits of the town. One of these was a family named Adam.^, re- 
siding near the river in the southern part of the town. The other was 
a family named Brett (or Bradt), who had a home a short distance from - JS^^aJ^^ 
that of the Adams family. Which of these was the first to locate within 
the limits of the town cannot be learned. 

A few years after these settlements were made the family of Abram 
Bristol lived on the west side of Burden lake; and on the opposite side 
resided the family of Ephraim Quimby. About the same time or a 
year or two later, certainly before the War of the Revolution, a home 
was established in the southwestern part of the town, near the farm of 
Mr. Brett, by Andrew Weatherwax (Andreas Wederwax). Not far from 
him Philip Carpenter was located. Philip Gardner located about a 
mile west of the site of Sand Lake village during or immediately after 
the Revolution. Soon after Abram Frere settled at West Sand Lake, 
probably in 1790. Near him, and not much later, Jacob Fellows, Nich- 
olas Fellows and Zachariah Fellows built homes and began the culti- 
vation of the land on an extensive scale. The first hotel in that section 
was kept by Nicholas Fellows. Andreas Baert settled in the closing 
days of the eighteenth century in the southwestern part of the town, 
and among his neighbors were John Carmichael, who served in the 
War of the Revolution; John L Miller and Stephen Miller. 

In 17G8 William Carpenter and Joshua Lockwood built a grist mill 
at West Sand Lake, the first in the town. Other early settlers near 
him were Michael Reichard, Hendrick Younghaus, who had two sons, 
Henry and Wynant; B. Brumagen and Job Gilbert. Thomas and Cal- 
vin Thompson made an early settlement at Sand Lake village, the 
former building a saw mill and forge on the creek there. Solomon 
Taylor, who came from vSchodack about 1791, operated a saw mill in 
town. In the northern part of the town, among the first residents 
were Andrew Smith, Martinus Smith, Isaac Root, Henry Stupplebeen, 
John Stupplebeen, Godfrey Wood and Samuel Hammond, The Rex- 



512 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAKR COUNTY. 

ford family located at an early day in the southwestern corner of the 
town. Amonj^ their earliest neig'hbors were the Wilkinson family, 
Donald and his brother. Gilbert Westfall, John Bowman and John 
Miller were early inhabitants of the western section. 

One of the first physicians in Sand Lake — the earliest of whom there 
appears to be any positive record — ^was Dr. Uriah M. Cirejjory, who lo- 
cated near Sand Lake villat^e with his l)rothers, Ste])hcn, Daniel j\L, Justus 
and Eben Gretcor}'. Justus Gregory was a Methodist minister, Daniel 
M. Gregory was a glass manufacturer and store-keeper, and l^^ben 
Gregory was a shoemaker and tanner. A man named Stone was also 
a shoemaker and tanner, and located near by about the same time. 
Several other early inhabitants were engaged in glass making at a very 
early period. The Averill family, of which James K. Averill of 
Averill Park is a descendant, were also among the early settlers in the 
western ]:>ortion of wSand Lake. About 1?'.I0 William Butz, who had 
served in the War of the Revolution, located with his family at Sand 
Lake. John Upham, also a Revolutionary soldier, located near Crooked 
Lake and raised a large family. 

Among the other pioneers of Sand Lake, some of the prominent men 
were: Frederick Shaver, Lawrence Wederwax, Barnhardt Ulinc, 
Michael Sij^perly, Joseph H Sippcrly, John T. Snook, Thomas John- 
son, William Goslin, Wynant Van Alstyne, Daniel Thompson, Solomon 
Taylor, Lewis Bullock, Timothy Bowerman, Lewis Finch, Nicholas 
Reichard, Eleazer Peck, Wright Thorn, John Souter, Henry Mould, 
John Crook, John Clapper, Henry Coons, John Warner, Major Thomas 
Frothingham, who was an officer in the Continental army during the 
War of the Revolution; N. Smith, Reuben Underwood, David Arnold, 
and families bearing the names of Fethers, Ford, Davis, Cook, Em- 
mons, Culver, Farrell, Pratt, Lewis, Wells, Huntley, Wickham, Fuller, 
Strope, Hegeman, vSheppard, Higgenbottom, De Freest, Rykert, 
Woodvvorth, Hayes, Townsend, Richmond, Cornwell, Carmichael, 
Stone, Russell, Frear (probably Frere), Guyot, Kelly, Kerner, Jacobs, 
Simmons, Comb, Calkins, Kilmer and others. 

Probably the first tavern in town was kept by Nicholas Fellows at or 
very near the i)resent site of Averill Park (West vSand Lake), though 
another was cstablislicd very soon after by Barnhardt Ulinc near the 
same point. Li the southwestern part of the town another was kept 
by one of the Rexford brothers. At Sand Lake village a tavern was 
built at an early day, but who its proprietor was is not known. The 



TOWN OF SAND LAKE. 513 

second was owned by Thomas Thompson. The latter for many years 
was one of the most popular public resorts in the town, and all stages 
stopped there. Later proprietors of this famous inn have been John 
Whittaker, Levi Parker, Franklin Averill and James H. Gabler. About 
1820 a hotel was built at Sliter's Corners by Clement Sliter, after whom 
the hamlet was named. About the same time John Bowers had a 
hotel at Glass House. About 1840 John Miller built a hotel at South 
vSand Lake. Lewis Bullock had one on the old " Bullock place " as 
early as 1800, possibly before that year. Other early tavern-keepers 
in the town were Theodorus Gregory, Pliny Miller and Jacob Hege- 
man. 

The first store at Sand Lake was started about 1795 by Solomon 
Taylor. Later on Thomas Thompson and Calvin Thompson became 
successful merchants, and still later Stephen Gregory. At Glass 
House the first merchant was Daniel M. Gregory. About 1830 Frank- 
lin Averill conducted a store at Sliter's Corners, and about the same 
time William Stevens established one at South Sand Lake, which in its 
early days was known as Stevens Corners. Soon after Nicholas Lester 
entered into business there. At West Sand Lake Earnhardt Uline 
kept a small store in connection with his tavern. Before 1830 William 
L. Stewart, then William H. vSnyder, had stores in the same locality. 

Dr. Uriah M. Gregory doubtless was the first physician to begin 
practice in the town. His son. Dr. Charles H. Gregory, was also a 
practitioner. As early as 1820 Dr. Asaph Clark was in practice. At 
Sliter's Corners Dr. Albert Ball and Dr. Joseph H. Elmore were early 
physicians. Dr. Benjamin Judson opened an office at West Sand Lake 
about 1825. Dr. Philander H. Thomas, Dr. Piatt Burton and Dr. O. 
E. Lansing were also early practitioners there. Among other physi- 
cians who were in practice during the first half of the century were 
Dr. Lorenzo D. Streeter, Dr. Thomas Browning, Dr. Diller, Dr. Nich- 
olas B. Harris and Dr. Alexander H. Hull, One of the earliest law- 
yers in town was Cornelius Snyder. / 

The first turnpike in Sand Lake was established about 1795, and ex- 
tended from Albany to Berlin. About thirty years afterward the Troy 
and Sand Lake turnpike was constructed, and a short time afterward 
the Eastern Union turnpike, which had its eastern terminus in Han- 
cock, Mass. , and ran through Sand Lake village, was built. 

The early records of the town meetings in Sand Lake, unfortunately, 
are incomplete. The first meeting was held soon after the organiza- 
65 



514 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

tion of the town in 1812, but the date does not appear. Ebenezer 
Gregory was elected moderator and the first town officers chosen, as 
far as can be determined from the minutes of the meeting, were school 
directors — Dr. Uriah M. Gregory, WilHam Gorsline and Samuel Del- 
amater. Ebenezer Gregory was elected poundmaster and fifty-eight 
overseers of highways were chosen After the transaction of some 
further business the following additional officers were chosen : 

Supervisor, Calvin Thompson; town clerk, David E. Gregory; assessors, Law- 
rence Van Alstyne, John Clint, Ezra Newton; commissioners of highways. John 
Stevens, John North, Jacob Boyce; overseers of the poor, Stephen (iregory, Lewis 
Bullock; collector, Jonathan Ford; constables, John Dimcbarke, Jonathan Ford, 
Henry Ford; school commissioners, Aretus Lyman, Joel Bristol, Ellis Foster. 

Early provision was made for the schools of the town. One of the 
first buildings devoted to this purpose was located on the road between 
Sand Lake and Sliter's Corners, about midway between the two ham- 
lets. Soon after common schools were established at several other 
points in the town. There were also several other well-conducted 
private schools. One of these was kept by Dr. Joseph H. Elmore and 
another by Mr. Jaynes at Sliter's Corners. The Sand Lake academy 
was founded in 1843 by Mr. Weston and was the first graded school of 
high standing in the town. The Sand Lake collegiate institute was es- 
tablished in 1853 by William H. Scram and was the first preparatory 
school in town. It was conducted with great success for many years 
and among those who received their education within its walls were 
many of the representative men of the town. In 18o4 a high grade 
select school was established in the basement of the Second Lutheran 
church at West Sand Lake (now Averill Park). About 18G0 another 
was started at Sliter's Corners by Harvey H. Boone. 

One of the representative institutions of the town, the Mutual In- 
surance Association of Sand Lake, Poestenkill, Berlin and Stephentown, 
was founded May 21, 1878, the first directors being Joel B. Peck, Dr. 
E. W. Carmichael, Lewis W. AUendorph, John Vosburgh, John M. 
Miller, John Miller, WiUiam Upham and Arthur M. Peck. The first 
president was Joel B. Peck. 

The Averill Park Land Improvement association was organized 
several years ago, principally through the efforts of James K. Averill, 
who has probably done more than any other single individual to further 
the interests of the town. Mr. Averill is a lawyer with an office in New 
York city, but he is in Averill Park weekly looking after the interests 




TOWN OF SAND LAKE. 515 

of the association and the village generally. An extended sketch of 
his life appears in the biographical department of this work. 

The splendid water-power afforded b}^ the fall in the bed of the Wynants 
kill was utilized to advantage at an early day, and numerous manufac- 
turing industries have been established from time to time along the 
bank of the stream. As early as the year 1800 Stephen Van Rensselaer 
sold to a glass manufacturing company of Sloan's, Albany county, a 
tract of 5,000 acres of land near the body of water which has since been 
known as Glass lake. One of the principal promoters of the enterprise 
was James Kane. William Richmond and Major Thomas Frothingham 
were also interested in the works early in their history. In 181G the 
works were destroyed by fire. Three years later Isaac B. Fox and 
Nathan R. Crandall organized a new company and built a new factory 
for the manufacture of window glass. The latter died about six years later, 
and in 1830 Richard J. Knowlson became interested in the concern. 
Stadlers, Ruch & Co. succeeded to the business. They assigned in 
1836, and from that year to 1853 the business was conducted by A. R. 
& S. H. Fox. In the latter year the buildings were again burned and 
the manufacture of glass was discontinued. For many years the man- 
ufacturers employed from seventy-five to one hundred hands, and the 
industry was the principal one in the town and one of the most impor- 
tant in the county. 

Saw mills, grist mills and a forge were established on the banks of 
the Wynants kill at an early date, increasing in numbers as the demand 
warranted it. In 1800 a forge and saw mill were built by Thomas 
Thompson. Twenty- five years afterward Calvin Thompson built a 
mill, which was first run by Coleman & Heminway as a satinet mill. 
In the building hosiery w^as subsequently manufactured. About 1822 
Ephraim Whittaker built a tannery on the banks of the creek. In 1862 
James Aken built a hosiery mill on its site. For many years afterward 
it was operated successively by Jephtha Kidder, Kidder & McCreedy, 
Kidder & North, Nelson P. Aken and Nicholas P. Kane. Early in the 
century a cotton mill was run by Aretus Lyman. Conrad Albridge 
also operated a similar establishment. Arnold & Robinson, then Isaac 
McConihe succeeded to the business. As earl}- as 1810 Albertson's oil 
cloth dressing factory was in operation, which wa^ abandoned many 
years ago. Two or three other concerns making cloth goods or knit 
goods were in o]5eratit)n in the town during the first half of the present 
century. Andrew J. Smart's paper mill was erected about 1847 or 1848 



516 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

by Staats D. Tompkins, who sold it about 18G5 to Eug-ene Merwin and 
John W. Merwin. Ten years later it became the property of Mr. 
Smart. John Van Heusen built a satinet mill about 1832 on the site 
of the old Knowlson mill. The buildino; was burned in 1874, but re- 
built at once by Andrew B. Knowlson. Fonda cSc Sipperly had an early 
saw mill at Averill Park, and at the same point George Sipperly had a 
cloth dressing establishment soon after. In 1865 a hosiery mill was 
establi-shed on the same water privilege by John H. Akin and John Mc- 
Laren. 

In the War of the Revolution many of the men of Sand Lake gave 
their services to their country. While the list of those serving has not 
been preserved, among those who are known to have been in the Con- 
tinental army were Thomas Thomp.son, Major Thomas Frothingham, 
Ebenezer Lane, Daniel Peck, David Arnold, Henry Wetby, Joseph 
X Huntington, John Croat and Robert Burroughs. Among those serv- 
\ ing in the War of 1812 were Peter Sipperly, Philip Snyder, Paul Wat- 
tenpaugh and Philip Lafite. 

Sand Lake came promptly to the rescue of the government in the 
beginning of the War of the Rebellion. One hundred and three resi- 
dents of the town enlisted, and of these the following died in the ser- 
vice: 

Joseph Crape, Charles A. Smith, Francis Hendrick, Nelson Clements, Marcus 
Peck, Samuel Dowling, Barnard S. Uline, John Z. Robbins, William Slemmer, 
Scranton E. Wade, William H. Saxby, Andrew Trumble, Barney Marvin, Ervin E. 
Cole, Albert E. Adams, M. Knowlton, Leroy M. Hawkins and John Willy. 

The majority of those in the service enlisted in the regiments organ- 
ized in Rensselaer county. 

None of the hamlets in Sand Lake are very large. Of these Sand 
Lake village, as it is commonly known, is in the central part of the 
town, and is the centre of several small hamlets, all known under the 
general name of Sand Lake. From time to time several small mills 
and manufactories of various kinds have been located there, the prin- 
cipal ones being woolen mills, a cotton-warp mill and a paper mill. 
It is also well supplied with stores and hotels and the usual comple- 
ments of small villages. Probably the first postmaster was Dr. Uriah 
M. Gregory. The industries of the place have enjoyed quite a boom 
in recent years, and it is also becoming a favorite summer resort with 
many inhabitants of Troy, Albany and other cities. The village is 
located in a picturesque spot, and the lake, well stocked with fish, is 
an increasing attraction to the summer guests. 



TOWN OF SAND LAKE. 517 

Averill Park, formerly West Sand Lake, is really an independent 
and comparatively new hamlet located within a short distance of the 
original West Sand Lake, which still bears its own name. The place 
is picturesquely located at the southeastern terminus of that part of 
the Troy & New England railroad which has been constructed since 
1895, and is rapidly growing. It was named in honor of the Averill 
family, of whom Hon. James K. Averill has become a most conspicu- 
ous member. Through his efforts the Averill Park Land Improve- 
ment company was organized a few years ago, since which time the 
hamlet has been greatly improved. Averill Park has excellent hotels 
and a few small industries. The post office was established a few years 
since and is located near the terminus of the Troy & New England 
railway. 

West Sand Lake is located a short distance from Averill Park and is 
a picturesque hamlet. It has several manufacturing industries, four 
churches and a number of stores. The post office was established 
about 1840 with Frost Myers as postmaster. The place was formerly 
called Ulinesville, in honor of Earnhardt LTline, the first settler. 

Sliter's Corners is located about three quarters of a mile east of Sand 
Lake village, and received its name from the Sliter family, pioneer 
settlers. Its industries are small and not numerous. 

South Sand Lake, as its name implies, is located in the southern 
part of the town, not far from the vSchodack line. The post-office was 
established there about i860. 

Glass House is located at the point where the old glass factories were 
established, a short distance southeast of vSliter's Corners, near Glass 
lake. It was originally called Rensselaer Village. 

The first church in town was erected by the Lutherans in the earliest 
days of the town, and was built of logs. It was taken down in 1816 
and removed to West Sand Lake, where it has since been known as 
the First Lutheran church of West Sand Lake. One of its earliest 
benefactors was Stephen Van Rensselaer. 

The First Presbyterian church of Sand Lake was organized January 
7, 1805, by members of the Congregational church in Nassau, who 
united with Presbyterians residing in Sand Lake to form the new soci- 
ety. It was originally known as the Protestant society and was organ- 
ized as the Presbyterian church in December, 1808. Before the town 
of Sand Lake was erected it was known as the First Presbyterian 
church of Greenbush, changing its name upon the organization of 



518 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Sand Lake. For many years the society worshipped in the old Union 
church, which later became the property of the liaptist society. In 
1835 the congregation built a church of their own at Sliter's Corners. 
The first pastor of whom tliere is any record was the Rev. John Keyes, 
who served from 1808 to 1812. 

The Sand Lake Baptist church was founded in ISol, the members 
coming from the Baptist churches of Schodack and the Second Baptist 
church of Nassau. The Rev. Calvin Williams, the first regular pastor, 
served from January, 1832, to November, 1833. The society began to 
worship in the Union church, which was built in the first decade of the 
present centur}^ and which it has used for many years. 

The Evangelical Lutheran church of West Sand Lake dates from the 
year 1837, most of the members coming from the first Lutheran church 
established in the village. Its first pastor was the Rev. John D. Law- 
yer, who had been pastor of the first Lutheran church. The house of 
worship was dedicated October 5, 1839, and was repaired in 1804. 

The Methodist Episcopal church at Sand Lake has been established 
many years, but just when the first society was formed is not known, 
as the early records are indefinite on this point. Clark's chapel, erected 
in 1834, was originally connected as a charge with the Nassau Meth- 
odist Episcopal church, later with the Glass House church and finally 
with Sand Lake. Olive chapel, at Sand Lake, was built in 1874. It 
was first connected with the church at West Sand Lake, but became a 
part of the Sand Lake charge in 1878. The Rev. William W. Whitney 
was its first regular pastor. The church at Cilass House and Clark's 
chapel were for some time one charge. 

The church at West Sand Lake known as the Salem (ierman church 
of the Evangelical Association was founded in 1845, and services be- 
gan in the old Lutheran church with the Rev. J. G. Margquardt as pas- 
tor. One building served for a church and parsonage for several years, 
or until 1805, when a church edifice was erected. In 1858 a branch 
church was organized on the hill two miles away, by the Rev. J. Greuze- 
bach. In 18G0 a house of worship was built for the use of the second 
church, the two societies being one pastoral charge. 

The ]\Iethodist Episcopal church of West Land Lake was organized 
some time about 1835, but regular meetings were not held imtil 
1843 or 1844. The construction of a meeting house near West Sand 
Lake was begun soon after the formation of the society, but it was left 
unfinished for several years. It was finally completed and removed 



TOWN OF SAND LAKE. 51!) 

nearer the centre of population at that point. During" its early history 
services were in charge of local preachers, the first of whom, as near as 
can be learned, was Asa Hand. 

St. Henry's Roman Catholic church at Sand Lake started in a mis- 
sion established in 1868 by the Rev. Father Hopkins of St. Francis's 
church of Troy. The Rev. Father Gabriels, afterward bishop, who 
was connected with St. Joseph's provincial seminary at Troy, held the 
first regular services, remaining" until 1870. Work upon the church 
edifice was begun in the fall of 1869, and the church was incorporated 
January 4, 1870. Chapels at Nassau and East Poestenkill were con- 
nected with St. Henry's church soon after its establishment. 

Supervisors of Sand Lake. ^ 

1818-1819, Calvin Thompson; 1820. A. Lyman; 1821-1822, Lewis Bullock; 1823, 
George vSipperly ; 1824, J. Brower ; 1825, N. B. Harris; 1826, Calvin Thompson ; 1827, 
William F. Averill; 1828-1881, H. R. Bri.stol; 1832, N. B. Harris; 1838, G. Sipperly; 
1834, N. B. Harris; 1835, G. Reed; 1836-1837, M. Peck; 1838-1841, George Horton ; 
1842-1844, J. I. Vosburgh; 1845, George Sipperly; 1846, S. Coons; 1847, Calvin 
Sliter; 1848-1850, A. H. Fox; 1851, C. Sliter; 1852-1853, A. Mott; 1854-1855, N. Up- 
ham; 1856-1857, O. Horton; 1858-1860, P. H. Thomas; 1861, W. Stevens; 1862-1865, 
JoelB. Peck; 1866-1867, B. A. Thomas, 1868-1869, J. B. Peck; 1870-1871, M. Rob- 
inson; 1872-1873, S. M. Lester; 1874, J. H. Bonesteel; 1875, John H. Alsin; 1876, 
David Horton; 1878-1880, Milo Robinson; 1881, Arthur M. Peck; 1882, Andrew J. 
Smart; 1883, Arthur M. Peck; 1884, Andrew J. Smart; 1885, William Moul;^ 1886, 
Andrew J. Smart; 1887, William Upham; 1888, A. D. McConihe; 1889-1890, Sanford 
B. Horton; 1891, Chris. Crape; 1892-1895, Charles Holser; 1896 , E. B. Boyce. 

Town Clerks of Sand Lake. 

1818, David E. Gregory; 1814^1815, William Foster; 1816-1818, WiUiam Finch; 
1819-1822, Simon Tenny; 1823-1824. Marcus Peck; 1825-1826, William F. Averill; 
1827-1833, Marcus Peck; 1834, Peter F. Westervelt; 1835-1837, John I. Vosburgh; 
1838-1839, John H. Gregory; 1840, Calvin Sliter; 1841, John H. Gregory; 1842-1848, 
Solomon Coons; 1844, Reuben A. Thomas; 1845, S. V. R. Cole; 1846, David Fonda; 
1847, David Luce ; 1848, Lorenzo M. Lown ; 1849-1850, William L. Stewart, jr. ; 
1851, Jacob Boyce; 1852, W. H. Wicks; 1853, Joseph Alden ; 1854, William H. Lyons; 
1855, Samuel D. Seymour; 1856, Harmon Westfall; 1857, George Sliter; 1858, 
Albert H. Dutcher; 1859-1861, George Sliter; 1862, D. E. Barnes; 1863, William H. 
Ford ; 1864, B. M. Wilkinson ; 1865, Jeffrey P. Thomas ; 1866-1867, David Horton ; 

' The courteous assistance of John E. Martin, esq., town clerk of Sand Lake, in compiling these 
lists of town officers, is gratefully acknowledged. During certain years the records were unsat- 
isfactory, but the names and dates given are as nearly correct as it is possible to obtain them. 
* Died in May, 188.5; Andrew J. Smart elected to fill vacancy. 



620 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

186H, Lewis Robins; 1869, Washington Snyder; 1870-1871, Sylvester M. Lester; 
1872-1873, George F. Rogers; 1874-1875, Alvin H. Cipperly; 1876-1880, Arthur M. 
Peck; 1881-1885, James C. Cotton; 1886-1888, Sanford B. Horton ; 1889-1895. Frank 
Pettit; 1896 , John E. Martin. 

Justices of the Pkack ok vSand Lake. 

1830, Marcus Peck; 1831, William F. Averill; 1832, Eleazer Flint; 1833, Carpenter 
G. Conklin; 1834, William L. Stewart; 1835, Marcus Peck; 1836, William F. Averill, 
Eleazer Flint; 1837, William F. Averill; 1838, Jacob Hegeman ; 1839, Marcus Peck, 
John Wood; 1840, Jacob Wheeler, Ebenezer Barringer; 1841, Rescome H. Wheeler, 
Ebenezer Barringer; 1842, George Carnryck; 1843, Marcus Peck; 1844, Jacob 
Wheeler, Eleazer Wooster; 1845, Eleazer Wooster; 1846, George Carnryck ; 1847, 
Marcus Peck; 1848, Jacob Wheeler, Willard Foster, Joseph Bly ; 1849, Cornelius 
Schermerhorn ; 1851, B. F. Foster, Adam Mott; 1852, Jacob Boyce ; 1853, Cornelius 
Schermerhorn ; 1854, Lewis Sliter, William S. Stewart; 1855, William Moul, John L. 
Lape, Thomas Brewer; 1856, Jacob Wheeler ; 1857, Cornelius Schermerhorn ; 1858, 
William M. Horton; 859, Joel B. Peck, William Moul; 1860, S. D. Seymour, Joshua 
Coons; 1862, George Sliter; 1863, William Moul; 1864, B. A Thomas, William M. 
Horton; 1865, Lewis Sliter ; 1866, William M. Horton ; 1867, William Moul ; ISOS, 
John L. Lape; 1869, Moses Coul ; 1870, James Clark; 1871, William Moul; 1872, 
Burton A. Thomas; 1873, William M. Horton; 1874, Jeremiah Conant, Moses Coul; 
1875, William Moul; 1876, Burton A, Thomas; 1877, Frank Pettit, Joel B. Peck; 
1878, Joel B. Peck, H. A. Cook; 1879, William Moul; 1880, C. Snyder; 1881, Albert 
Kilmer; 1882, Ezra W. Knowlton ; 1883, William Moul; 1884, E. J. L. Sliter; 1885, 
Albert Kilmer; 1885, A. H. Cipperly (appomted to fill vacancy); 1886, A. H. Cip- 
perly; 1887, Addison P. Lape; 1888, C. Snyder; 1889, Albert Kilmer ; 1890, Addison 
P. Lape; 1891, Addison Uline; 1892, E. M. Gregory, Le Grand M. Turner (appointed 
to fill vacancy); 1893, Sanford B. Horton; 1894, Le Grand M. Turner; 1895, Addi- 
son Ulinc ; 1896, Alpheus Bailey. 



TOWN OF BRUNSWICK. 521 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 
TOWN OF BRUNSWICK. 

The town of ■Brunswick was formed from Troy March 20, 1807. It 
is bounded on the north by Lansingburgh and Pittstown, on the east 
by Grafton, on the south by Poestenkill and North Greenbush, and on 
the west by the city of Troy and the town of Lansingburgh. The 
surface of the town is undulating. In its eastern portions are the hills 
which form a part of the Petersburgh range, some points of which 
reach an altitude of nearl}^ a thousand feet. Every portion of the 
town is more than 200 feet above the Hudson river, or the level of the 
sea. The principal stream is the Poesten kill, which flows northerly, 
then westerly through the southwestern part of the town, entering the 
Hudson river at Troy. This stream furnishes valuable water power in 
the town, which has been utilized since the earliest inhabitants located 
in Brunswick. Branches of the Poesten kill include the Quacken kill 
and Sweet Milk creek. In the northern part of the town are some of 
the sources of the Tomhannock creek. The town is rich in natural 
scenery, some of which is quite striking. 

In all probability Brunswick was settled as early as 1745, possibly 
even earlier. But little is known of the first inhabitants. When the 
site of the city of Troy was settled early farmers began locating on 
the hills east of the city, and it is extremely probable that some of 
these formed homes along the western borders and within the present 
limits of the town. 

One of the earliest settlers of whom anything definite is known was 
John Fonda,^ who is said to have removed to Brunswick from Albany 
county about 1750. He had a farm of 500 acres in the western part of 
the town, and he and his descendants were prominent in public affairs. 
By the year 1760 several German families had also located in that 
neighborhood. There is no record of their names or their doings. 
Many of these had undoubtedly resided there several years before 

1 Frequently found spelled Fundu and Fondy. 
66 



522 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Mr. Fonda located in the town. Evidence of this earlier settlement is 
seen in a receipt given Johannes Hainer for dry goods purchased at a 
manor store, the paper bearing date of May 31, 1746. Another paper 
of like character is dated January 2, 1747. 

Little is known regarding the history of the town prior to Revo- 
lutionary times. As early as 1767 several farmers had purchased land 
in the town. Among them were Hans Hayner,^ Jacob Ouackenl)oss 
(Quackenbush), Hans Mliller, David Benn, Adam Beem, Franz Hogg, 
Jacob Van Arnam, Melgert Fret, and families named Borck, Outhoudt, 
Watson Fischer, Clum, Springer, Goewey, Braunschweiger (Bruns- 
wicker), Coons and Hardwick. Major Flores Bancker, who served in 
the Revolutionary War and who was a surveyor, was also an early 
settler. He occupied the farm, afterwards in the possession of the 
wealthy and well-known Derrick family, now prominently represented 
by Hon. Richard A. Derrick. About 1770 Henry Dator (Dater) moved 
to a farm which has since remained in possession of the family he 
founded in Brunswick. In 1809 some of the prominent inhabitants of 
the town were: 

Henry I. Hanor, Barnet Wager, Henry Wager, John L Wager, George L Wager, 
Isaiah Wager, George Wager, John Hanor, Lsaac File, Lodewick Snyder, Jacob 
Snyder, George Snyder, Henry Ham, Nathan Betts, Burvvell Bett.s, Jacob Scher- 
merhorn, Abraham Lansing, Samuel Derick, Charles Derick, Isaac Taylor, William 
Cleveland, David Coe, Benjamin Brewster, Jacob I. Wager, John P. Coons, Moses 
Avery, William Lamport, Andrus Colehammer, Barnet I. Wager, Paul Smith, 
Michael Cipperly, Solomon Bulson, Abraham Bulson. Cornelius BuLson, Alexander 
Bulson, Luther Haner, Martinus Haner, Christian Bonesteel, Alexander Bulson, jr . 
Barent Cipperly, Jacob Cipperly, Henry C. Hydorn, Peter Hydorn, John Hydorn 
jr., Aaron Ferris, John, Robert, Gerrit and Herbert Lansing, Adam and Henry 
Clum, Henry Clum, jr., David Cropsey, John Cronkhite, Valentine Cropsey, Samuel 
W. McChesney, William McChesney, Adam McChesney, Samuel R. McChesney, 
Matthias Coons, Abraham File, Philip H. Coonradt, Nathan Betts, jr., Everett Day, 
Nicholas Sheffer, jr., Robert McChesney, Hugh McChesney, Joseph McChesney, 
Francis Collison, Samuel Simmons, Henry Simmons, Thomas Cotteral (Cottrell?), 
Joshua Simmons, Peter I. De Freest, Anthony Smith, Daniel Fonda, Hermanus 
Simmons, Coonrad Colehammer, Coonrad Sharp, John Fonda, Jeremiah Simmons, 
Jacob Lever.see (sometimes spelled Leverse), Jacob Van Arnam, John G. Yates, Adam 
Yates, John, Daniel and George Goewey, Cornelius Swartwout, Derick Vanderheyden, 
Moses Dusenbury, Nicholas, Frederick and John Bonesteel, Jacob Derrick, Isaac Mc- 
Chesney, Henry Myers, John Finckle, John Filkins, George and Jacob Springer, and 
Jacob Springer, jr., John Moul, Wandal Cole, James Cole, jr., Wilhelmus Coons, 
Adam Clichner, George Colehammer, Paul Snyder, Thomas Brewer, Luther Lyman. 

1 Frequently spelled Ilainer. 



TOWN OF BRUNSWICK. 523 

Anthony, George and Philip Derrick, Andrew Hanaman, Henry Hanaman, William 
McChesney, Samuel McChesney, Thomas Betts, Emerson Fay. 

One of the first taverns in Brunswick was kept by Nathan Betts on 
the farm now occupied by Hon. Richard A. Derrick. Another was kept 
by a man named File, and was located near the site of the old Lu- 
theran church about 1790. Among- the early taverns on the "Stone 
road " were those of Leonard Smith and Lodewick Stanton. Among 
the early physicians were Dr. Buckland and Dr. Collins at Centre 
Brunswick, and Dr. Scriven, Dr. Holsapple and Dr. Westervelt at 
Eagle Mills. Other early tavernkeepers were John Wilson, John Gray, 
Leonard Smith, Joseph Golden, Daniel Way, George Morrison, John 
Wheeler, Paul Smith, Henry Bonesteel, Sylvanus Liidden, Jacob Der- 
rick, Henry Snyder, Henry A. Clum and others. 

Brunswick was probably so named either in honor of one of the pio- 
neer families of the town, the Braunschweigers, or from the nationality 
of some of the early German settlers. The town was incorporated 
March 20, 1807, and on the first Tuesday of the following April the 
town government was organized at the hotel of Nathan Betts on the 
" Stone road." The officers elected at that meeting were: 

Supervisor, Flores Bancker; town clerk, Daniel Wager; assessors, Daniel Sim- 
mons, Gilbert Alexander and Levinus Leversee; collector, Barnard I. Wager; over- 
seers of the poor, Daniel Simmons, Augustus Burdick ; commissioner of highways, 
Augustus Burdick, John Filkins, Isaac Bucklin ; constables, Thomas Betts, Gay I. 
Goewey, John Filkins, John Willson, Andrew Myers, Daniel Kiser, Barnard I. Wa- 
ger, Abner Roberts; fence viewers, John Wheeler, Frederick Meyers, John Wager, 
John P. Goewey, John H. Shaver; poundmasters, Gilbert I. Travers, Hiram 
Clowes; commissioners of schools, Robert McChesney, Flores Bancker, Lemuel 
Hawley; overseers of highways, Abraham Roberts, Nathan Betts, George Brust, 
Isaac Filkins, George Cipperly, Daniel Van Pelt, Benjamin Brewster, John Dick, 
Jacob I. Wager, William Smith, Walter McChesney, Michael Philips, Philip H. 
Coonradt, Henry Coonradt, Cornelius Du Bois, Lemuel Hawley and Moses Du- 
senbury. 

From the time of the first town meeting to that of 1812 there is no 
record of any action regarding the schools of the town. In the latter 
year Flores Bancker, Lodewick Stanton and Daniel Simmons were 
chosen school commissioners. In this year there were a number of dis- 
trict schools in various parts of the town. Upon the introduction of 
the system of town superintendents in 1844 Luther D. Eddy was first 
chosen to fill that office. His successors were: 1845, Robert Collins; 
184G-1847, Isaac B. Button; 1848-1849, James J. McChesney; 1850- 



524 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

1853, Daniel D. Bucklin; 1854-1855, Henry Lohnes; 185G, Ira A. But 
ton. In the latter year the control of the schools passed into the hands 
of district commissioners. 

The number of inhabitants who served their country in the War of 
the Revolution was small, on account of the limited population in the 
town at that time. In the War of 1812 Major Philip Dater served, as 
did a few other inhabitants of the town, some of whom joined the 
Eddy expedition to Plattsburgh. The records relative to the partici- 
pation of the men of Brunswick in these wars unfortunately have not 
been carefully preserved. 

Upon the opening of the War of the Rebellion the war spirit in 
Brunswick ran high. When the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Reg- 
iment was organized Lieutenant Hagadorn and about thirty-five 
men from Brunswick enlisted and were soon bound for the seat of war. 
When the second call for troops was made by the president, Joseph H. 
Allen became captain of a full company, most of whom were residents 
of Brunswick. The town promptly raised all the money necessary for 
bounties and other expenses, and every quota of men demanded was 
filled with commendable promptness. The army list of the town con- 
tains one hundred and twenty-six names, but a few of these came from 
other towns, enlisting in Brunswick. Those who died while in the 
service of the United States were: 

James M. Casey, Charles Bruce, Philip Polock, Ottman Grimmerger, Edson Brun 
dage, David Luce, Charles A. Simmons, Levi Wager, Myron B. Major, Charles E. 
Dumbleton, Samuel Bulson and William Bergen. 

The largest and most important village in the town is Eagle Mills, 
which is sometimes called Millville. The name was given to the place 
on account of the early location at that point of the Eagle mills. The 
Poesten kill runs through the village and furnishes abundant water 
power, upon which several manufacturing industries have been located 
from time to time. 

The four-story brick building now standing in the centre of the 
village of Eagle Mills is a monument to a number of unsuccessful en- 
terprises in the earlier years of its completion. It was erected in 1821, 
before the turnpike was laid oiit through the village, by Daniel Shel- 
don, who engaged in the making of a choice brand of flour for the home 
market, drawing his wheat from Troy. For a while he did a good 
business, but reverses came and he was obliged to suspend operations. 
The building was kept idle for a while, when the property was sold to 




CHARLES MANCHESTER POTTER. 



f 



TOWN OF BRUNSWICK. 525 

Jatnes Bumstead, who renovated the machinery and ran it as a feed 
mill; but not finding that a remunerative business after a few years' 
trial, he disposed of the property to James McChesney, who retained 
possession of it for a short time and without changing the deed in his 
own name transferred the property to Catlin & Saxton, who began the 
manufacture of augers and bits. This enterprise, like the former 
ones, was short-lived and soon abandoned. The property was then 
purchased by Groome & Shattuck, who began the manufacture of 
monkey-wrenches. After a few years' engagement in this enterprise 
they concluded it was not profitable and suspended work. Groome & 
Shattuck sold to Paul Smith, now of Cropseyville, who began a business 
similar to that in which he is now engaged; but seeing a brighter field 
for operations in Cropseyville he sold out to Col. Joseph H. Allen, who 
conceived the idea of converting the machinery into use for the manu- 
facture of large hoes for the southern markets. He had not long been 
thus engaged before the Rebellion broke out, which destroyed his 
markets and sales, and he turned the property over to George T. Lane 
of Troy, who retained Col. Allen as his superintendent and sales agent. 
While Col. Allen had charge of the business a large corps of help was 
kept employed, and it was a great industry for the village. A portion 
of the time the property was held by Col. Allen he engaged in making- 
chains and files, but this was an experiment, and the whole business 
culminated in the inakin.g of hoes under the present owner and mana- 
ger, George T. Lane. 

The building now contains a large amount of heavy machinery, in- 
cluding trip hammers, grinding stones, forges, blasting furnaces and 
other implements, and twelve or fourteen men are kept employed under 
the direction of George Livingston, who has had a long term of service 
in the different departments of hoe making. A good many tons of 
iron are yearly consumed in this business. Mr. Lane is the only pro- 
prietor who has engaged in a successful enterprise in this building 
since its erection. It has been known as the hoe shop for upwards of 
thirty-five years. 

Eagle Mills has also been the .site for several other manufactur- 
ing industries of less importance. A foundry for the manufacture of 
plows and other agricultural implements was operated for many years 
by Hiram Phillips, and Reuben Simmons owned a saw mill of some 
importance. The village is located in the centre of the most populous 
part of the town, and many of the farms near it are fertile and pro- 



52G LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

ductive. Garden farming- in recent years has become an important 
industry, the produce finding a ready market in Troy. 

Centre Brunswick, located north of the centre of the town, upon the 
"Stone road," was the scene of considerable activity in the days of 
stages. In recent years it has become a quiet hamlet. The old Luth- 
eran church is located just east of the hamlet. 

Haynerville is a small hamlet in the northern part of the town, and 
is also located on the "vStone road." It is probably the oldest centre of 
population in Hrunswick. 

Tamarack, sometimes formerly called Platestown, once was a thriv- 
ing community. Half a dozen families are all that remain. 

East Brunswick is located on the Ouacken kill above Cropseyville. 
It sometimes is referred to as Rock H(;llow, an appropriate descriptive 
title. The creek at this point has numerous fine mill privileges but 
they have not been properly developed. An important industry many 
years ago was the Lawton twine factory. The manufacture of brush- 
blocks and brush-handles for the brush factories of Lansingburgh was 
begun there many years ago. In the early days of the place it also 
boasted a tannery, a paint mill, a paper mill and a sawmill. 

Cropseyville is jirobably the second oldest settlement in the town. 
Paul Smith's grist mill and saw mill, Daniel Rockenstyre's wagon shop 
and Green's fulling and carding mills were among the early industries. 
The amount of business transacted in the place has fallen off con- 
siderably of late. 

Clum's Corners was once quite a prosperous community in the north- 
eastern part of the town. Its present business is small. 

The (iilead Evangelical Lutheran congregation of Centre Brunswick is 
the oldest church organization in Rensselaer county. The (iilead congre- 
gation is supposed to have been organized about 174"^. The records as 
far back as 1740 have been preserved. It is claimed that a log church 
was built by the congregation within a few years after the above date. 
The first pastor who is known to have served this congregation was 
the Rev. Peter Nicholas Sommer. The first frame church was built in 
1775 and was located near the village of Haynerville, about three 
miles north of where the church now stands. The names of the pas- 
tors who served this church from 17(!() to 17G8 are not given, although 
it is believed they went over to the Protestant EpiscojKil church. The 
Rev. Samuel Schwerdfeger was pastor from I7(i8 to 1792, the Rev. 
George Joseph Wichterman from ]7'.»2 to 1802, the Rev. Anthony T. 



TOWN OF BRUNSWICK. 527 

Braun from 1802 to 1812, the Rev. John Bachnian from 1812 to 1813, 
the Rev. John Molther from 1814 to 1817. In 1817 the Rev. William 
McCarthy became pastor of this congregation, in connection with 
Schaghticoke, and continued to serve until 1821. During his ministry 
the "old brick church" was erected. The Rev. John R. Goodman be- 
came pastor in April, 1821, and continued until 1828. 

After the Rev. Mr. Goodman came the Rev. J. Z. Senderling, who 
served for twenty-five years — -from November, 1828, to November, 
ISoo. This was the period of the church's greatest prosperity. The 
Rev. David Kline succeeded Mr. Senderling in 1853, and served the 
church until 1864. The Rev. P. A. Stroble succeeded him, serving 
from December, 1864, until 1868. During Mr. Stroble's pastorate the 
present church was built. The corner stone was laid July 6, 1865, and 
was completed and dedicated November 23, 1865. After Mr. Stroble 
tlie Rev. P. M. Rightmyer was pastor from 1868 to 1871. Then came 
the Rev. A. T. Ludden. He remained from October, 1871, to Octo- 
ber, 1875; the Rev. J. N. Barnett, 1876 to 1879; the Rev. I. J. Delo, 
1880 to 1884; the Rev. J. N. Morris, 1884 to 1888. The Rev. J. H. 
Weaver, the present pastor, commenced his ministry in July, 1888, and 
is now serving the congregation of about 325 members. The church 
edifice was begun in 1775, but on account of the hard times and the 
War of the Revolution it was not completed until 1789. It was located 
at Haynerville on the site of the old log church built about 1749. 

The First Presbyterian church of Brunswick originated in 1809, when 
preaching services were inaugurated by the Rev. John Keyes "in the 
school house near Mr. Matthias Abbott." The society was regularly 
organized the following summer, and incorporated August 19, 1810. 
Part of the time services were held in a barn. Early in 1812 work 
upon a house of wor.ship was begun, and Mr. Keyes preached for the 
first time in the edifice June 21 of that year. July 11, 1816, seventeen 
members of the First Presbyterian church of Troy organized as the 
Church of Christ, and the Rev, John Younglove became their first 
regular pastor. The society was reorganized and reincorporated in 
1S25, and the church was at once thoroughly repaired. In the spring 
of 1S61 the old-fashioned church was thoroughly remodeled to conform 
to the modern style of architecture, under the pastorate of the Rev. 
Samuel M, Wood, at an expense of over $2,500. Since then it has been 
repaired and made more attractive. 

The Methodist Episcopal church at Eagle Mills was not organized 



528 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

until 1840, the certificate of incorporation bearing date of April 2 of 
that year. But a Methodist class was formed in the town as early as 
1801. In ISIO Troy including Brunswick, became one charge with 
the Rev. Dr. Phoebus as pastor. This relation continued for many 
years. The church at Centre Brunswick was organized February 2, 
1835, and was the outgrowth of the early meetings referred to. The 
church at East Brunswick was organized March 28, 1874, and a house 
of worship was erected soon after that date. 

The church of the Disciples of Christ filed its certificate of incorpora- 
tion February 27, 1854, thoiigh the society was organized December 14, 
1852. In the summer following organization the church edifice was 
erected and was dedicated February 5, 1854. The first pastor was 
Elder Silas E. wShepherd. 

The most recentl)' organized church in the town is the Memorial 
Methodist Episcopal church. The history of this society is briefly re- 
lated as follows by the Rev. E. C. Farwell : There is a record of a class 
being held here as early as 1835. But little was done here before 18(10, 
when a Sunday school was organized with James Cornell as superin- 
tendent, who held his position until 1877. The first bell in the church 
bore his name as a memorial of faithful service. Previous to 1880 
whatever preaching services were held were in the school house, the 
minister then residing at Centre Brunswick. In 1880 money was raised 
and the Memorial church built, being dedicated December 10 of that 
year and disconnected from the Brunswick charge, the Rev. Thomas 
Monro being pastor. The cost of the edifice was about $10,000. A 
parsonage was completed in 1889, costing $3,200. Sunday morning, 
November 17, 1889, the church was totally destroyed by fire; but noth- 
ing daunted the people set to work at once to rebuild, and a church 
costing $12,000 was dedicated July 20, 1890. The church property is 
now free from all indebtedness. The names of the pastors of the Me- 
morial church are: Thomas Monro, 1880-1887; Frederick Lowndes, 
1888-1890; P. F. Youlen, 1891-1892; T. B. Gardner, 1893-1895; E C. 
Farwell, 1890 . 

Supervisors of Brunswick. 

18O7-1S09, Flores Hancker; 1810-1811, Sebastian Lohncs; 1812-18'J2, Daniel Sim- 
mons; 1823-1825, Lodewick Stanton; 182(5-1829, Daniel Simmons; 1830-1833, John 
Wheeler; 1834-1835. Daniel Simmons; 1836-1839, Martin Springer ; 1840, Theodorus 
Dusenbury; 1841-1842, Henry A. Clum ; 1843, Theodorus Dusenbury; 1844, Harry 



I 



TOWN OF BRUNSWICK. 529 

Betts; 1845. Jabe Green; 1846, George Derick ; 1847, Theodorus Dusenbury; 1848- 
1850, Henry McChesney; 1851, William Lape; 1852, Henry Morrison ; 1853, Martin 
Springer; 1854-1855, William Lape; 1856-1857, Joseph H.Allen; 1858-1859, Alanson 
Cook; 1860-1861, William Lape; 1862-1864, William McChesney; 1865-1868, Abram 
Bulson ; 1869-1870, William Lape ; 1871-1872, William McChesney ; 1873-1874, Joseph 
Lord; 1875-1876, Jacob Brust; 1877, Daniel L. Van Pelt; 1878, Paul Springer; 1879- 
1881. Robert Morrison; 1882, Edward McChesney; 1883-1884, William Lape; 1885- 
1886, Joseph Lord; 1887, Thomas H. Betts: 1888-1896, Richard A. Derrick. i 

Town Clerks of Brunswick. 

1807, Daniel Wager; 1808-1810, Daniel Simmons; 1811-1817, Martin Springer; 
1818, John M. File, jr. ; 1819-1820, Robert Collins; 1821, Henry A. Clum; 1822-1824, 
Martin Springer; 1825, Daniel Simmons; 1826-1830, John Wheeler; 1831-1834, 
Henry A. Clum; 1835, Henry Ensign; 1836-1840, Henry A. Clum; 1841, Moses 
Smith; 1842, John T. Lape; 1843, Moses Smith; 1844-1845, William A. Derick; 1846, 
Michael Wetherwax ; 1847, Henry Morrison; 1848-1850, William Lape; 1851-1854, 
John W. Clum; 1855-1857, William H. Ensign; 1858, James Smith; 1859, John W. 
Clum; 1860-1861, Moses Lohnes; 1862-1863, JohnS. Eddy; 1864-1870, John Springer; 
1871-1872, Francis C. Collison, jr.; 1873, Elijah Bulson; 1874-1875, Martin H. 
Hayner; 1876, Elijah Bulson; 1877, John Springer; 1878, Martin H. Hayner; 1879- 
1881, Andrew Mullin; 1882, Charles Springer; 1883, Joseph Bulson; 1884, Peter H. 
Van Zandt; 1885-1896, Andrew Mullin. 

Justices of the Peace of Brunswick. 

At the organization of the town in 1807 the three presiding justices 
already were Robert McChesney, Daniel Wager and John McManus. 
From that down to the adoption of the constitution of 1821 the follow- 
ing served one or more years each, some of them continuing in office 
for a long period: 

Daniel Simmons, Lemuel Hawley, Roswell Knowlton, Henry Clum, jr., Gilbert 
Alexander, Jared Betts, Burwell Betts, Jacob L Wager, Thaddeus Dan, William 
Van Vleck. 

In pursuance of laws enacted under the constitution of 1821, justices 
of the peace were chosen at the general election or appointed by the 
courts. During this period the following names appear upon the roll : 

Thaddeus Dan, sworn in February 22, 1828; Jared Betts, February 27, 1823; Jacob 
1. Wager, March, 1823; John M. File, December 29, 1827; William Van Vleck, Jan- 
uary 1, 1828; Jacob I. Wager, January 9, 1828; Martin Springer, January 19, 1831. 

The election of the justices at town-meetings began in 1831. The 
record is as follows : 

1 Chairman of the Board of Supervisors since 1894. 
67 



530 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

1831, William Van Vleck ; 1832, John M. File; 1833, Jacob L Wager; 1834. Martin 
Springer; 183.'), William Van Vleck, Joseph Hastings; 1836, Abner Roberts; 1837. 
Apollos Harvey, Joseph Betts; 1838, Samuel B. Cipperly; 1839, Russell Peck; 1840. 
Daniel Simmons, John M. Way, David F. Smith; 1841, Samuel B. Cipperly; 1842. 
Samuel B. Cipperly; 1843. Samuel B. Cipperly, Dennis Belding; 1844, Peter Tice, 
Thomas Newbury; 1845, Joseph Betts; 1846, Joseph Betts, Peter Tice ; 1847, Samuel 
B. Cipperly; 1848, Thomas Newbury; 1849, Jonas C. McChesney; 1850, William A. 
Derick; 1851, Samuel B. Cipperly; 1852, Thomas Newbury; 1853, Paul Springer; 
1854, William A. Derick; 1855, Reuben Smith; 1856, Thomas Newbury ; 1857, George 
W. Devine ; 1858, William A. Derick (full term), James McChesnej', to fill a vacancy ; 
1859, Henry Brust; 1860, Jonas Smith; 1861, Joseph H. Allen (short term), Alford 
Buss (full term) ; 1862, George Brust; 1863, Daniel L. Van Pelt (full term), Charles 
H. Dater, vacancy; 1864, Edward McChesney; 1865, William S. Newbury; 1866, 
George Brust; 1867, Joseph H. Allen; 1868, Edward McChesney; 1869, Thomas 
Newbury (full term), Reuben Smith (vacancy); 1870-1872, (no election recorded); 
1873, David F. Smith; 1874, Judd A. Van Pelt (full term), Thomas Newbury (va- 
cancy); 1875, Isaac S. Main; 1876, Edward McChesney; 1877, Josiah B. McChesney; 
1878, Richard A. Derrick; 1879, Isaac S. Main; 1880, Judd A. Van Pelt ; 1881, Josiah 
B. McChesney; 1882, Martin H. Hayner (long term), Jeremiah I. Best (short term); 
1883. Paul Springer; 1884, Judd A. Van Pelt; 1885, Thomas H. Betts; 1886, Richard 
A. Derrick; 1887, Paul Springei;; 1888, Judd A. Van Pelt; 1889, Thomas H. Betts; 
1890, William C. Winne; 1891, John H. Brust; 1892, Arba N. Link; 1893. Thomas 
H. Betts; 1894, William C. Winne; 1895, John H. Brust; 1896. Arba N. Link. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

TOWN OF NORTH GREENBUSH. 

The town of North Greenbush was erected from Greenbush February 
23, 1855. It is bounded on the north by the city of Troy and the town 
of Brunswick; on the south by the towns of Greenbush and East Green- 
bush; on the east by the towns of Sand Lake and Poestenkill, and on 
the west by the Hudson river. The principal stream in the town is 
the Wynants kill, which rises in the town of Sand Lake and passes 
in a northwesterly direction through the northeastern corner of the 
town, affording a splendid water power at Albia in the southeastern 
part of the city of Troy. The town was first settled by tenants under 
the Van Rensselaers as early as or before 1640. Among those who 
first established homes within the limits of the town were Cornelius M. 
Van Buren, Rinier Van Alstyne, John Crannell, Juriah Sharpe, Philip 



I 



TOWN OF NORTH OREENBUSH. 531 

De Freest, Martin De Freest, David De Freest, Cornelius M. Vanden- 
berg, Philip Wendell, Rutgert Vandenberg, Lawrence Rysdorp, Ed- 
ward Hogg, John Fonda and others. Rinier Van Alstyne lived near 
what has since been called Blooming Grove. His brother Jacob set- 
tled in the town at about the same time. Others who settled near him 
soon afterward were the three De Freest brothers. David Scott lived 
in the northwestern part of the town. Among those who located in 
the town in the latter part of the eighteenth century were the Bloom- 
endale, Hawk, Haynor, Berringer, Sharpe, De Freest, Riley, Conker, 
Van Etten, Bratt, Earl, Schelp, Bennet and Warner families. The 
first of the numerous Dearstyne family to settle in the town was John 
Dearstyne, who settled in or near the present limits of Bath about 1795 
or 1796. He had eight children — Lawrence, Abram, Henry, Samuel, 
George, John, Sarah and Elizabeth. About the same time Henry Kin- 
ney came from Dutchess county and located in the northeastern part 
of the town. From 1802 to 1800 he kept a tavern at Wynantskill. 
Peter Sharp lived near him and Frederick and Coonradt Berringer (or 
Barringer) settled a short distance south of him. Henry Frazee, who 
settled in the town in 1813 or 1814, was one of the most prominent men 
in the town in those days, and for sixty years was a justice of the 
peace. 

About the close of the Revolutionary War David M. De Freest con- 
ducted a tavern at Blooming Grove, subsequently the site ot the Crouch 
tavern. He was succeeded in turn by Jonas Smith, Mr. vSouthwick, 
Mr. Uline, John Van Valkenburgh, Mortimer Lansing, Mr. Covert, 
David De Freest, Mr. Couch and others. Twenty-tive years later an- 
other tavern was established on the hill about a mile and a half east of 
Blooming Grove by Charles Ostrander. On account of the numerous 
fights which took place in the hotel, it was commonly known for many 
years as the "slaughter house." Soon after the establishment of the 
Ostrander tavern Henry Kinney established one at Wynantskill. His 
successors in turn included Mr. Edick, Abram Price, Cornelius Du Bois, 
Captain Fellows, George Fellows, Darius Allen and others. Another 
old tavern at Wynantskill was built by Henry Frazee and still another 
in the village of Bath by Mr. Shoemaker. 

Among the early merchants of the town were Jonas Smith, Martinus 
Lansing, John Mason, Cornells Witbeck and William Witbeck. As 
early as 1837 Frazee and Warner had a store at Wynantskill and about 
the same time Clark and Van Alstvne and Asa Mann had stores at 
Bath. 



&32 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

One of the earliest physicians of the town was Dr. Henry Downs, 
who was succeeded by Dr. Obadiah E. Lansing, then by Dr. Anthony 
Ten Eyck. About 1812 or 1813 Dr. A. Clark practiced medicine at 
Wynantskill. The first physician to practice at Bath was probably Dr. 
Tappan. 

Among- the early lawyers of the town was Henry Coons, who prac- 
ticed at Bath at the beginning of the nineteenth century. He subse- 
quently became county judge. 

Up to February 23, 1855, the town formed a part of the town of 
Greenbush. In that year it was erected, by act of the Legislature, into 
the town of North Greenbush. The first town meeting was held April 
3, 1855, and was presided over by Henry Frazee and William Witbeck, 
justices of the peace. At that meeting these officers were chosen: 

Supervisor, Abram Witbeck ; town clerk, Gerrit Vandenburgh ; assessor, Philip L. 
De Freest; commissioners of highways, Rinier M. De Freest, Matthew V. A. Fonda, 
Francis E. Ritchie; justices of the peace, Barney Wendell, Abram Witbeck; over- 
seers of the poor, Cornelius Dubois, John S. Sharp; collector, David D. De Freest; 
superintendent of common schools, Sandford A. Tracy; inspectors of election,— 1st 
district, John Fonda, John W. Vandenburgh, George W. Green ; 2nd district, An- 
drew V. Barringer, Alonzo N. Kinney, James Henderson; constables, David H. 
Whyland, Chauncey I. Wendell, David S. Wendell, Harmon Snyder, Barney Cole; 
sealer of weights and measures, John B. Marble; poundmasters, John Mason, Hub- 
bard Ferguson. 

The early inhabitants of North Greenbush were principally Holland- 
ers and the Dutch language was taught exclusively in the first schools. 
The people were mostly sturdy farmers, devoted to their religion and 
fond of education. Before money could be conveniently raised for 
the erection of a school house the sessions were held sometimes in 
private houses and sometimes in barns. For many years the pastors 
of the Reformed churches in the town combined the duties of preach- 
ing and teaching at small salaries. The first school house in the town 
was located a little more than half a mile from Blooming Grove. The 
schools of Bath have a high standing. The graded school system was 
established about the time of the incorporation of the village, since 
which time rapid strides in matters pertaining to education have been 
taken. 

In the War of the Revolution the population of the town was small, 
nevertheless a large number of men shouldered muskets for the de- 
fense of their country. Among these were Major Jacob De Freest and 
Peter De Freest. A number of men prepared to take part in the War 



TOWN OF NORTH GREENBUSH. 533 

of 1812, but they were not called into very active service. Among- 
those who enlisted and stood ready to obey the call to action were Col- 
onel John De Freest, Captain Philip De Freest, Major Jacob Barringer, 
John Dearstyne, Stephen Williams, Martin Van Alstyne, Volkert V. 
Vandenburgh and Henry S. Kinney. 

North Greenbush promptly filled out her quota of men for the war 
of the Rebellion, entering companies connected with the 43rd, 44th, 
113th, 3rd, 91st, 122nd, 22nd 10th, 144th, 177th, 14th, 192nd, 125th, 109th 
134th, 121st and 102nd New York regiments principally. Those who 
died in the service were James McKnab, John Moore, John A. Morris, 
Edward Yodkinsand HoUis French. 

It is impossible to say when the village of Bath was founded, as 
settlements were gradually made many years before the opening of 
the nineteenth century. Captain Marvin built one of the first houses 
in the village, the timber composing the frame having been cut from 
the lot upon which the house stood. Soon after houses were erected 
by Asa Mann, Jeremiah Clark, John Woods, Robert Orsons, Volkert 
Orsons, Henry Dearstyne and families named Livingston. Even at so 
late a day as 181G the number of dwelling houses in the village did 
not exceed a score. The settlement was formally incorporated as a 
village May o, 1874, the law describing the bounds of the village as 
follows : 

Beginning at a point on the east shore of the Hudson river (at low-water mark), 
where the north line of the town of Greenbush intersects the said river; and run- 
ning thence from the said point along the said north line of said town of Greenbush 
south, fifty-nine degrees forty minutes east, about two thousand and eighty feet to 
the centre of Quackendary kill (in this line there are two stone monuments set in 
the ground, one on the west side of Broadway, and one on the brow of the hill west 
of the said Quackendary kill, to indicate the direction of the line); thence up and 
along the centre of said Quackendary kill, and the most westerly branch thereof, to 
a stone monument set in the ground, and which said stone monument bears south, 
sixteen degrees forty-five minutes west, one hundred and forty feet from a stone 
monument set in the ground on the north side of the Albany and Sand Lake 
plank-road; thence north, sixteen degrees forty-five minutes east, one hundred and 
forty feet to said stone monument on the north side of said Albany and Sand Lake 
plank-road; and thence south, sixty-eight degrees thirty mmutes west about one 
thousand one hundred and ninety-four feet to a stone monument— in the centre of the 
gateway at the entrance to the grounds of P. S. Forbes; thence north twenty-one 
degrees twenty-five minutes east, about four hundred and six feet to a stone monu- 
ment; thence north forty degrees thirty minutes west, about seventeen hundred feet 
to the Hudson river; thence westerly, and at right angles to the shore of said Hud- 
son river, until such line meets the channel of such river; thence down and along 



5;{4 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

the said channel (and which line is the westerly boundary of the county of Rensse- 
laer) until a line drawn westerly and at right angles to the shore of said river from 
the place of beginning shall intersect such channel; and thence from said point 
easterly to the place of beginning; and containing, exclusive of said river, about 
two hundred and fifty acres, as surveyed by L. D. Eddy and others, and the courses 
taken as the magnetic needle now points, comprising a part of the town of North 
Greenbush, in the county of Rensselaer, and State of New York. 

Bath is located almost entirely upon the hillside. It has excellent 
transportation facilities, being upon the line of the old Troy & 
Greenbush railroad, now operated by the Albany & Troy Belt Line 
railroad, and two steam ferry boats ply between the upper dock and 
Albany and Greenbush. The fire department was organized many 
years ago, the A. L. Hotchkin Hook & Ladder company, the first in 
the department, dating from the incorporation of the village in 1874. 
The water works are equal to any in the State for a village of the 
size of Bath, the pressure being very high. In 1887 a steel stand- 
pipe or water-tank was erected on the hill in the eastern part of the 
village, and new mains were laid at the same time. The village has 
no post-office and is served by carrier from the Albany post-office. In 
its early days a post-office was maintained, the first ])ostmaster having 
been Cornelius Dearstyne. The Bath Sun and the Evening Star, 
weekly newspapers, were founded many years ago. The village is 
well supplied with stores and has a few small manufacturing concerns. 
In recent years Bath has been more commonly called Bath-on-the- 
Hudson to distinguish it from Bath in Steuben county. A thriving 
secret society in the village is Riverside lodge No. 47, Knights of 
Pythias, which was instituted about 1873. 

I)e Freestville, a hamlet in the southern part of the town, sometimes 
called Blooming Grove, was probably settled before Bath. The post- 
office was established at an early day, and Jonas Smith is believed to 
have been in charge of the office. 

Wynantskill, in the northeastern part of the town, is a small hamlet, 
the first residences in which have been erected but little more than a 
centur3^ The post-office was established about 1820, and the first post- 
master was Dr. Aseph Clark. 

The oldest church in North Greenbush is the Reformed church at 
Wynantskill, which was established sometime before the year 1794. 
The records do not show just when the church was built, but a call was 
extended to the Rev. Jacobus Van Campen in 1794, and it is believed 
that he was the first pastor. The officers of the church at that time 



TOWN OF NORTH GREENBUSH. 535 

included George vSharpe, William Cooper, George Barringer and Philip 
Barringer. 

The Second Reformed church at Wynantskill was organized early in 
the nineteenth century by members of the First Reformed church. A 
house of worship was erected soon after the establishment of the soci- 
ety, in which the congregation has since worshipped. 

The Dutch Reformed church at Blooming Grove was established in 
1814, upon the dissolution by the classis of the union between the 
Wynantskill and Greenbush churches. The Greenbush and Blooming 
Grove churches formed one pastoral charge until 1830, when each be- 
came independent. The first pastor of the church was the Rev. Nich- 
olas J. Marselus, who served from 1814 to 1822. 

The Baptist church at Bath, whose incorporate name is the North 
Greenbush Baptist church, was organized between 1860 and 18G7. A 
meeting house was built at the corner of Second and Ferry streets, but 
in the fall of 1870 this gave place to a larger one. The latter church 
was burned January 21, 1874, at a loss of $8,000. Work upon a new 
edifice was begun soon afterward, and it was dedicated February 18, 
1875. The Rev. W. F. Benedict was the first pastor of the church, 
serving the congregation until April 21, 1869. 

Some time between 1856 and 1860 the Albany Methodist Sunday 
School Union organized a mission Sabbath school in Bath, with Joseph 
H. Palmer of the Greenbush M. E. church as superintendent, and for 
some ten years sustained a Sunday school. In 1866 a neat, commodious 
chapel was erected by the Union at a cost of more than $5,000. A 
class was formed with John G. Cooper as leader, and Rev. A. A. Farr 
of Albany was secured as a supply to preach in 1867 and 1868. May 
6, 1868, the Bath society was organized as a mission by Rev. Samuel 
Meredith, presiding elder of Albany district, with more than 100 mem- 
bers. Rev. Louis N. Beaiidry was appointed by Troy conference to 
the Albany Methodist S. S. missions and took up his residence in Bath, 
the first Methodist preacher living among this people. Such success 
attended his work that Rev. P. P. Harrower of Albany was appointed 
to a portion of the work. In 1872 the Bath people asked for a man to 
supply them independently, and Rev. I. C. Fenton was sent to them. 
Rev. John E. Metcalf was appointed to Bath and during his pastorate 
the society was incorporated under the name and style of Bath-on-the- 
Hudson Methodist Episcopal church. Under the pastorate of Rev. H. 
L. Kelsey in 1881 a new parsonage was built and paid for, and Rev. 



536 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

W. E. Potter, b}' strenuous efforts and hard personal labor, enlarged, 
repaired and beautified the church, 

SUI'ERVISORS OF NoRlH GrEENHUSH. ^ 

18)5, Abram Witbeck; 185G-1859, R. M. De Freest; 18(50, J. W. Vandeuburgh; 
1861-1868, P. M. Ue Freest; 1864-1867, M. V. A. Fonda; 1868-1869, M. P. De Freest; 
1870-1873, C. C. Phillips; 1874, J. M. Wendell; 1875-1877, J. A. Miller; 1878-1880, 
John H. Dearstyne; 1881-1884, Martin I. De Freest; 1885-1891, James M. Wendell; 
1892-1895, Henry Cone; 1896 , Isaac A. De Freest. 

Town Clerks of Nor'iii Grk.eniush. 

1855, Gerrit Vandenburgh; 1856-1857, Barney Cole; 1858, George H. Manville; 
1861, (ierrit Vandenburgh; 1864, Martin L. Haner; 1866, Gerrit Vandenburgh; 
1868, John D. Lansing; 1871, Gerrit Vandenburgh; 1873, Henry Lansing; 1874, 
Jacob L. Abbott; 1876, Henry C. Younghaus; 1877-1879. John Cavanaugh; 1880- 
1882, Frank Patterson; 1883-1884, J. L. Dings; 1885-1887. Frank Cave; 1888-1889, 
Thomas Wornham ; 1890-1895, Levi C. Michrie; 1896 , C. E. Crandall. 

Justices of the Peace of North Greeniujsh. 

1855, Barney Wendell, Abram Witbeck; 1856, William Witbeck; 1857, Henry 
Frazee; 1858, Abram Witbeck; 1859, Barney Wendell; 1860, William Witbeck; 1861, 
Henry Frazee; 1862, Abram Witbeck; 1863, Edwin Stall; 1864, David B. Williams; 
1865, Henry Frazee; 1866, De Witt C. De Freest; 1867, Winfield S. Hevenor; 1868, 
David B. Williams; 1869, Henry Frazee, John Fonda- 1870, William H. Hegeman ; 
1871, Charles J. Wells; 1872, David B. Williams; 1873, Henry Frazee; 1874, Thomas 
Cole; 1875, Edgar Sharpe; 1876, John D. Houghtaling; 1877, Charles E. Kinney; 
1878, Thomas Cole; 1879, Abram E. Roberts; 1880, Rimer M. Dc Freest ; 1881, 
Charles E. Kinney; 1882, Thomas Cole; 1883, Abram E. Roberts; 1884, Frank S. 
Niver; 1885, Charles E. Kinney; 1886. Thomas Cole; 1887, Jacob H. Snyder; 1888, 
David E. Mason; 1889, Abram E. Roberts; 1890, Thomas Cole; 1891, Jacob H. 
Snyder; 1892, Abram E. Roberts; 1893, Charles E. Kinney; 1894, Thomas Cole; 
1895, William H. Scriven ; 1898, John D. Houghtaling. 

Presidents of the Villaoe of Bath. 

1874, Whiting G. Snow; 1875-1876, W. S. Hevenor; 1877, Chester G. Ham; 1878- 
1880, David E. Mason; 1881-1882, Charles A. Bailey; 1883-1884, John S. Bellinger; 
1885, James S. Rowley; 1886-1887, F. W. Peterson; 1888-1889, James S. Rowley; 
1890-1891, John S. Knight; 1892, Henry G. Gomph; 1H93, Charles A. Bailey; 1894, 
George S. Worden; 1895 , Thomas Penny. 

1 Material assistance in the compilation of these lists of officers was received from C. K. Cran- 
dall, esq., town clerk of North Greenbush. 



TOWN OF EAST GREENBUSH. 537 

Clerks of the Village of Bath. 

1874-1876, W. J. Cooper; 1877-1880, John H. Dearstyne; 1881-1884, David E. Mason ; 
1885-1886, William D. Wilson; 1887, R. A. Dearstyne; 1888-1891, J. L. Dings; 1892. 

George H. Dorwalk ; 18 3-1894, Thomas G. Wornham ; 1895 , John B. Mc- 

Nary. 



CHAPTER XXX. 
TOWN OF EAST GREENBUSH. 

The town of East Greenbush is bounded on the north by the town 
of North Greenbush, on the south by the town of Schodack, on the east 
by the town of Sand Lake and on the west by the Hudson river and 
the village of Greenbush. It originally composed part of the old town 
of Greenbush, but in 1855 it was incorporated into a separate town 
called Clinton. Three years later its corporate name was changed to 
East Greenbush. 

The town was settled by tenants under Van Rensselaer about 1628 
and 1629. Its earlier history is identical with that of the town of 
Greenbush. 1 In 1669 a fort was erected on the Island of Papsknee, 
opposite the town, and upon that island some of the earliest settlements 
in the vicinity were made. Among the early inhabitants of the island 
was Cornells Maas Van Buren, who came from Holland in the ship 
Rensselaerwyck. He and his wife were both buried on the island at 
the same time, in the year 1648. All traces of most of the earliest in- 
habitants have been lost or destroyed, or are so vague that nothing 
definite is to be gleaned from them. 

Between these early days and the sixth decade of the eighteenth cent- 
ury there were many changes in this locality. Farms had been laid 
out in every part of the town, and many of the inhabitants had amassed 
wealth. About 1765 or 1766 Colonel Killiaen Van Rensselaer, son of 
Hendrick Van Rensselaer and a great-grandson of the first patroon of 
the colony of Rensselaerwyck, occupied a large and handsome property 
along the river bank in the southwest corner of the town. At that 
time he had been a resident there several years, just how long is not 

' See historv of Greenbush. 

68 



538 LANDMARKS OF RP:NSSELAER COUNTY. 

known. His first wife was Ariaentje Schuyler, a member of a prom- 
inent Albany family. She died October 1?, 1763, and he married Maria 
Low, daughter of Colonel John Low of New Jersey. He had five sons 
— Hendrick, Philip, Nicolaas, Nicolaas 2d, and Killiaen, and four 
daughters — Catharina, Catarina, Elsie and Maria. Hendrick became 
a colonel in the Continental army in the War of the Revolution and 
died September 19, 1816, aged seventy-three years. Nicolaas became 
a colonel in the Continental army, and died March 29, 1848 in his 
ninety- fifth year. 

Among Colonel Killiaen Van Rensselaer's neighbors in the town of 
East Greenbush, then part of the town of Greenbush, was Anthony 
Bries, son of Hendrick de Bries. He married Catharine Yates and they 
had seven children — Hendrick, Johannes, Gerrit, Teunise, Christofifel, 
Johannes and Anthony. Other early residents were Tobias Salsbergh, 
Teunis (Teuntie) Van Buren, Abraham Witbeck, John Witbeck, Peter 
Douw, Gerrit C. Vandenburgh, Christopher J. Yates, Hansic Witbeck, 
Anthony Van Everen, William G. Vandenburgh, Cornelius Van Everen, 
John Fonda, Mr. Ostrander and Meldert Van der Poel.'' 

One of the earliest physicians locating in East Greenbush, probably 
the first, was Dr. John S. Miller, who, at the age of twenty one years, 
came from Claverack in Columbia county in 1804. He was a success- 
ful practitioner until his death, which occurred April 12, 1854. Dr. 
David Elliot was born in the town and began practice about 1815. Dr. 
John S. Van Alstyne began practice about 1836 and Dr. Andrew C. Getty 
succeeded him. Dr. Jeremiah Yan Rensselaer was a prominent and 
beloved physician from 1852. - 

In the early days of the town nearly every house was a public one. 
Among the early tavern keepers were John G. Bishop, Edward Greene, 
John Huddleston, Groat Clark, James Lansing, Garret Yates, Captain 
John Herrick and others. The first hotel proprietor in the village of 
East Greenbush was Manasseh Knowlton, early in the nineteenth cen- 
tury. He was succeeded by James Burton, Benjamin Bradbury, Law- 
rence Rysdorph and others. Among the early storekeepers were 
James Lansing, who located in East Greenbush in 1802; Elijah Dag- 
gett and others. 

At his fine residence on Prospect hill east of the village of (ireen- 

'For additiiinal infonnatioii about early settlers in this town see history of Greenbush and 
Schodaek. 

' See historv of the Medical Profession. 



TOWN OF EAST GREENBUSH. 530 

bush Edward Charles Genet, adjutant-general, minister plenipotentiary 
and consul-general to the United States from the Republic of France, 
spent the closing years of his eventful life. He was born at Versailles, 
France, January 8, 17G5, and while in this country as a representative 
of France, his intense patriotism, his extreme democratic principles 
and his zealous devotion to the efforts to procure assistance from the 
United States for France in her war with England, won for him the 
sobriquet "Citizen" Genet. He was superseded in office at the re- 
quest of President Washington and subsequently removed to Green- 
bush, the site of his home being now in the town of East Greenbush. 
He died at his home on Prospect hill July 14, 1834, and was buried 
near that spot. ^ Citizen Genet's wife was Cornelia Tappen, daughter 
of Governor George Clinton. Their son, Major-General Henry J. 
Genet, was born in 1800 and was prominent in local affairs. Be- 
sides serving in several local offices he represented Rensselaer county 
in the State Legislature in 1832. In the State militia he was succes- 
sively promoted to the rank of major-general, succeeding General 
Stephen Van Rensselaer to that office at the death of the latter. Gen- 
eral Genet died at Bergen, N. J., February 7, 1872, in his seventy- 
second year. 

While little of interest occurred in the town during the French and 
Indian wars^ the War of the Revolution and the War of 1812, many of 
the early inhabitants took an active part in those struggles. In the 
War of the Revolution the Van Rensselaer family were conspicuous 
for their patriotism and bravery. Three of the members of that dis- 
tinguished family — Killiaen, Nicolaas and Hendrick — were colonels in 
the American army in the War of the Revolution, and served with 
honor in the last French and Indian war. Isaac Mull was also a colonel 
in the Continental army during the Revolution. In the War of 1812 
Cornelius Schermerhorn and Barney Schermerhorn were colonels. It 
is impossible to give other names of patriotic residents of the town 
during these wars, owing to the destruction of the early records or the 
unsatisfactory way in which they were kept. 

Numerous noteworthy historical incidents occurred in the town of 
East Greenbush, particularly during its early days, while it was a part 
of the town of Greenbush. Among these were the establishment of 
the cantonment during the War of 1812, which will be found fully de- 

' Some authorities give Schodack as the place of his death. Late investigators agree that the 
event occurred at his home on Prospect hill. 



540 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

scribed in the chapter dealing- with Greenbush, and the famous anti- 
rent troubles, which have been treated at some length in a separate 
chapter in the history of the county. 

A noteworthy incident in the history of the town was an occurrence 
during the famous anti-rent wars, when a deputy sheriff named (iregg 
was killed in an attempt to eject a man named Witbeck from his farm. 
Many of those interested in the trouble resided in East Greenbush, 
which was frequently the scene of actions for ejectment after Colonel 
Walter S. Church came into possession of the title to the numerous 
farms formerly held by the Van Rensselaer family. ' 

The first annual town meeting in East Greenbush was held April 3, 
1855, at the hotel of W. R. De Freest. The officers chosen at that time 
were the following: 

Supervisor, Frederick R. Rockefeller; town clerk, William R. De Freest; as.sessor.s, 
Barney Hoes, David De Freest, jr., Martin D. De Freest; commissioner of highways, 
David Phillips; overseers of the poor, Adam Dings, John W. Graver; justices of the 
peace, Andrew L. Weatherwax, Frederick R. Rockefeller, Thomas B. Simmons, Will- 
iam Holsapple; superintendent of common schools, Henry J. Genet; collector, Harris 
N. Elliott; constables, Henry Ostrander, Frederick B. Conkey, Jacob Earing, Harris 
N. Elliott; inspectors of election, B. B. Kirkland, Leonard L. Rysedorph ; pound- 
masters, John W. Graver, William R. De Freest, Peter G. Clark, besides twenty- 
five overseers of highways. 

Probably the oldest dwelling in the town is the old Van Rensselaer 
mansion, commonly known as the old fort, standing a few rods south of 
the limits of Greenbush village on the river road. It has been held 
that the fort was erected as early as 1063, and that it was the Fort Cralo 
to which the inhabitants fled for protection at the time when the com- 
munity was in a state of alarm on account of the depredations which 
were being committed by the Indians. However, the exact date of its 
erection and the name of its builder is in doubt. The date 1003 is 
probably too early. The style of architecture would indicate this. In 
the building is a stone bearing the initials " J. V. R." and the date 1740, 
probably standing for Johannes Van Rensselaer, who some authorities 
believe built an addition to the building about the date given. Some 
investigators think it was erected by Hendrick Van Rensselaer, who 
died there July 2, 1740; still others think it may have been built by Jean 
Baptiste Van Rensselaer, son of Killiaen and the first director of the 
colony. The original building consisted of two large rooms on the first 

' The history of the Witbeck case will be found in Chapter VIII. 



TOWN OF EAST GREENBUSH. 541 

floor divided by a hall. A little farther from the river, a few feet south 
of the fort, was another building- about the same size for slaves 

In late years the building has been owned and occupied by William 
N. Callender. From 1887 to 1893 legislative action was attempted to 
secure an appropriation of money from the State for the purchase of 
the building, but owing- to a strong spirit existing in the southern end 
of the county against the perpetuation of any of the colonial landmarks 
associated with the anti rent disturbances, the bill was defeated from 
year to year. The measure provided for an appropriation of $20,000, 
and no objection was ever made to the amount as being too great, con- 
sidering the value of the property as a historical relic. The opposing 
forces fortified themselves with a bill providing for the purchase by 
the State of the Forbes manor house in North Greenbush, near Bath, 
with the intention of converting it into a soldiers' home. In the winter 
of 1895 the Society of Colonial Dames secured a lease of the historic 
house and the prospects in 189G seemed to be that the famous old build- 
ing would be preserved for future generations by a historical society 
famous for its love of colonial relics. 

In the War of the Rebellion East Greenbush, with a very small popu- 
lation, came promptly to the front with her full quota of men in re- 
sponse to the call for volunteers. The list is not a large one and it will 
be found appended entire : 

George Pratt, Alford Schultz, Anson Butts, Frederick <')lenhouse, James Brocksby, 
Michael Ostrander, George Burroughs, Abram Smith, George England, Joseph 
England, Alvah V. Traver, Frederick Baker, Philip Binck. 

Died in the service.— John D. P. Douw, George H. Cipperly, Chester L. Traver. 

The New York Central & Hudson River railroad and the Boston & 
Albany railroad both pass through the town. For many years the 
principal highway was the Boston Sc Albany turnpike, constructed in 
1800; the Farmer's turnpike, running parallel to and near the Hudson 
river, and the old post road, the oldest in the county, said to have been 
constructed by the English in the early days of the French and Indian 
wars. 

The only village in the town. East Greenbush, is located south of 
the centre of the town, on the old Boston & Albany turnpike and less 
than two miles east of the Boston & Albany railroad. Its earliest in- 
habitants located there about 1G30, or before that date, so the town is 
next oldest to Greenbush in point of settlement. The two churches in 
the town are located in the village, which in reality is but a hamlet. 



542 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

The post-office was established about 1845, and the first postmaster 
probably was William Holsapple. The inhabitants are prosperous, and 
many of them own farms amonj^ the best in the county. 

Religious services were held in East Greenbush at an early day. The 
Reformed church at the village of East Greenbush was not established 
until 1787, but those who organized it doubtless had held services for 
many years previous to that time. The Rev. James Van Campen 
Romeyn, the first pastor, began his pastoral duties there, in connection 
with the church at Schodack, in Februar}^ 1788. He remained in 
that office until July 1, 1704, when he became the pastor of the church 
he had organized at Wynantskill, serving in the two churches until 
October, 1799, when he removed to New Jersey. His successor, the 
Rev. John L. Zabriskie, did not begin his labors until 1801. All the 
early records of this church are in the Dutch language. The first 
church stood on or near the site of the present one. A new church 
was built in isno and dedicated in the spring of the following year. 
Since then it has undergone some changes, but is still a substantial 
and attractive edifice. 

The Methodist church at East Greenbush was organized during or 
prior to 1875, and was the outgrowth of missionary meetings held for 
many years previous to that time. The first ])astor was the Rev. 
Joseph Zweifel, who was assigned to the church in May, 1875. The 
church edifice was erected soon after the founding of the society. 

Supervisors of East Grkknuusu. 

1855, T. A. Rockefeller; 18r)6-185S, J. J. Sliter; 1859-1860, T. B. Simmons; 1861- 
1864, W. R. De Freest; 1865-1866, John J. Sliter; 1867-187:3, William H. Sliter; 
1874-1875, A. P. Traver; 1876, James A. Morris; 1877, James Murphy; 1878-1881), 
David Phillips; 1881-1882, George C. Moore; 1883, Henry J. Best; 1884, David 
Phillips; 1885-1886, Henry J. Best; 1887-1888, George P. Allen; 1889-1890. George 

C. Moore; 1891-1892, George P. Allen; 1893-1895, George C. Moore; 1896 , 

Egbert De Freest. 

Town Clerks ok E.ast Greenhush. 

1855-1856, William R. De Freest; 1857, Edward Elliot; 1858-1860, William R. De 

Freest; 1861-1872, Abram Miller; 1873-1895, Jacob S. Link; 1896 , Walter E. 

Link.! 

' Thf thanks of the editor are due Mr. Link for valuable assi.slance rendered in . .■nipilinir 
this chapter. 



TOWN OF NASSAU. 54.'} 

Justices of the Peace of East Greenhush, 

1855, Andrew L. Wethervvax, Frederick R. Rockefeller, Thomas B. Simmons; 
1856, Thomas B. Simmons; 1857, Jacob Earing; 1858, Andrew L. Wetherwax, John 
B. Huddleton; 1859, Willard Lawrence; 1860, William R. De Freest; 1861. Jacob 
Earing, Martin D. De Freest; 1862, John Vandenburgh; 1863, Martin D. De Freest; 
1864, William R. De Freest; 1865, Edward S. SUter; 1866, John Vandenburgh; 1867. 
William Witbeck; 1868, William R. De Freest; 1869, Edward S. Sliter; 1870, John 
Vandenburgh; 1871, William Witbeck ; 1872, L. P. Traver; 1873, E. S. Sliter; 1874, 
Thomas Davis; 1875, Samuel S. Warner; 1876, Duncan MacFarlane; 1877, Edward 
vS. Sliter; 1878, Thomas B. Simmons; 1879, Samuel S. Warner; 1880, E. J. Genet; 
1881. Edward S. Sliter; 1882, John J. Connaghty; 1883, Samuel S. Warner; 1884, 
Lewis P. Traver; William Rysedorph (to fill vacancy); 1885, Edward S. Sliter; 1886, 
Frank A. Vandenburgh; 1887, James P. Finn; 1888, Samuel S. Warner; 1889, Ed- 
ward S. Sliter; 1890, Frank A. Vandenburgh; 1891, J^mes P. Finn; 1892, Samuel S. 
Warner; 1893, Edward S. Sliter; 1894, Frank A. Vandenburgh ; 1895, James D. 
Davis; Thomas B. Simmons (to fill vacancy); 1896, Lorenzo T. Newkirk. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

TOWN OF NASSAU. 

The town of Nassau was formed from Petersburgh, Stephentown and 
Schodack March 31, 180G. In honor of Philip Van Rensselaer it was 
first given the name of Philipstown, receiving its present name April 
G, 1808. It is bounded on the north by the town of Sand Lake, on the 
east by the the town of Stephentown, on the south by Chatham and New 
Lebanon in Columbia county, and on the west by the town of Schodack. 
The land is uneven and hilly and the central and eastern portions are 
rocky and in many places quite barren. The hills are parts of the 
Petersburgh mountains, which are separated from the Taghkanic moun- 
tains by Kinderhook creek. There are many other small streams which 
furnish abundant water power. There are also numerous lakes and 
small ponds in the town, also a large swamp in the eastern section 
called Psanticoke. Burden lake, in the northeastern corner of the 
town, lies partly in Sand Lake, and is the largest sheet of water in 
Rensselaer county. Pike pond lies about four miles east. North of 
the centre is Mud pond, and southeast of the centre is Tackawasick,^ or 

1 Usually found spelled Tsatsawassa, 



544 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Cummings pond. Hoag's pond is in the centre of the Schodack bound- 
ary line, and a mile or so east lies Lyons pond. There are several high 
points in the town. These include a peak in the southwest corner 
called by the Indians Kykout, or Lookout; a peak in the southeastern 
part of the town called Snake hill; Meshodac peak, which lies between 
the first two named; Pike mountain and Bailey mountain in the north- 
ern section. Very few portions of Nassau are naturally adapted to the 
highest class of agriculture, though there are many portions where the 
soil is rich and exceedingly productive. For grazing the hills of the 
town are unexcelled. 

As near as can be learned the first settlers were Joseph Primmer and 
Hugh Wilson, who located, the former on Hoag's pond in 17G0, and 
the latter at or near the present site of the village of Nassau. The 
neighborhood was known by the Indians as Ontikekomick, and the 
chief of the tribe was Kashekekomuck. Some authorities assert that 
Wilson was the first permanent white settler in the town. Joseph Prim- 
mer's deed bore the date of May 16, 1760, and was signed by the mark 
of Chief Kashekekomuck. Though these were the first permanent set- 
tlements made in the town and on its western border, they were not 
the first white men who visited this locality. 

In 1748 David Brainard came as a missionary to the Indians in that 
vicinity, but removed from the town in 1744. Other early settlers were 
John W. Schermerhorn, near East Nassau ; John McCagg, near Brain- 
ard; Henry Post, about three miles east of Nassau village; Thomas 
Hicks, Titus H nested, Abraham Holmes, Major Abijah Bush, Daniel 
Litz, David Waterbury and Reuben Bateman. Major Bush lived at 
West Nassau, came from Sheffield, Mass., and served in the Continental 
army during the War of the Revolution, crossing the Delaware river 
with Washington. 

The first tavern in Nassau village was kept by Thomas Hicks in a 
log hut built before the Revolution. About the same time a grist mill 
was built at the outlet of Tsatsawassa pond at East Nassau by John 
W. Schneider, who also kept a tavern and a store. He also erected a 
grist mill on Kinderhook creek. 

In the northern part of the town the earliest settler of whom any 
record is left was John B. Adsit, wh(j located at Alps before tlie Revo- 
lution. The hamlet which surrounded his home was for many years 
known as Adsit Corners. In 1781 Amaziah Bailey located on the hill 
near the village of Alps. Other early settlers in this locality were 



TOWN OF NASSAU. 545 

Isaac Dunham, Elmer Sedgwick, Ebenezer Sedgwick and Titus Sedg- 
wick. John Turner made an early settlement in the extreme eastern 
part of the town and Benjamin Greenman located about the same time 
between Stephentown and Nassau. During the closing years of the 
eighteenth century William Root, who came from Sheffield, Mass., 
Patrick McGee, George McGee, Jonathan Devereaux, Elijah Adams, 
Jonathan Emmons, Jonathan Williams, Jeremiah Fox, Timothy Vick- 
ery. Dr. James H. Ball, a soldier of the Revolutionary army who came 
from Connecticut, Joseph Marks, Abiel Knapp, John Casey, Eli Vick- 
ery, William B. Hoag, Elnathan Quimby and Eliphalet Reed settled in 
the town . 

Jonathan Hoag, who settled in the town in 1792, purchased of vSte- 
phen Van Rensselaer several hundred acres of land on and adjoining 
the site of Nassau village. The body of water now known as Hoag's 
pond was made by him by constructing a dam which covered "the 
Vlaie " or " Beaver Meadow "' with water. He was perhaps the most 
industrious and progressive of the pioneers of Nassau. Soon after he 
had built his dam he constructed a raceway which connected the waters 
of the pond to the mills in and around Nassau. He also erected a 
grist mill, a hotel, a store and a dwelling house. Nassau owes much 
of its early prosperity to his untiring industry. 

Thomas Hicks is believed to have been the proprietor of the earliest 
tavern in Nassau. It was located at Nassau village before the War of 
the Revolution, and was nothing more pretentious than a log cabin. 
At East Nassau an inn was established by John W. Schermerhorn as 
early as 17G7, and soon after Major Abijah Bush had one at the same 
place. In the central part of the town a very early proprietor was 
Reuben Bateman. Joseph Greenman and Patrick McGee had taverns 
in the northern part of the town soon after the first settlements were 
made. For many years the leading hotel at Nassau villge was main- 
tained by Peter Van Valkenburg. Its first proprietor was a man 
named Strong. It is a well known fact in history that many eminent 
men were entertained at this hospitable hotel. Among them were the 
^larquis de Lafayette, and Joseph Bonaparte, king of Spain, who spent 
portions of several summers there. Martin Van Buren, William L. 
Marcy, De Witt Clinton, Lewis Cass and Generals John E. Wool and 
Alexander McComb were also frequent patrons. Lafayette's vi.sit to 
the house was made in 1825, when he made a tour of the United 
States. 



54G LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

John W. Schermerhorn at East Nassau and Jonathan Hoag at Nas- 
sau owned two of the earliest stores in the town. Hoag & Vail are 
said to have had the first in the town. The were located in Nassau 
village on the site of the first tavern. 

The medical profession has been well represented in Nassau. Dr. 
Joseph (iale, who located at East Nassau, undoubtedly was the first 
physician to practice within the present limits of the town. Dr. James 
H. Ball, as has been stated, settled in the northern part of the town in 
1790. He held important offices and served in the State Assembly in 
1812 or 1813. Dr. Ebenezer Bassett was an early practitioner at Nas- 
sau village, locating there about 1812, and Dr. William K. Scott was 
early in practice at East Nassau. Other physicians of more than local 
repute have been located in Nassau from time to time.1 

The earliest lawyer in the town of whom there is any record was 
Samuel B. Ludlow, who opened an office in Nassau village soon after 
1815. Not much later Cyrus Mason and Henry Ludlow were also in 
practice there. Fenner Ferguson, a native of the town, was admitted 
to the bar in 1838, but soon after removed to Michigan, where he became 
a territorial judge and a delegate to Congress. Later practitioners 
who were well known were Judge Hugh W. McClellan, Robert H. 
McClellan, a former surrogate; Judge E. Smith Strait, B. C. Strait 
and others. General John E. Wool resided at Nassau village for many 
years.. Hon. John A. Griswold was also a native of the town, having 
been born there in 1818. He removed to Troy in 1835. 

The first town meeting in Nassau was held April 1, 1807, the day 
following the organization of the town by the Legislature under the 
name of Philipstown, at the tavern of Pliny ]\Iiller. At this meeting 
the following were chosen for the first officers of the town: 

Supervisor, Jonathan Hoag; town clerk, William C. Elmore; assessors, Fenner 
Palmer, Joseph Finch, Elijah Adams, Joseph S. Gale, Titus Huested ; collector, 
Charles Mason; overseers of the poor, Samuel Gale, David Waterbury; commission- 
ers of highways, Fenner Palmer, Enoch Benedict, James H. Ball ; constables, Charles 
Mason, William King, Ebenezer Martin; fenceviewers, Enoch Benedict, Fenner 
Palmer, Benjamin Mason, Titus Huested, Timothy Sibley, Gershom Tabor, Samuel 
Knapp, John Turner, Jeremiah Macks; poundmasters, Jonathan Hoag, Abijah Bush, 
Isaac Dunham; beside thirty-nine pathmasters. 

From time to time the inhabitants of the valley of the \'alatie kill 
have suffered from floods, which destroyed thousands of dollars' worth 

' See Chapter on the Medical Profession. 



TOWN OF NASSAU. 547 

of property. One of the most serious of these occurred in the spring 
of 1837, when the dam of the pond north of Nassau village gave way, 
carried away bridges, wrecked houses and ruined considerable other 
property. ' Another flood that did a vast amount of damage occurred 
m 18G9, when the waters of the Kinderhook creek destroyed the old 
Schermerhorn grist mill at East Nassau and all the bridges below it in 
the town. 

It was in the town of Nassau that the Anti-Rent War in Rensselaer 
county had its centre for many years. The farmers of Nassau are said 
to have been the first to resist in an effective manner the attempts of 
the proprietors of the land in that section to collect their ground rents, 
and when Colonel Walter wS. Church of Albany came into possession of 
the title to these lands it was in the town of Nassau that he met with 
the greatest reverses in his endeavor to enforce his claims. As early 
as 1843 an anti-rent society was organized at Hoag's Corners, and while 
its first members were confined principally to the farmers in that im- 
mediate locality it was not long before many farmers in all parts of the 
town, and even some from other towns, became secretly identified with 
the organization. The meetings were generally held at the old Martin 
tavern. It is said that efforts were frequently made by agents of the 
landlords to secure admission to these meetings. It might have been 
easy for some daring spirit to enter the inner circle on some occasions, 
for as a rule the anti-renters seldom appeared in a body in public with- 
out disguise. These disguises were generally those which caused the 
rebellious ones to take on the appearance of Indians, and those actively 
engaged in the fight were frequently referred to as Indians. In their 
meetings they addressed their leaders by high sounding Indian titles, 
and a member of the society was seldom addressed by his right name 
at meetings of any kind for fear that an enemy might be within hearing. 

But in spite of the precautions that were always supposed to be taken 
by the anti-renters the neutral public, and finally the friends of the 
landlords, then the landlords themselves, obtained the names of some 
of the leaders in the movement and the information thus obtained was 
employed in the prosecution of the offenders. After the greatest ex- 
citement caused by the insurrection had begun to subside it became 
known that in the town of Nassau the recognized head of the organized 
movement was Frank Abbott, whom the conclaves of the anti-rent 
society knew as Little Thunder. Dr. Smith A. Boughton of Alps 
was called Big Thunder and Thomas Thompson of Hoag's Corners en- 
joyed the distinction of being known in party councils as Tuscarora. 



548 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Gideon Reynolds of Hoosick, who served as sheriff for one term, 
having- been elected to that office in 1843, about the time of the organ- 
ization of the anti-rent society in Nassau, though himself reputed to 
be an enemy of landlordism, at once took an active part in the at- 
tempted suppression of the disorders brought about by the conflict 
between the anti-renters and the authorities. Mr. Reynolds was a 
staunch adherent of the law, and though he felt that the odds were 
against him, he summoned a posse of twenty-five men and proceeded 
to the vicinity of the village of Alps, where he had been informed a 
body of anti-renters were abroad. When he reached the scene of the 
disorder he and his posse were overpowered, their horses turned loose 
and Sheriff Reynolds and his band of deputies were marched to the 
village of Alps. The deputy who had been entrusted with the legal 
papers was tarred and feathered and the entire body of men ordered 
to return, which they did. Soon afterward Deputy Sheriff Lewis, 
while attempting to serve warrants upon some of the " Indians," was 
also tarred and feathered and sent back to his home. From time to 
time similar proceedings were had by the anti-renters, until the troubles 
were settled by the courts and Colonel Church obtained his legal 
rights. 

The Nassau, Schodack and Chatham Mutual Insurance association 
was organized in the spring of 1855, the first directors being: Abel 
Merchant, president; Edward Jacques, secretary; Sylvester Water- 
bury, John Schermerhorn, J. B. Rider, John N. Vedder. R. Hermance 
and Smith Griffith. Its membership at once became large and the 
association consequently prosperous. 

Another organization, of comparatively recent date, which has done 
much for the agricultural interests of the town, is the Rensselaer 
County Agricultural society, organized at Nassau, largely through the 
efforts of George W. Witbeck, esq., in 1893. The membership is large 
and constantly increasing. The annual fairs of the society are held at 
Nassau village and are attended by farmers from all parts of the 
county. 

Nassau has a military record of which no town would feel ashamed. 
Many of the residents fought in the War of the Revolution. The 
records are not perfect on this point, however. Among those who 
served their country in this struggle were Major Abijah Bush, who for 
many years was one of its foremost inhabitants. Other patriots who 
shouldered guns between 1775 and 1783 were Simeon Griswold, Dr. 
James H. Ball, Robert J. W. Burroughs and Guy Lester. 



TOWN OF NASSAU 549 

In the War of 1812 Nassau was well represented. Major-General 
John E. Wool, one of the most conspicuous soldiers in eastern New 
York in those days; Captain Simeon Tifft, Captain David St. John, 
Rensselaer Bateman, Reuben Rogers, Varnum Babcock, Jacob Cole, 
Jeremiah Tifft, Thomas Tobias, Isaac Wheeler and George Launt were 
representative men of the town who enrolled their names in support 
of the cause of the United States. 

In the War of the Rebellion Nassau sent her full quota of men to 
the front and a large share of them lost their lives in the service. The 
list of those dying in the service of the United States includes the follow- 
ing names: 

Jonathan Hoag, Judson Hoag, Rensselaer Palmer, Edward Stickles, Eleazer Knap, 
Marshal C. Knap, Asbury Bacchus, Arnold Dennis, Charles H. Ashley, Noah Ash- 
ley, Paul Roberts, Peter Roberts, Palmer W. Dunham, George Horton, Thomas H. 
Payne, James Brown, Darius Morris, James Dodge, Cyrus Gardner, Lyman Ostrom, 
Russell D. Ashley, Hiram Hotaling, Willard Reed, George Bailey, William Lasher, 
George Sheldon, Herman Beckstine, William Shofelt, Washington L. Taylor, Henry 
J. Knap, Henry Loppy, Andrew Trumble and Ceno Och. 

Nassau is essentially an agricultural town, yet the inhabitants at an 
early day took advantage of the splendid water power afforded by the 
various streams flowing through the town. The first manufacturing 
enterprise of which there is any knowledge was the grist mill of John 
W. Schermerhorn, at the outlet of Tsatsawassa pond. Soon after this 
mill was established a tannery was started by Jesse Smith. About 
1778 Morgan Harris operated a large grist mill at East Nassau. Soon 
after 1800 Winthrop Root had a tannery at the same place, and about 
the same time a collar factory at that point was operated by Peter Van 
Buren, James Turner, Erastus Hemingway and others. An early saw 
mill and grist mill at Nassau village was run by Fenner Palmer. This 
was burned in 1817 but was afterward rebuilt. About 1830 William P. 
Hermance had a carriage factory at Nassau village, where for a quar- 
ter of a century or more from thirty to forty men were given lucra- 
tive employment. The extensive paper mills of J. D. Tompkins on 
Kinderhook creek, near Brainard, were established about 1847 by John 
B. and Peter C. Tompkins, who began the manufacture of straw paper 
there. The site was occupied early in the century by Marks's saw mill 
and subsequently Page's shingle factory was added. The mill was en- 
larged in 1854, under the proprietorship of Mr. Davis. These mills 
for a long time were one of the principal industries of the county out- 



550 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

side of Troy. Another paper mill was established about 1855 by John 
BuUis at Nassau village. It was abandoned about fifteen years later. 
Gershom Turner had an early cotton factory at Brainard. In 18-1--2 the 
Nassau cotton mills at Brainard were established by Seth Hastings of 
Albany. After several changes the property passed into the hands of 
the Clinton Manufacturing company of Woonsocket, R. I. James Allen 
started the foundry at Nassau village about 1860. There have been 
several other industries in the town from time to time, but these men- 
tioned have contributed most prominently to the welfare of Nassau. 

The principal village in the town is Nassau, which is located on the 
Valatie kill in the southwestern part of the town. Nassau was origi- 
nally kn(jwn as Union village. It is one of the most attractive vil- 
lages in the county, being laid out evidently with an eye to beauty as 
well as utility. It was a famous summer resort in its early days and 
its hotels frequently entertained distinguished guests from various 
parts of the United States and other countries. The village received 
its first charter March l;i, 1819, when these corporation officers were 
named: Trustees, William B Hermance, Chauncey Porter, Samuel B. 
Ludlow, Chester Griswold, Ebenezer D. Bassett; collector, Henry 
Goodrich ; treasurer, Calvin Pardee. A new charter was granted 
April 17, 18G0, conferring additional powers and duties upon the vil- 
lage. Hugh Wilson, who located there about 1700, was the founder of 
the village. Other prominent early settlers have been referred to in 
preceding pages in this chapter. The post-office was established about 
1811, and Jonathan Hoag, one of the most influential of the early in- 
habitants, was one of the earliest incumbents of the office. Early pro- 
vision was made for village improvements and for protection against 
fires, the No. 1 Engine company having existed there as early as 1840. 
Washington Engine company was organized July 18, 1872, and four 
years later the village purchased a fire-engine. Some of the leading 
i ndustriesof the village have already been referred to. 

The Nassau academy was incorporated in 18;)5 by Lyman \'anden- 
burgh, Samuel W. Hoag, Dr. Samuel McClellan, Dr. Ebenezer D. Bas- 
sett. Reuben Merchant, vSamuel B. Ludlow, John Alden, vSmith 
(jriffith and William B. Hermance. The school building was built the 
same year. From 1850 to 1857 the Rev. Salmon Hatch conducted it 
as a female institute. It was reincorporated by the Regents in i8(!8. 

East Nassau is located in the southeastern part of tlie town (jn Kin- 
derhook creek. John W. vSchermerhorn was one of its most conspicu- 



TOWN OF NASSAU. 551 

ous early inhabitants, and in his honor the hamlet for many years was 
known as Schermerhorn's. Mr. Schermerhorn was the proprietor of 
the first tavern at East Nassau. Pliny Miller was aqother early inn- 
keeper. William Root opened a general store there as early as 1780. 
The post-office was established about 1830 with Jared Root as post- 
master. 

Hoag's Corners is situated in the northeastern part of the town on 
Tsatsawassa creek. Its early inhabitants and industries have been re- 
ferred to. Robert Martin and William Hoag were early tavern keep- 
ers there, beginning business about 1822 or 1823. The former also 
had the first store in the place, running it in connection with his hotel. 
Several small industries, established there earl}^ in the nineteenth cen- 
tury, since then have been abandoned, though the hamlet is quite 
thrifty to-day. The post-office was established in 1835 with William 
B. Hoag as postmaster. 

Brainard is in the southeastern corner of the town and was named 
in honor of Joseph Brainard,^ who built a bridge over Kinderhook 
creek at that point. It was first called Brainard's Bridge, The Nas- 
sau cotton mills, for many years a prominent industry of the town, 
were located here in 1842. Gershom Turner is said to have been the 
first proprietor of a store at this point, and the first tavern was kept by 
Henry Stoddard about 1810 or 1812. 

Dunham Hollow is located in the northeastern part of the town. It 
was named after Isaac Dunham, who settled thereabout 1800 and built 
a hotel and saw mill. An early hoe factory was owned by Jacob White 
and the first saw mill by a man named Adams. The first store was 
owned by Joshua Coleman. 

North Nassau is in the northern part of the town. The first tavern 
was kept by a man named Burdick about 1810. William C. Elmore 
had an early store and tavern there. The post-office was established 
about 1844 with James H. Ball as postmaster. 

Alps, so named on account of the mountainous character of the coun- 
try in which it is situated, occupies the northeastern corner of the 
town. Miller's Corners is a small hamlet in the northwestern corner 
of the town. 

The earliest religious organization in Nassau of which there is any 
record was a union society, which, in 1787, built a house of worship in 

' Some authorities state that the modern name of Brainard was given the hamlet in honor of 
David Brainard, a missionary to the Indians in the latter part of the eighteenth century. 



552 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

the western part of the town on land given by Stephen Van Rensselaer. 
Lutherans, Presbyterians and a few members of the Dutch Reformed 
church united in the work, and for several years this was the only 
house of worship in the town. The society had no regular pastor and 
the meeting house was razed about 1810. Another house of wor- 
ship was built in 17!)5 or 1796 at Nassau, free to all denominations. 
The church was not completed for many years, but preaching services 
were held there while it was in an unfinished state. This building was 
subsequently used for several years by the Presbyterian and Reformed 
churches in common. It was torn down many years ago. 

Some time before the year 1800 a Presbyterian church was organized 
in the northern part of the town and a house of worship was erected 
about three miles south of Alps. The church ceased to exist some 
time between 1825 and 1835. 

The Presbyterian church of Nassau was organized November 11, 
1802, and two days afterward was regularly constituted. The Rev. 
Jonas Coe.vvas the first minister to preach to the new congregation. 
For many years the society worshipped in the old free church build- 
ing referred to. In 1827 a house of worship was erected, being dedi- 
cated January 13, 1828. Its first location was a few feet northwest of 
the Nassau academy, but in 1848 it was removed to its later site. The 
Rev. Ezra D. Kinney was the first regular pastor to preach in the new 
church, and the last was the Rev. Mr. Staunton. Active services were 
discontinued about 1879. 

The organization of the Protestant Reformed Dutch church of Nassau 
closely followed that of the old Presbyterian church, occurring in the 
fall of 1803. The society was incorporated March 2, 1809, and until 
1821 was connected with the church at Schodack. The Rev. Jacob 
Sickles, D. D., who organized the society, conducted its first services, 
but the first regular pastor was the Rev. Christian Bork, who served 
from 1804 to 1808. The early meetings of the body were held in the 
old "Free church," half of which was purchased from the Presby- 
terians in 1800. A new house of worship was erected in 1820 and 
dedicated in the winter of that year. 

The First Baptist church of Nassau existed from 1790 to 1840, just 
half a century. It was located about two miles east of Nassau village 
and was erected by Joseph Brainard, the founder of Brainard's Bridge, 
afterward Brainard. 

The Second Baptist church was organized in 1820 south of the ham- 



TOWN OF NASSAU. 553 

let of Alps The first officiating pastor was Stephen Olmstead, and 
Henry Tucker and Brovvnell Sandford were deacons. The Baptist 
church, or mission, at Hoag's Corners was built in 1861, the congrega- 
tion being members of the Second Baptist church. 

The Methodist church at Nassau village was dedicated in the fall of 
1833, having been erected in that year. But fully fifteen years before 
that time a Methodist class was formed in the village. The dedicatory 
sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. Carpenter, and the earliest 
regular pastor of whom there is any definite knowledge was the Rev. 
William Anson. The church prospered from the beginning. 

A Free Union Methodist church was established a short distance 
east of Dunham's Hollow many years ago. 

The Baptist church at East Nassau was founded in 1879, in which 
year the house of worship was erected. 1 

In 1807 a Presbyterian church was established at East Nassau, with 
the Rev. John Younglove as the first pastor. The house of worship 
was erected by this and the Baptist societies, and was known as the 
Union church. It was destroyed by fire in 1853. The following year 
the Presbyterian congregation built its own house of worship, the dedi- 
cation occurring in January, 1855. The Rev. Mr. Barker is said to have 
been the first pastor. 

The Methodist church at East Nassau was erected in 1834, the con- 
gregation having originated in a class organized four years before. 

In 1839 the Methodists of Brainard organized a church society and 
at once erected a house of worship, the site being donated to the society 
by vSeth Hastings. In 1875 a new church was erected. The society 
for many years was connected as a charge with the church at Nassau^ 

The Catholic church at Nassau was started about thirty years ago, 
the congregation being under the care of the priest in charge of the 
church at Sand Lake. 

The Free Communion Baptist church at Alps was incorporated July 
29, 1878, having been organized January 23, 1877, by members of the 
societies at vStephentown and Nassau. The Rev. William H. Fonerden 
was the first pastor. 

' In the case of this church and several others it has l)cen impracticable to obtain all the in- 
formation desired. It is believed the essential facts in all the older and most important churches 
have been secured. 
70 



554 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Supervisors of Nassau. 

1806-1810 Jonathan Hoag; 1811, Fenner Palmer; 1S12-181:5, Barent Van Vleck ; 
1814-1816, Fenner Palmer; 1817-1818, Bernard Hicks; 1819-1820, Chauncey Porter; 
1821-1822, William P. Hermance; 1823-1824, Fenner Palmer; 1825, C. Porter; 1826- 
1829, Bernard Hicks; 1830-1833, Henry Lord; 1834, Ryer Hermance; 1835, Stephen 
Phillips; 1836-1837. Henry Lord; 1838-1840, S. W. Hoag; 1841, R. Hermance; 1842. 
Chester Griswold; 1843, Seth Hastings; 1844, A. Bingham; 1845, E. B. Tifft; 1846, 
S. Waterbury; 1847. Joseph Tifft; 1848, E. B. Tifft; 1849, G. W. Norton; 1850-1851, 
O. C. Thompson; 1852-1853, A. Bingham; 1854-1855. R. W. McClellan; 1856, S. 
Waterbury; 1857-1858, F. H. Hastings; 1«59, C. W. Herrick ; 1860, S. Waterbury; 
1861-1862. D. Hermance; 1863, B. H. Lord; 1864-1865, J. C Enos; 1866, S. W. 
Ambler; 1867, Daniel Lewis; 1868, J. M. Witbeck ; 1869-1870, S. Waterbury ; 1871- 
1873, J. T. Germond; 1874-1876, Gardner Mtrey; 1877-1878, Giles Kirby; 1879-1880, 
Barnis C. Strait; 1881, John Van Valkenburgh; 1882-1883, P. F. Palmateer; 1884, 
Jedediah Chapman ; 1885, Giles Kirby ; 1886, Calvin Van Salisbury; 1887, Gardner 
P. Morey; 1888. George H. Yadeau ; 1889, Alphonso Waterbury; 1890-1893, George 
H. Yadeau; 1894 , M. R. Millius. 

Town Clkrks of Nassau. 

1806-1816, William C. Elmore; 1817-1818, Isaac B. Fox; 1819-1821, Asa Savage; 
1822-1825, William Fmck; 1826-1830, Aaron V. Waterbury; 1831-1832, Jonathan G. 
Tifft; 1833-1834, Wilson H. Crandall; 1835, Samuel B. Ludlow; 1836, Edwin R. Ball; 
1837-1838, Charles Waterbury ; 1839-1841. Edwin R. Ball; 1842, Schuyler Waterbury ; 
1843, Anson Bingham; 1844, Joseph Fursman; 1845, Schuyler Waterbury; 1846, 
James C. Enos; 1847-1848, George W. Norton; 1849, Samuel Stover; 1850, Anson 
Bingham; 1851-1853, Wm. W. Hemenway; 1854, James H. Ball; 1855, Leander O. 
Daboll; 1856, David E. Waterbury; 1857-1858, Daniel Hermance; 1859, Sylvester 
Waterbury; 1860, Herman L. Lester; 1861, Edwin H. Crossett; 1862, Melville B. 
Lord; 1863, Gardner Morey; 1864-1865, Nelson Webster; 1866, James A Cotton ; 
1867-1870, Augustus Jolls; 1871-1873, George O. Daboll ; 1874-1876, H. Jerome Hayes; 
1877-1878, James C. Hitchcock; 1879-1880, George W. Witbeck; 1881, Charles M. 
Fellows; 1882-1883, George Raeder; 1884-1885, M. R Millius; 1886-1887, S. P. 
Waterbury; 1888-1889, W. H. Sweet; 1890-1891, F. Wrim; 1892-1893, D. Aaron 
Hogeboom; 1894 , Charles H. Huested.i 

Justices of the Peace of Nassau. 

• 1827, William P. Hermance, James Hoag, Samuel Waterbury; 1828, Samuel 
Waterbury; 1829, John Van Dusen ; 1830, James Hoag; 1831, Spencer Whiting; 
1832, none reported elected this year; 1833, John G. Dusenbury; 1834, James Hoag; 
1835, Spencer Whiting; 1836, Lewis Waterbury; 1837. John G. Dusenbury, Lyman 
Valdenburgh; 1838, John G. Dusenbury (v.); Joshua Coleman (f. t.); 1839, Lyman 
Valdenburgh; 1840, Epaphroditus Devereux; 1841, Sylvester Van Valkenburgh; 

1 Credit is due Mr. Huested for material assistance received in the compilation of this chapter. 



TOWN OF POESTENKILL. 555 

1842, George W. Norton (v.); Oliver C. Thompson (f. t); 1843, Henry Kirby; 1844, 
Lewis J. Waterbury; 1845, George W. Strait; 1846, Thomas Ten Eyck; 1847, Henry 
Kirby; 1848, Oliver C. Thompson; 1849, George W. Norton; 1850, William Hemen- 
way, Thomas Ten Eyck; 1851, Henry Kirby (f. t.); Daniel Hermance(v.); 1852, Oliver 
C. Thompson; 1853, Dennis Lewis; 1854, James C. Enos; 1855, Henry Kirby; 1856, 
Oliver C. Thompson; 1857, Dennis Lewis; 1858, James C. Enos; 1859, Henry Kirby; 
1860, Alexander H. Tucker; 1861, Dennis Lewis; 1862, James C. Enos; 1863, Henry 
Kirby; 1864, Henry H. Tacker; 1865, Dennis Lewis; 1866, James G. Enos; 1867, 
James Van Valkenburgh ; 1868, Alexander H. Tucker; 1869, Carlos Ambler; 1870, 
James C. Enos, J. F. N. Davis; 1871, James Van Valkenburgh, Nelson Webster; 
1872, James G. Brown; 1873, Lorenzo Strait; 1874, James C. Enos; 18^5, John Van 
Valkenburgh; 1876, Henry W. Vickery; 1877, Nathaniel C. Varden, Frank E 
Boughton; 1878, James C. Enos, Lorenzo Strait; 1879, F. E. Boughton ; 1880, Henry 
W. Vickery; 1881, David Kilmer; 1882, James C. Enos; 1883, H. S. Van Valkenburgh ; 
1884, Thomas Powell; 1885, David Kilmer; 1886, Frank Hall; 1887, George W. Wit- 
beck; 1888, Thomas Powell; 1889, James Thomson; 1890, Frank Hall; 1891, George 
W. Witbeck; 1892, Thomas Powell; 1893, James Thomson; 1894, James C. Enos; 
1895, George W. Witbeck; 1896, Henry W. Vickery. 



CHAPTER XXXII. 
TOWN OF POESTENKILL. 

The town of Poestenkill takes its name from the Poesten kill, one of 
the most important streams in Rensselaer coimty, from an industrial 
standpoint. It is located just south of a line running from east to west 
through the centre of the county, and is bounded on the north by 
Brunswick and Grafton, on the east by Berlin, on the south by Sand 
Lake and on the west by North Greenbush. It is one of the smallest 
towns in Rensselaer county, as well as the youngest. Poestenkill was 
formed from Sand Lake March 2, 1848, since which time there has been 
no change in its boundaries. 

The western part of the town is hilly and the soil fairly well adapted 
to agriculture and grazing. The central and eastern portions are rocky 
and mountainous and not productive, except in a few localities where 
the husbandman, by years of toil, has succeeded in bringing the natur- 
ally sterile land up to a fairly productive state. The most prominent 
elevation is Snake hill, near the centre of the town. The principal 
stream is the Poesten kill, which rises in the eastern portion of the 



556 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

town and flows northwesterly through Brunswick, emptying- into the 
Hudson at Troy. There are several ponds in Poestenkill, the most 
important being Hicks's pond, south of East Poestenkill; Hosford 
pond, in the northeastern section, and Cooper and Vosburgh ponds, in 
the western section. These drain nearly all the creeks in the town. 

About five years before the War of the Revolution the first settlers 
moved into Poestenkill from Troy, Lansingburgh, Greenbush and other 
portions of the valley of the Hudson. Among the first persons to found 
homes within the limits of the town were the Whyland, Ives and Lynd 
families, but it is not known positively that they were the earliest inhabit- 
ants. Archelaus Lynd located near Poestenkill village about 1770 on land 
leased of the patroon. He had four sons, three of whom, Archelaus, John 
and Leonard, remained in Poestenkill. About the same time Jacob Why- 
land located a short distance east of Poestenkill village Four of his sons, 
John, Leonard, Jacob and Barnard, settled in the town. Lazarus Ives, 
who came from Connecticut, settled about a mile north of Poestenkill vil- 
lage as early as 1770. He leased several hundred acres of the patroon 
and at once engaged in agriculture and stock raising. Christopher and 
Lazarus, two of his sons, remained in town and became prosperous 
farmers. The settlements were made in the western part of the town 
first, but as soon as the wilderness had been opened up others pushed 
their way rapidly into the coimtry to the east. David J. De Freest, S, 
Barringer, Frederick Barringer, John Barringer, Jacob Fosmire, Gideon 
Reed, Jacob Moul, Peter Moul, John Polock, John Clint, Vincent 
Castle, William Plass, Bernard Weatherwax, Jacob Muller, Stephen 
Muller, Henry W. Koon, Stephen R. Himes, William Cooper, Philip 
vSimmons and Samuel Delamater were early settlers in the northwest 
part of the town, at or near Poestenkill village. South of them, in the 
southwestern portion of the town, were Peter Minnick, Philip Strunk, 
Peter Link, John N. Liphite, Stephen Liphite, Coonradt Snyder and 
Thomas Blewer. 

John Cottrell, whose descendants, like himself, became influential 
citizens, came from Roxbury, Mass., and located about 1807 three miles 
east of Poestenkill village. He was the father of nine children. One 
of his sons, George Cottrell, remained on the homestead. James 
Cottrell and William L. Cottrell also located in the town. Elder 
Alderman Baker was another prominent pioneer of the eastern section 
of the town. He was a farmer and a local Baptist preacher for many 
years, the old church at East Poestenkill being known for many years 



TOWN OF POESTENKILL. 557 

as Elder Baker's church. Other early settlers in the eastern portion 
of the town were Joseph Amidon, a pioneer tavern keeper at East 
Poestenkill; Simon Dingman, who came from East Greenbush about 
1819; Henry Searles, Solomon Cady, Josiah Hull, John Stevens, David 
Horton, Samuel Cottrell, Reuben Babcock, Levi Trumbull, Royal 
Cady, Frederick Cramer, Edmund Wheeler and Coonradt Colehamer. 

Poestenkill is not a large town and on account of its location it was 
not a very important through fare for stage traffic in its early davs, 
consequently the number of taverns was limited. The earliest tavern 
in town of which there is any record was located at Poestenkill village 
and was owned by Samuel Delamater. It afterward became known as 
the Blewer tavern, or Union hall, having passed into the hands of 
Stephen V. R. Blewer. Among the proprietors before th^ latter were 
Jacob Clark, Henry Ensign, Leonard Lynd and Darius Allen. Wil- 
liam Barber built an early tavern, and Ebenezer Barringer followed 
him with the third or fourth in town. Later tavern keepers in town 
were Eri Streeter, Henry Lance, George Kilmer, Isaac Allen, Wait 
Winchell, Benjamin Barber, Reuben Babcock and David Horton, jr. 
Reuben Babcock's tavern was located near Barberville as early as 1810. 
Twenty years later Reuben Babcock also had a tavern at Ives's Cor- 
ners. 

Abram Newman is reported to have been the proprietor of the first 
store at Poestenkill village, which was doubtless the first in the town. 
About 1852 Jeremiah L. Becker started a store at Poestenkill. In con- 
nection with his tavern Samuel R. Delamater ran a store, which for 
many years afterward was run by his successors in the tavern. Near 
East Poestenkill Cyrus Amidon was one of the earliest storekeepers. 
Eliphalet Himes engaged in trade there as early as 1847. Other early 
tradesmen in the town included John Rockenstyre, Gregory & Fonda, 
Coonradt C. Cooper, George Barber, Dennis Amidon, John King, 
George Henderson, Miles Clark and others. 

Dr. Matthew Moody, who was in practice at Poestenkill village for 
many years, was probably the earliest physician in the town. At Bar- 
berville Dr. Elmer was an early practitioner. Dr. Peter F. Westervelt 
and Luther H. Barber were other early practitioners who enjoyed an 
extensive ride. Early lawyers who had a large practice were George 
Davitt, Eleazer Wooster and his son, Albert E. Wooster, who removed 
to Troy and was elected district attorney of Rensselaer county, serving 
from 1870 to 1879. 



558 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

The first school in the town was established in 1788 or soon after, in 
Poestenkill village, the land devoted to the purpose being donated by 
General vStephen \"an Rensselaer March ]t>, 1TS8. Later it became 
the site of the school house in District No. ;>. Another early school 
house was located near the old Poestenkill hotel. About 1840 a more 
pretentious building was built in the village, and from 1855 to 18G5 the 
Poestenkill academy was maintained by Prof. Martin and others in the 
building afterward used as the Disci])les' church. The common scIkkjIs 
in the town at this time have a high standing, and some of the best 
known educators in the county have been teachers therein. 

It was about a month after the incorporation of Poestenkill before 
the first town meeting was held. It took place at the house of Jeremiah 
L. Becker April 4, 1848. John Amidon was selected as moderator and 
David Luce as clerk, and these officers were chosen : 

Supervisor, James Henderson, jr.; town clerk, David Luce; superintendent of 
schools, Eleazer Flint; assessors, John L Vosburgh, Benjamin B. Randall and 
Harmon Vanderzee; commissioners of highways, Barney Weatherwax and Stephen 
Austin; justices of the i>eace, George Cottrell, George Barker and Benjamin Wilkin- 
son ; overseers of the poor. Christian C. Cooper, Samuel Comick ; constables, John 
Barker, Alonzo Whyland, William Cooper, John F. Whyland; collector, John Barker; 
sealer of weights and measures, James D. Simmons. 

The number of inhabitants in Poestenkill at the time of the War of 
the Revolution was small, nevertheless a fair proportion of the men 
served their country by carrying tntiskets during those trj^ing eight 
years. Among them were Archelaus Lynd, Daniel Peck, William 
Sluyter, Barcnt Polockand a man named Windsor. Benjamin Cottrell 
who subsequently removed to Poestenkill, is said to have carried the 
first wheelbarrow load of earth for the intrenchments at Bunker Hill. 

The towns records of the War of 1812 have not been preserved, but 
it is known that William C. Cooper, Bugbee Feathers, George Horton, 
Joel Peck and Thomas Morrison served in that war and joined the 
Eddy ex]>edition. 

The town came promptly to the front with its full quotas of men 
during the War of the Rebellion. Those who died in the service in 
this memorable struggle for the preservation of the Union were: 

Daniel M. Horton, Philip Amidon, Daniel Morrison, John Wagoner, George Bradt, 
Dexter Randall, William H. H. Wood, Martin Larabee, Willard Bailey, W. L. 
Robbins. George Simmons, and William H. Mason. 

None of the hamlets in the town of Poestenkill are very populous. 



TOWN OF POESTENKILL. 559 

The principal one is Poestenkill, which is located on the Poesten kill in 
the western part of the town. Its settlement has already been de- 
scribed. At the close of the first cpiarter of the nineteenth century the 
business of the hamlet consisted of a saw mill, a store and a hotel. 
Earlier in its history several small industries were located there, in- 
cluding- a tannery operated by John Beals. There were also several 
large bath houses for the convenience of those desiring to avail them- 
selves of the mineral spring's near the hamlet, which many years ago 
made the place a popular resort by reason of their supposed curative 
properties. In 1813 or 1814 a flood, following two days' heavy rainfall, 
destroyed the tannery, bath-houses and several other buildings. About 
1835 the post-office was established, with Dr. Luther H. Barber as 
postmaster. 

For several years a cotton batting factory was operated in the rear 
of the Blewer tavern by William L. Hoag and Nicholas Taylor. The 
latter also was proprietor of a tannery and flax mill Later on John 
H. Dater had a small shirt factory there and William L. Hoag made 
wagons there about 1875. The village now contains a population vary- 
ing from 300 to 400, but the industries are not so important as they 
once were. 

The other hamlets are East Poestenkill, in the eastern portion of the 
town, formerly known as Columbia; Barberville, about a mile easterly 
from Poestenkill, and Ives's Corners, a small hamlet near the centre 
of the town. The principal industry in the vicinity of East Poestenkill 
for many years was the shirt and collar factory of Joel B. Dingman. 

The first regular church organization in Poestenkill was that of the 
First Baptist church, which was organized in 1814. Elder Alderman 
Baker was the first pastor, and the church edifice, which was originally 
a wagon shop standing about a mile west of East Poestenkill, was 
locally known as "Elder Baker's church." Elder Baker worked his 
farm six days of the week and conducted the religious services here the 
seventh. In 1858 or 1853 a new house of worship was erected. 

As early as 1820, perhaps a few years prior to that time, a Dutch 
Reformed society existed at Poestenkill village, the meeting house be- 
ing the one subsequently occupied by the Disciples' church. The Rev. 
Henry Bellinger was its pastor for many years. The society subse- 
quently became consolidated with that at Wynantskill. 

The Franckean Evangelical Lutheran church of Poestenkill was organ- 
ized August 11, 1833, and was connected with Raymertown and West 



560 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Sand Lake as a pastoral charge. The first house of worship was dedi- 
cated November 13, 1832, and the second on Christmas eve, 1865. The 
first pastor of the society was the Rev. J. D. Lawyer. A parsonage 
was built in 1800, and numerous improvements to the church property 
have been made since that date. 

The First Free Baptist church of Pocstenkill was organized in 1834 
with Elder Miller as pastor, and a house of worship was built soon 
afterward on the elevation known as Oak Hill. Several years later 
another was erected about a mile west of East Poestenkill. 

The Church of the Disciples of Christ in Poestenkill village was or- 
ganized about 1870 and soon after occupied its own house of worship. 
Its early membership was small, but its development in later years has 
been marked. 

The Methodist Episcopal church at East Poestenkill dates from 1872. 
In the fall of 1871, through the influence of Reuben Peckham of Troy, 
George Hudson, a local preacher residing at Castleton, went to Dyking 
Pond (West Berlin) and preached in a school house. Several of those 
attending these services, mostly Germans, were converted. Soon after 
the Troy Praying band began holding services, and during the winter 
a charge now known as the Columbia charge was formed. March 27, 
1872. the Troy Conference accepted the territory as a mission and the 
Rev. E. A. Blanchard was appointed pastor. A house of worship was 
built at once, and October 11, 1872, Rev Merritt Hulburd of the 
Hudson Street M. E, church of Albany preached the dedicatory sermon. 
The edifice cost $6,500, and the parsonage $1,000. A bell costing $350 
was placed in the tower of the church at the expense of Mrs. Seth B. 
Foster and Mrs. Waterman. 

SUPKRVISOKS OK POKSTKNKILL. 

1848-1849, J. Henderson; 1850, E. Wooster; 1851, C. Sliter; 1852-1853, J. I. Vos- 
burgh; 1854-1855, L. Lynd; 1856, J. L Vosburgh ; 1857, L. Lynd; 1858-1859, D. 
AmidoQ; 1800-1861, L. Lynd; 1862-186;?, G. W. Davitt; 1864, L. J. Barnes; 1865- 
1866, G. W. Davitt; 1867, L. Lynd; 1868-1869, George H. Cooper; 1870, L. Lynd; 
1871-1872, J. J. Sliter; 1873, L. B. Whyland; 1874-1875, H. Herrington ; 1876, George 
H. Cooper; 1877, Wm. L. Cottrell; 1878, George H. Cooper; 1879-1880. Albert W. 
Davitt; 1881-1882, L. Lynd; 1883, George H. Cooper; 1884-1885, J. H. Whyland; 
1886-1888, Hammond Herrington; 1889-1890, Albert W. Davitt; 1891-1892, George 
N. Cottrell; 1893 , Frank R. Dustin. 

Town Ci.krks of Poestknkii.l. 
1848, David Luce; 1850, John J. Place; 1851, Jeremiah L. Becker; 1855. Charles 



J 



TOWN OF GRAFTON. 501 

N. Ouitterfield; 1856, David B. Clark; 1857, Nicholas Taylor; 1858, Coonradt C. 
Cooper; 1859, Ives Lynd; 1860, George W. Taylor; 1861, Jacob H. Whyland; 1863, 
Daniel N. Place; 1864, William O. Ives; 1865, Charles H. Reed; 1867, Casper Paw- 
ley; 1868. Jacob H. Whyland; 1871-1884, Thomas Nelson; 1885-1886, Arthur Nel- 
son; 1887, Edgar Prediger; 1888-1890, Arthur Nelson; 1891-1895, J. H. Dater; 
1896 , Nicholas Pawley. ^ 

Justices of the Peace of Poestenkill 

1848, George Cottrell, George Barber, Benjamin Wilkerson ; 1849, Eleazer Wooster, 
Samuel Carmik; 1850, William H. Snyder, George Cottrell; 1851, George Barber; 
1853, Abner Garrison ; 1853, WilHam H. Snyder; 1854, George Cottrell; 1855, Solon 
Bingham, jr., William Slaughter; 1856, Ezra W. Haskins; 1857, Edmund Cole; 1858, 
James Ives, William Cooper; 1859, William Cooper, David Fonda; I860, David 
Fonda; 1861, WiUiam H. Snyder; 1862, James Ives; 1863, William Cooper; 1864, 
George Barber; 1865, William H. Snyder; 1866, James Ives; 1867, Leonard M. 
Horton; 1868, William Cooper; 1869, William H. Snyder, George Barber; 1870, 
James Ives; 1871, William A. Snook; 1872, George Barber; 1873, William H. 
Snyder; 1874, James Ives; 1875, William A. Snook; 1876, George Barber; 1877, 
William H. Snyder; 1878, William Cooper; 1879, William A. Snook; 1880, George 
Barber; 1881, William H. Snyder; 1882, James Ives; 1883, William A. Snook; 1884. 
WilHam Cooper; 1885, Charles H. Read; 1886, James Ives; 1887, Wilham A. Snook; 
1888, George Barber; 1889, Charles H. Read; 1890, James Ives; 1891, William A. 
Snook; 1892, George Barber; 1893, J. H. Bonesteel;^ 1894, Albertus Austin; 1895, 
William A. Snook; 1896, George Barber, jr. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 



TOWN OF GRAFTON. 



The town of Grafton is located north of the centre of Rensselaer 
county. It is bounded on the north by Pittstown and Hoosick, on the 
east by Petersburgh, on the south by Berlin and Poestenkill and on the 
west by Brunswick. Like vStephentown it is rectangular in shape. Its 
surface contains more small lakes and ponds than any other town in 
the county, and these are the headwaters of many streams flowing in 
every direction. The town may be said to be the centre of the water- 

' Credit is due Mr. Pawley for compiling Uite statistics pertaining to the officers of the town ' 
of Poestenkill. 

2 Did not qualify. 
71 



562 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

shed of Rensselaer eounty. The town is described as follows in the 
Revised Statutes of New York State: 

The town of Grafton shall contain all that part of said county bounded westerly 
by Brunswick, southerly by Sand Lake and Berlin, northerly by the north bounds of 
the manor of Rensselaerwyck, easterly by a line to commence on the said north 
bounds, seven miles east of the northeast corner of Brunswick, and running from 
thence southerly, parallel to the east line of Brunswick, to the north line of Berlin. 

Grafton possesses the most uneven surface of any town in the cotinty. 
It is located within the limits of the Petersburgh range of motmtains 
and the principal jicaks in the town reach an altitude of from a thou- 
sand to twelve hundred feet above the level of the sea. A small por- 
tion of the land only is cultivable, but the hillsides afford excellent 
grazing-. Nevertheless many of the inhabitants of Grafton have farms 
which, by years of constant care and cultivation, have been rendered 
almost as productive as any within the county. As already stated, ponds 
and sinall streams are very abundant. Cranberry lake, in the southern 
part, is the source of the Ouacken kill, which flows by a devious route 
to the western limits of the town, affording numerous excellent mill 
sites. In the northern part of the town are several creeks flowing 
towards the Hoosick valley. The ponds of Grafton are noted for the 
purity and high quality of their water, and some of them on this ac- 
count have frequently been considered as available sources of supply 
for Troy's drinking water. Among the principal ponds, some of which 
are exceedingl}' picturesque, are White Lily pond, so named for the 
water lilies which abound therein; Babcock's pond, named in honor of 
an early inhabitant long known as "Honest John" Babcock; Long 
pond, so named on account of its shape; South Long pond, Peckhani 
pond, Hayner pond. Gravel pond. Mud ponds. Mill pond and Red pond, 
all of which names are of obvious sources. 

The ciuestion of the first settlement of Grafton has never been set- 
tled. The names of the first white men who built new homes in the 
wilderness and the date of their coming probably never will be known. 
In all probability, however, the town was the last in Rensselaer county 
to become settled. Grafton was formed from the towns of Troy and 
Petersburgh March 20, 1807, and even at this comparatively late day 
it had few inhabitants. Abel Owen is generally believed to have been 
the first man to enter the rather unattractive mountain wilderness and 
"build himself a home. He wasasturd}- farmer, an indefatigable laborer, 
and to encourage further settlement the i)atroon gave him a grant of 



TOWN OF GRAFTON. 563 

two hundred acres or more of what was then thought to be the best 
land in that section adapted to farming. Mr. Owen was not long with- 
out neighbors, if indeed there were not one or more families located in 
that vicinity when he built his log house. 

There is nothing to show when Mr, Owen moved to Grafton, but 
from subsequent settlements and other occurrences it is thought that 
it could not have been very long before the War of the Revolution. 
Possibly it was several years later, during that war or at its close. 
Immediatel}^ after the period when the colonists were fighting for in- 
dependence, or beginning with 1784 or 1785, several families leased 
land in Grafton of General Van Rensselaer and began the cultivation 
of the land there. Abel Owen is recorded as a Revolutionary soldier, 
so that the preponderance of opinion is that no settlements were made 
in the town until the closing years of the war or later. Perhaps those 
who located there in the years mentioned accompanied Owen. About 
1786 the latter had at least two or three neighbors, families named 
Coon and Demmon being early lessees of the patroon's lands. About 
179G Abel Owen sold his farm to Lemuel Steward and removed with 
his family to Onondaga county. 

Among the other early inhabitants, during the eighteenth century, 
were John Babcock, who came from Rhode Island about the close of 
the Revolution; Elkanah Smith, who came from New Jersey ; William 
Scriven, from Rhode Island, who located in the eastern part of the 
town; Joshua Banker, John Phillips, Thomas Phillips; Abel Ford, who 
came from Massachusetts; David Mills, John Mills; Francis Brock, who 
came from Vermont; John Monroe, one of the first settlers in the north- 
ern part of the town; Rufus Rix, Solomon vSmith, John P. Ha)'ner, 
Daniel Littlefield, Solomon Root, Francis West, Captain Charles Ferry, 
Nathaniel Dumbleton, who came from Grafton, Vt., in 1796; Henry 
Coonradt, Daniel vSaunders, Godfrey Howard, Henry Hydorn, John 
Hydorn, Marcus Simmons and Lodewick Bonesteel. Others who re- 
moved to the town some time prior to 1813, as shown by the jury lists 
and assessment rolls, included Marius (probably Marcus) Simmons, 
Stephen Chandler, Nathan West, Ezra Davidson, Daniel Smith, Ziba 
Hewitt, Patrick Agan, Thomas West, Rev. Carey Rogers, William 
Potter, Matthew Maxon, Joseph Burdick, Nathan Hakes, jr., Joshua 
Scriven, Jedediah Wellman, Abraham File, Jacob File, Reuben Gallup, 
Zebulon Scriven, Walter Durkee, John Worthington, John T. Hanor, 
Clark Rogers, Benjamin Rogers, John Twogood, Luke Clark, Ben- 
jamin Phillips, Christopher Mitchell. 



6g4 Landmarks of rensselaer county. 

Nathaniel Dumbleton, who was first elected to the office of supervisor, 
removed to the town from Grafton, Vt., and tradition says that through 
his influence the town received the name which it has since borne. 
The first town meeting was held soon after the organization, on the first 
Tuesday of April, 1807, at the house of Nathan Hakes. Joseph Berwick 
was chosen moderator and these town officers were elected: 

Supervisor, Nathaniel Dumbleton; town clerk, David S. Crandall; assessors, Pat- 
rick Agan, Ziba Hewitt, John Babcock ; overseers of the poor, Joseph Burdick, Ben- 
jamin West; commissioners of highways, Samuel Prindall, James West 2nd, Jede- 
diah Wellman; collector, Joseph Burdick, jr.; constables, Ethan Maxon, Simeon 
Smith, Joseph Burdick, jr. ; overseers of highways and fence viewers, Thomas West, 
Jonathan Brooks, James West, John Worthington, Nathan West, Joseph Burdick, 
John Phillips, Marcus Simmons, William Snyder, Henry Coonradt, John Reed, Syl- 
vester Chase, Peter Wager, Stephen Chandler, Walter Durkee, William Scriven, 
Francis Brook, Zebulon Scriven 2nd, Jonathan M. Scriven, Michael Brenanstuhl, 
Charles Hall, John Babcock; poundmasters, Thomas Smith, Joseph Scriven, John 
Babcock. 

Two taverns are mentioned by various authorities as the earliest in 
town. One was located at East Grafton and was built and maintained 
by Thomas Scriven; the other was located in the western part of the 
town and was kept by Elijah Terry, The tavern of S. McChesney was 
opened about the year 1800. The Grafton house was built about 1838 
by General Van Rensselaer. It was the most pretentious affair in the 
town and for many years one of the most prominent taverns in the cen- 
tral part of the county. 

About the year 1800 Josiah Litchfield opened a general store at 
Ouackenkill, erecting a saw mill about the same time. S. McChesney, 
in addition to his tavern, also kept an early store at Quackenkill. Gen 
eral Van Rensselaer built a grist mill in 183G or 1837. These were for 
many years the principal business enterprises in Grafton. 

The first physician to practice in town of whom there is any knowl- 
edge was Dr. Rufus S. Waite, a native of Petersburgh, who came to 
Grafton Centre from Brownsville, N, Y., in 1819. He practiced for 
about forty years and became widely known throughout Rensselaer 
county. Dr. Amos Allen, also a native of Petersburgh, settled in 
Grafton in 184(3, immediately after his graduation from the Berkshire 
Medical School. For many years Dr. Allen was the only physician in 
the town. 

When, in ])ursuance of the school law of 1812-1813, the town voted 
its first appropriation for the maintenance of the schools at public ex- 



TOWN OF GRAFTON. 565 

pense, Jedediah Wellman, Daniel Mills and Thomas West were chosen 
school commissioners. In the fall of 1813 the town was divided into 
ten districts, and soon after a common school was maintained in each 
district. In common with all other towns of the State the school sys- 
tem was changed from time to time in accordance with legislative en- 
actment. Under the system of supervision by town superintendents, 
Thomas W. Potter served in 1844 and 1845, John C. Potter in 184G, 
Paul K. Davison in 1847 and 1848, Dr. Amos Allen from 1850 to 1853 
and Daniel H. Davison from 1854 to 185G. The schools to day have an 
excellent standing and are well attended. 

December 19, 1845, occurred a traged)^ in Grafton, one of many 
taking place in Rensselaer county during the famous Anti-Rent War. 
It was the shooting of Elijah Smith by an unknown person during one 
of the numerous struggles which took place between the anti renters 
and the authorities of the county. Several oi the older inhabitants of 
the town remember the crime. 

The early industries of Grafton have been briefly referred to in pre- 
ceding pages in this chapter. Saw mills were among the earliest en- 
terprises, as they were rendered necessary by the presence of an almost 
unbroken forest over mountain and valley. These mills also sent out 
large quanties of tan bark, and vast quantities of the wood were re- 
duced to charcoal and sent to nearby markets. As the timber was 
cleared away the inhabitants began to pay more attention to agricul- 
ture, stock raising and dairying, which to day form the leading indus- 
trial pursuits of the town. Grist mills followed the raising of grain and 
the rearing of stock. The manufacture of shirts was begun about 1855 
by Caleb W. Scriven, who introduced the first sewing machine in the 
town. The work was done by his employes at their homes and the 
product of their toil was sent to New York city. Others who engaged 
in the business at an early day were the firm of J. H. & A. H. Scriven, 
Ford & Bennett and their successors. Many families in town have 
found the industry a profitable one. 

Among the early proprietors of saw mills, grist mills, etc., may be 
mentioned the following: Saw mills— John Steward, at Cranberry 
pond; Joseph Burdick, on the Rensselaer pond; Ebenezer Stevens, 
John Armsbury, John Baxter, Dennis Baxter, Simeon Smith, George 

Avery, Shaver, Worthington, Philip Bonesteel, James Hill, 

John P. Hayner, William Hydorn, Josiah Littlefield and others. Some 
authorities say that the latter built the first saw mill, and that it was 



566 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

located on the Quacken kill about 1800. Two years later General Van 
Rensselaer built a t^'rist mill near the Centre, tlie first in town. The 
McChesney saw mill at (Juackenkill was one of the first, and was built 
about 1803. 

Daniel B. Biddle of New York began the manufacture of j^aint in the 
town about 1857 or 1858, using the red argillite, which abounds in that 
vicinity, for the base of the product. Before 18:30 a mill for the manu- 
facture of Prussian blue was established south of Quackenkili. In ISH-l 
a chair factory was estaljlished a short distance below Mill pond in a 
building erected for a woolen factory but never operated as such. 
Near by Albertus Stevens had a small carding mill. Further down 
was an early ])aint mill established many years ago by Potter Maxon, 
who is reputed to have been the originator of the mineral paint busi- 
ness in this country. Dennis Baxter was associated with him at one 
time. After being used as a paint factory for more than a score of 
years the building came into possession of Smith & Randall, who 
established a cloth -dressing mill at that point. In the same vicinity, 
on the vShaver pond stream, the Martin mill and the Littlefield saw mill 
were early enterprises. In the northwestern part of the town was the 
Rifenburgh saw mill, near which were the Douglass mill and that of 
Coonradt Ham. Jonathan Brock, Aaron Eldridge, Samuel Stowell, 
Joseph McChesney, Tompkins Hull and others were among mill owners 
doing business in the first half of the nineteenth century. From time 
to time industries of a different character have been established in 
town, but most of these were abandoned after a few years. Among 
these may be mentioned John Babcock's distillery, the Parks tannery, 
Caleb Scriven's wood-turning factory, and othci- less important estab- 
lishments. 

Grafton has no Revolutionary history, as the town was not settled 
at the beginning of that war. F)Ut many of the pioneers fought in that 
war and afterwards made their homes in (xrafton. Abel Owen, John 
Barnhart, Abel Ford, James Scriven, Zebulon Scriven and John 
Scriven were among these. Among those who, in the War of 1812, 
joined the Eddy expedition to Plattsburgh, were Henry Simmons, Mat- 
thew Burdick, Alpheus Ford, Daniel Birdsall, Alpheus Dumbleton, 
John Howard and \"arnum Jones, l^enjamin F)urdick served under 
General Custer in the famous Indian wars in the West. Alonzo War- 
ren, David Coons, Niles Beals, Melvin Wood and others have also 
served in the regular army of the United .States. 



TOWN OF GRAFTON, 567 

When the call to arms was sounded in 1861, Grafton sent all the men 
demanded of the town, about seventy-five all told, and raised nearly 
$20,000 for war expenses. Those who died in the service of the United 
States in the War of the Rebellion were: 

Samuel C. Burdick, Wesley Howard, Alonzo Green, David W. Crandall, jr., Levi 
Hayner, Charles G. Bruce, Charles Dumbleton, Stephen V. R. McChesney, Albert 
S. Hall, Amos B. Sweet, jr., and Levi Wagar. Adam Feathers and Calvin W. 
Feathers died in 1865 at their homes from diseases contracted in the army. 

None of the three villages of Grafton is very large. The principal 
one is Grafton Centre, but like the others it is a hamlet rather than a 
village. It has always been the principal business centre of the town, 
but none of its industries have ever been of much magnitude. Saw 
mills, grist mills, wagon shops, blacksmith shops, shoe shops, general 
stores and several hotels at various periods have been the principal en- 
terprises. 

East Grafton and Ouackenkill are the other hamlets. A paint mill 
was established at the latter point many years ago by H. S. S. Clark, 
the paint base being rock found in that vicinity. The Grafton mineral 
paint produced there became celebrated a quarter of a century ago. 

A Baptist organization existed in Grafton at a very early day, 
soon after the settlement of the town, probably as early as 1800. 
The early Baptist families worshipped with the church in Berlin. 
vSeveral small congregations existed in various parts of the town. 
In 1815 the Rev. Nathan Lewis, son of Elder John Lewis, was ordained 
to the charge of a congregation in Grafton, and four years later the 
Rev. Joseph D Rogers, son of Elder Corey Rogers, was ordained to 
look after the spiritual interests of another Baptist congregation. Both 
of these bodies were disbanded in 1827 and anew organization formed, 
services being held in the meeting house at Grafton Centre. This 
church, the first in the town, was built by General Stephen Van Rens- 
selaer, the patroon, not for any particular denomination but for the 
Christians of the town in general; but as the Baptist society happened 
to be the only one in the town at that time they were invited to occupy 
it, which they did. The Rev. Nathan Lewis and the Rev. Joseph D. 
Rogers became the first pastors of the society. About 1830 Elder 
David Gifford removed to Grafton and frequently preached in the 
church. Work upon a new church edifice was began in 1852, being 
dedicated soon after under the pastorate of the Rev. Joseph D. Rogers. 
In 1879 the house of worship was remodeled, under the pastorate of 



568 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

the Rev. H. J. S. Lewis. The church was connected with the wStephen- 
town Baptist association in 1832, and was legally incorporated August 
14, 1841. 

The Methodist families in Grafton held religious services at an early 
day, though the society was not incorporated until April 7, 1828. As 
early as 1800 the famous Lorenzo Dow had preached to the families of 
this denomination. The first church was known as the Hemlock 
church, and was located about a mile east of Ouackenkill. Seven years 
after the incorporation of the society meetings were instituted at Graf- 
ton Centre in the old meeting house built by General Van Rensselaer. 
In 1877 the Hemlock church was torn down and used in the construc- 
tion of a parsonage at Grafton Centre, in connection with the new 
church edifice built there in that year. 

The Free Methodist church at Grafton was incorporated June 18, 

1872, though the society had been organized since January 5, 1863. 
The Rev. A. B. Burdick was the first pastor. The house of worship, 
a short distance east of Ouackenkill, was erected in 1873. 

The Free Will Baptist church of Grafton was incorporated July 20, 

1873, soon after the organization of the society. The first pastor was 
the Rev. T. Choatc Pratt. 

Supervisors of Gr.^fton. 

1807-1808, Nathaniel Dumbleton ; 1809-1817, Ziba Hewitt; 1818, John Babcock; 
1819-1823, Ziba Hewitt; 1824. John Babcock; 1825-1828, John Worthington ; 1829- 
1832, Ziba Hewitt; 1833-1835, Nathan West; 1836. Ebenezer Stevens; 1837, Zebulon 
P. Burdick; 1838, Ebenezer Stevens; 1839, Ziba Hewitt; 1840-1841, James McChes- 
ney; 1842-1843, David See, jr. ; 1844-1845, John M. Davison; 1846, Ira Allen; 1847- 
1848, Joseph D. Wells; 1849-1850, Abijah D. Littlefield; 1851, Caleb W. Scriven; 
1852-1853, Patil D. Davison; 1854-1855, John Tilley; 1856-1857, Ebenezer Stevens; 
1.S58, Amos Allen; 1S59-1860, Daniel E. Saunders, a tie vote, but Daniel E. Saunders 
held over; 1861, John H. Bonesteel; 1862, Peter F. Hydorn; 1863-1866, Ira B. Ford; 
1867-1868, Caleb W. Scriven; 1869-1872, Ira B. Ford; 1873-1876, Alva H. Scriven; 
1877-1879, LeviT. Dunham; 1880, none elected; 1881-1884, Harvey W. Ford; 1885- 

1888, Joseph S. Saunders; 1889-1893, Calvin B. Dunham; 1894 , Charles Z. 

Bennett. 

Town Clerks of Grafton. 

1807, David S. Crandall ; 1808, Elisha Wells; 1809-1811, David S. Crandali ; 1812- 
1813, Thomas West; 1814, Lemuel Stewart; 1815-1822, William Potter; 1823. Elijah 
Smith; 1824-1828, Joseph A. Potter; 1829-1835, Joseph Burdick; 1836-1837, David 
See, jr. ; 1838, Potter Maxou; 1839, Joseph Burdick: 1840-1841, John M. Davison; 



TOWN OF GRAFTON. 569 

1842, Paul K. Davison; 1843, Nathan T. Burdick; 1844-1845, Rufus S. Waite; 1846- 
1847, Hiram B. Littlefield; 1848-1849, Joel T. Burdick; 1850-1851, Rufus S. Waite, 
jr.; 1852-1853, Allen Maxou ; 1854, Morgan Stevens; 1855, Joshua W. Hakes; 1856- 
1858, Daniel E. Saunders; 1859-1860, Reuben S. F. Waite; 1861. George W. Maxon; 
1862-1868, Reuben S. F. Waite; 1869-1871, Amos B. Sweet; 1872, George W. Maxon;' 
1873-1874, Warren Steward; 1875-1876, Henry Whitney; 1877-1878, Braddock H. 
Peckham; 1879-1880, Harvey W. F^ord; 1881-1884, Chester F. W^aite; 18S0-1887, 
William C. Waite; 1888-1892, Adelbert Maxon ; 1893, Merritt E. Tilley; 1894, Fer- 
nando Babcock; 1896, Arthur M. Crandall.i 

Justices of the Peace of Grafton. 

Ezra Davison, sworn in February 24, 1823; Joseph Burdick, February 28, 1823; 
Nathan West, February 28, 1823; John Steward, December 31, 1827; Alpheus Dum- 
bleton, December 31, 1827; Nathan West, December 31, 1827; Francis West, De- 
cember 31, 1827; Alpheus Dumbleton, January 1, 1829; William Heydorn, December 
31, 1829; John Steward, January 12, 1831. 

The election of jiistices at town meetings commenced in 18ol, and 
the list is as follows: 

1831, Nathan West; 1832, Alpheus Dumbleton (full term), Daniel Mills (vacancy); 
1833, Zebulon P. Burdick; 1834, (name omitted in records); 1835, Nathan West; 1836, 
Israel Smith; 1837, Alpheus Dumbleton; 1838, John P. Davison; 1839, Andrew 
Hayner; 1840, Isaac Smith (full term), Andrus Brown (vacancy), Patrick Hill (va- 
cancy); 1841, Asa Partridge ; 1842, Joseph D. Wells (full term), Ira Allen (vacancy); 
1843, Leonard C. Burdick ; 1844, Eliphalet Steward ; 1845, Potter Maxon ; 1846, Andrew 
P. Hayner; 1847, Leonard C. Burdick; 1848, Eliphalet Steward; 1849, William Hey- 
dorn; 1850, Nathan T. Burdick; 1851, Linus P. Worthington; 1852, Eliphalet Stew- 
ard; 1853, William Heydorn; 1854, Caleb Slade ; 1855, Aaron F. Dumbleton; 1856, 
Nathan T. Burdick; 1857, William Heydorn; 1858, Caleb Slade; 1859, Aaron F. 
Dumbleton; 1860, Rufus F. Waite; 1861, Varnum B. Jones; 1862, Nathan T. Bur- 
dick; 1863, John H. Bonesteel; 1864, Joel T. Burdick; 1865, Varnum B. Jones; 1866, 
Elijah B. Howard; 1867, John H. Bonesteel; 1868, Reuben S. F. Waite; 1869, Var- 
num B.Jones; 1870, Elijah B. Howard (full term), William Heydorn (vacancy) ; 1871, 
Nathan E. Burdick (full term); 1872, Reuben S. F. Waite; 1873, Ralph Westervelt; 
1874, Zebulon Tilley (full term), Benjamin F. Hayner (vacancy); 1875, Nathan T. 
Burdick (full term), Daniel J. Peckham (vacancy); 1876, Daniel J. Peckham (full 
term), William H. Simmons (vacancy); 1877, William H. Simmons (full term), Will- 
iam F. Brown (vacancy); 1878, William B. Odell (full term), Hiram B. Phillips (va- 
cancy); 1879, Hiram B. Phillips (full term), Calvin B. Dunham (vacancy); 1880, Jo- 
sephs. Saunders; 1881, William H. Simmons; 1882, Calvin B. Dunham; 1883, Hiram 
Phillips; 1884, Joseph S. Saunders; 1885, William P. Brenenstuhl; 1886, Harvey W. 
Ford; 1887, Wesley O. Howard; 1888, Parley R. Scriven ; 1889, M. V. B.Jones; 1890, 
Harper V. Brown; 1891, Parley R. Scriven; 1892, George E. Bonesteel; 1893, Reu- 

' Credit is due Mr. Crandall for material a.ssistance rendered in the compilation of this chap- 
ter. 

72 



570 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

ben S. F. Waite; 1804, Clinton W. Scriven ; 1895, Parley R. Scriven ; 1896, George 
E. Bonesteel. 

Addenda. 

The National bank of Troy suffered from a heavy and unanticipated 
run of the depositors early in September, 1896, and on Saturday, Sep- 
tember 19, closed its doors and placed its accounts in the hands of a 
national bank examiner. 

Ekka r.\. 

On page 134, sixth line, read: "In a subsequent chapter," etc. (See pages 258, 
259, 363, 264, 265, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274 and 279.) 



PART II 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



MARTIN I. TOWNSEND. 

Martin Ingham Townsend, of Troy, N. Y., is descended from ancestors who, for 
more than two centuries, have dwelt in this country. His primal progenitor in 
America was Martin Townsend, of Watertown, Mass., who was born in 1644, 
fourteen years after the settlement of Boston. In 1668 he married Abigail Train, 
daughter of John Train, of Watertown, and their youngest son, Jonathan, was 
born in 1687. Jonathan removed to Hebron, Conn., about 1714, married, and one 
of his children, who was named Martin, was born in 1727, and married Rhoda 
Ingham, of the Inghams of eastern Connecticut. Among the children of Martin 
and Rhoda was a Martin, who was born at Hebron in 1756, who was brought to 
Hancock, Mass., in 1765, and who married Susannah Allen, of Hancock. One of 
the children of this marriage was Nathaniel, who was born September 4, 1781, and 
who died July 20, 1865. In 1805 he married Cynthia Marsh, of Hinsdale, Mass., 
who was born March 5, 1783, and who died April 2, 1876. Of their four children 
two still survive, one of whom is Martin I. Townsend, the subject of this sketch, 
who was born at Hancock, Berkshire county, Mass., on the 6th day of February, 
1810. 

As has already been noted, he inherits on his father's side the blood of the Ing- 
hams of Connecticut and of the Trains of Massachusetts. Through his mother he 
claims descent from Miles Standish, the citizen-soldier of the Pilgrim Fathers, and 
also from Henry Adams, of Braintree. In 1816 Mr. Townsend was removed with 
his parents to Williamstown, Mass., and was educated at the common schools of 
that village, at the academy there situated, and at Williams College. At the latter 
institution he was graduated. in 1838; and at the commencement of his class, by 
reason of his scholarship, he received the second appointment in the literary exer- 
ercises of that occasion. He took his master's degree in the regular course, and 
was honored with the degree of LL. D. by his alma mater in 1866. After gradu- 
ating he read law for a few months in the office of David Dudley Field in New York 
city; but, having removed to Troy, N. Y., on the 1st day of December, 1833, he 
immediately thereafter entered the office of Henry Z. Hayner as a law student, and 
so continued for a year and a half. In May, 1835, he became clerk in the office of 
his elder brother, Rufus M. Townsend, and in 1836 became his partner in the prac- 
tice of the law. The connection thus formed continued until July, 1882. It was in 
1><36 also that he married Louisa B., the daughter of Oren Kellogg, esq., of Williams- 



574 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

town, Mass., a lady who for more than fifty-four years aided in making his cheerful 
life still more cheerful, and who, by her noble presence and pleasing ways, like mel- 
low sunlight, surrounded him with homelike happiness as he treaded with unfailing 
step and buoyant mien the bright pathway of his days. She died November 19, 
1890. 

In 1838 Mr. Townsend was a candidate for member of assembly when his party — 
which was then the Democratic party — was in a minority of about 1,000 in the city 
of Troy. In the canvass he ran ahead of his ticket, but was defeated. He was dis- 
trict attorney for the county of Rensselaer from 1842 to 1845. He represented the 
Eighth ward of Troy in the Common Council of that city from May, 1843, to May, 
1843, and from March, 1856, to March, 1858. He was a member for the State at 
large in the Constitutional Convention of the State of New York in 1866-67. By 
strict attention to his duties, and by his graphic and intelligent expositions of the 
subjects which were considered by that body, he won the esteem of his learned asso- 
ciates and maintained the honor of the district which he specially represented. In 
the year 1869 he was nominated on the Republican State ticket, without his knowl- 
edge, for the position of attorney-general, but w^-s defeated, with other State candi- 
dates associated with him, by the machinations and overwhelming frauds — as they 
are now recognized to be — of Tammany Hall. In 1872 Mr. Townsend was chair- 
man of the New York Republican delegation in the convention at Philadelphia 
which renominated General Grant for the presidency. It will be remembered that 
Mr. Greeley was then the candidate of the opposition. Mr. Townsend, in announcing 
the vote of New York, spoke as follows: "The Empire State, by the unanimous 
voice of her delegates, has instructed me to cast her seventy votes for that man of 
whom our distinguished fellow-citizen Horace Greely has said, ' He never has been 
beaten and never will be,' Ulysses S. Grant." He was chosen by the Legislature in 
1873 a regent of the University of the State of New York to fill the vacancy occa- 
sioned by the death of Hon. John A. Griswold, and still holds that position. In the 
fall of 1874 he was elected representative for the 44th Congress for the 17th Con- 
gressional district, and was re-elected to the .same position in the 45th Congress 
in the fall of 1870. He declined a second re-election. 

In his chosen profession of the law Mr. Townsend early gained a prominent posi- 
tion, which he not only maintained while the men with whom he began his career 
surrounded hini, l)ut which he still maintains as he encounters the young blood and 
the fresh vigor of a new generation. While serving as district attorney of the 
county of Rensselaer he secured the conviction of Henry G. Green and Henry 
Miller upon the charge of murder, and both of these offenders suffered the extreme 
penalty of the law. Always believing that a slave escaping mto a free State must, 
under the Constitution, be returned by the Federal government to his master, Mr. 
T<,wnsend was most active in extending to the slave so escapmg every right that the 
law could give him, and all the aid which would naturally flow from a sympathizing 
humanity. He vigorously defended the only two slaves who in Rensselaer county 
appealed to the courts for protection durmg his connection with the bar. To one of 
these, Antonio Louis, who was arrested as a fugitive in 1842 his right to liberty was 
established ; and to the other, Charles Nalle, freedom came on the 27th of April. 
1860, he having been taken on that day by an e.xcited people from the custody of 
the United States mar.shal while Mr. Town.send and other gentlemen were waiting 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 575 

in the office of the late George Gould, a justice of the Supreme Court, for the return 
of a writ of habeas corpus that had been issued in behalf of Kalle. He was asso- 
ciate counsel for the defense in the celebrated trial of Henrietta Robinson for the 
murder of Timothy Lanagan. Mrs. Robinson was known as the " veiled murderess, ' 
from the fact that she persisted in wearing a veil which concealed her face during 
the trial, and which no threat or inducement could lead her to remove, except for a 
few moments on two or three occasions. The trial commenced at Troy on Monday, 
May 22, 1854, and was concluded late in the evening of Saturday on the 27th of the 
same month, by the rendition of a verdict of guilty. Mr. Townsend's argument on 
this occasion was based upon the idea of the insanity of the prisoner at the time the 
alleged crime was committed, and was peculiarly eloquent, comprehensive, discrim- 
inating, and exhaustive. The cases adduced by him in support of this theory were 
specially applicable, and the references to authorities in maintenance of his position 
demonstrated the research, investigation and study which he had bestowed on the 
subject. The execution was appointed for August 3, 1854, but on the 27th of July, a 
week previous to the fatal day. Governor Clark, in the exercise of the great pre- 
rogative of his office, commuted her sentence to that of imprisonment for life in the 
Sing Sing prison. There she was soon after taken and at once found by the prison 
authorities to be insane, and there she remained until a few years ago, when she 
was placed in the asylum at Auburn for insane criminals. It is understood that she 
is now in the prison for the insane at Matteawan. In the thoughtful mind the ques- 
tion arises whether the insanity which affected her in prison, and has now settled 
down on her permanently, was not in 1858 the shadowing cloud that then obscured 
on her troubled nature the distinction between right and wrong, and, as her 
learned advocate claimed, produced in her an abnormal and irresponsible condition. 
Mr. Townsend has always held an advanced position in law reform, and was early 
a favorer of measures adopted by this State, enabling parties in civil actions to be 
witnesses in their own cause, husbands and wives to be witnesses for and against 
each other in both civil and criminal actions, and allowing alleged criminals to 
testify in their own behalf. For more than forty years he has been connected with 
most of the important litigations in Rensselaer county, always maintaining the 
character of a zealous, indefatigable and accomplished lawyer. In arguing a ques- 
tion of law to the court, the clearness with which he defines his position is .specially 
noticeable. A statement of the principle supposed to be involved is followed by the 
application of that principle to the case in hand, and then, by apt illustration and by 
subtle and cogent reasoning, the legal aspect of the case is developed, and the par- 
ticular rule which should govern in its decision is evolved and proclaimed. But it is 
before a jury that the strong and salient powers of his mind are most apparent. 
His analysis of the subject in hand is searching, skillful and exhaustive. Not a 
point that can make for his client is left undisclo.sed, not a statement hurtful to him 
is adduced, but it is sifted with the most penetrative scrutiny and surrounded with 
all the doubts that can be raised as to its truthfulness. If he is engaged for the de- 
fence 111 a criminal case, and if it has been shown that his client possesses anj^ trait 
of character that challenges admiration, such possession is enlarged upon until it 
spreads out like a mantle of the broadest charity, and is made to cover any inequali- 
ties of disposition, temper, or conduct that may have been developed to that client s 
disadvantage. Vet while his defence is obstinate and protective, his attack is 



576 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

trenchant, aggressive and pertinacious. The war is carried into the enemy's coun- 
try with such dash and courage, and with such appearance of belief in the strength 
of every position taken, that not infrequently, in desperate cases even, "out of the 
nettle of danger" he has plucked " the flower of safety." 

As a politician Mr. Townsend, during his whole career, has been true to his con- 
victions; and those convictions have not sprung from a low standard of political 
ethics, but have been always referable to an elevated idea of the value and right of 
personal liberty. He was a Democrat until 1848, but was at all times unhesitatingly 
and openly opposed to slavery, and when in that year the convention that nominated 
General Cass for president of the L^nited States resolved that it was proper that the 
territories of the nation should become slave soil, he snapped the ties which had 
bound him since manhood to a party that had thus disregarded its own traditions, 
and at Troy June ;5, 1848, addressed the first public meeting convened in the United 
States to protest against tho pro-slavery action of the Democratic party, and for the 
consideration of those assembled on that occasion he prepared and presented a series 
of resolutions advocating the principles of free soil, free speech and free men, and 
these resolutions were then adopted. From that time forward he has always been 
the able and conscientious apostle and advocate of those principles and aspirations, 
which, lying at the foundation of the movements of the Barnburners of New York, 
who in 1848 nominated Martin Van Buren for the presidency, became more clearly 
defined in the position of the Free-soil Democracy as taken by them in the nomina- 
tion of John P. Hale for president in 1852, and which culminated in the formation of 
the Republican party, when it first presented itself as a national organization in 1856, 
and nominated John C. Fremont for the presidency. 

During the Rebellion he was the earnest and outspoken upholder of the govern- 
ment in its efforts to maintain the integrity of the L'nion. So marked was his ad- 
vocacy, and so unsparing was he in his denunciation of traitors and treason, that 
during the draft riots of July 15, 1863, the mob sacked his house in Troy, and either 
carried off or destroyed or injured nearly all articles of personal property that it con- 
tained. On becoming a member of the House of Representatives at Washington in 
1875 he at once assumed the position of a careful observer of all that was passing 
about him, and was at all times ready to approve or condemn intelligently the various 
measures presented to him, in common with other members for consideration. But 
it was not until the House entered upon the discussion of the Centennial Bill that 
all its members became aware of the mental energy, keen humor, brilliant thought 
and illustrative power embodied in the personality of Mr. Townsend. On the 20th 
of January, 1876, in a speech favoring the appropriation of $1,500,000 for securing 
the success of the centennial celebration of the origin of the nation, he took occa- 
sion to display the inconsistencies of those who opposed the appropriation on the 
ground that it was contrary to the Constitution. During its delivery he received the 
marked attention of all present, and his effective sallies of wit and searching analy- 
ses of conduct, illumined with occasional pleasantries enunciated with clearness and 
made completely impressive by the force of his own indomitable and peculiar oratory, 
raised him at once to the level of the most practiced debaters of the House. Com- 
menting upon his speech, one who heard it wrote, " No printed report can convey 
a seuseof the impression produced on the delighted audience, nor show how deftly, 
in the midst of all the merriment, the logical results of the war, the clemency of the 



BIOaRAPHICAL. 577 

Union, the worth of the nation to all its citizens, and the wisdom and right of the 
United States to set forth evidence of its advancement at Philadelphia were all stated 
with that power of suggestion which is often more potent than labored argument." 

The editor of Harper's Weekly, introductory to an epitome of this speech said, 
on February 19, 1876, " It was a perfect rebuke to the insolence of Mr. Hill, and it 
was a distinct announcement to that gentleman and his friends, that, although they 
have ' come back to the Union to stay', they have not come back to rule. The gay- 
ety of the speech, its wholesome humor, and its kindly and friendly spirit did not in 
the least conceal the clear perception and the resolute conviction and determination 
of the speaker. The undertone was one to which every generous and loyal heart 
responds. Indeed, there cannot well be found a more characteristic and admirable 
expression of the feeling and purpose of the dominant party in this country than this 
speech of Mr. Townsend's. 

"There is no vindictiveness of feeling, no rancor, no desire to recall the war for the 
sake of crimination, no feelmg but a hearty wish for concord; but also no forgetful- 
ness of the facts of our history and of human nature, no doubt of the absolute justice 
of the cause of the Union in the war, no question of the infinite national dishonor 
and degradation wrought by the long ascendency of the Democratic party; a pro- 
found contempt for the old fashioned slave-holding violence and the northern sub- 
servience to it which have reappeared in the Democratic House ; and an equal scorn 
for the fine spun quiddities of 'strict constructionists.'" 

Among his other able speeches was his argument in favor of transferring the In- 
dian Bureau to the War Department, delivered April 28, 1876; his observations on 
the protection of the Texas frontier, presented on July 13 and 18, 1876, and his re- 
marks relative to the settlement of the title of Governor Hayes to the office of presi- 
dent of the United States, made on January 26, February 20 and 21, and March 2, 
1877. 

But not alone as a lawyer and politician is Mr. Townsend distinguished. As a 
man of high culture and of attaimments in the field of letters he is also well and 
favorably known. Among his miscellaneous writings are several of a high order. 
His essa)'^ entitled "Saxon and Celt," being a brief argument designed to show the 
influence of the Bible; his address on "Labor" before the alumni of Williams Col- 
lege; his occasional papers and his speeches, as set forth in the debates of the Con- 
stitutional Convention of the State of New York; his published lecture upon the 
origin of the prehistoric structures in Central America and Peru, all evince extended 
reading, thorough research, and a full appreciation of the topics severally presented. 

The extract following is from the address at Williams College above alluded to: 

' • That man who fells the giant forest which for ages has domin ated the soil, or turns 
the flowery sod upon the boundless prairie and commits to its bosom the bread- 
yielding corn — that man whose moistened brow and stalwart arm are bending over 
the fierce fires that sparkle in yonder workshop as the earth-born metals are moulded 
to meet the million wants of life — that man whose ceaseless toil brings low the hills 
and exalts the valleys, or who delves in the bowels of mountains, old as the morning 
of creation, that he may prepare a highway for the commercial and social intercourse 
of man — each of them is doing the will of God, and performing the work which he 
has for each of them to do. They are all 'dressing and keeping' God's garden, and 
subduing the earth which they inhabit. From the hum of yonder spinning wheels 
73 



578 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

and factory looms there rises an anthem more sacred than choir of cloistered nuns 
ever hymned; and that tireless mother, whose waking eyes prevent the watches of 
the night, as she plies her busy needle to clothe and feed her little ones, is offering to 
God a sacrifice sweeter than the Arabian incense which burns upon priestly altars. 
Let none who serve their race, their country, or their family by active labor, whether 
mental or physical, for a moment doubt that their work will be accepted by Him 
whose eyes see all, and whose rewards, the consequences of well-doing, can no more 
fail than can the system which He has instituted and which He constantly upholds." 

Mr. Townsend, at the age of eighty-six years and a half, is in fine health and in the 
diligent practice of his profession. 

Mr. Town.send is a man of enormous reading and general culture. Books have 
always been his daily and nightly companions. There are probably very few men 
in the country who have so large a fund of correct and ready information on all 
topics, especially those of historical, scientific, theological, political, and economic 
interest, for he has been a student of such matters for seventy years, and never has 
forgotten a fact or an argument that he has learned. His talents approach near to 
genius, and his life should have been that of a statesman rather than a lawyer. Mr. 
Townsend writes in a style of remarkable clearness and vigor. It may be said of 
him — and it can be said of very few men who have spoken and written so much — 
that he never spoke or wrote a dry or unsuggestive line in his life. 

The sturdy integrity and grand nobility and humanity of his character have en- 
deared him to the people of his county, of whom for nearly half a century he has 
been the conceded "representative man." In his own revered person he illustrates 
one saying of the Book which he knows and loves so well "The hoary head is a 
crown of glory when it is found in the way of righteousness." 

Mr. Townsend was originally well-grounded in the principles of the law and never 
has forgotten anything he once learned. Add to this that he has an unusual power 
of discrimination and the faculty of instantly seizing on the determining point of a 
case, and it is apparent that he has the equipment of a strong advocate. At his best, 
and when spurred by special incitement, a stronger advocate has seldom entered a 
court room. Few men have ever possessed the faculty of addressing a jury with 
greater effect. Always aggressive, he attacked the weak points of his adversary's 
case and slurred over those of his own. Plis theory was to keep the other side "on 
the run." 

In dealing with questions of science, in which his large reading always gave him 
an advantage over lawyers who simply "crammed" for an occasion, he was con- 
spicuously able. His tact in seizing on some extraneous circumstance or incident in 
a trial and converting it to his client's use was illustrated in an amusing way in the 
trial of an action brought against a steamboat company for the death or injury of a 
passenger by a boiler explosion. The defendant's counsel, the late Willliam A. 
Beach, deprecated a large or any verdict on the ground that it would come out of 
the pockets of the widows and other poor people who owned the stock. Mr. Town- 
send convulsed the jury and audience by enumerating some of the "widows" who 
held the stock — " the widow, Cornelius Vanderbilt; the widow, Daniel Drew," and 
others. 

His fertility in expedients was illustrated in the case of the fugitive slave. Nalle, 
when he was tracked to Troy by his master and was on the point of being remanded 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 579 

to slavery. Mr. Townsend, well knowing that a State habeas corpus writ was of no 
avail against the United vStates authorities, if the papers were regular, but presuming 
that no State judge would care to incur the fine of $1,000 for refusing one, demanded 
and procured one from a State judge, the late George Gould, by virtue of which the 
Rensselaer county sheriff took Nalle from the United States marshal and brought 
him into the street to carry him to that judge. The crowd " did the rest ; " thereby 
vindicating Mr. Townsend's confident expectation. 

His addresses to the jury have been frequently marked by apt and striking refer- 
ences to matters of history or common experience, and especially to Scripture. He 
has been an unusually successful advocate, not only because of his forensic powers, 
but because he has had the sagacity rarely to try a bad case in public — he has tried 
such by reference or has settled them out of court. 

In the appellate courts he has achieved some famous triumphs. Chief among 
these was the case of Benjamin Marshall's will, upon the first reading of which Mr. 
Townsend declared that a fund of $150,000, claimed by the trustees under the will 
to belong to a trust fund created by the will to carry on Marshall's factories by the 
trustees for the benefit of the Marshall Infirmary, belonged in fact to the next of kin 
of Mr. Marshall. The final decision, after eight years of litigation, sustained Mr. 
Townsend's opinion and carried to Marshall's kindred about §175,000, being the 
original sum and its increments. 

Mr. Townsend has been during the last few years a genuine inspiration to any one 
who may have occasional dark and unanswered doubts about the future after death. 
He is a constant intimation of immortality. The freshness and buoyancy of a peren- 
nially youthful spirit, the strength and manliness of a vigorous mind at maturity, 
with no sign of failing powers, the optimism of intellectual health, are most remark- 
able and prominent in this remarkable man. That he has been a keen, incisive 
thinker and lawyer — a man of lightning perceptions, of tenacious memory, of the 
rare gift of bringing to bear on any subject a happy illustration in some capital 
story ; that he has been a persuasive and at times a wonderfully interesting orator, 
can truthfully be said of him ; and it would be enough to say of almost any man. 
Surely few could ever hope to have so much said save in flattery. But to state that 
to-day at his advanced age these traits and gifts are still abundantly present is to 
affirm what is the fact and is equivalent to sa3nng that no one in this country ever 
was in these respects more remarkable at his age. Indeed it may be doubted 
whether any one of his rare gifts has preserved them undimmed into his eighty-sev- 
enth year. The world at large could not have known the more endearing qualities 
of the man, for they were of the heart, betrayed in kindly acts, uniform cheerfulness 
and unusual consideration for those intimately associated with him. But every one 
has known, and it is not affectation which prompts the statement, but simply observa- 
tion which has been common to all who have known him at all, that his judgment 
upon, and attitude toward public questions — political, theological and social — are 
those of a healthy, vigorous, youtig man. Though his body grows old, his mind and 
heart are still as sound as they were fifty years ago and suggest that they need not 
decay as the body wastes away, but may go on to unlimited development. 



680 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

MRS. EMMA HART WILLARD. 

Mrs. Emma Hart Willard was born in Worthington Parish, Berlin, Conn., Feb- 
ruary 23, 1787, and was the lineal descendant through her father of Rev. Thomas 
Hooker, who figures prominently in the early religious history of New England. 
Her mother was the mother of ten children and the stepmother of seven more, 
Emma being the sixteenth child of this old-fashioned family. Inheriting the strong 
and sterling charactistics of her plain but worthy parents she manifested while yet a 
girl those attributes which inspire others to noble deeds and practical usefulness. Her 
ambition as well as her inclination seems to have been that of a natural educator, 
especially of her own sex. Beginning with seventy-five cents a week she became a 
teacher at the age of sixteen, and advancing rapidly she was called to the position 
of preceptress first in Berlin, Conn., and afterward in Westfield, Mass. In 1807 she 
became preceptress of a school in Middlebury, Vt., where she met and in 1809 mar- 
ried Dr. John Willard, who ably seconded her efforts during the remainder of his 
life. The robbery and failure of the bank with which Dr. Willard was connected 
led her to open a school for young women in Middlebury in 1814, and it was this 
venture which really marks the commencement of her career as a noted teacher and 
philanthropist. Hers had been a good New England training, well absorbed by a 
good New England character, energy, and idealism. Eager for all mental acquisi- 
tion and skill she was full of ideas which were then far advanced, and which were 
received by the older generation with some doubt and considerable disfavor. But 
her wonderful personality, combined with her rare tact and perseverance, triumphed, 
and her school soon became widely and favorably known. The contrast of the edu- 
cation then afforded to girls with that administration in the colleges at her doors led 
her to introduce many new studies and methods, and the wisdom of her innovations 
was very soon vindicated. She pre-eminently demonstrated the capacity of young 
women for higher studies, and Wellsley, Wells, Vassar, Smith, Bryn Mawr, and 
other noted colleges are now working upon lines which this pioneer teacher projected 
and established. Mary Lyon followed her audacious and triumphant lead, and 
others have taught the principles she laid down and developed. It all seems right 
now — but at that time her ideas were held as chimerical. She was a woman of rare 
intuition and force, of strong individuality, and of great decision and sympathy. 
Dr. Willard took her at her true value and was her ardent coadjutor. 

In Middlebury Mrs. Willard perfected and set forth her plans for improving female 
education, which comprehended large public buildings a library, laboratory, philo- 
sophical apparatus, a large staff of teachers, a body of trustees, and financial aid 
from the State Legislature. It was the nucleus of the present State Normal School 
system, and to her belongs the honor of developing the idea. To .some it seemed 
revolutionary, impossible, utterly impracticable, but it obtained the warm approval 
and support of Gov. De Witt Clinton, of New York, who urged her to come to Wa- 
terford, and establish such an institution, which she did in 1819, removing it to Troy 
in 1821 . Thenceforward she belonged to this State and especially to the county of Rens- 
selaer, where the remainder of her noble life was spent. By special act State funds 
were granted in the furtherance of her work, and the seminary she founded was under 
her charge as principal from May, 1821, until 1888, when she gave it over to her son 




MRS. EMMA HART WILLARD. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 581 

John H. and his wife Sarah L., who resigned their positions in 1872. Her husband, 
who had so trusted and seconded her sound judgment and generous labors, died 
May 29, 1825. Her death occurred in Troy on the 15th of April, 1870. 

Mrs. Willard journeyed, wrote, and wrought to the last. Only the Omniscient 
can measure the fruit and the ever increasing harvest of so true a woman's work. 
Over 13.000 girls, of whom more than 500 became teachers, received and again dif- 
fused the influence of her benign labors. Her character, her womanly counsel, her 
divine precepts, have been felt in almost every community in the United States, for 
she laid the foundation and developed the system by which thousands upon thou- 
sands of worrien obtained those elements of learning that marks the higher educa- 
tion of to-day so essential to womankind. Many girls who have become prominent 
as teachers, missionaries, philanthropists, etc., were trained and graduated under 
her benevolent care, and there are hosts of wives and mothers who received from 
her that strong and elevating influence which guided them through the thorny paths 
of life into realms of womanly nobility and equality. 

Mrs. Willard left mnumerable friends who within recent years have sought to 
perpetuate her memory in a more enduring form than personal acquaintance could 
maintain, and perhaps the most striking result of their efforts is the Emma Willard 
statue, which was created in bronze by Alexander Doyle, the celebrated New York 
sculptor, and which stands a worthy monument to her womanhood and work in the 
grounds of the Troy Female Seminary. The figure is life-size, sitting, and rests on 
a pedestal of Ouincy granite, six and one-half by eight feet, on the narrow face of 
which is a bronze tablet with this inscription: 

In honor of 

Emma Hart Willard 

Who on this spot established 

A. D. 1821 

The first permanent seminary in America for the advanced 

education of women. 

Erected by her pupils and friends 

A. D. 1895. 

The statue was unveiled with appropriate ceremonies on May 16, 1895. On the 
same day the Russell Sage Hall, the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Rus.sell Sage, of New 
York, and the last of the pre.sent group of buildings comprising the seminary, was 
formallv dedicated. 



GILBERT ROBERTSON, Jr. 

Hon. Gilbert Robkrtsun, jr., came from the best Scotch ancestry, his grand- 
father, William Robertson, having emigrated from Scotland in 1772, and settled in 
Washington county, N. Y., where he purchased a large tract of land and resided un- 
til his death in 1823. William Robertson married Mary Livingston, of Greenwich, 
in 1775, and among their issue was Gilbert Robertson, father of the subject of this 
sketch. He married Elizabeth Dow, a native of Scotland, in 1802. Gilbert Robert- 



582 LANDxMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

son, jr., after attending the common school, prepared for college at the academy in 
Cambridge, Washington county, and at the academy in Herkimer in charge of Dr. 
Chessel, then a celebrated teacher, and entered Union College in 18;5;$, whence he was 
graduated in 1837. After leaving college young Robertson taught school at Chat- 
ham, Columbia county, N. Y., for two years, and in July, 1839, entered the law office 
of Crary & Fairchild, at Salem, and continued it until November, 184(1, when he re- 
moved to Troy and studied law with Hayner & Gould, then a distinguished firm of 
attorneys and counselors in that city. He was admitted to the bar in 1843, and at 
once began the practice of his profession with Judge Isaac McConihe, and ever since 
continued in it. 

In 1843 Mr. Robertson was elected a trustee of the public schools of Troy, and 
served for three years, originating many reforms in the system then in operation, 
and by his earnest advocacy securing an appropriation for the promotion of the 
cause of education twice as large as that which heretofore had been devoted to the 
purpose. Mr. Robertson was one.of the earliest members of the Young Men's Asso- 
ciation of Troy, and by his counsel and efforts contributed much to its successful de- 
velopment. He served with great usefulness as corresponding secretary and presi- 
dent of the association. In 1847 the governor appointed Mr. Robertson a justice of 
the Justice's Court in Troy. In the following year the office was made elective, and 
he was twice chosen to the position, holding the office five years, during four of 
which he also served as police magistrate, leaving a record behind him of official in- 
tegrity and stern administration of justice. In 18r)l he was elected recorder of Troy 
for four years, by virtue of which office he was judge of the Recorder's Court and a 
member of the Common Council. As a member of the council he exercised a com- 
manding degree of influence in all matters of importance, and was the warm friend 
and advocate of all local improvements calculated to beautifj' the city or promote the 
health and happiness of its inhabitants. It was in the position of police magistrate 
and recorder that he first demostrated the possession of those qualities of unyielding 
firmness, combined with judicial fairness and impartiality, and an intelligent appre- 
ciation of the law, which he subsecjuently exhibited in an eminent degree while 
gracing the office of judge of Rensselaer county, to which he was elected in 1859, and 
re elected in 1863. He discharged the duties of this position with scrupulous fidelity 
to every public and private interest, holding the scales of justice with equal poise 
between man and man, lending a personal dignity and charm of manner to the 
office which few men have ever surpassed, and winning the respect and confidence 
of the community by the uprightness of his course, the honesty of his purpose, the 
clearness of his decisions, and his mastery of the principles of the law and their ap- 
plication to the rules of evidence and the practice of courts. Judge Robertson also 
had a long and honorable political career. In December, 18(59, President Grant ap- 
pointed him United States assessor of internal revenue for the Fifteenth district of 
New York State. In 1873 he was appointed postmaster of Troy by General Grant, 
was reappointed by President Hayes in 1877, and was again reappointed in 1881 by 
President Arthur. During his incumbency of the office he spared no pains to make 
its administration acceptable to the people, introducing many improvements, and 
giving greatly increased facilities to patrons. So great was the public confidence in 
his integrity and the public appreciation of his intelligent service, that on both occa- 
sions when his term was about to expire, almost every business firm and prominent 
citizen of Troy, irrespective of party, petitioned for his reai)pointment. 





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JOHN HUDSON PECK. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 583 

Judge Robertson was originally a Whig. Upon the formation of the Republican 
party he joined that organization, and held many responsible trusts under it. He 
was made chairman of the first Republican committee of Rensselaer county ever 
formed, and with the exception of one year, retained the position for twenty-one 
years continuously. "He was a member of the Republican State Committee for sev- 
eral years, and for three years a member of the executive committee of that body. 
His influence extended throughout the State, and his counsel and judgment were 
invoked in deciding some of the most important questions relating to party manage- 
ment and the enunciation of political principles. He attended, either as a delegate 
or spectator, almost every convention of hi.s party held in the State within the past 
twenty-five years, and the same may be said of his attendance upon National Con- 
ventions. Judge Robertson was true to every official and personal relation of life. 
His professional brethren respected his legal abilities and attainments as greatly as 
the people honored him for his faithfulness to all the interests committed to his 
hands. As a politician, it may be said of him that the offices he held were in no 
sense commensurate with his merits. In 1886, on the passage by the Legislature of 
the State of New York of the law creating a State Board of Arbitration, Judge Rob- 
ertson was appointed a member of said board by the governor and Senate. In 1887, 
under an act passed by the Legislature creating a State Board of Mediation and 
Arbitration and enlarging the powers of the board. Judge Robertson was reap- 
pointed, which position he held until a few weeks before his death. Judge Robert- 
son married, in 1852, Angeline Daggett, daughter of the late Dr. Joseph Daggett, of 
Troy, by whom he had t±iree children: Gilbert Daggett, Mary Elizabeth, and John 
Livingston. He was born in 1815 and died April 23, 1896, aged eighty-one. 



JOHN HUDSON PECK. 

Joii.N Hudson Pkck, LL.D., of Troy, N.Y., president of The Rensselaer Polytechnic 
Institute, was born at the city of Hudson N. Y. , on the 7th of February, 1838. He is 
the eldest son of the late Hon. Darius Peck (born 1802, died 1879), who was for many 
years county judge of Columbia county, N. Y. His descent on his father's side is 
from early Puritan settlers of New England. William Peck, his earliest progenitor 
in America, emigrated to this country with his wife and son, Jeremiah, in the ship 
Hector, with the company of Governor Eaton and the Rev. John Davenport, and 
was one of the founders of the colony of New Haven, Conn., in 1688. John Hudson 
Peck's natal year therefore marked the completion of two full centuries since his 
earliest American ancestors came to this country. 

If space and time permitted, the continuous line of descent, nearly equally divided 
between farmers and professional men, could be traced to the ninth generation. 
John Peck, in the sixth, was a soldier in both the French and Revolutionary wars. 
His patriotic services are commemorated in the Society of Colonial Wars by the mem- 
bership of the subject of this sketch. The Rev. John Peck, a noted divine of the 
Baptist church, represented the family in the seventh generation. The Hon. Darius 
Peck, father of John H. Peck, married, in 1838, Harriet M. Hudson (born 1813, died 
1863), youngest daughter of Horace Hudson. She was a sister of Mrs. John H. 



584 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Willard and Miss Theodosia Hudson, for many years respectively principal and vice- 
principal of the Troy Female Seminary, one of the oldest and most noted institutions 
for the higher education of women in the country. 

John H. Peck was prepared for college under the instruction of Mr. Isaac F. Bragg 
and the Rev. Elbridge Bradbury at the Hudson Classical Institute. He was grad- 
uated from Hamilton College at Clinton, N. Y., with the class of 1859, from which 
seat of learning his father was graduated in the class of 1825. He chose law for his 
profession and studied at Troy under the direction of the Hon. Cornelius L. Tracy 
and the Hon. Jeremiah Romeyn, and was admitted to the bar at Albany in Decem- 
ber, 1861. At that time he formed a partnership with Mr. Romeyn which was dis- 
solved in 1867 whereupon he formed a partnership with Mr. Tracy, his former in- 
structor, which was only terminated by the final illness of Mr. Tracy. 

Since its dissolution Mr. Peck has been intrusted with the legal business of the 
Troy & Boston railroad, the Troy Union railroad, the Troy Savings Bank and with 
that of several private trusts and estates involving large interests. By his fellow 
citizens he is regarded as a conservative, judicious lawyer, thorough in application, 
assiduous in caring for the interests of his clients, and entirely honorable in his 
methods. 

Mr. Peck has identified himself with educational interests; he became a trustee of 
the Troy Female Seminary in 1888, and was elected president of the Rensselaer 
Polytechnic Institute in 1888, which is the pioneer school of civil engmeering. He 
has given both of these famous institutions the benefit of his counsel and studies. 

In public affairs Mr. Peck has always manifested an enterprising and progressive 
spirit. He has frequently been urged to appear before his fellow citizens as a can- 
didate for offices of power and honor; he has almost invariably declined, but his 
talents and counsel have always been at the command of the people. He was a val- 
uable member of the N. Y. Constitutional Convention of 1894, serving on two im- 
portant committees, education and legislative organization and apportionment. 

Mr. Peck is one of the trustees of the diocese of Albany, and was named as an 
original incorporator of scenic and historic places and objects by the New York Leg- 
islature of 1895. He is chairman of the New Court House Commission of his county 
and one of the trustees for the erection of the Hart Memorial Library. He has done 
much writing for the new.spapers and has delivered occasional addresses. His man- 
ner of composition is clear, forcible and logical; moreover, his writings are charac- 
terized by dignity and stamped by culture. He was orator of the Society of the 
Alumni of Hamilton College at the commencement in 1889, and his discounse was 
spoken of by the Utica Herald as one of the ablest and most carefully prepared ever 
delivered before the association, characterized by scholarly thought and fine rhet- 
oric. The degree of LL.D. was conferred on Mr. Peck at Hamilton College in 1889, 
In politics he has always been a Democrat and influential in the councils of the party. 

August 7, 188:5, he married Mercy Plum Mann (born December 28, 1843), .second 
daughter of Nathaniel Mann, of Milton, Saratoga county, N. Y., and a descendant 
in the eighth generation. of Richard Mann, a planter and one of the original land 
proprietors of Scituate, Mass. 




REV. PETHR HAVERMANS. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 585 

REV. PETER HAVERMANS. 

Rev. Peter Havekmans was born March 37, 1806, in the province of North Bra- 
bant, Holland, and received his education in the common schools of his native town, 
and through the tutorship of his uncle, Rev. John Beyserveld He later studied his 
harmonics at Thurnhourt, in the school of Dr. De Neff, and in the academy of that 
city. At the age of seventeen he entered the seminary at Hoeven, where he pursued 
the study ofphilosophy for one year, and of the Scriptures for four years. 

Father Havermans was ordained with bright prospects by Bishop Von De Velde, 
at Ghent, June 6, 1830, and came to America in October of the same year. He first 
went to Norfolk, Va. , and became a student at Georgetown College, learning Eng- 
lish. In St. Mary's county, Maryland, he labored twelve years, and largely through 
the efforts of Bishop Hughes of New York, he came to Troy in 1841, and was made 
pastor of St. Peter's church, then the only Roman Catholic church of Troy. 

In 1843 he built St. Mary's church, of which he has been pastor so long, and in 1847 
built St. Joseph's church and gave it to the Jesuit Fathers. While he was pastor of 
St. Mary's church he had charge of a territory which extended seventy miles north 
of Troy, from Saratoga to Massachusetts. He then built the old St. Francis church 
and the Troy Hospital. 

His educational work included the founding of the Brothers' Academy, and the 
securing of what is now known as St. Joseph's Provincial Seminary, and also secured 
the Goddard school for the Sisters of Charity. On the invitation of Father Haver- 
mans, the Little Sisters of the Poor and the Sisters of the Good Shepherd came to 
Troy. He took an active part in the enlistment of recruits for the late Rebellion. 

A thrilling episode in the life of this priest was the checking of the mob of six 
hundred armed men who were seeking to destroy the Troy Times office and the 
Colored Presbyterian church of Liberty street. It was the fearful day, when in oppo- 
sition to the draft of 1863, the city's streets were thronged with rioters. Father 
Havermans has always manifested a lively interest in the cause of good government 
and pure elections, and at the time of the organization of the Troy Committee of 
Republican Safety, he was made a member of that body, with which his name is still 
connected. Thirty years ago he made an extensive trip through Europe and visited 
Pope Pius IX. 



MOSES WARREN. 

Hon. Moses Warren was born September 22, 1820. His grandfather, Daniel 
Warren, participated in the battle of Bunker Hill. His father, Moses Warren, sr. , 
was born in Peterboro, N. H., and removed to Rensselaer county, N.Y. , in 1806, and 
was appointed sheriff in 1821 and elected to the same office in 1826. 

Moses Warren, jr., was prepared for college at Ballard Seminary, Bennington, 
Vt., and entered Williams College in 1837 and was graduated in 1841. He studied 
law in the office of Rufus and Martin L Townsend for two years, was admitted to 
the bar in 1844 and began practice in Troy. 
74 



586 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

In 1845 he was appointed justice of the Justice's Court of Troy. In 1859 he was 
elected surrogate of Rensselaer county, and again in 18G3, and by re-elections held 
the office altogether twenty-one years. In 1860 he was elected a director of the 
Central National Bank, and vice president in 1875; in February, 1883, he was elected 
president of the bank and has held that office since; he has been a director of that 
bank for thirty-five years. 

He has always given considerable attention to the practice of the law, and at this 
date is a member of the firm of Warren, Patterson iSr Faulkner. He is regarded as 
among the strong and able lawyers of this part of the State, although his time has 
been about equally divided between his banking and legal business. In politics he 
is a Democrat, and is influential in the movements of his party. 

In 1857 he was married to Mary M. Lord of Brunswick, by whom he has one 
daughter, Mary, wife of Edward T. Welsh. 



JOHN A. MANNING. 

John A. M.'vnning was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1838. His father came to Troy 
from the northern part of the State in 1834 and began the manufacture of stoves_ 
In 1840 he engaged in the manufacture of rope manilla paper of great strength of 
fabric, for special purposes and later used extensively for flour sacks, sand paper 
and insulating paper. His wife was Susan P. Morrison. He died in 1856, and his 
wife Novembers, 1891. 

John A. Manning received his education at private schools and Troy Academy, 
but was obliged to leave school when seventeen years of age, owing to the death of 
his father, to take charge of the paper business ; this business has grown to be the 
largest indu.stry of its kind in the world, and has been brought to its present pros- 
perous condition through the energy and industry of Mr. Manning; he is the prin- 
cipal owner and the business manager. He is a director in the Troy City Bank and 
one of the managers of the Troy Savings Bank; and is a member of the Troy, the 
Saratoga (of which he is vice-president), the New York, the New York Yacht and 
the West Island Clubs. 

He married Mary B. Warren daughter of George B. Warren of Troy, and has 
four children. 



ELMER E BARNES. 

Elmer E. Baknes, a prominent young lawyer of Hoosick Falls, was born in 
Corinth, Orange county, Vt., in 1862, a sou of Mansfield T. and Lottie (Wilson) 
Barnes. His father is now a retired manufacturer. His paternal grandfather was 
a native of England and came to America about 1715, settling in Corinth, Yt. On 
the maternal side he is of Scotch descent. 

Mr. Barnes receiyed his earlj' education in the graded schools of Corinth and at 
the Eastman Business College, from which he was graduated in 1883. Being in deli- 




JOHN A. MANNING. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. SST 

cate health, he learned telegraphy and for a year was stationed at Eagle Bridge, fol- 
lowing which he was employed four years by the Fitchburg Railroad Company. 

Deciding to follow the law as his life profession, he entered the office of John E. 
Madden at Hoosick Falls and went thence to the law department of Union Univers- 
ity at Albany, from which institution he was graduated in 1890. In 1888 he was 
elected justice of the peace at Eagle Bridge and held the office five years; during 
this time by persevering study he laid the foundation of his legal education. 

In 1890, soon after his graduation, he opened an office in Hoosick Falls, where he 
has since practiced with an encouraging degree of success. 



GERRIT VAN SCHAICK QUACKENBUSH. 

AMoN(i the early settlers of Schaghticoke, N. Y., to whom certain franchises were 
granted by the State is found the name of John Quackenbosch, the final syllable, 
"bosch," being the Dutch spelling. G. V. S. Quackenbush was lineally descended 
from the sturdy Dutch stock of the last century. The Christian name of his father 
was Sybrandt. Shortly after the latter's marriage to a Miss Van Schaick he moved 
to Buskirk's Bridge, Washington county, N. Y. There, on December 12, 1801, was 
born the son who was destined to be prominently identified with the commercial 
development of Troy. 

An old fashioned copy-book still exists in which this boy Gerrit made his first 
essays in penmanship. In it are sums in addition, in £ s. d. accurately footed up, 
and specimens of penmanship in boyish writing. Throughout there is not a 
blemish nor blot, showing that in neatness and accuracy this "boy was father of the 
man." This boy, however, like mo.st of the successful merchants of his generation 
in their youth, had but limited educational advantages. When a mere lad he went 
from the home farm to Albany and there found employment with an uncle, a then 
prominent business man. Industrious, energetic, economical and faithful to every 
trust, he eventually rose to be the chief clerk. 

In the year 1824, when about twenty-three, he came to Troy to start for himself in 
the dry goods business. His first store was on what is now called Franklin square. 
He early formed a partnership with William Lee, which continued for a short period 
under the firm name of Quackenbush & Lee. Mr. Lee will be remembered as the 
old man of over eighty who came on from Cincinnati in 1892 to attend the cen- 
tennial exercises of the First Presbyterian church and gave most interesting remin- 
iscences of it and of old Dr. Beman. 

One of Mr. Quackenbush's early employes was Samuel H. Lasell, who many 
years after married his daughter Emma, and is now in his seventy-eighth year, the 
senior partner of the present firm. He has thus been identified with the business 
almost from its inception, and now has in his employ two grandsons of its founder, 
his own son, Edwin Quackenbush Lasell, and a namesake, G. V. S. Quackenbush. 

From Franklin Square Mr. Quackenbush removed to 202 River street, where he 
remained for over thirty years, and from small beginning built up a business which 
occupied nearly as much floor room as the present store. 

In 1S27 Mr. Quackenbush married Hannah A. Bayeux, daughter of Henry Bayeux. 



5g8 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

She died in 1847. The issue of this marriage was seven children, only three of whom 
survive. There was no issue of his second marriage, in 1857, to the widow of David 
B. Plum. 

Probably in no other place in this work will a reference to the Bayeu.xs be made. 
A brief one seems pertinent. They were French Huguenots and emigrated to 
Dutchess county, N. Y. Hence Henry came to Troy and was the pioneer and lead- 
ing jeweller of the early century. His store was at 182 River street and in his old 
age he lived with his son-in-law, the subject of this sketch, and was a member of his 
family at bis death in 1845, aged eighty. His son Henry, who was connected with 
him in business, was one of the first captains of the old Troy Corps. He married 
Martha L. Vail, a relative of the late George Vail, and died in 1839. A daughter of 
this union still survives, Mrs. B. F. Baker of Ballston, N. Y. Another son, John, 
married Blandina Vanderheyden, daughter of the patroon ; their daughter is Mrs. 
Harvey J. King of this city. Susan Bayeux was the first wife of Albert Heartt, a 
brother of the late Jonas C. Heartt. She died at the early age of twenty-five. The 
last daughter, Julia M. Bayeux, always resided in Mr. Quackenbush's family. She 
died in 1882, aged seventy-two, being the only one of the children who lived to be 
over forty. With her the name of Bayeux as a surname became extinct. 

But to return. Mr. Quackenbush's business career was not an uninterrupted suc- 
cess. Despite his energy and thrift he, like most ultimately successful business 
men, had early reverses, which, met with courage and honor, proved the preludes of 
success. In 1839-40 he was compelled by commercial depression to suspend. He 
effected an honorable compromise with his creditors. It was a final compromise, 
yet, when favored with success, he, though not legally obliged to do so, paid the full 
amount of his indebtedness. This honorable action and his wide repute for business 
capacity laid the foundation of a subsequent credit which tided him over the panic 
of 1857. Dry goods dealers all over the country failed and the panic occurred just 
after he had invested nearly all of his capital in the erection, in 1856, of his splendid 
warehouse at the corner of Albany (now Broadway) and Third streets. 

Many foretold disaster. On the site of the present building stood a little old yellow 
frame house ; there were, we believe, no business stands from Third street to the 
Union depot. Mr. Quackenbush, with his rare foresight, believed that the locality 
would eventually become a business center, and it is now a hive of industry. 

After weathering the panic of 1857 he attained great success. To amass large 
wealth was not his object. His pride in his business led him to most liberal ex- 
penditures in its development. To the rank and file of his employes, numbering 
nearly a hundred, he paid larger salaries than any other merchant. 

The untimely death. May 8, 1869, of Gerrit, his eldest son, aged thirty-nine, and 
the only son he brought up in the business, was a severe blow. It left no one of the 
name as his successor. An obituary refers to this son as "one of the main supports 
of his father in conducting the business" and says that his life .served " as a model 
of purity and grace to every young man in the city." 

Only three years subsequently, on June 10, 1872, the father died, aged seventy. 
He had never sought or held any public office, though when a young man, before 
the days of social or athletic clubs, when leading young men were members of the 
volunteer fire department, he was foreman of the Washington Volunteer Company. 




HLIAS G. DORLON. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 589 

Its records evidence his efficient service. His son Gerrit was also subsequently fore- 
man of the same company. 

Mr. Ouackenbush disliked notoriety. He never sought public notice in any way 
e.xcept by legitimate, honest and non-sensational advertisement of his business. So 
retiring and unobtrusive was he that his intimate friends were surprised at the deep 
sentiment of loss which pervaded the community when he died. The daily papers 
gave it voice. One said: "The loss to this community is very great. . . . His 
store will remain a monument to the skill and ability of its founder for many vears 
yet to come. For nearly fifty years a leading merchant of Troy, a citizen without 
reproach, a kind neighbor and a benefactor of his fellows, it is not possible for him 
to die without touching the sensibilities of the public. . . . His business career 
affords a lesson to all young men and teaches that the way to the highest success 
can only be reached through the practice of the sternest virtues and the loftiest in- 
tegrity." Another touching obituary says: "Of the less than 100 noble men that 
Troy can point to as being, in an especial manner, the founders of its prosperity, the 
old man that now lies awaiting the sad rites of burial was among the most prom- 
inent. No man who has occupied so marked a position in our city has been less a 
subject for the tongue of detraction. His fame socially and as a business man is 
pure. No name will be more cherished in the coming years than that of Gerrit Van 
Schaick Quackenbush." 



ELIAS G. DORLON. 

Elias G. Dorlon was born in Troy, N. Y., January 20, 1840. He is a son of the 
well known hotel keeper, Philip S. Dorlon, who was the proprietor of Washington 
Hall, corner of River and Grand Division streets, from 1827 to May 10, 1862, when 
it was destroyed by fire. He died May 8, 1886. His mother, Hannah E. (Whipple) 
Dorlon, was a native of Troy and died December 30, 1885. He received a public 
school education, went into the hotel business with his father, and was with him at 
the time of the fire in 1862. Then he took a position with his uncle, Elias Dorlon, 
who was then proprietor of the Mansion House, and was associated with him until 
1865, when his uncle sold out. He then took charge of the American House at Bur- 
lington, Vt., and afterwards the" Mount Mansfield House at Stowe, Vt. He then 
returned to Troy and at various times has had charge of the Troy House, Mansion 
House, and the American House as manager. The name of Dorlon has been closely 
identified with the hotel interest of this city for very many years. In 1821 William 
Dorlon, grandfather of the subject of this .sketch, came to Troy from Schaghticoke. 
and opened a public house on what is now known as Franklin Square, opposite the 
Dorlon building, corner of River and Grand streets. He had four sons: Elias, Philip 
S., Robert Piatt and William. The father survived his removal here but a year. 
On Elias, then a youth of twenty, devolved not only the care of the family, but the 
management of the hotel. In the course of a year or more, his next brother, Philip 
S., joined him. In 1823 the l>t)ys took the York House, which stood on the site lat- 
terly known as the Market Bank. Here they remained two years, when in 1825 they 
took the property which afterwards became known as Washington Hall. This house 



590 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

the brothers kept together (with an interregnum of two years, when they were pro- 
prietors of the Rensselaer House) until 1842, when Elias and William Dorlon became 
proprietors of the Mansion House. This partnership continued fifteen years (1857), 
when William retired leaving Elias sole proprietor until 1865 when he disposed of 
the Mansion House to Albert E. Richmond of North Adams, Mass. This brief rec- 
ord makes the Dorlons hotel men of this city for upwards of seventy years. 

He now has charge of the Philip S. Dorlon estate. He represented the Fourth 
ward in the Board of Aldermen from 1889 to 1896. Is a director in the Union Na- 
tional Bank, served nine years in the 24th Regiment National Guard, State of New- 
York, also a former member of the Troy Fire Department (Trojan Hooks). Is a 
trustee of the Episcopal Church Home and secretary of the board. He married 
Mary F. Moore, daughter of Joseph Moore, formerly a merchant of this city, and also 
general assessor. He has one son. Philip S. Dorlon, who is an electrician, and a 
graduate of Union College, class '89, Schenectady, N. Y. 



WILLIAM ORR. 

William Orr was born in Belfast, Ireland, March 13, 1808, and died in Troy, 
N. Y, October 22, 1891. He came to this country with his parents in 1811. and 
after residing in New York and Columbiaville they removed to Troy, where in 1826 
Mr. Orr entered the employ of William T. Smith, a furniture manufacturer. The 
year following, with his brother Alexander he engaged in the printing of wall paper 
at No. 76 Congress street under the firm name of A. Sz. W. Orr. The first ma- 
chinery ever used to print paper by cylinders on which the designs or patterns for 
paper hangings were engraved or disposed was invented by William Orr, and all 
the world renowned cylindrical printing presses of recent years represent in part 
the origmal features of the mechanism of the paper printing press used by him. 
In 1838 the business place of the firm was burned out, and the next year the firm 
continued business at No. 265 River street. In 1854 Mr. Orr became the first paper 
manufacturer in the country to make that product from wood pulp and rags com- 
bined. Seven years previous to that time William Cunningham became a member 
of the firm, which was then known as A. & W. Orr & Co. The present mill at the 
State dam was erected in 1S54, and in 1859 the firm vacated its Kiver street office 
and made the mill headquarters. In 1868 Alexander M. Orr became a member of 
the firm and December 24 of that year Alexander Orr died. The next year the 
other members formed the firm of Orrs & Co. Frederick W. Orr became a member 
in 1874, and S Alexander Orr, son of William Orr, February 1, 18S5. In addition 
to inventing the process of making paper referred to Mr. Orr was also the inventor 
of a method of using water power to increased advantage. 

William Orr was a very ingenious man. For more than fifty years he was en- 
gaged in mechanical and manufacturing industries in Troy, during that time travel- 
ing extensively through the United States and Europe and acquiring much valuable 
information which proved of the greatest use to him m his work of invention and 
manufacture. His brain was a perfect storehouse of valuable information. He was 
the friend of all public improvements. During the early part of his business career 




imMHiffliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHtmJiiliM 



^(^-..^.Vx^ 





HENRY C. CURTIS. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 6J)l 

he found it impossible to obtain in this section the quahty of paper he desired, so he 
started a paper mill at Bennington, Vt. When the Troy «& Boston Railroad was 
started he labored hard for its interests, and for many years was one of its directors. 
William Orr was in every sense a self-made man. By virtue of his active and in- 
genious mind, his industrious habits, integrity of character and energy he made his 
way unaided to an enviable position in business and social life. He was a repre. 
sentative man, an honor to Troy, and few inhabitants of the city ever enjoyed a 
higher degree of honor and re.spect of their fellow-citizens. Mr. Orr was twice mar. 
ried. His first wife was Maria Strain of Albany, and his second wife was the widow 
of William D. Stevenson of North Argyle, Washington county, N. Y. The latter 
died in 1882. He was survived by a son, Seth Alexander Orr, and a daughter, Mrs. 
Le Roy McLean, both of Troy; a stepson, William D. Stevenson of Argyle, and a 
brother, David Orr of New York. In politics Mr. Orr was a Republican. 



HENRY C. CURTIS. 

Henry C. Curtis, one of the leading business men of Troy, N. Y., is a native of 
that city, born August 9, 1888. He is the son of the late George Curtis, an old resi- 
dent of Troy, who for many years had the contract for doing the teaming for the 
Albany Iron Works. He died in 1867. The mother of our subject was Esther (Moore) 
Curtis. She died in 1872. The education of H. C. was obtained in the common 
schools of Troy. An incident that will well illustrate the characteristics of the lad 
was that while still a student, Mr. George Rockwood, then connected with the Troy 
Times, being desirous of securing a boy of integrity and energy, came down to the 
Ward school, looked the boys over, and out of a large number selected our subject 
to assist him in the canvass for the paper in that portion of the city and he was so 
engaged for several years; afterwards he took a position with F. W. Benson in his 
grocery store, with whom he remained about three years, when he realized that he 
needed more education and again became a student, intending to complete his edu- 
cation. His plans, however, were interrupted by his being sent for by Peter Thali- 
mer, to clerk in his grocery and general store for a few weeks. Young Curtis, giving 
such thorough satisfaction, Mr. Thalimer prevailed on him to remain longer and he 
staid with him eight years. This incident attests the sterling qualities of the young 
man. 

In 1862 he entered the firm of Bennett, Strickland & Co., the pioneer collar manu- 
facturers, and was with them and their successors for twenty-two years. After 
several years he had an interest in the business and in ten years a partnership, and 
at the end of twenty years was a part owner of the establishment. In 1884 he sold 
out his interest in the concern to Mr. A. C. Fellows, and then formed a partnership 
with Charles Cleminshaw in the collar and cuff business, and commenced business 
in the five story building at 421-423 River street on the 8th of February, 1884, under 
the firm name of H. C. Curtis & Co. Afterwards Charles G. Cleminshaw was taken 
in as a partner. The business of the establishment became so large that a new 
building was erected in 1892, at which time they commenced the manufacture of 
shirts, which Mr. C. G. Cleminshaw superintends. The business has constantly 



592 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

increased so that now ten floors are occupied. The firm also have branches in New- 
York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston and Baltimore, and do a very extensive busi- 
ness. 

Mr. Curtis has been a member of the M. E. church for forty years, and has held 
membership twelve years with the Fifth Avenue M. E. church, and for many years 
has been a class leader and superintendent of the Sunday school. He has also held 
all the different offices in the church. He is trustee of the Troy conference, also one 
of the trustees of the Conference Academy in Poultney, Vermont, and trustee of the 
Round Lake Association. 

In 1869 Mr. Curtis was married to Miss Mercy D. Savery, of Wareham, Mass. His 
sou Henry S. represents the New York branch of H. C. Curtis & Co. He has one 
daughter, Florence H. Curtis. In politics our subject has always been identified 
with the Republican party. It is with pleasure that we present to our numerous 
readers this record of a career of one of the representative men of Troy. A man who 
began life, practically unaided, and whose success, step by step, has been marked by 
unflagging industry, intelligent application to business, and the highest probity and 
integrity has characterized his life. Such a career is worthy of the emulation of the 
youth of our land. 



JOSEPH JOSLIN TILLINGHAST. 

Jo>Ki'ii Josi.iN Tu.LiNtniAST, a well known and prominent business man of Troy, 
N. Y., was born in that city January 30, 1881. He is descended from a long line of 
New England ancestry. The first Tillinghast from which this family in America is 
descended was from Elder Pardon Tillinghast, who came to this country in 1643 
when he was twenty-one years of age. He was born in the south of England near 
Beach Head in 1623, and descended from one of the same name who was one of the 
soldiers under William the Conqueror from Normandy that conquered England from 
the Saxons at the battle of Plastings on the south coast of England in the eleventh 
century. Elder Pardon Tillinghast founded the first Baptist church in Providence, 
R. I., and became a large land owner and prominent man in the affairs of the colony. 
The great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch was Hon. Thomas Tillinghast, 
born in East Greenwich, R. I., August 21, 1742. He was a member of the Colonial 
General Assembly, an officer in the Revolutionary war, subsequently judge of the 
Court of Common Pleas and of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island. In 1787 he 
made the memorable decision, that under the \J. S. Constitution the Rhode Isl- 
and scrip money was not a legal tender; afterwards represented his State in Con- 
gress. His son, Allen, the grandfather of Joseph J., was born in Greenwich. R. I., 
February 28, 1768. He married Patience, the daughter of Rev. William and Patience 
Williams of Wrentham, Mass. Mr. Tillinghast was a prosperous merchant in 
Wrentham, Mass., and held many positions of trust and was highly respected. The 
father of our subject was Benjamin Allen Tillinghast, a native of Wrentham, Mass., 
born May 6, 1799. He married Miss Julia Ann Whitney, who was born in Wrent- 
ham, Mass. ; she was the daughter of Col. Moses Whitney, a soldier in the Revolu- 
tionary war. Mrs. Tillinghast died in Troy, N. Y., March 7, 1850. To Benjamin 




RUSSELL F. BHNSON, JR., M. D. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 593 

A. Tillinghast and wife were born five children, viz.: Thomas Allen, died in Troy 
June 10, 1879; Charles Whitney (see sketch); William Henry, retired and a resident 
of New York city; Joseph J., and Alice Ann, deceased February 3, 1872. Mr. B. A. 
Tillinghast moved with his family to Troy, N. Y. , in 1830 where he engaged in the 
sale of cotton and cotton cloths and for awhile had charge of the Albia Cotton Mills, 
afterwards became a commission merchant in the sale of wheat and flour, subse- 
quently engaged in the banking and insurance business with his son, Jcseph J. 
During his business career he was recognized as among the prominent and energetic 
business men of the city. In politics he was first a Whig, afterwards a Democrat. 
In 1877 he retired from business, his death occurred Januarj^ 2, 1887. 

Joseph J. Tillinghast received an academic education in Rhode Island. His 
business career began in 1846 as clerk for Newcomb & Warren, wholesale druggists. 
He was treasurer of the Troy Savings Bank from 1851 to 1856; then went West and 
engaged in the hardware business in Keokuk Iowa, from 1857 to 1860, the firm be- 
ing Tillinghast, Lane & Buell. In 1861 he returned to Troy and engaged in the 
banking business with his father under the firm name of B. A. Tillinghast & Son. 
In 1872 he entered the hardware firm of J. M. Warren & Co. as secretary of the con- 
cern, which position he still holds. During the administration of Andrew Johnson 
he was collector of the Port of Troy. He was an active fireman of Washington Vol- 
unteer Fire Co., and held the position of assistant captain and treasurer of that com- 
pany, also trustee and treasurer of the Troy fire department for a time. He was 
the projector and one of the original stockholders of the Troy & Albia railroad and 
was its first treasurer until shortly before it changed hands. He was also treasurer 
and director in the Troy and New England Railway Co. He was treasurer and 
member of the committee of one hundred of the Troy Centennial. Socially he belongs 
to the Reform Club of New York city, the Troy Club, and is a member of the society 
of the Sons of the Revolution, being regent of the Troy Chapter. He is a member 
of St. Paul's Episcopal church, and is one of the wardens and also treasurer of that 
church; the latter position he has held for thirty-five years or more. He married, 
December 9, 1863, Miss Mary J. Sullivan of Madison, Ind., daughter of Judge Jere- 
miah Sullivan of the Supreme Court of that State ; while a member of the Legisla- 
ture Judge Sullivan suggested the name Indianapolis in the act creating that city 
the capital of the State. To Mr. and Mrs. Tillinghast were born a son and daugh- 
ter, both of whom died in infancy. Mr. Tillinghast has been an able energetic and 
successful business man, and is highly respected in the city where he has for so 
many years contributed his part to its growth and development. He is a member 
of the State Charities Aid Association of New York and is president of the Troy 
branch thereof. Politically he has always been identified with the Democratic party. 



RUSSELL F. BENSON, Jr., M. D. 

Russell F. Benson, Jr., M. D., was born in Troy, March 23, 1852. He is the only 
son of Russell F. Benson of Heath, Mass., who came to Troy from that place m 
1^32, and has been for many vears a mail carrier. He was appointed during Presi- 
75 



594 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

dent Lincoln's administration, and is the oldest man in the United States employed 
in that capacity, being now seventy-five years of age. His mother, Jane E. 
(Heermance) Benson, was born in Troy in 1824, and her family was among the 
earliest settlers in the city. 

Dr. Benson received his early education in the public schools of Troy, supple- 
mented by a course at the Business College where he graduated in 1868. He had, 
however, very early in life shown a decided taste for the study of medicine, and soon 
abandoned all thought of a mercantile career to follow the medical profession, the 
systematic pursuit of which he began under the preceptorship of Dr. J. P. Bloss of 
Troy. He entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York in Octo- 
ber, 1873, graduating in the class of 1876. The same year he entered the HomcKO 
pathic College of New York, graduating in 1877. In the summer of 1891 he went 
abroad, taking a special course of study at Vienna. Returning he resumed his 
practice in Troy. 

Dr. Benson is a member of the New York State Homceopathic Society, the Hahne- 
mannian Society of New York, the Rensselaer County Hom(copathic Medical So- 
ciety, and the Albany County Homoeopathic Medical Society. He belongs to the 
Masonic fraternity, being a Knight Templar, and he is also a member of the Mystic 
Shrine. He is likewise a member of the following clubs, viz. : The Pafraets Dael, 
the East Side and the Troy Yacht Clubs. Dr. Benson was married September 13. 
1882, to Miss Henrietta Pyre of Clifton Park, N. Y. (at St. Paul's church, Troy), by 
whom he has had two sons: Lawrence Trowbridge Benson, who died in 1886, and 
Arthur ^Vight Benson, born June 29, 1887. 



S. WALTER SCOTT, M.D. 

Dr. S. Walikk Scott was born June 15, 1846, in Rowe, Mass. He came from 
Puritan stock and can trace his ancestry back almost to the Mayflower. His father, 
Thomas Scott, was one of the leading business men of the town, a tanner and cur- 
rier by trade, carrying on an extensive business for many years; he died at the age 
of eighty-three. 

Dr. Scott early conceived the idea of adopting the medical profession, and his 
primary education was with this end in view. He has been a constant student of 
medicine, so to speak, .since he was fourteen years old. He was graduated from the 
medical department of the University of Vermont June 19, 1867, and the next month 
entered upon active practice at Fayetteville, Vt. For twenty years he followed 
the regular practice. 

When electricty came into prominence as a remedial agent. Dr. Scott spent much 
time in the investigation of its wonderful powers. He took a special course with the 
best electricians in the country, and is now the peer of any physician in the world in 
its use. In 1891 lie came to Troy and formed a copartnership with Dr. F. B. Smith; . 
after one year Dr. Smith retired, since which Dr. Scott has practiced alone and estab- 
lished the Electro-Medical Institute of Troy, with which there are connected several 
liranch oflices. 

Determined never to be second in anything, when electricity became an accepted 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 595 

remedial agent, Dr. Scott at once supplied himself with abundant apparatus. He 
has a thoroughly equipped office at the Electro-Medical Institute at No. 5 Union 
Place, Broadway, where every current of electricity known to the medical profession 
for the cure of diseases is scientifically applied. Yet Dr. Scott does not call himself 
an electric specialist ; he is a specialist, not from any mode of treatment, but be- 
cause he treats only special (nerve and chronic) diseases. He believes in and uses 
all the curative elements known to medicine. He has associated with him in busi- 
ness the celebrated eye, ear, nose and throat specialist, Dr. A. M. Fanning. 



REV. JOHN J WALSH. 

Rev. John J. Walsh was born at Deer Park, County Tipperary, Ireland, March 
15, 1847. As a consequence of a famine in Irelano, his parents emigrated to 
America, and on December 28, 1849, settled at Cohoes, N. Y. , where he received his 
early education from the Sisters of St. Joseph. He subsequently attended the 
Christian Brothers' Academy at Troy, and in September, 1863, entered the Univer- 
sity of Our Lady of Angels, at Suspension Bridge, N. Y. , where he remainea until 
he completed his studies, receiving a first prize in logic, moral philosophy, and met- 
aphysics. In September, 1866, he entered St. Joseph's Provincial Seminary, Troy, 
to pursue his ecclesiastical studies for the priesthood, and was ordained by the Rt, 
Rev. John J. Conroy, then bishop of Albany, N. Y., October 16, 1869, and was as- 
signed to duty at St. Bernard's church, Cohoes. N. Y. 

In 1878 he was selected for the pastorate of the venerable and important church of 
St. John at Albany, where his work in the development of the parish and the resto- 
ration of the church was carried on with intelligent and untiring ardor, and he was 
equally successful in every department of church work. 

In 1882 Father Walsh was promoted to the rectorship of the Cathedral at Albany 
by the Rt. Rev. Francis McNeirny. The more elevated dignity of this position 
brought increased labors which he gladly and successfully performed, continuing his 
efforts to improve the parish, both in a spiritual and temporal sense. During his 
incumbency of this important position he acted as secretary to the bishop, chan- 
cellor, and official prosecutor. 

In 1887 he was appointed to the care of St. Peter's church, Troy, where he built a 
handsome convent, and improved the entire church property, emphasizing his repu- 
tation as a preacher, and a many-sided scholar, and has been jJfominent in all public 
movements for the reformation of the city, and the protection of its good name. 
He was one of the originators and officials of the Catholic National Union, organized 
at Newark, N. J., in 1875, and was also active in the establishment of a Catholic 
Summer School, on the plan of Chautauqua. For six years he was editor of the Troy 
Catholic Weekly, and is a member of the Troy Scientific Association. 

In 1889 he made a tour through the East, and in 1896 through Spain and Southern 
France. He was one of the lecturers of the first session of the Catholic Summer 
School at New London, Conn., and was elected corresponding member of the 
Albany Institute in 1894. Rev. Father Walsh has friends among all classes, and 



5<)6 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

while he is a positive churchman, he endeavors to avoid extremes, and socially is 
respected by all persons, regardless of creed. 

His contributions to literature are multiple and replete with original information. 
Biography, history, architecture. Egyptology, geography, metaphysics, and theol- 
ogy are some of the topics touched by his versatile pen. His style is pure, clear, and 
vigorous. His treatment of a subject is strongly suggestive of a mind studious in 
the extreme and dissatisfied with beaten paths. 



REV. HERBERT C. HINDS. 

Herbert Calvin Hi.nus, A. M., pastor of the Ninth Presbyterian Church, Troy, 
N. Y., was born at Lake, now Cossayuna, Washington county, N. Y., June 22, 1857. 
He was the second son of William and Lydia (Somes) Hinds and lived with his pa- 
rents on a farm till he began his literary course for the gospel ministry. He received 
his primary education at the public schools in the vicinity of his home, and. at the 
age of seventeen, entered the State Normal School at Albany, N. Y., graduating 
from this institution, January 30, 1877, and, having completed the prescribed cour.se 
of instruction with credit, was selected by the faculty as one of ten to read an essay 
at the commencement exercises. In September, 1877, he entered the prepara- 
tory school of Westminster College, located at New Wilmington, Pa., where he 
continued his studies, taking, or successfully passing an examination in the subjects 
considered in the Third Preparatory and Freshman years, and, at the end of the 
college year, was regularly entered as a member of the class of 1881. But feeling 
that the Eastern college offered advantages and inducementsnot attainable in West- 
minster, in the fall of 1878 he entered the Boy's Academy at Albany and continued 
preparations under President Merrill E. Gates for entrance to college, and on Jan- 
uary 6, 1879, rather unexpectedly entered Union College at Schenectady, N. Y., 
where he maintained the same high standing in college work which had previously 
marked his career in college preparation, graduating with honors in the class of 1882. 
As a mark of distinction he was elected a member of the honorary society. Phi Beta 
Kappa by name, and was also selected by the faculty, on account of high standing, to 
compete on commencement day for the Blatchford medals. In the contest he re- 
ceived honorable mention. In September, 1882, he entered Pnncetou Seminary, 
Princeton, N. J., for bis theological course of instruction and received on the .Ith day 
of May, 1885, his diploma with thirty-seven other young men. During the vacations 
in the seminary course he preached at Matapedia, Quebec, and Flat Lands, N. B., 
and, at the latter place, secured the co-operation of the people in the erection of a 
church building. At both places large accessions were made to the churches and 
some reforms were instituted which have been of lasting benefit to the communities. 
Within the month of graduation he had accepted a call to, and was quietly installed 
in the work of the gospel ministry at Park Place Chapel, under the shadow of "Old 
Union," and under the auspices of Rev. T. G. Darling, D. D., and the session of the 
First Presbyterian Church of Schenectady. And here he labored with much ac- 
ceptance, thoroughly uniting the people and securing many members for the strug- 
gling organization. After a trial of ten months, it was decided (after listening to the 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 597 

report of Mr. Hinds) that it was not advisable then to organize a third Presbyterian 
church for the city and the services of a clergyman were dispensed with. During 
the following summer Mr. Hinds took an extended tour through Europe and 
gained much by study that has been valuable to him in the services in which he 
has since been engaged. In August of this same year he was engaged to assi,st 
the Rev. C. H. Baldwin, D. D., of the Second Presbyterian church of Amsterdam, 
N. Y., and continued m the discharge of the duties which devolved upon him 
by reason of the illness of the pastor for four months. In December he undertook 
the formation of another church in the w^est end of the city, holding Sunday school 
exercises and conducting evening services in a house generously put at his disposal 
by Elder David Cady. In February, 1887, the new church was organized with about 
eighty members and was christened "Emmanuel." Within three months the pastor 
had secured the pledges of the friends of the new organization for several thousands 
of dollars and lots were purchased and a church building was decided upon and the 
contracts were given for its construction. The work on the structure was not pushed 
as rapidly as anticipated, and in the fall, it was evident that the edifice would not be 
ready for occupancy till the following spring or summer. As no other place could 
be obtained for the services the work was at a stand still and, rot desiring to be a 
burden upon the society during the building period of its history, Mr. Hinds in 
September accepted a unanimous call to the pastorate of the Second Reformed church 
of Schenectady and was installed as pastor the following month. Here he labored for 
three and one half years with the same untiring zeal which had characterized his work i n 
other places. As, in every other settlement, the work was crowned with large acces- 
sions to the church membership, with an improved financial condition and with the 
erection of an addition to the chapel of the church. In January, 1891, a unanimous 
call was received from the Ninth Presbyterian church of Troy and was soon after- 
wards accepted and the labors of the new field were cheerfully assumed in March, 
the installation taking place on the 18th day of the month. During the five years of 
the present pastorate, as in the halcyon days under the leadership of Rev. N. B. 
Remick, D. D., the " Old Ninth" has been steadily marching on and the high stand- 
ing of church work has been maintained. The membership of the church has 
steadily increased till at the present the number on her roll is a litMe less than seven 
hundred, with a Sunday school membership of more than six hundred. In 1894 the 
officers of the Sunday school became painfully aware of the fact that the chapel was 
inadequate for the demands of the school and immediate steps were taken to en- 
large the capacity of the building. The chapel was accordingly raised five feet and 
commodious rooms were fitted down stairs for the use of the primary and intermediate 
departments of the school. The people have had a mind to work and are now act- 
uated with a disposition to give and soon they will "owe no man anything except 
love." Mr. Hinds is a man of liberal views, is a member of Apollo Comraandery, of 
the Knights of Pythias, Improved Order of Red Men, and other kindred societies. 
He has often been sought after for addresses and lectures at the conventions of young 
people and his voice has often been heard in the advocacy of honor and truth. He 
is a man of firm convictions and will not allow any designing person to control his 
actions. Proofs of his ministry are appearing on every hand. Wise in his methods 
and plans, his place of power is in the pulpit. Clear in thought, logical in argument, 
chaste in diction, sympathetic in delivery, his .sermons are models of directness. In- 



598 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

creasing audiences are waiting upon his ministry. He believes in doing much good 
and with as little noise as possible and one of his favorite sayings is, "Kindness 
makes friends of us all." The keynote of life is 

"Try to make others better, Love yourself last, my brother. 

Try to make others glad. Be gentle, and kind, and true, 

The world has so much of sorrow, True to yourself and others, 

So much that is hard and bad. As God is true to you." 



JAMES THOMPSON. 

Jamk.s Thompson was born in Belfast, Ireland, March 12, 1833. His parents were 
John and Mary Thompson, both natives of Scotland, whence they removed to Bel- 
fast and in 18(58 emigrated to New York city, where they spent the remainder of 
their lives, and at their deaths were buried in Greenwood Cemetery. 

Mr. Thompson was reared in Belfast, where he learned the business of manufactur- 
ing linen goods. In 1852 he arrived in New York city and until 1859 worked in a 
cotton factory. At the latter date he engaged in the same business for himself, 
which he continued in that city until 1872, when he removed to Valley Falls, N. Y., 
and established the manufacture of cotton and linen goods; in this he has been 
very successful, his business steadily increasing; he employs about 300 people. 

Mr. Thompson is the owner of about 150 acres of land, which is known as the 
Valley Stock Farm. Here he has made a business of breeding Wilkes trotting 
horses for the past eight years, having at the present time about 120 head. He is a 
true lover of fine horses, and has devoted much time, study and money to the im- 
provement of the particular strain he raises. 

In 1854 Mr. Thompson was married to Isabella Curran, a native of Belfast, Ire- 
land, by whom he had six children, as follows: Mary J., wife of Allen Milks of Val- 
ley Falls; Hannah, wife of Adam Lohnes of Valley Falls; James, jr., who married 
Carrie Smodell and lives at Valley Falls; Isabella, wife of Thomas Doran of Valley 
Falls; Eliza, wife of Francis Stover, deceased; William is at home. Mrs. Thomp- 
son died in October, 1879, and Mr. Thompson married Lucy E. Larken, by whom he 
had one son, Leslie. 



ROSWELL A. PARMENTER. 

Hon. Roswiu.i. A. Parmk-nikr was born in Pittstown, Rensselaer county, N. Y. 
He received his education in the public schools and at the Troy Conference Academy 
in Poultney, Vt., where he was graduated in January, 184(5. He then entered the 
law office of Willard, Raymond & Woodbury, in the city of Troy, and was admitted to 
practice in December, 1847. In the following spring he formed a copartnership with 
Judge Isaac McConihe, the firm name being McConihe & Parmenter. He later joined 
his brother,!". J. Parmenter, m partnersliip, under the firm name of R. A. & F. J. 




ROSWHLL A. PARMENTHR. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 599 

Parmenter, which relation continued until 1874, since which date he has practiced 
alone. 

He was elected State .senator in 1873, and served one term of two years, and was 
a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1894. He was citv attorney of Troy 
from 1871 to 1885, and subsequently corporation council of same city. In politics 
Mr. Parmenter has always been a Democrat, and is influential in the ranks of his 
party. As a lawyer he stands in the front rank among the best in the city, and is 
recognized as one of the ablest counselors in this part of the State. He brings to 
bear on the trial of a cause an acute and logical mind, and is thoroughly versed in 
the principles and precepts of the law and an able exponent of its principles. 

Mr. Parmenter was married in April, 1855, to Mary L. Reynolds of Petersburgh. 
N. Y., by whom he has one daughter, Alice M., his only living child, having lost by 
death three sons and one daughter. 



HENRY GILBERT LUDLOW. 

Henry Gilbert Ludlow, one of the most noted inventors and manufacturers of 
Troy, has been conspicuously identified with the best interests of that city for manv 
years. He was born in Nassau, Rensselaer count}', N. Y. , March 28, 1823, and is a 
son of the late Hon. Samuel B. Ludlow of Oswego, N. Y. His father was a noted 
lawyer in Western New York, and was graduated from Union College in 1809, 
having entered at the age of fourteen. He studied law in Albany and was ad- 
mitted to the bar in 1812. He practiced his profession in Nassau, later was 
the editor and proprietor of The Philadelphian, a religious paper published in Phil- 
adelphia. He settled in Oswego in 1836 as secretary of the Northwestern Insurance 
Company; was presiding judge of the Court of Common Pleas six years from 1841 ; 
was one of the founders of the Congregational church in Oswego; was prominent in 
organizing the Oswego Gas Company, and at his death April 12, 1882, the oldest 
graduate of Union College. 

Henry G. Ludlow is a descendant of an old and honorable English family on his 
father's side and one of the most noted Scottish families on the maternal side, his 
mother being Nancy Douglas, a descendant of William Douglas, who emigrated 
from Scotland to New London, Conn. From his paternal ancestor he inherits the 
business tact and commercial ability for which the best ancient English blood was 
noted: while from his mother's family there descended to him the sturdy character- 
istics of the Scotch which have resulted in his most honorable and eminent business 
successes. After receiving a preparatory education in the schools of Nassau and 
Oswego he entered Union College, taking the classical course and graduating 
with the class of 1843. Soon afterward he acted upon the advice of a friend of his 
father, went to Philadelphia and .spent some time in one of the gas works in that 
city, familiarizing himself with that business. After attaining the proficiency sought, 
he and others were associated erecting gas plants in Hartford, Conn., Pough- 
keepsie, N. Y., Bridgeport, Conn., Oswego, N. Y., and Burlington, Vt. ; Mr. Lud- 
low being the engineer. Within a year after Mr. Ludlow embarked in the enterprise 
the firm of Dungan, Steever & Co. was formed, and appreciating his high ability 



600 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

and judgment, made him an equal partner, leaving the construction of the gas 
plants for which they contracted entirely to him. 

After devoting himself to this work for about five years Mr. Ludlow, appreciating 
the need of such a contrivance, set to work to devise a straightway stop valve. In 
this undertaking he was successful and soon after the completion of his inven- 
tion patented the same. The main feature of this invention is a sliding gate, 
with a separate wedge moving up and down on its back, pressing the gate to its 
seat after the gate had ceased or nearly ceased its closing movement. In open- 
ing the valve the wedge loosens the gate before it begins to rise, thus avoiding 
much of the friction and wear of the faces of the valves and seats. The invention 
was tested for the first time in the gas works in Poughkeepsie. So well did it oper- 
ate and so great was the need for it that Mr. Ludlow decided to devote all his time 
to the manufacture of the new valves, not only for gas works but for regulating the 
flow of water, steam and oil, and in fire and yard hydrants. Therefore in 186(5 he 
became instrumental in incorporating the Ludlow Valve Manufacturing Company, 
which began operations in a shop on Second street in the village of Waterford, N.Y 
It was not long before the demand for the valve became quite general, and the busi- 
ness he founded increased rapidly. In 1872 the works were removed to Nos. 54 
to 70 Second avenue, Lansingburgh, N. Y. In 18' 6, to such great proportions 
had the business grown that a more commodious manufactory was found neces- 
sary, and a part of the plant formerly occupied by the Troy Iron and Steel 
Company in the southern part of the city of Troy was purchased and remodeled, 
and the company at once began preparations to remove thereto. Valves of all sizes 
are now made, from half an inch to five feet in diameter. The company is now said 
to be the largest manufacturer of these specialties and hydrants in the world, ship- 
ping its product to nearly every civilized country. Owmg to failing health Mr. Lud- 
low withdrew from active business in 189B, but still retains an interest in the com- 
pany. 

Though Mr. Ludlow has always been closely identified with the welfare of the 
community in which he resides and has ever shown an interest in the cause of good 
government, he has never .sought nor held any political office. His generosity alone 
has been sufficient to cause his name to live forever in the history of Troy. The 
cause of education and numerous charitable institutions have been beneficiaries at 
his hands, and in this noble work his wife has ever stood at his side. He is an elder 
in the Second Street Presbyterian church of Troy, a governor of the Marshall In- 
firmary, a trustee of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the Troy Orphan Asylum 
and the Emma Willard Seminary. He has also given frequent substantial evidences 
of his generosity toward other institutions of Troy. 

Mr. Ludlow is a gentleman of spotless character, honorable in every transaction, 
staunch to his friends and unflinching in his devotion to all that is good in life. 
Though of a retiring disposition he never loses an opportunity to make himself use- 
ful to his fellowmen. His whole life has been one of exceptional purity, free from 
the slightest taint of dishonor in any of his transactions. As a companion and friend 
his influence is helpful and elevating, and his conversation never fails to impress 
one with the cultivation of his mind as well as the purity of his character. To Mr. 
Ludlow and his wife, Harriet M., daughter of Ira Shattuck of Burlington, \'t , has 




H. B. BONTHCOU, M. U. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 601 

been born one son, Henry Shattuck Ludlow, who graduated from Williams College 
in 1895 and is now one of the proprietors and an editor of the Troy Record. 



REED B. BONTECOU, M. D. 

Reed Brockway Bontecou, Troy, N. Y., born April 32, 1824, in that city, is the 
son of Peter and Semantha (Brockway) Bontecou, of Huguenot and Scotch descent, 
respectively, and grandson of David Bontecou. He was educated at the Troy High 
school and academy, at Poultney academy, Vt., and at the Rensselaer Polytechnic 
Institute, Troy, from which he received the degree of B. N. S., in 1842; commenced 
the study of medicine in 1842, under Drs. A. G. Skilton, Thomas C. Brinsmade and 
John Wright, of Troy ; attended lectures at the Medical Department of the Univer- 
sity of the City of New York, 1844-45, and at Castleton Medical College, Castleton, 
Vt, graduating M. D. from the latter institution in May, 1847, when he at once en- 
tered into practice with his preceptor, Thomas C. Brinsmade, at Troy, N. Y. In 
1846 he made a voyage up the Amazon River, South America, passing the entire 
year exploring that region in the interests of natural science. He served through 
the cholera epidemic of 1848 at Troy, N. Y., and again, in 1858, at Troy, N. Y., when 
he used tranfusions on numerous hospital cases of the disease, being at that time 
surgeon to the Troy Hospital. 

Dr. Bontecou was commissioned surgeon of the 24th N. Y. S. militia, in 1849; en- 
tered the Federal service as surgeon of the 2d New York Volunteer Infantrv, April, 
1861, to September of the same year; was commissioned brigade surgeon and sur- 
geon of volunteers, September, 1861, to June, 1866, when he was mustered out of the 
service. Dr. Bontecou was present at the battle of Big Bethel, Va., June 10, 1861, 
and at the fight between the Monitor and Merrimac ; and at the capture of Yorktown, 
Va. ; was in charge of the Hygeia United States Army General Hospital, Fortress 
Monroe, Va., from September, 1861. until its destruction in September, 1862, when 
he was ordered to the Army of the Potomac, for duty in the surgeon-general's office. 
He was soon ordered to the Department of the South during the yellow fever, and 
was in attendance on General Mitchel, who died of that disease there, and was 
placed in charge of one of the hospitals at Beaufort, S. C, and was subsequently 
appointed chief medical officer of all the hospitals there. He was with Medical 
Director Charles H. Crane in the iron-clad attack on Fort Sumter, and was soon after 
placed in charge of the hospital steamer. Cosmopolitan, lying off Charleston, during 
the siege of that city, and collected the sick and wounded from all points below on 
the Atlantic coast, transferring them to Hilton Head, Beaufort, and New York city. 
Early in October, 1863, he was ordered to Washington, D. C, to take charge of the 
Harewood United States Army General Hospital, and was on duty there until its 
discontinuance in Maj', 1866; after that being employed on various boards of inves- 
tigation until he was mustered out in June, 1866. Dr. Bontecou was brevetted lieu- 
tenant colonel and colonel of volunteers, March 13, 1865, for faithful and meritorious 
services during the war. 

At the clo.se of the war Dr. Bontecou returned to the private practice of medicine 
at Troy, N. Y. He is a member of the Medical Society of the County of Rensselaer, 
76 



602 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

president in 1891, and again in 1892; a member of the Medical Society of the State 
of New York ; of the New York State Medical Association ; of the American Medical 
Association; of the American Surgical Association; was one of the council of the 
section on military and naval surgery and medicine of the 9th International Medical 
Congress at Washington, D. C, 1887; was a delegate to the 10th International Med- 
ical Congress, Berlin, 1890, and while abroad, in 1891, and in 1892, made a tour of 
the principal hospitals of England and the Continent. He is surgeon to Marshall In- 
firmary, Troy, since 1880, and attending surgeon to the Watervliet Arsenal, Troy, 
since 1870. 

In surgical work his more notable cases are; " Ligature of the Right Sub-Clavian 
Artery for Traumatic Aneurism," "Operation for the Radical Cure of Umbilical Her- 
nia," "Ligature of the Right Iliac Artery for Aneurism," " Ovariotomy and Hys- 
terectomy," "Lithotomy," "Tracheotomy," " Strangulated Hernia," "Operations 
for Diseases of the Appendix Vermiformis," "Inverted Uteri, Reduced by an 
Improved Method," and most of the operations in military surgerj'. He originated 
and practiced the application of photography to military surgical history ; was one 
of the largest contributors to the " Surgical History of the War," and to the Army 
Medical Museum. The Transactions of the American Medical Association, 1876, 
gives a resume of the operations on the larger joints, frequently referring to Dr. 
Bontecou as an operator. He originated a modification of PirigoiT's operation for 
the amputation for the foot; an instrument to reposit inverted uterus; a provisional 
wound dressing for military service, to be carried in the soldier's pocket, etc. For 
many years he has been president of examining board of surgeons for pensions at 
Troy. 

Married in 1849, Mi.ss Susan Northrup, of New Haven, Conn Of their children, 
Josephine is the wife of J. Lincoln Steffens of New York city; Reed Brinsmade, 
M. D. (College of Physicians and Surgeons in the City of New York, 1889), is in 
partnership with his father, Troy, N. Y. ; Louise died at the age of twenty one years; 
Anna Louise and Horatio Brinsmade died in infancy. 



THOMAS ALLEN TILLINGHAST. 

Thomas Allen Tillinghast, the eldest son of Benjamin Allen Tillinghast and 
Julia Ann Tillinghast, was born in Wrentham, Mass., November 9, 1822. In early 
childhood he came to Troy, N. Y., wit'.i his parents, where the remainder of his life 
was spent. He was educated in Troy, at Lanesboro, Mass., and at the Rensselaer 
Polytechnic Institute of Troy. Soon after entering upon his mercantile life he be- 
came prominent in the business affairs of the city and he labored unceasingly for the 
advancement of Troy's best interests. His first business venture was in connection 
with transportation. Afterwards he entered the well known firm of J. M. Warren 
& Co., hardware merchants, in which he was actively interested until the time of 
his death. He was for many years a member of the Board of Trade of Troy, of 
which he was for some time president. While an active and honored business 
life claimed most of his time, he sought and found his greatest comfort and 
pleasure in caring for and promoting the prosperity of the church; to St. John's 




^' \ 



THOMAS ALLbN TILLINGHAS 




C. WHITNEY TILLINGHAST. 2d. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 603 

church of Troy, of which he was a vestryman, he gave of his best; to the Free 
Church of the Ascension, which he was most influential in founding, he gave most 
gladly of his time and counsel. In the diocese of Albany he was one of the most 
prominent laymen ; in all its work and as a menber of the standing committee no de- 
mand upon his time ever found aught but a prompt and ready response. 

Mr. Tillinghast was married in 1847 to Miss Margaret Scott Griffith, daughter of 
Griffith P. Griffith of Troy. His five children were Julia Griffith. Alice Griffith, 
Griffith Pritchard, Charles Whitney and Jessie Scott. Of these Alice Griffith and 
Charles Whitney are still living. Mrs. Tillinghast died in 1890. Mr. Tillinghast 
died at his home in Troy, June 10, 1879, beloved and esteemed by all his friends, 
amongst whom were the poor, to whom he had so lovingly ministered. 



CHARLES WHITNEY TILLINGHAST, 2d. 

Charles Whitney Tillinghast, 2d, the son of Thomas Allen and Margaret Scott 
(Griffith) Tillinghast, was born in Troy, N. Y., November 28, 1857. His father, who 
came to Troy early in life, was the son of Benjamin Allen and Julia A. Tillinghast 
and early took a prominent place in the local, mercantile and church life of the city. 
He died in June, 1879. His mother was the daughter of Griffith P. Griffith (one of 
the best known and successful merchants of that day), and until the time of her 
death, which occurred m April, 1890, she was most active in all church and city 
charities. Mr. Tillinghast received his education, first at the Troy Academy, then at 
the Gunnery in Washington, Conn., and afterwards at St. Paul's School at Concord, 
N. H. He entered Trinity College, but because of poor health was forced to 
abandon his studies and travel in Europe for a long time. On his return to Troy,» 
in May, 1877, he entered the establishment of J. M. Warren & Co. and is now general 
manager of that house and largely interested in the mercantile affairs of his native 
city. On February 4, 1889, he was married to Marion Chittenden Clark at Spuyten- 
Duyvil-on-the-Hudson ; three children have been born to them : Margaret Chitten- 
den, Theodore Voorhees and Charles Whitney, jr. He and his wife are communi- 
cants of St. John's Episcopal church, and, like his father, has always been deeply 
interested in its welfare. He has served his time in the fire department of Troy, 
being connected with the Arba Read Steamer Company. He was president of the 
Young Men's Association and the first president of the Pafraets Dael Club. When 
it was decided to erect a monument in the city of Troy Mr. Tillinghast was made a 
member of the board of trustees of the Rensselaer County Soldiers' and Sailors' 
Monument Association. He is also a member of the Sons of the Revolution and of 
the Troy Club. In politics Mr. Tillinghast is recognized as one of the leading Re- 
publicans of the city and of this portion of the State. As a business man he stands 
in the forefront of the commercial interests of Troy and is ever ready to foster and 
encourage everything that will advance the material progress and development of 
his city. He was one of the promoters of the Committee of Public Safety and 
served on its executive board from the beginning of its existence. In June, 1877, 
he entered the National Guard of the State of New York and served in the Troy 



eo4 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Citizens Corps, 6th Separate Company, as a private, corporal, sergeant and third, 
second and first heutenant, until January, 1895, when he resigned his commission in 
the Guard. 



CHARLES W. TILLINGHAST. 

Charles W. Tillin(;hast was born May 2'i, 1824, in Greenwich, R. I. His father 
was Benjamin Allen Tillinghast, a native of Wrentham, Mass., where he received 
his education, afterwards moving to Greenwich, R. I. He came to Troy, N. Y., in 
1830. 

Charles W., the subject of this record, obtained his early education in private 
schools and then entered Kent Academy at East Greenwich, R. I. ; later he became 
a student at Talcot's private school at Lanesborough, Mass. 

In 1840 he commenced the hardware and iron business as clerk for Warrens, Hart 
& Lesley, which firm was succeeded by J. M. Warren and C. W. Tillinghast, under 
the firm name of J. M. Warren & Co. In 1887 the firm was incorporated under the 
same name and Mr. Tillinghast was chosen vice-president, having been connected 
with this firm for half a century or more. He was one of the first to start the project 
for a post-office building in Troy, obtaining the statistics and petitions for same. He 
was president of the Public Improvement Commission, also president of the Troy 
Orphan Asylum, and is connected with the Church Home, the Marshall Infirmary 
and Willard Female Seminary. He is a director in the United National Bank, vice- 
president of the Troy Savings Bank; also director in several of the large manufac- 
turing establishments of Troy, as well as in different railroad enterprises of that city. 

For many years Mr. Tillinghast has been recognized as one of the mo.st active busi- 
ness men of the city, being ever ready to lend his aid to whatever will promote the 
best interests of Troy. He is spoken of by his friends as a broad-minded, liberal 
man, affable and genial in disposition, and a man whose word is as acceptable as his 
bond. In politics he is a staunch Republican, and he and his family are connected 
with St. John's church at Troy. He was married in 1852 to Mary B. Southwick of 
Troy, by whom he has one daughter. 



CHARLES EDWARD PATTERSON. 

The history of a contemporary generation of men takes its character largely from 
the environment of circumstances; with the measure in which the lives of the indi- 
viduals constituting it become eminent or prominent, depending entirely upon sur- 
roundings, and the opportunities presented for making them so. The eminence 
attained by personalities generally manifests itself where evolving conditions so- 
cially or politicaliy furnish the ladder on which to climb, and without which devel- 
oped opportunities, minds well qualified to attain greatne.ss under emergent influ- 
ences, reach only such eminence as the circumstances of their lives will permit. 
Then as a matter of choice there are individuals well calculated to become leaders 




CHARLES W. TILLINGHAST. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 605 

who prefer to move in the more quiet avenues of thought and action, and are satis- 
fied to attain only such prominence as is thrust upon them unsought by the evi- 
dences of their ability, and mental capacity. Biographically considered it is with 
the latter class of individuals that the Hon. Charles E. Patterson of Troy, N. Y., 
the subject of this sketch, should be positioned. 

The family from whom Mr. Patterson descended was of English ancestry, who 
made New England its home long before the colonies separated from the mother 
country. His father, James H. Patterson, was the son of Ansel Patterson, a soldier 
of the Revolutionary war, as well as the war of 1812. His mother's name was Fidelia 
Howes, and she was a descendant of an English Blake family, who were amongst 
the earlier settlers of New England. Mr. Patterson was born at Corinth, Vt., May 
3, 1842, and at the present time is fifty four years old and in the prime of life. 

He received a liberal preparatory education, and entered Union College from 
which he was graduated with honors in 1860, having for his classmates the Hon. Warner 
Miller, Frank Loomis, LL. D., general counsel for the N. Y. C. & H. R. R., Will- 
iam McElroy, editor, Samuel Thayer, Ex-Minister to the Hague, and the Hon. Neil 
Gilmore of New York. Mr. Patterson selected the law as a profession, and fortu- 
nately for him it was one for which he was well fitted. Possessed of .a quick per- 
ception of things, a love of study, coupled with strong analytical mental powers, it 
enables him to make logically applicable what he knows, and what his discernment 
deduces from fact and circumstance in the trial of cases. 

He entered the law oflfice of the Hon. David L. Seymour at Troy, N. Y. , was ad- 
mitted to the bar in May, 1863, and on January 1, 1864, he became his partner and 
continued as such until the death of the latter. In making this selection Mr. Patter- 
son was very fortunate, for Mr. Seymour was recognized as one of the ablest law- 
yers in the State of New York. He had represented his district in Congress, and 
as a mark of his ability was made chairman of the Committee on Commerce, then * 
one of the most important committees of the House. Mr. Patterson had from this 
connection unusual advantages at his disposal, and he was prompt to make them 
applicable, and to profit by the great experience and knowledge of Mr. Seymour, 
which this association gave him. Under the influence of such surroundings, and 
the spur of his own inclination, Mr. Patterson soon began to develop those qualifi- 
cations which have made him known throughout the country, not only in argument 
before juries, but as an advocate in appellate courts.. 

Amongst the '^causes celebres" in which Mr. Patterson has been engaged were 
the suits which grew out of mortgage foreclosure upon the Wabash Railroad system, 
in which there were many nice points to consider, make clear and argue, as well as 
new features of law to present. Mr. Patterson's clients were a syndicate of bond- 
holders, and they were successful in all of the suits. Another important .suit in- 
volving great effort on his part, was that in which he was employed by the Rich- 
mond Railway and Electric Railway Company in a suit brought by the Baltimore 
Trust and Guaranty Company, to oppose a motion to appoint a receiver, in which 
case he succeeded against a strong array of opposing counsel. 

Mr. Patterson was the first to argue a case in the Court of Appeals under the 
statute of 1892, by which latter an appeal to a jury could be had as to the validity of 
a will from the ruling of a surrogate, and by further appeal to the Court of Appeals. 
This case, known as " Edward H. Hawke Case," being the first of its kind under the 



606 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

statute, became a prominent one. In litigation involving matters testamentary he 
has made an unusually creditable record, and particularly as to the litigation of the 
" Dennin Will," the " Roxalana Williams Will," the " Green Will " and that of Ger- 
ald Hull, all of which cases went to the Court of Appeals and in which Mr. Pat- 
terson's clients succeeded. His business is not confined to the city where he lives, 
but he has clientage in various parts of the State, and more particularly in the 
city of New York, where he is very frequently engaged as counsel. He has been 
employed in the latter capacity by the United States Life In.surance Company 
since 1891. 

Mr. Patterson has not sought political honors, they have at times sought him. He 
was the Democratic nominee for Congress from the district composed of Wash- 
ington apd Rensselaer counties (a strongly Republican one), against Walter A. Wood 
in 1878, and was defeated. He was elected to the Assembly of the State of New 
York in 1880, and reelected in the fall of 1881, when the Republicans endorsed 
Brown the labor candidate. Mr. Patterson's majority was 3,815. On his second 
election he was cho.sen speaker of the House over Thomas G. Alvord of Syracuse. 

Mr. Patterson married Fanny Maria Seymour, daughter of the late Hon. David L. 
Seymour, his former partner. A son was born to him in 1872, who died in 1893. He 
has a daughter, Sara Louise Patterson, who is now quite young. Socially, Mr. Pat- 
terson has just such a position as a well educated man of culture and refinement is 
entitled to, and upon whom nature has bestowed those ciualities which make a good 
citizen, a generous friend, and an upright man. 



DR. THOMAS J. GUY. 

Dr. Thomas J. Grv of Troy has been for nearly half a century the best known 
musician and composer of music in the city, and his fame has extended through the 
United States. 

Dr. Guy is a native of Troy, where he was born February 4, 1833. His musical 
taste and aptitude were not long in making themselves manifest. As early as 1853 
the youthful but already proficient organist evoked cordial approval from a critic so 
widely known and esteemed as the late Dr. J. G. Holland, the famous litterateur. 
Dr. Guy had gone to Westfield, Mass., to exhibit the organ constructed at Westfield 
for the Park Presbyterian church of Troy. Dr. Holland was at that time one of the 
editors of the Springfield Republican and he visited Westfield to hear the recital. 
Dr. Holland wrote of the youug Trojan performer: " He astonished every one. He 
is a young man not over twenty, but his execution would have been honorable to the 
most celebrated players of the country. It exhibited long practice and most de- 
cided musical genius." 

Forty-three years ago Dr. Guy began a most remarkable record of continuous 
service as a church organist, when he became organist of St. Joseph's church in 
Troy. When the authorities of the church solicited the young musician to take the 
charge of the church music, he was promised that the edifice would have anew organ 
worthy of his powers. When the thousands of dollars that were to be expended for 




THOMAS J. GUY, MUS. D. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 607 

the new instrument were told to Dr. Guy it seemed to him, to use his own words, 
"like Aladdin's dream." He accepted the invitation, and under his direction was 
built a cathedral organ with fifty-four stops and a thirty-two foot pedal pipe, a won- 
der to all the church organ builders of that day, and still one of the grandest instru- 
ments in size and tone in America. The organ was completed in 1858 and for two 
score years Dr. Guy has been the sole master of its keys; it has sounded the noblest 
harmonies of the greatest composers, and on festival occasions, such as Christmas 
or Easter days, the music loving from all parts of the city have thronged to hear the 
music at St. Joseph's. Dr. Guy conducts St. Jo.seph's church choir as well as being 
the organist. The choir has ninety voices and is celebrated for its well-trained effi- 
ciency. The choir is aided by a chime of twenty-five bells sounded by an expert 
carilloneur. Here for these many years the consecrated walls have resounded with 
the sweetest and most majestic harmonies to which the souls of devout composers 
have been stirred. 

So far as his service at St. Joseph's church permitted, the other churches have 
sought the benefits of Dr. Guy's commanding capacity as an organist. For more 
than twenty-five years he was organist at the five o'clock service at St. Paul's Epis- 
copal church of Troy. For two years Dr. Guy was organist at St. John's church, 
when Rev. Henry C. Potter, now bishop of the Protestant Episcopal diocese of New 
York, was rector of the church. Dr. Guy was also organist of Christ church in 
1869, when the present organ of the church was built under his supervision. Dr. 
Guy's services at organ recitals, opening exhibitions of organs and at any occasion 
where the highest class of music is desired have been in demand not only throughout 
this State but in all parts of the Union. 

Dr. Guy's ability to lead large bodies of singers early secured for him the director- 
ship of what was for years Troy's principal choral organization, the Oratorio So- 
ciety. Under Dr. Guy's baton were pror'.uced with conspicuous succes"^ such massive* 
works as Handel's " Judas Maccabaeus," "Samson" and "Joshua," and Rossini's 
" Stabat Mater." The production of "Joshua" was the first in America. 

Dr. Guy's power as a pianist is, so far as the possibilities of that instrument will 
permit, equal to his proficiency as an organist. He has a noble baritone voice, and 
during his entire connection with St. Joseph's church has been sole baritone of the 
choir. His life has been busy with attention to his numerous pupils in vocal and in- 
strumental music, and not a few who have themselves attained distinction in the 
"art divine" trace their success to the thorough tuition of Dr. Guy. 

The greatest success of Dr. Guy has been attained in the highest field of musical 
accomplishment, which is not that where executive ability or teaching force will suf- 
fice, for the composer is greater than any of his interpreters. 

Dr. Guy's compositions for the organ and piano are the spontaneous outpourings 
of genius, and are not the labored imitations on which some writers rest their title 
to fame. His latest work to leave the publisher's hands is a Grand Mass for solo 
quartette and chorus, with organ accompaniment, published in 1895. Other com- 
positions include a Magnificat, an organ transcription of the " Vesper Hymn," an 
organ transcription of Liszt's " Rakocsy March," and for the piano, "The March of 
the Conquerors," "Impromptu in A Minor," " Eclectic Waltz," " Etude Waltz" and 
"Caprice Rustique." Dr. Guy set to music for an Odd Fellows' celebration in Troy 
in 1854 Thomas Campbell's poem " Friendship, Love and Truth." This quartette is 



608 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

still frequently sung on the festal occasions of the fraternity to which it is dedicated. 
In 1867 Dr. Guy dedicated the " Zeta Psi Polka" to the chapter in Troy, and the 
composition won immediate popularity. 

St. John's College, Fordham, bestowed upon Dr. Guy in June, 1870, the deserved 
degree of Doctor of Music. 

Dr. Guy is held in high esteem as a citizen. His acquaintance with the best 
principles and methods of instruction was recognized when in 1860 he was elected a 
member of Troy's School Board, a position which he held for six years. Ten years 
ago he was re elected and he has held the office continiiously .since, having for most 
of the time been president of the board. 

Dr. Guy's impressive presence and courteous address make him a noteworthy 
figure everywhere, and his faithful adherence to the best standards of musical ex- 
pression places him high in the ranks of those who have made art a minister of 
divine things. 



LEWIS E. GRIFFITH. 

Hon. Lewis E. Gkiikhii is the youngest child of Theophilus and Ellen (Delehanty) 
Griffith, born in Troy, September 12, 1847. His father was for many years a dry 
goods merchant and was assisted therein by the mother, a woman of genius and un- 
tiring energy. Lewis received his early education under the tutelage of the Rev. J. 
Ireland Tucker, D.D., at the School of the Holy Cross, and subsequently at the 
Jonesville (Saratoga county) Academy, and was prepared for college by William H. 
Scram of the Sand Lake Institute. 

In October, 1864, having passed his seventeenth birthday and succeeded in his 
preliminary examinations for admission to college, he determined to take part in the 
great struggle for the national existence of his country. His age precluded his en- 
listment without the consent of his parents, and this was withheld from him for some 
time. After repeated efforts Lewis received from Gov. Horatio Seymour a condi- 
tional commission to recruit soldiers for the army, and after nearly three months of 
hard labor, he succeeded in having one hundred men placed to his credit. Again he 
was required to present the parental consent before he could be mustered into the 
service, and it was only after long and earnest entreaties that they consented that 
their youngest child and only son might be a soldier. The opposition of his parents 
greatly delayed him, but Gov. Reuben E. Fenton commissioned him a second lieu- 
tenant of Co. G, lJ)2d Regt. N. Y. Volunteers, and he succeeded in reaching the 
field and was in command of Co. H, of his regiment, facing his country's enemy be- 
fore Lee surrendered. Afterwards he served as aid-de-camp on the staff of Major- 
Gen. Thomas W. Egau and was subsequently detailed for duty at the headquarters 
of Major-Gen. Thomas W. Emory at Wheeling, W. Va., to assist in the muster out 
and discharge of soldiers. 

After his discharge from the army he continued his studies for several months un- 
der Dr. Joseph D. Lomax, after which he became a student in the law offices of 
Kellogg & Merritt, where he continued his law studies until November, 1868, when 




CHARLHS H. HARTWHLL. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 609 

he was admitted to practice as an attorney. In 1870 he became the law partner of 
Henry A. Merritt and continued as such until 1874. 

Mr. Griffith has always been a Democrat in politics and has served in several im- 
portant offices. Was city clerk from 1871 to 1873 ; police magistrate from 1876 to 
1882; assistant district attorney from 1882 to 1885; district attorney from 1888 to 
1890, and county judge from 1890 to 1897. He has been quite prominent in social 
and fraternal societies. He is a member of the Troy Club and has been a member 
of Trojan H. & L. Co., No. 3, since September 6, 1866; of Jerusalem Lodge No. 355, 

F. A. M., of Lansingburgh, since 1870; of Post G. L. Willard No. 34, Dept. N. Y., 

G. A. R., since 1870, and has served as commander thereof over ten years. He has 
been the .recipient of many honors in the G. A. R.— served as judge advocate of the 
Dept. of New York, inspector-general on the staff of Gen. R. A. Alger, commander- 
m-chief, and was elected as delegate to six national encampments; was one of the 
organizers of the Troy Lodge B. P. O. Elks No. 141, and has served as chairman 
of the committee on laws and appeals and as a grand trustee in the Grand Lodge. 
He has been an active member and a moving spirit in the New York State Firemen's 
Association and was one of the projectors of the Firemen's Home at Hudson, N. Y., 
and was one of the governors thereof for several years. 

Mr. Griffith is peculiarly a trial lawyer, and his greatest forensic efforts have been 
in jury trials. His manner is both earnest and eii'ective. He was married to 
Georgiana Spotten of Lansingburgh, December 20, 1871. The issue of the marriage 
has been two children, son and daughter. 



CHARLES E. HARTWELL. 

Charles E. Hartwell was born August 16, 1850, at Pittstown, N. Y. His father, 
Rev. Foster Hartwell, was a Baptist clergyman, who was born in February, 1806, at 
Conway, Mass., and married Augusta M. Wheelock of that place. Both the Hart- 
wells and the Wheelocks were old New England families and the former were de- 
scended from William Hartwell, who came from England to Massachusetts Bay 
colony in 1636 and was one of the original settlers of Concord, Mass. When Charles 
E. Hartwell was five years of age his parents removed to Westerlo, Albany county, 
where they resided for about four years. They then took up their residence in New 
Baltimore, Greene county. During the Civil war, Rev. Foster Hartwell served as 
chaplain of the 120th New York Volunteers for a period of about a year and a half, 
being compelled to retire from the service on account of ill health. His son, Dwight 
W. Hartwell, was also a Union soldier and was killed at Hatcher's Run, near Peters- 
burg, Va. Rev. Foster Hartwell died in 1869, in which year Charles E. Hartwell 
removed to Troy. He had attended the common schools in New Baltimore and con- 
tinued his education for a time in the night schools of Troy. In 1875 he became 
superintendent in the collar factory of Miller & Bingham, and acted in that capacity 
for a number of years. In 1880 he acquired an interest in the concern and in 1884 
became a partner, the firm name being changed to Miller, Hall & Hartwell. The 
firm has continued unchanged since that time and is one of the largest shirt and col- 
77 



610 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

lar manufacturing concerns in the world. Mr. Hartwell is a resident of Lansing- 
burgh and is a charter member and director of the Riverside Club of that place. He 
is a Republican in politics and in 1896 was elected a trustee of schools. In 1876 Mr. 
Hartwell married Miss P^lorine A. Aldridge, of Newburgh, N. Y., a daughter of 
Alfred and Harriet (Chadwick) Aldridge, of Bristol, R. L To them have been born 
six children: Hattie E., Foster, Harold G., Walter T., Justus M., and Alfred; the 
eldest child is deceased. 



JACOB F. STOLL. 

Jacob F. Stoll was born in Wolfshlugen. Wurtemberg, Germany, August 16, 1831, 
came to America in 1850, and was married in New York city on October 6. 1851, to 
Frederica K. Ernst, who was born in Germany in 1833. After living in New York, 
Buffalo, Lockport and Saratoga, they settled m Troy in 1857, and the same year Mr. 
Stoll formed a partner.ship with A. L. Ruscher, under the firm name of Ruscher & 
Stoll, and started a brewery on Fourth street where Ruscher's brewery now stands. 
Mr. Stoll was a practical brewer and cooper. In 1864 he sold his interest in this 
establishment, and in the spring of 1865 purchased the old Coup brewery on the Hol- 
low road, now Spring avenue, of which he remained the proprietor until his death 
on January 16, 1888. He rebuilt practically the entire plant, enlarged its capacity, 
and by adopting the best modern methods of manufacture made it one of the most 
complete and efficient breweries in the country. The concern was originally started 
in 1855, when the yearly output was about 100 barrels of beer. He increased the 
capacity until in 1895 it produced more 10,000 barrels of the finest beer in the market. 
At the time of his death in 1888 it was producing more than 5,000 barrels annually. 
After that his widow conducted the establishment until July 1, 1895, when the Stoll 
Brewing Company was incorporated with Mrs. Frederica A. Stoll, president, and 
Frederick A. Stoll, secretary and treasurer. Mr. Stoll was a successful business man, 
and enjoyed universal respect and confidence. He was one of the foremost of Troy's 
German citizens. He was a prominent member of St. Paul's German Evangelical 
church, the Order of Druids, the I. O. O. F., the K. of P., the Canustatter Volksfest 
Verein, the Saengerbund and Mannerchor of Troy, the Deutcher Sterbe Casse 
Verein, and the Fidelio Quartette Club of Lansingburgh. He had six children: Ed- 
ward J. (deceased), Mrs. Birkmayer, Mrs. Charles R. Alber, Mrs. Gustav Schock 
(deceased), Mrs. Berna'rd Molahn, and Frederick A. Frederick A. Stoll was born in 
1873, was educated at the La Salle Institute, and from the first has taken an active 
part in the business of the brewery, becoming by degrees thoroughly conversant 
with every detail and with the entire process of manufacture. 



IRA R. TRAVELL. 

Ira R. Travkll was born in Schoharie county, N. Y., .September 21, 1836. He is 
the grandson of Circuit Travell, a native of London, England, who came to Albany 




JACOB F. STOLL. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 611 

county about 1800, and later removed to Schoharie county where he bought a tract 
of land; he died there in 1841, and his wife Judith in 1846, aged seventy-one years. 
The parents of Ira R. were John and Celecta (R(?se) Travel!, he born in Albany and 
she in Schoharie county. The former, a farmer, died in Schoharie county May 27, 
1862, and the latter July 4, 1887. 

Ira R. Travell was brought upon his father's farm and obtained his scholastic 
knowledge in the common school and at the Gilboa Seminary in Schoharie county. 
When sixteen years of age he came to Troy and obtained a clerkship in the grocery 
house of Bosworth & Holmes. In 1856 he entered the employ of Joseph H. Jackson 
& Co. as bookkeeper at the Albany Iron Works store. The following year he pur- 
chased Mr. Jackson's interest in the business, and the new firm name became McCoy 
& Co. In 1869 he sold his interest to J. McCoy and purchased an interest in the 
wholesale boot and shoe house of Henry E. Weed & Co., forming the firm of Weed, 
Haskell & Travell. This connection continued for three years when the firm became 
Travell & Johnson. About two years later Mr. Travell sold out to Johnson and 
engaged in the manufacture of shirts and collars at Nos. 710-712 River street. 

In 1880 his factory was destroyed by fire, when he removed to Pittstown upon a 
farm of 143 acres. He is interested in real estate and owns a number of buildings 
in Troy. He has been eminently successful and alone has been the architect of his 
fortune. He is now assessor of Pittstown, serving his third term. For seven years 
he served in the old Troy fire department, one year as vice-president. He is a mem- 
ber of King Solomon Lodge F. & A. M. No. 78. 

Augusts, 1859, Mr. Travell was married by the Rev. N. S. S. Beman to Elvira A. 
Pierce, a native of Troy, born July 26, 1884, daughter of Hiram D. and Sarah J. 
(Wiswell) Pierce, he a native of Columbia county and she of Troy. The former 
died May 19, 1866, and the latter February 15, 1886. Mrs. Travell was graduated 
from the Emma Willard Seminary, and was preceptress of the Troy Conference 
Academy at Poultney, Vt. 

In 1876 Mrs. Travell hired a room on Twelfth street, Troy, and organized a union 
Sunday school, of which her son, C. Howard, is superintendent; Ira R. was also 
superintendent of this school for seventeen years. Mrs. Travell was also the origi- 
nator of the Sunday school from which sprang the Woodside church. 

Mr. and Mrs. Travell have had five children, as follows: Jessie C, born January 
28, 1862, died January 19, 1865. Charles Howard, born August 22, 1865, was gradu- 
ated from Troy High School, Williams College and Albany Medical College, and is 
now a practicing physician in Troy. Ira Winthrop, born January 17, 1868, was 
graduated from Troy High School, Williams College and took a post-graduate 
course at Cornell; he taught two years in the academy at Malone, N. Y., and is now 
principal of Plainfield (N. J.) High School. John Willard, born November 5, 1869, 
prepared for college at Troy High School and was graduated from Williams College, 
was a student of the Albany Medical College and is now house physician of the 
Albany County Hospital. Warren Bertram, born July 20, 1872, prepared for Williams 
College at the Troy High School and was graduated from the Troy Polytechnic In- 
stitute in 1894; he is now engineer inspector of public works. New York cit}'. Ira 
Winthrop Travell married Miss Belle Ansley, of Geneva, N. Y., a graduate of the 
Troy Female Seminary; they had one son, Ralph Winthrop, who died June 28, 1896. 



(512 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

CHARLES M. POTTER. 

Charles M. Potter was born in the town of Brunswick, N. Y., June 23, 1823, a 
son of Henry and Eunice (Filkins) Potter, natives of Brunswick. Henry was a son 
of Josiah, who was born in Providence, R. L, in 1744, married Mercy Manchester, 
in 1769 for his first wife, and second, Weltha Arnold. Eunice Filkins was a daugh- 
ter of Henry and Jerusha (Smith) Filkins; the former, accompanied by his brothers 
Israel and Cornelius came from Dutchess county and settled in Pittstown previous 
to 1779. Henry Potter had a family of twelve children: Josiah, Eliza, Emeline, 
Harriet, William, Charles M., Julia, Jane, and four deceased. They were all born 
in Rensselaer county. 

Charles M. Potter was a public-spirited man, interested in all good works; although 
not an office-seeker, he was active in town and county affairs. He was a self-made 
man, and by his own exertions secured a competency. He married on November 7, 
1854, Adelia, daughter of David P. and Catherine Coons, natives of Brunswick. 
David P. Coons was a son of Philip and Elizabeth (Wheeler) Coons, and descended 
from the Puritans of German stock. 

Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Potter had six children, as follows: Mary Kate (de- 
ceased), Harry W. , Medora C, wife pf Dr. Edward Welch, of Sutton, Mass. ; Eunice 
A., wife of Miles E. Hodges of Wilton, N. Y. ; Stephen M., married Jessie Mambert; 
and J. Howard, married Pearl Woodin, of Albany county. 

Charles M. Potter died November 29, 1889. 



CHARLES W. REYNOLDS. 

Chaki.es W. Reynolds was born in Petersburgh, Rensselaer county, N. Y., Feb- 
ruary 8, 1848. He is descended from William Reynolds of Providence, R. L, who, 
on Augu.st 20, 1637, with twelve others, signed the following compact: 

We, whose names are here under, desire to inhabit in the town of Providence, do promise to 
subject ourselves in active and passive obedience to all such orders or agreements as shall be 
made for public good of the body, in an orderly way by the major assent of the present inhab- 
itants, masters of families incorporated together into a town fellowship, and such others whom 
they shall admit unto them, only in civil things. ' 

The great-grandfather of Charles W^., William W. Reynolds, came from Westerly 
R. 1., and settled in Petersburgh in 1780. Prior to this, in 1777, it is said, he took 
his gun and as a volunteer without pay served in the defense of his country against 
the English, at the battle of Bennington. He spent his remaining days in Petersburgh, 
and became prominently identified in public affairs, being supervisor and magistrate 
for many years. 

' "The government established by these primitive settlers of Providence was an anomaly in 
the history of the world. At the outset it was a pure democracy, which for the first time guarded 
jealously the rights of conscience by ignoring any power in the body politic to interfere with those 
matters that concern man and his Maker. Principle, not precedent, formed their only standard 
of judgment. Could the record of their proceedings have been preserved (meetings were held 
monthly), with what interest should we now peruse the debates of this earlie.st of modern democ- 
racies!— Arnold's History of Rhode Island. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 613 

The grandfather of the subject was Parley Reynolds, who was born in Peters- 
burgh in 1780. He became a merchant and for many years, in partnership with his 
brother Thomas, conducted an extensive and profitable business in Petersburgh. 
He took an active interest in politics and served his town on the Board of Supervisors, 
etc. He had five sons and two daughters, and to each of his sons he gave a good 
farm and assisted his daughters in other ways. 

William W. Reynolds, the father of Charles W., was born September 25, 1816, and 
died June 4, 1876, devoted his whole life to farming at which he was eminently suc- 
cessful. Like his ancestors he became prominently identified with public affairs, 
efficiently filling the office of supervisor and other minor positions in the gift of his 
townsmen ; he was a Democrat. He was married to Mary (born January 14, 1825), 
daughter of Braddock Peckham, jr. (born June 4, 1781, died January 7, 1834), and 
granddaughter of Braddock Peckham, sr. (born May 4, 1757, died January 9, 1830), 
who was a soldier in a Rhode Island regiment during the Revolutionary war. Pre- 
vious to this service he was second in command in an expedition composed of patri- 
otic citizens of Wickford, R. I., that made a prisoner of the British General Prescott, 
July 10, 1777, at Newport, R. I. ; the prisoner was delivered to General Washington 
at Newburgh by the same party, and on July 18, 1777, was exchangad for Major- 
General Harry Lightfoot Lee. At the close of his connection with this duty, he came 
to the valley of the Little Hoosick, looking for a future home. He had but just ar- 
rived when Captain Hull's company was being formed to go to the relief of General 
Stark at Bennington; he joined this company, was made lieutenant and served in 
that capacity at the battle of Bennington and continued with the company until 
after the battle of Bemis Heights and the surrender of Burgoyne, when the company 
was disbanded; he then joined the command of General Gates and with that little 
army of 1,500 marched away to New Jersey. He was at the defeat at Brandywine 
and on the bloody field of Monmouth. He remained with General Gates's command' 
until the latter was superseded by Gen. Nathaniel Greene, and with him saw the 
surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. At the termination of the war he returned to 
his home in Rhode Island, and in 1786, accompanied by his brother Abiel, came to 
the beautiful valley of the Little Hoosick and there reared a family of thirteen chil- 
and where many of his descendants still reside. 

The ancestor of Braddock Peckham was John Peckham of Newport, R. I., who 
was admitted an inhabitant May 20, 1638; he married Mary Clarke, who was a sis- 
ter of the Rev. John Clarke from Bradfordshire, England, "one of the ablest men of 
the seventeenth century and a founder of Rhode Island." In 1648 John Peckham 
was one of the ten male members in full communion of the First Baptist church. His 
residence in 1655 was in that part of Newport which afterwards became Middletown, 
and a stone marked "J. P." (on land owned by William F. Peckham) is supposed to 
mark his grave. 

Charles W. Reynolds giew to manhood on his father's farm, and obtained his ed- 
ucation in the common schools, at Fort Edward Institute and Alfred Lhiiversity. 
When twenty-one years of age his father assisted him in purchasing an interest in 
a general store in the village of Petersburgh in partnership with David H. Kelyer, 
where they soon after, in connection with their mercantile interests, began the man- 
ufacture of shirts by contract, and with such encouraging success that in 1874 they 
sold their store and engaged exclusively in the manufacture of shirts on their own 



614 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

account, in which undertaking they have been successful as well as furnishing em- 
ployment to a large number of people. Mr. Reynolds makes the village of Peters- 
burgh his home, but spends the winters at his Albany residence, where his children 
enjoy greater educational facilities. 

In 1874 he married Lucy M. Gifiord, born December 7, 1856, a native ot Albany 
and daughter of Alonzo (born in March, 1832) and Mary J. (Hakes) Giffurd (born 
August 4, 1835), who has borne him five children, as follows: William G., born 
August 12, 1875; George T., born September 21, 1878; Grace, born December 31, 
1880; Alonzo P., born January 21, 1886; and Noyes, born April 8, 1891. 

Mr. Reynolds has traveled extensively over the United States, and in 1891, ac- 
companied by his son William G., was of the party ot over two hundred Knights 
Templar who visited Europe, sojourning in all the princijjal places of interest in that 
country. 

In the spring of 1896 Mr. Reynolds was elected supervisor of Petersburgh without 
opposition, and takes great pride in the fact that he was so honored, after his great- 
grandfather, grandfather and father had held the same positions. 



ANDREW M. CHURCH. 

Andrew M. Church was born July 25, 1838, at Shushan, Washington county, N.Y. 
He is a descendant in the third generation of Jonathan Church, and in the fourth 
generation from Peregrine White, who came to New England in the Mayflower. 
His father, Leonard Church, was born October 13, 1795, and died in October, 1866. 

Andrew M. Church left home when eleven years of age and began clerking in a 
country store. March 1, 1856, he came to Troy and entered the dry goods store of 
George Bristol as cashier. In 1863 he was admitted as a partner with Mr. Bristol 
under the firm name of George Bristol & Co. In 1868, upon the death of Mr. Bristol, 
his interest reverted to the latter's sister and the business was continued under the 
same firm name until 1880. In 1887 the firm was reorganized as a stock company 
with §100,000 capital and called The A. M. Church Company, which is under the sole 
management of Mr. Church. 

Mr. Church is a director in the Troy National P)ank and the Citizens' Steamer 
Line; one of the governors of the Marshall Infirmary, and president of the Star 
Knitting Mills at Cohoes. He has for many years been recognized as one of the 
most active and enterprising business men of Troy, having been successful in all his 
varied undertakings. Mr. Church is a Mason and a member of Apollo Chapter and 
Bloss Council; politically he has always been a Republican. He is a member of the 
First Baptist church, of which he is one of the trustees. 

October 3, 1S66, he was married to Jennie Bush of Joliet, 111., by whom he has two 
sons Fred B., a graduate of Troy Polytechnic Institute, and as a civil engineer is 
at present connected with a large firm of contracting engineers in New York; and 
Frank L., who is superintendent of The Andrew M. Church Company. 




ANDREW M. CHURCH. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 615 

MARTIN BAUCUS. 

Martin Baucus was born in Pittstown, N. Y., June 24, 1828, and died in the same 
town November 16, 1895. His parents were William I and Phoebe (Stover) Baucus, 
both born in Rensselaer county, and his grandfather was John Baucus, one of the 
earl}? settlers of Schaghticoke. 

William I. Baucus was born in Schaghticoke and when tweuty-five years of age 
removed to Pittstown where he resided until his death. He was a director in the 
old Market Bank of Troy, and was one of the prominent men of the town, highly 
esteemed and upright in all his dealings. He was active in his assistance to the gov- 
ernment during the Rebellion, and advanced considerable money in securing enlist- 
ments. He died July 22, 1867, and his wife survived him until August 22, 1873. 

Martin Baucus received his education in the common schools and at Warner's pri- 
vate school. He followed his chosen vocation of farming all his life and was the 
owner of 168 acres of land when he died. Politically he was a Republican. He was 
an energetic, stirring man, and was active in every movement that promised benefit 
to the community in which he lived. He died November 16, 1895. 

Sarah A. Gifford, wife of Martin Baucus, was born in Schaghticoke, the daughter 
of Ira and Susan (Cornell) Gifford, born in Dutchess county and Easton, N. Y., re- 
spectively. Her paternal grandfather was Elihu Gifford of Dutchess county, who 
was one of the early settlers of Easton, where he died. Ira Gifford died May 12, 
1867, and his wife Susan February 1, 1879. 

To Martin and Sarah A. Baucus were born three children, as follows: Elizabeth, 
wife of Vincent F. Long of Sycamore, 111.; Caroline G., who died March 19, 1878, 
aged eleven years and twelve days; and Amanda B., who is living at home with her 
mother on the homestead farm. 



W. F. TAYLOR. 

Hon. W. F. Taylor was born in Berlin, Rensselaer county, N. Y., October 5, 
1830. He was educated in Berlin and in Adams, Jefferson count}'. On reaching 
manhood he had but little capital, but possessed ample capacity and plenty of energy 
and ambition, and graduall} established himself in business, both manufacturing 
and mercantile, in which he has been quite successful. At the time of his death, 
April 3, 1896, he was engaged in the manufacture of shirts and collars, and also ope- 
rated quite extensively in real estate. 

Previous to 1860 Mr. Taylor was a Democrat, but, as was the case with many 
others, the slavery question and the issues involved in the war, impelled him to join 
the ranks of the Republicans and vote for Abraham Lincoln. 

In the spring of 1874 he was elected supervisor of Berlin without opposition, being 
the second Republican supervisor chosen in that town during a period of sixteen 
years. In the spring of 1876 he was again elected to the same office without oppo- 
sition and was tendered the chairmanship of the board, an honor, however, which 
he declined in favor of a personal friend in his district. 

His nomination for assemblyman in the fall of 1874 was entirely unsought on his 



616 - LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

part, and it was a discouraging fact that his opponent, Augustus Peebles, was a 
popular and worthy man in every respect; however, he went into the fight with his 
usual energy and succeeded in increasing the Republican majority in his district by 
160 votes; in his own town which polled 525 votes he received all but eighty-one, a 
fact which indicates quite conclusively the estimation in which he was held by his 
townsmen. The Troy Press, a Democratic paper, in commenting upon the result 
shortly after the election, said: "Mr. Peebles made a gallant fight, but he had a 
strong opponent in Mr. Taylor, who is deservedly popular. There are few men who 
could have beaten Mr. Peebles, and Mr. Taylor deserves an ovation from his party 
for doing it." He was re-elected in 1875 by a majority of 728, and increase of 192 
votes over the previous year. He received the unanimous vote of the nominating 
convention aud was the third member from his district returned for a second term. 

Mr. Taylor always retained the confidence of his party. In 1880 he was elected 
alternate with Hon. John M. Francis to the Chicago convention which nominated 
James A. Garfield for president. He was a great admirer of Roscoe Conkling, and 
when the latter and Mr. Piatt resigned their seats in the United States Senate, Mr. 
Taylor gave his active aid at Albany for their re-election. 

During the war Mr. Taylor rendered valuable assistance and aided his brother in 
raising a company in his town, which joined the 125th Regiment as Co. B, with 
Charles H. Taylor as first lieutenant. The town of Berlin contested the validity of 
$46,000 of railroad bonds, the litigation lasting about thirteen years ; Mr. Taylor aided 
the council of the town all these years without compensation. A final settlement was 
made with a saving to the town of over $40,000. 

Mr. Taylor's last effort for his town came to an adjustment February 14, 1896. The 
supervisor of the town had caused to be audited $2,100 to various persons on claims 
for exemptions from ta.xes paid by them over thirty years since. Mr. Taj-lor caused 
a special town meeting to be called to investigate the matter; on presentation of the 
case the taxpayers of the town were indignant. Mr. Taylor was appointed one of 
the committee of three, and money was appropriated to defend the town. There 
being no law for such a claim, the town was saved from paying this and other claims 
for which arrangements had been made to charge to the town. 

In 1852 Mr. Taylor was married to Sarah G. Denison, by whom he had three 
children: Fannie wife of Judson Cowee of Berlin; Tracy D., who married Jennie 
Halbert; and one who died in infancy. Mrs. Taylor died in 1885, and in 1887 he was 
married to Mrs. Mary L. Morton of Bennington, Vt. 



GEORGE F. BOND 

Georck F. Bond was born in Essex county, England, in 1837, and was brought to 
this country by his parents when very young. His father, Richard Bond, who was 
a railroad contractor, dock builder, etc., in England, came to this country and settled 
in Troy, where he entered the employ of Orrs & Co., paper manufacturers, as fore- 
man, and was afterwards engaged as superintendent of construction with Morrison, 
Colwell & Page; he died in 1894. His mother, Mary (Smee) Bond, died in 1860. 




GEORGE F. BOND. 




ALBtkT M. WRIGHT, M. D. S. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 617 

George F. received a common school education and afterwards learned the car- 
penter's trade ; he later went to work for Cooper & King in the ice business. Cooper 
& Kmg dissolved partnership in 1859, and he took an interest in the business under 
the firm name of B. Cooper & Co., which has been an incorporated company since 
November 5, 1894. They have an extensive wholesale and retail ice business. 

He served as alderman of the Tenth and Thirteenth wards for several terms. He 
is a member of Apollo Lodge No. 13, F. & A. M. He has been cla.ss leader in the 
Grace M. E. church for twelve years and is now serving as trustee- of the same. He 
is secretary and treasurer of The B. Cooper & Co. Mr. Bond is in every sense what 
may be called a self-made man ; beginning at the foot of the ladder, he has worked, 
his way upward to his present position. 

He was married to Almeda M. Dutcher, of Troy, December 5, 1865. They have 
three children. 



ALBERT M. WRIGHT, M. D. S. 

Dr. Albert M. Wright was born in Middle Granville, N. Y., in 1848. He at- 
tended tbe'common schools and afterwards was a student at Cambridge Academy. 
He began the study of dentistry with Dr. Cotton, of Cambridge, and afterwards 
studied with Dr. Young, of Troy. After passing an examination before the Board 
of Censors of the State Dental Society, the degree of M. D. S. was conferred upon 
him. He opened an office in Troy in 1880. 

He is a member of the Troy Scientific Association, the Troy Microscopical Society, 
the Third District Dental Society for twenty-four years, the New York State Dental 
Society for twelve years, and was a member of the Board of Censors; when the Board 
of Censors went out of existence in 1895, it was followed by the Board of Examiners, 
of which he is a member. 

He is a member of King Solomon's Primitive Lodge, Apollo Chapter No. 48 (of 
which he is past high priest), Bloss Council No. 14, Apollo Commandery (of which 
he is prelate), and of Oriental Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is a member of the 
Pafraets Dael, Republican and Good Government Clubs. 

He married Miss Mary Hart, of Troy, in 1880. 



FRED A. PLUM. 

Fred A. Plum was born in Troy in 1842. His early ancestors on the paternal side 
settled in New Jersey and were among the original settlers of the city of Newark ; 
those on the maternal side settled in Massachusetts about 1700. His great-grand- 
father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His father, David B. Plum, was born 
in Newark, N. J., and came to Trov when a young man, and was for many years 
associated with his brother Elias in the leather business, under the firm name of 
E. & D. B. Plum; he died July 15, 1851. His mother, Leonora (Whittaker) Plum, 
was for many years the leading sopranoin the choir of the First Presbyterian church ; 
she died in 1843. 

78 1 



618 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Fred A. Plum was educated in the public schools of Troy and the Troy Academy 
and was graduated from Essex Seminary, Essex, Conn.', in 1859. He then entered 
the employ of his uncle, Oliver A. Arnold, in the coal trade as bookkeeper. He later 
engaged in the retail rubber business at 190 River street, Troy, in which he contin- 
ued until 1864. He is the only man who ever issued money made of india rubber; 
during the war of the Rebellion he issued 65,000 one cent pieces, none of which was 
ever oflfered for redemption, the presumption being that they were retained by 
holders as historic relics. He later accepted a position with the New Jersey Car 
Spring and Rubber Co. of Jer.sey City, and has been in charge of the .sales of that 
company in New York and Pennsylvania for twenty-four years at the time this sketch 
was written. 

Mr. Plum is past master of Mt. Zion Lodge, F. & A. M., and is a member of 
Apollo Chapter, Bloss Council, Apollo Commandery, the Scottish Rite bodies, the 
Mystic Shrine, and the Sons of the Revolution. He sang in the First Presbyterian 
church for thirteen years. 

May 10, 1864, he married Mary S., daughter of Samuel S. and Julia (Gregory) 
Fowler, of Albany, and his children are Leonora B., and David B. 



MICHAEL KEENAN, M. D. 

Dk. Mich.'vel Keen an was born in Saranac, N. Y., July 31, 1860, His father, 
Michael Keenan, was born in Vermont, July 18, 1830. Later he removed to Danne- 
mora, N. Y., where he still resides. 

Dr. Keenan attended the public schools, graduated from the Plattsburg High 
School in 1880, and in 1885 entered the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor where 
he remained one year; he came to Albany and entered the Albany Medical College 
from which he was graduated March 16, 1888. He was house physician and surgeon 
for St. Peter's Hospital until October 1, 1888. He then came to Troy and opened 
an office on Sixth avenue, where he remained four j^ears, and then came to his pres- 
ent location, 2275 Fifth avenue. 

He is attending physician at the Hou.se of the Good Shepherd, and one of the at- 
tending physicians at the 'J'roy Hospital. He is a member of Rensselaer County 
Medical Society and the Medical Association of Troy and Vicinity ; also a member of 
the Robert Emmet Association, the B. P. O. E., and the Knights of Columbia; he 
is a member of St. Peter's church. 

He married Miss Margaret Riley, of Troy, February 4, 1891. 



GEORGE F. NICHOLS. 

George F. Nichols was born in Lansingburgh, N. Y., December 28, 1847. His 
grandfather on the maternal side, Thomas Ashbee, came to this country in 1837, 
settling on a farm in Easton, Washington county, N. Y, ; later he removed to Lan- 
singburgh, where he died in 1880, aged eighty years. Thomas Ashbee was born at 




MICHAEL KHEINAN, M. D. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. GIU 

his ancestral home known as Beltange House, one of the finest residences and 
landed properties in the county of Kent, England ; he served in the British army 
during the French war in the time of Napoleon, and was one of the escort of the 
Duke of Wellington, Czar of Russia and General Blucher on their return to England 
after the battle of Waterloo. 

George Nichols, the father of the subject, was born in Lincolnshire, England, and 
became a resident of the LTnited States when a young man, locating in Lansing- 
burgh, where he was the proprietor of a general store; his death occurred in 1861. 
His wife, the mother of George F., Louisa (Ashbee) Nichols, was born in Beltange 
House, county Kent, England. After the death of Mr. Nichols, she married the late 
Arthur B. Elliott, a man well known in the political and newspaper world. She is 
still living and retains her health and youthful looks, and is one of the best known 
residents of Lansingburgh. She is a successful florist and her windows filled with 
rare plants are the admiration of all lovers of flowers. 

George F., the subject of this sketch, was educated in the Lansmgburgh Academy, 
and after graduating went into the office of G. Parish, Ogden & Co., brokers of 
Troy ; was with them eleven 3'ears, when he formed a partnership in insurance, real 
estate and banking, the firm being S. K. Stow, Son & Nichols; afterwards he formed 
a partnership to carry on the same'style of business with General Alonzo Alden under 
the firm name of Alden & Nichols until 1887, when it became Alden, Nichols & 
Bradley. General Alden retiring from the business a few years later, the firm became 
and now is Nichols & Bradle}^ He has been .successful in business and is a large 
owner of real estate in Tro3^ Lansingburgh and vicinity. He is called frequently 
by the banks and others to fix the value of real estate. 

He married Emma Bucklin Newcomb, a daughter of Dr. David Newcomb, who 
was one of the original regents of Albany. N. Y. They have two daughters, Rhoda 
L. and Addley E. Mr. Nichols and family reside in Lansingburgh, and are meiTi# 
bers of Trinity Episcopal church, of which he has been vestryman several years. He 
is a member of the Riverside and Sans-Souci Clubs of Lansingburgh. Politically he 
is a Republican. 



JONATHAN DENISON. 

Jonathan Denison, a prominent citizen of Berlin, Rensselaer county, N. Y., was 
born in that town in December, 1809, in the house erected in 1781 on the homestead 
by his grandfather. 

The first of his ancestors to arrive in America was William who was born in England 
in 1586. He settled in Roxbury, Mass., in 1681, having with him his wife Margaret 
and his three sons, Daniel, Edward and George. The next in the ancestral line was 
George, who was born in England in 1618. His son was John, who was born in Rox- 
bury, Mass., in 1646; he was known as Captain John, and removed to Stonington, 
Conn., where he held prominent positions and in many ways was a man of mark ; he 
died in 1698. His son George was born in Stonington in 1671 ; he was graduated 
from Harvard College and settled in New London, Conn., where he practiced law; 
he was town clerk, county clerk and clerk of probate, and died in 1720. His son 



620 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Daniel was born in New London in 1703, was married in 1726 to Rachel Starr and 
died in 17C0. Daniel, jr., his son, was born in New London in 1730 and was mar- 
ried in 175G to Catherine Avery; he settled in Berlin, N. Y., in June, 1771, when it 
was all wilderness, and became a prominent and influential figure among the early 
settlers. He was one of three commissioners appointed to survej'^ the lard squatted 
by numerous settlers in what is now Stephentown and Berlin and to make proper 
divisions thereof; he accumulated a good property, owning 300 acres of land. His 
brother James was also a prominent man in Berlin and lost his life in the Revolu- 
tionary war. He died in 1793, and his wife in 1825; of her thirteen children ten were 
living at the time of her lieath, of her 101 grandchildren eighty were living, and of 
her 128 great-grandchildren 122 were living. 

Major Jonathan Denison, the father of Jonathan, the subject of this sketch, was 
born in New London, Conn., in May, 1761. He was a farmer all his life ; he bought the 
interest of the other heirs in his father's homestead, and to each of his six sons he 
gave a good farm and to his only daughter an equivalent in money. He was com- 
missioned major by Gov. Morgan Lewis, April 22, 1805. His wife was Sarah Greene, 
a native of Rhode Island, born in 1770. He died in 1833 and she in 1831. 

Jonathan Denison has spent his life in Berlin, fifty-six years of it on his present 
farm, which was the birthplace of his wife who was Alzina Allen, born in April, 
1809, daughter of Benjamin Allen, who at that time owned the farm and for many 
years kept a public house there, the house having been built in 1812; it is still in a 
good state of preservation. Mr. Denison now owns about 700 acres of land; for 
many years he has been the owner and manager of a steam saw mill which he has 
run as an annex to his farm ; he still operates it. This mill furnished most of the 
lumber for the local markets until a railroad was built through the valley of the 
Litttle Hoosick, when lumber yards were established. 

Mr. Denison has served seven years on the Board of Supervisors, being elected 
to that office in 1845-46 and again in 1878-79-80-81-82. He was elected auditing 
superintendent of the poor for Rensselaer county in 1873 to fill a vacancy, and in 
1874 was elected for a term of three years. He was appointed town bond commis- 
sioner from 1867 to 1876, and again in 1890, and is at the present time chairman of 
that board. This commission was appointed for the purpose of bonding the town to 
assist in building the Lebanon Springs Railroad. 

Mr. and Mrs. Deni.son have reared three children: Mrs. Mary M. Jones of Mich- 
igan; Mrs. Eudora E. Hull of Chicago, who died August 16, 1895; and Mrs. Alzina 
A. Lapham of South Berlin. 



EDMUND FITZGERALD. 

Hon. Edmund Fitzgerald was born in Ireland in 1847. His parents came to this 
country when he was about seven years old and settled in North Adams. He was 
educated in the public schools and at North Adams Academy, and came to Troy in 
1861. 

In October, 1866, he began the brewing business with his two brothers, Michael and 
John, under the name of Fitzgerald Bros. Michael retired from the firm in 1870, and he 




fctf ,':! -Ll'. ■ •' itSiii! 



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EDMUND FITZGERALD. 




JOHN W. MORRIS, M. D. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 621 

and his brother John continued the business until the death of the latter, which occurred 
in 1885, when he purchased the interest from the heirs, and is now proprietor of the 
large brewing establishment on River street, which is one of the most modern and com- 
plete breweries in the country. The output of ale and lager for 1895 was 90,000 barrels. 
Since the death of his brother he has greatly enlarged the facilities of the brewery, 
adding the lager beer and bottling department, which from its inception has been a com- 
plete success, as the beer has no superior in quality in this or any other country. This is 
one of the leading industries of Troy. He has a good export trade with Cuba and deals 
largely with New York city and the principal cities of the east. He began business 
with a small capital and by broad comprehensive plans has made an eminent success, 
and for business probity no man stands higher. 

He served as alderman from the Seventh ward for six years, and was county treas- 
urer from 1876 to 1880. In 1882 he was elected mayor of Troy, and re-elected in 
1884. He was recognized as one of the most energetic and public-spirited mayors of 
the city. Politically he has always been one of the influential members of the Demo- 
cratic party in this portion of the State. 

His first wife was Anna Smith; she died in May, 1874, leavmg two sons: Michael 
J., who is associated with his father in business; and Thomas F., a student at Har- 
vard University. His present wife was Annie T. Feeny, of Troy, by whom he has 
had four daughters and three sons, of whom two sons and two daughters are living. 



JOHN W. MORRIS, M. D. 

Dr. John W. Morris was born in Greenwich, Washington county, N. Y., August 
27, 1859. His father, John W. Morris, was born on the Isle of Jersey, an English 
province, and came to this country and followed his trade of shoemaker until his 
death, March 24, 1896. His mother, Margaret (Durning) Morris, was born in the 
North of Ireland, is now sixty-two years of age and lives in Troy. 

Dr. Morris received hi? education in the public schools of Troy, after which he 
entered the Selleck School of Norwalk, where he remained from 1875 to 1878 inclu- 
sive. He studied four years in the office of Dr. Reed B. Bontecou, and during this 
time took a .special course of instruction in the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He 
entered the Albany Medical College from which he was graduated in 1881, and began 
practice in Troy, where he since has remained. 

He is attending physician at the Marshall Infirmary and consulting physician at 
the House of the Good Shepherd ; he was city physician in 1894. He is a member of 
the New York State Medieval Society, Rensselaer County Medical Society, the Medi- 
cal Association of Troy and Vicinity, and Troy Scientific Society ; also a member of 
the Trojan Hook and Ladder Co., and Laureate Boat Club. In politics the doctor 
is a firm Democrat. 

In 1891 he was married to Mary Agnes Thacher, of Troy. Her father was ex- 
Mayor George H. Thacher, of Albany, and she is the half-sister of John Boyd 
Thacher, the present mayor of Albany. The doctor and his wife have had two chil- 
dren: Gabrielle Mary Thacher, who died September 16, 1894, and John Thacher, bora 
July 13, 1895. 



C22 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

JOHN T. CHRISTIE. 

John T. Christie was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1835. He is the son of John and 
Margaret (Roberts) Christie, who came from Scotland in 1832, and settled in Troy, 
where Mr. Christie was in the tobacco trade; they later went to New Jersey where 
he remained until his death which occurred in 1891 ; his wife, mother of the subject 
of this biography, died in 1878. 

John T. Christie was educated at Troy and at the Troy Conference Academy at 
Poultney, Vt., after which he entered the flouring business in Bristol, Vt. ; two years 
later a flood destroyed his mills and he sold and came to Troy, where he was in the 
office of Peck & Hillman until 1865. He then formed a partnership with Rev. S. Parks 
and entered the lire insurance business under the firm name of Parks & Christie. Later 
they secured the agency of the Mutual Life Insurance Co. for the State of New York; 
the business was increased from a very small amount to an income from premiums 
of nearly a million dollars annually. In 1867 the Hon. D. L. Boardman was taken 
into the concern, and in 1868 Mr. Parks retired, when the firm became Christie & 
Boardman; this relation continued until 1883 when Mr. Christie sold out to Board- 
man and purchased an interest in the Ludlow Valve Manufacturing Co. 

In 1891 when that company was reorganized he was made president and is still 
holding that oflice. Smce the reorganization the business has nearly doubled and is 
the largest of the kind in the world, manufacturing valves and hydrants only. Their 
business growth requiring it, they have recently purchased a part of the Troy Steel 
and Iron Company's Works, containing about five and one-eighth acres. The main 
building is 400 by 100 feet and will be occupied as an iron foundry and machine shop 
and an additional building erected for brass foundry, storehouse, scratch shop and 
core room, engine and boiler rooms, etc. The capital stock is §700,001^, divided into 
§400,000 preferred and §300,000 common stock. Since the reorganization of the 
company it has paid tlfteen per cent, on common stock and eight per cent, on the 
preferred. 

Mr. Christie is a director in the Central National Bank. \Vhen a young man he 
became a member of the Masonic fraternity at Middlebury, Vt. Politically he has 
always been a Republican. 

In March, 185S, Mr. Christie married Miss Sophia McMillan ; they have one daugh- 
ter, the wife of James II. Caldwell, of Troy. 



EDWARD L. CRAXDALL, M. D. 

Dr. Edward L. Crandall was born in Greenbush. Rensselaer county, N. Y , Sep- 
tember 6, 1857, son of Alonzo and Hannah (Maxon) Crandall ; the former a native of 
Petersburgh, N. Y., and the latter of Berlin, N. Y. The father died in 1889 and the 
mother in 1893. 

Dr. Crandall received his education in the common schools and Lansingburgh 
Academy. In 1869 he came to Troy and studied medicine with his uncle, Dr. Charles 
H. Carpenter, and was graduated from the Albany Medical College in 1881. He 




JUSbPH U. LUMAX, M. U. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 623 

them assumed charge of the Homoeopathic Pharmacy in Albany where he remained 
until 1883, when he located in Troy, where he is at present in practice at 1941 Fifth 
avenue. 

He is a member of the New York State Homoeopathic Association and the Rens- 
selaer County Homoeopathic Association. He is a member of King Solomon's 
Prunitive Lodge No. 91, F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter No. 48, Bloss Council, Apollo 
Com.mandery No. 15, and Oriental Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; he also is 
a member of the Pafraets Dael and Laureate Boat Clubs, and the Riverside Club of 
Lansingburgh. He is a member of the Fifth Avenue Baptist church. 

In 1884 he was married to Miss Emma Bewsher, of Albany, N. Y., by whom he 
has one son, Leslie. 



JOSEPH D. LOMAX, M.D. 

Dr. Joseph D. Lomax was born in England, and was brought to this country when 
three years of age by his parents. His father, John Lomax, was a bookbinder and 
printer by trade and established a business in that line in New York; he was the in- 
ventor of wood type for the use of printers. He died in 1834. His mother, Anna 
(Dodson) Lomax, was a sister of the grandmother of Governor Greenhalgeof Massa- 
chusetts; she died in 1868. 

Joseph D. Lomax was educated in private schools, and for five years taught Eng- 
lish and classics in the Boy's School of the Holy Cross, a church school in Troy. He 
then entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York, from which he 
was graduated in 1863. He took the first course given at the Long Island College 
Hospital. He was at one time resident physician at the hospital of the Colored 
Home in New York city. He afterwards began practice in Troy, and on October 
12, 1863, was elected superintendent of the Marshall Infirmary, which office he still 
holds. 

He belongs to the Troy Scientific Association, the Rensselaer County Medical So- 
ciety (of which he has been president), the New York State Medical Society, and 
the American Medico-Psychological Association. He has contributed man}' articles 
for medical literature concerning cases that have come under his observation, and 
has freqiiently appeared in court as a medical expert in cases of insanity. 

September 28, 1864, he was married to Miss Isabella Warr; she was a teacher in 
the Mary Warren Free Institute School connected with the Church of the Holy Cross, 
and for years was the leading soprano in the choir of that church. They have one 
daughter, Anna D., who is a graduate of Willard Seminary. 



CORNELIUS HANNAN. 

CoKNKLius Hannan was born in England, January 31, 1856. His father, James 
Hannan, came to West Troy in August, 1856; he afterwards removed to Saratoga 
county and engaged in farming, where he died in 1886. His mother, Margaret 



624 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

(Kiley) Hannan, is now living in Troy. Both were natives of Ireland and were mar- 
ried in England, where they resided several years. 

Cornelius Haunan was educated in the public schools of Saratoga county and in a 
private school, after which he taught school in that portion of the State; he then 
entered La Salle Institute at Troy, graduating in 1881. In the fall of that year he 
entered the office of Townsend & Roche, and was with them three years, teaching 
school part of the time. He was admitted to the bar in September, 1884, since which 
time he has carried on a very extensive law business. In Augu.st, 1889, he was ap- 
pointed private .secretary to Mayor Whelan. In 1890 he was appointed assistant 
police magistrate, which office he still holds. He is a member of the Robert Emmet 
Association, of which he is financial secretary. He has been a member of the Troy 
Citizens Corps for seven years. 



EDWARD H. LISK. 

EiJWARD H. LisK was born at Waterloo, N.Y., in 1855. His great-grandfather settled 
in the Mohawk valley at the time of the great Indian massacre and was killed by the 
Indians; his great-grandmother avenged the death of her husband by killing his 
slayer. His grandfather, Henry S. Lisk, was born in New Jersey, and was a promi- 
nent politician and Mason. His father, Henry Lisk. was born at Waterloo, N. Y., 
and his mother, Ann Eliza Wells, was born at Rome, N. V., her ancestry being 
traceable as far back as the eleventh century. 

Edward H. Lisk received his education in the public and high schools, and when fif- 
teen years of age went to work in a dry goods store in Waterloo, and later learned 
the printer's trade. He came to Troy in 1876 and worked at his trade until Febru- 
ary 10, 1880, when, with M. B. Barnum, the firm of Lisk & Barnum was formed. 
In 1883 he bought out Barnum and has since continued the business himself, having 
moved to his present location in 1890, and now conducts the largest and most com- 
plete printing establishment in the county, besides a bookbindery and one of the 
most modern electrotype foundries. He is a member of all the Masonic bodies, the 
Trojan Hook and Ladder Company and the Pafraets Dael Club. On June 4, 1879, 
he married Helen M. Norton, of Troy, by whom he has one son. 



DON C. WOODCOCK, Jr. 

TiiK above-named gentleman was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1846. His father, Don 
C. Woodcock, was a native of Williamstown, Mass. ; he came to Troy probably in 
1836 and opened an office for the practice of law, whence about 1858 he went to New 
York city to practice his profession, remaining there several years, and then returned 
to Troy where he continued the practice of law until his death, which occurred in 
1881. His mother, Julia (Blass) Woodcock, died in 1884. 

Don C. , jr. , received a common school education. In 1863 to 1866 he traveled through 
the South and West and was engaged in the cattle business and farming; afterwards 




D. C. WOODCOCK. 



cri^- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 625 

he was employed in the drilling of oil wells in Ohio and West Virginia. From there 
he returned to Troy, whence he removed to Boston, Mass., where for about fifteen years 
he was engaged in the real estate and book publishing business. He returned to 
Troy in 1887 and engaged in the real estate business. The principal feature in the 
real estate business as conducted by Mr. Woodcock is the purchasing and develop- 
ing of outlaying lands adjacent to cities for building purposes. 

Mr. Woodcock belongs to King Solomon's Lodge, F. & A. M., the Ionic Club, is a 
member of the board of managers of the Republican Club, a member of the Committee 
of Safety and of the Executive Council of Citizens' Association, and the Shakespeare 
Society of New York. He is a trustse of the Fifth Avenue Baptist church, and a 
director of the Young Men's Christian Association of Troy; he is president of the 
Rensselaer Land Company and secretary of Averill Park Land Improvement Com- 
pany. 

Mr. Woodcock has considerable literary talent, and is a frequent contributor in 
poetry and prose to the newspapers and magazmes. 

He married Hattie A. Clexton, of Troy, in 1869, by whom he has four children. 



STEPHEN PARKS. 

Stephen Parks was born in the county of Sussex, England, January 27, 1817, and 
came to the United States with his parents in 1829. His early life was spent in the 
city of New York. He was educated mostly in private schools and under private 
tutors. Having studied for the ministry he became a member of the Troy Annual 
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church in 1840. He served as pastor of what 
is now known as Ash Grove church, Albany, the Methodist churches in Gloversville, 
Fonda, Plattsburgh, Saratoga Springs, Lansingburgh, Pittsfield, Mass., Gloversville 
again. First Church, Albany, and State Street church, Troy, N. Y. 

In 1858 he was compelled by ill health to retire from pastoral works, but he is still 
a member of the Annual Conference and has occasionally officiated in churches in 
Troy and elsewhere. 

He resided in Troy from 1856 to 1871, when he removed to Lansingburgh where 
he still lives. He was for some years in the real estate business with Joseph Hill- 
man and E. A. Peck, under the firm name of Peck, Hillman & Parks. Next he 
associated himself with Jol- T. Christie as general agents of the Mutual Life Insu- 
rance Co. of New York, under the title of Parks & Christie, and later of Parks, 
Christie & Boardman. Selling out his interest in this business, Mr. Parks, John C. 
Ide, and Henry Holmes, organi- ed the firm of Parks, Ide & Holmes for the manu- 
facture of collars. After eight years Mr. Parks sold out to his partners and the 
present firm of Holmes & Ide was organized. All the above business was conducted 
in Troy, N. Y. 

In 1885 Mr. Parks and his son-in-law, Charles E. Peabody, and his son, Charles W. 
Parks, formed the firm of Peabody & Parks in Lansingburgh for the manufacture of 
hardware specialties. January 1, 1895, Mr. Peabody retired and the business is con- 
tinued by Stephen and Charles W. Parks, under the style of Parks & Parks. For 
79 



62G LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

some time Stephen Parks was president of the Trojan Marble Co., located at 
Brandon, Vt. 

In Maj', 1841. Mr. Parks married Mary Emily, daughter of Goshen Van Schaick 
Hoffman, of Albany, N. Y. Mr. Hoffman was of the old Albany Dutch stock and a 
brother of Benjamin Hoffman, for many years one of the proprietors of the Albany 
Evening Journal. 

Of Mr. S. Parks's eight children, three are now living: Sara E., Charles W., and 
Frances M. Parks. 

In 1871 Sara E. Parks married Charles E. Peabodj', son of Samuel J. Peabody, 
who was for many years in the drug and hardware business in Troy. Their chil- 
dren are George S., Laura B., Emily H., and Frances E. Peabody. 

In 1878 Charles W. Parks married Helen F. , daughter of the late John W. Bates 
of Lansingburgh, who in former years was one of the well known flour dealers in 
Troy. Of their four children three are living, namely, Mary B., Helen B., and Mar- 
garet B. Parks. Frances M., the youngest daughter of Stephen Parks, is unmarried 
and resides with her father. 

From boyhood until after sixty years of age Mr. Parks's life was almost one con- 
tinual struggle with ill-health. This compelled him to retire from active service in 
the Christian ministry and caused several <jf the changes in his business life. Only 
strong will power and great natural energy of character enabled him to accomplish 
anything. Yet now he is considered unusually vigorous for a man nearly eighty 
years of age. 

Mrs. Stephen Parks died October If), 1895, at her home in Lansingburgh, N. Y. 



P. J. FITZGERALD. 

P. J. FiTZGEKALU was bom in Ireland in 184C, and was brought to this country 
when six months old by his parents, who settled in Waterford, Saratoga county, N. 
Y. He was educated in the public schools, and worked in King's machine shop, 
and later for Titcomb & Co., distillers, of Waterford, until 1866, when he established 
the firm of Fitzgerald & Sultzman in the wholesale liquor trade. In 1868 he moved 
to Troy and became sole owner of the business. In 1887 he became interested in 
the College Point brewery on Long Island, and was elected secretary and afterwards 
vice-president and general manager. He sold out this interest in 1890 and was 
elected president of the Donohue-Tiernej'-Isengart Brewing Co.. which office he 
now holds. He was president of the Wine, Liquor and Beer Dealers' Association 
from 1884 to 1887. In 1871 he was commissioned by Governor Hoffman captain of 
Co. H, 24th Regiment National Guard of the State of New York. In 1874 Mr. Fitz- 
gerald was a delegate to the Democratic Slate Convention at Syracuse, which nom- 
inated Samuel J. Tilden for governor. Captain Fitzgerald has also always taken 
an enthusiastic interest in firemanic affairs, and was long connected with the fire 
department of Troy, serving with honor as captain of the Hugh Ranken Steamer 
Company from 1878 to 1882. 

In 1873 he was married to Miss Mary J. McKenna, who bore him three children: 
Elizabeth A. and Edward J., and one who died in infancy. Mrs. P. J. Fitzgerald 
died July 30, 1882. 



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p. J. FITZGERALD. 



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HtRMON C. GORDINIHR, M. D. 



BIOORAPHICAL. 627 

DAVID LINK. 

David Link was born in the town of Schaghticoke, N. Y., September 14, 1823, 
only son and child of Peter and Mary (Strunk) Link. Peter Link was born at Sand 
Lake", N.Y., about 1785 and died in 1845, and his wife Mary died in 1844, when David 
was but two years old, and when his father removed from Schaghticoke to Sand Lake. 

David Link obtained his education in the common schools and for many years fol- 
lowed the occupation of farming. He was married four times. His first wife was 
Mary Clapper, whom he married in January, 1844; she died the followmg summer. 
His second wife was Catherine, daughter of John W. Vanderberg, of North Green- 
bush, by whom he had one daughter, Cynthia M., now living. For his third wife he 
married Mrs. Mary G. McChesney. His fourth wife, a very estimable lady, was 
Mrs. Frances Simpson born in Le Roy, Genesee county, who resides in Lansing- 
burgh, leading a retired life. His daughter Cynthia M. married Joseph Phillips, of 
East Greenbush ; they have had three sons: David L., George S. and Joseph. Mr. 
Link is one of the solid men of the county. The ancestry of the family on both sides 
is German. 



JOHN E. GAITLEY. 

John E. Gaitley is of Irish parentage, was born in Boston, September 23, 1854, 
was educated in the public schools and afterwards learned the trade of silver- 
plating. He first engaged in business in 1873 under the firm name of Gaitley & 
Gustafson, which interest he sold out and came to Albany; there he was with R. 
Strickland in the nickel-plating business until 1878, when he came to Troy and 
started the nickel-plate department of the Bussy & McLeod Stove Works; he 
was with them until 1880 when he, with George W. Percy, under the firm name of 
Percy & Gaitley, started the manufacture of stove trimmings. He purchased Mr. 
Percy's interest in the concern in 1892 and since that date has been sole proprietor 
of the business. He manufactures the Alaska stove trimmings and other hardware 
specialties; his business has increased annually, and he ships goods to all parts of 
the world. He was captain of the Eddy Steamer Compatiy for three j^ears, and is a 
member of the B. P. O. Elks, and now is park commissioner of Troy, being appointed 
July. 1896. 

He married Anna A. Weldon, of Ballston, N, ¥., in 1879, and has one son, John 
Percy Gaitley, born March 10, 1886. 



HERMON C. GORDINIER, M. D. 

Dk. H. C. Gokdinier was born in Troy, N. Y., May 21, 1864. His father, Robert 
G. Gordinier, was born in Brunswick, N. Y. , and died in 1889; his mother, Mahala 
Dow, was born in Stillwater, N. Y., and died in 18G8. 

Dr. Gordinier received his early education in the public schools of Troj-, and en- 



628 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

tered the Albany Medical College from which he was graduated in 1886. He then 
took a post-graduate course at the New York Polyclinic and spent one year in medical 
work at Prague, Vienna and Berlin, after which he returned to Troy and began the 
practice of his profession, which he has continued there since. In 1889 he was ap- 
pointed lecturer on anatomy of the nervous system and instructor of physical diag- 
nosis in the medical department of Union University; three years ago he received 
the professorship of physiology and anatomy of the nervous system in the same 
institution. In 1894 the honorary degree of Master of Arts were conferred upon him 
by Williams College. 

He is a member of the New York State Medical Society, the Rensselaer County 
Medical Society, and the Troy Scientific Association. In 1894, in connection with Dr. 
Elliot C. Howe, he compiled a catalogue of the flora of Rensselaer county. 

Dr. Gordinier was married to Miss Alice M. Beattie, of Troy, in 1892; .she is a 
daughter of the late David Beattie, superintendent of the public schools of Troy for 
many years. They have two daughters. Muriel and Hermione. 



DAVID H. KELLYER. 

David H. Kellyer was born in Hoosick, Rensselaer county in 1836. His father 
was Henry Kellyer, and his grandfather was one of the early settlers of Rensselaer 
county, having purchased and settled upon a portion of the Van Rensselaer tract. 

Left fatherless at an early age, David H. was obliged to earn his own livelihood, 
which he did in a variety of ways for several years, in the mean time gaining his ed- 
ucation. By his own efforts he was enabled to enter Fort Edward Institute, from 
which he was graduated, and was for a time engaged as a teacher, teaching in Boyn- 
tonville alone for seven years. When about thirty years of age he moved to Peters 
burgh and formed a partnership with C. W. Reynolds of that place and engaged in 
a general merchandise business, which they conducted for several years, finally em- 
barking in the manufacture of shirts, which business was in a flourishing condition 
at the time of his death, and is now carried on by the surviving partner under the 
firm name of Kellyer & Reynolds. 

He was one of the foremost citizens of the county of his birth, holding many of- 
fices of trust, and always bore an enviable reputation. He was a director in the 
National Bank of Troj', was identified with the Andrew M. Church Co., and was a 
member of the East Side Club, and King Solomon Lodge F. & A. M. During his 
residence in Troy Mr. Kellyer was an attendant at the First Baptist church. He 
died May 20. 1896. 

His first wife was Emily Gardner, a granddaughter of John Gardner, one of the 
pioneers of Rensselaer county, who came from Rhode Island in 1700; she died about 
two years after her marriage, and for his second wife he married Mrs. Adelaide 
(Reynold.s) Green, of Petersburgh, who died some years later. November 16, 1892, 
he was married to Mrs. Minnie (Bailey) Mercer, who now lives in Troy. Two chil- 
dren survive their father. Orange E., and Jessie M. ; the former is married and 
resides in Denver, Col., and the latter resides in Troy. 




B. D. FERGUSON, M. D. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 629 

WILLIAM L. Mcdonough. 

William L. McDonou(;h was born in West Troy, N. Y., in January, 1871. He is 
the son of Michael McDonough, a contractor, and treasurer of the Troy Public 
Works Co. His mother is Mary (Freleigh) McDonough. William L. received his 
education at St. Mary's Academy at Troy and graduated in the class of 1889, and 
since that time he has been secretary of the Troy Public Works Co. He is also the 
junior partner in the drug house of Mansheffer & McDonough of Lansingburgh, 
N. Y., and is now secretary of the Troy Cold Water Kalsomine Co., which company 
was organized in November, 1894. 



GEORGE O'NEIL. 

George O'NEiLwas born in Troy, June 18, 1855. His father, Thomas O'Neil, was 
born in Ireland, came to Troy in 1844, and was for many years in the cider and vin- 
egar business. His mother is Bridget (Connolly) O'Neil; both are still residing in 
Troy. 

George attended the public schools, and in 1870 entered the store of Boardman 
Bros, where he remained until 1880, when he engaged in the tea, coffee and spice 
business, which he carried on until 1892. In that year he bought an interest in a 
cuff and collar business, the firm taking the name of M, F. Gaffey & Co. ; this part- 
nership continued until December, 1895, when the Troy Collar Co. was formed, of 
which he became secretary and treasurer. He was supervisor from 1885 to 1887 in- 
clusive, and was member of assembly in 1888 and 1889. He has been police com- 
missioner since 1892 and at present is president of the board. 

He was married in June, 1889, to Miss Sarah Kennedy, of Troy, who died in Feb- 
ruary, 1892. He has one daughter. 



E. D. FERGUSON, M. D. 

Dr. E. D. Ferguson was born in Moscow, Livingston county, N. Y., May 9, 1843. 
His grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His father was Smith 
Ferguson, who was bcrn in Orange countj^ in 1797; he died in 1885. 

Dr. Ferguson received his education at Starkey Seminary in Yates county, N. Y., 
Genesee College, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and at Bellevue Hospital 
Medical College, graduating in the science of medicine in 1868. He began practice 
in Essex, N Y., and in 1875 went to Dannemora, N. Y., as surgeon of the Chnton 
Prison, where he remained three years. In 1878 he came to Troy, where he has since 
been engaged in the successful practice of his profession. 

Dr. Ferguson is a member of the New York State Medical Association, of which he 
has been secretary since its organization ; also a member of Rensselaer County Med- 
ical Society, the Medical Association of Troy and Vicinity, and the American 
Medical Association. 



G30 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

He married Marian A. Farley, of Crown Point, Ind., in January, 1865, by whom 
he has two children: Mrs. Hortense E. Childs, who resides in Omaha, Neb., and 
Smith F. Ferguson. 



GEORGE B. WARREN, Jr. 

Hon. Gkorge B. Waruen, jr., was born in Troy. N. Y., June 9, 1828. Esaias 
Warren, his grandfather, was the first elected mayor of Troy and served for many 
years until he died in 1829. His son, George B. Warren, father of the subject, was 
at the time of his death the oldest native resident of Troy, where he was born Septem- 
ber 25, 1797; he was for several years president of the Troy City Bank, and at the 
time of his death in 1879 was president of the Troy Union Railroad Company; for 
many years he was a wholesale dry goods merchant of Troy, the firm name being 
Southwick, Cannon & Warren, being one of the successful men of Troy. He was an 
attendant at St. Paul's Episcopal church ; politically he was a Whig, and as the can- 
didate of that party for Congress, was beaten by an Anti-Rent candidate. The 
maiden name of his wife was Mary Meyer Bowers; she was born in Cooperstown, 
N. Y. ; her death occurred in 1851. 

Qeorge B., jr., was a wholesale buyer and seller of wool for many years, and re- 
tired from business in 1870. He is a director of the United National Bank and 
has been president of the Young Men's Association and is still one of the trustees of 
that institution. In 1861 he was elected mayor of the city of Troy, that being the 
vear of the breaking out of the Civil war. It was a very exciting period owing to 
the raising of troops, riots, etc. As chief executive he did all in his power to pre- 
serve order and sustain the national government. He has always acted with the 
Democratic party. 

Mr. Warren's tastes are literary and artistic, and his late years have been spent in 
the study of literature and art. His collections of objects of art, especially in the 
line of old Chinese porcelains, are quite remarkable. 

In 1856 he married Eugenia Phebe Tayloe, daughter of Benjamin Ogle Tayloe, of 
Washington, D. C. They have three sons and one daughter living. Mr. Warren 
and family are members of St. Paul's Episcopal church. 



WILLIAM KEMP. 

H().\. Wii.i.i.vM Kemp, one of the comparatively few men whose names are indis- 
solubly linked with a full half century of Troy's development, the period during 
which that city made its most rapid strides in the march of commerce, trade and 
manufactures, is the son of James and Elizabeth (Haggerty) Kemp. He was born 
in Troy, N. Y., January 14, 1829. Leaving school at the age of nine years, he be. 
came a clerk in a drug store in Watertown, N. Y.. afterwards typesetter in the office 
of the Troy Post, then clerk in a grocery store in Troy. A love for mechanics led him 
to learn the trade of machinist, and before ho left the shop he was able to construct 




GEORGE B. WARREN. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 631 

any kind of an engine. In 1851 Mr. Kemp began the business of brass founding. His 
operations in this direction gradually increased, and for many years it has been 
among the most successful enterprises in Troy. For a long term of years Mr. Kemp 
was also prominently identified with the Troy Steel and Iron Company, one of the 
most gigantic enterprises of its character in the country. He served in an official 
capacity for several years, and during its latter years was its vice-president and gen- 
eral manager. He has also been interested in a variety of other business enterprises, 
and has been the promoter of many industries which have combined to give Troy 
the standing in the industrial world which it now maintains. 

He has been one of the foremost practical friends of the cause of education in 
Troy, having served as member of the municipal Board of Education from 1855 to 
1872, fourteen years of which period he was president of the board. He has also 
been a trustee of the Emma Willard Seminary for over twenty-five years. In the 
war of the Rebellion he served with honor, his official position being that of paymas- 
ter of the Second Regiment N. Y. State Volunteer Infantry, the first regiment of 
volunteers going to the front in that memorable struggle. For two years he repre- 
sented the Fourth ward in the board of aldermen, and from 1873 to 1875 was mayor 
of the city of Troy. He is a trustee of the Troy Orphan Asylum, for several j-ears 
has been a trustee of the Episcopal Church Home, is vice-president of the Troy Gas 
Light Compan)^ a director in the Troy City Railway Company, was one of the orig- 
nators of and is now one of the directors in the Citizens' Line of Steamboats, navi- 
gating the Hudson River between Troy and New York. He has been connected 
with the Mutual National Bank for years and has been its president since 1878. He 
was also president of the Mutual Savings Bank at the time of its liquidation, and 
has been a trustee of the Rei.sselaer Polytechnic Institute since 1868. As a banker 
he is looked upon as one of the most astute financiers Troy has ever produced. 

In 1850 Mr. Kemp married Rebecca Cantrell of Troy. They had five children, 
three of whom are living: William Kemp, jr., of Troy, Rev. Robert Morris Kemp, 
assistant minister of Trinity parish. New York, connected with St. Paul's Episcopal 
church, and Mrs. Reuben R. Lyon of Bath, N. Y. His first wife died in 1872, and in 
September, 1873, he married Martha E. Bogart. Mr. Kemp has always taken a deep 
interest in religious matters, and at the present time is senior warden of Christ 
Episcopal church of Troy. In politics he is recognized as one of the leading Repub- 
licans of the State, and was the last Republican mayor of Troy. 

Mr. Kemp is by nature a clear-headed, able and far-seeing business man, and is 
recognized by all as one of the ablest financiers of Troy. A man of indomitable per- 
.severance and energy, he knows no such word as fail, as his record shows. In the 
broadest sense of the term he is a self-made man, having begun at the bottom round 
of the financial ladder, and what he has accomplished is due to his own unaided 
efforts. Many of the best enterprises of the city of Troy have been aided by his wise 
counsels and means. Such a career as liis is an inspiring example for the youth of 
our land, (^uiet in manner, he is a pleasing conversationalist, and at his elegant 
home he dispenses a liberal and graceful hospitality. 



632 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



JOSEPH M. WARREN. 

Hon. Joseph Mahhett Wakrkn was the eldest son of Stephen and Martha C. 
Warren and a grandson of Eliakim Warren, and was born in Troy, N. Y., on Janu- 
ary 28, 1813. Eliakim Warren came to this city from Norwalk, Conn., in 1798, and 
with his sons Esaias, Nathan, and Stephen established one of the first business 
houses in Troy under the firm name of E. Warren & Co. Stephen \Varren was a 
successful merchant and esteemed citizen, and was one of the originators of the Troy 
Water Works Company. 

Joseph M. Warren received an academic education in the Troy Academy and at 
the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, which he entered in 1827, leaving in his 
eighteenth year to become a student in Trinity College, Hartford, where he was 
graduated in full course in 1834, with high honors.' Manifesting a preference for 
mercantile pursuits he abandoned the idea of a profession and accepted a clerkship 
in a store in New York city. He soon returned to Troy and became a member of 
the firm of Rosseau & Warren, wholesale grocers at No. 217 River street. Later he 
retired from this l^isiness and in 1840 became interested in the hardware trade under 
the firm name of Warrens, Hart & Lesley. The firm was organized at a very early 
date in the history of Troy, which was changed on February 1, 1855, to J. M.Warren 
& Co., his partner being Charles W. Tillinghast. On February 1, 1864, Mr. Warren's 
son, Walter P , was admitted, and in 1867 another member was added in the person 
of Thomas A. Tillinghast, who continued until his death, January 10, 1879. In 1870 
the handsome structure at the corner of Broadway and River street was erected, and 
has since been occupied by the firm. In 1870 Walter P. Warren withdrew. On 
February 10, 1887, the firm of J. M. Warren & Co. was incorporated with Joseph M. 
Warren, president; Charles W. Tillinghast, vice-president; Joseph J. Tillinghast, 
secretary; H. S. Darby, treasurer; and C. Whitney Tillinghast, 2d, Frederick A. 
Leeds, and N. F. Woods. This membership remained unchanged until the death of 
the senior partner, J. M. Warren, on September 9, 1896. The business, founded in 
1840, has enjoyed uninterrupted success for a period of fifty-six years, and is the 
oldest and most extensive in the hardware line in Eastern New York. Its prosperity 
is due largely to Mr. Warren's ability and personal attention, and to the honesty and 
uprightness which he displayed in all his commercial relations. He was a man of 
unquestioned integrity, and his career is marked with deeds of kindness that live in 
history. 

Mr. Warren always took an active interest in the welfare and advancement of his 
native city. He was a commissioner of the Troy Water Works Company from 1855 
to 1857, when he resigned, and was vice-president of the company at the time of his 
death ; and was a director in the first board of trustees of the old Bank of Troy, his 
uncle, Esaias, being the president ; subsequently his father was president. He was 
president of the latter institution from 1853 to 1865, when it became, in conjimction 
with the old Farmers' Bank^ the United National Bank of Troy, and of this he was 
the first president and a member of the consolidated board of directors, and he re- 
mained a director until his death. He was president of the Albany and Vermont, 
and vice-president of the Saratoga and Schenectady, also the Rensselaer and Saratoga 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 633 

railroads, all leased to the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company. He was 
president of the Troy and Greenbush Railroad— leased to the N. Y. Central and 
Hudson River Railroad. For many years he was a trustee of the Troy Savings 
Bank. He was for a number of years associated as partner with Hon. Erastus 
Corning, of Albany, John F. Winslow and Hon. John A. Griswold, of this city, 
in the Rensselaer Iron Company, that being the foundation of the present Troy 
Steel Company. Mr. Warren was also for many years interested in other large 
manufacturing industries of Rensselaer county. In the commercial, manufactur- 
ing and banking interests of Rensselaer county he has all his life been an active 
participant. In 1849 he was elected a life trustee of the Rensselaer Polytechnic 
Institute; and under the act incorporating the Troy Young Men's Association Free 
Library he was named as a trustee for life. He was also a charter member and one 
of the first board of managers of the Troy Club. 

In politics Mr. Warren was an Independent Democrat, and in 1851 was elected the 
first Democratic mayor of Troy by a large majority. Entering upon the duties of 
his office he found that, owing to the part the corporation had taken in railroad en- 
terprises, the city finances were in a very bad condition. He instituted a system of 
strict economy, and when his .term expired had greatly improved the financial affairs 
of the city, reduced taxes, and made a thoroughly creditable record. He declined a 
renomination, and for many years refused all political preferment. He donated his 
salary as mayor to the Troy Orphan Asylum. In 1870 he was induced to accept the 
Democratic nomination for Congress and was elected by a handsome majority over 
J. Thomas Davis. 

Mr. Warren was a vestryman of vSt. Paul's church, Troy, for nearly fifty years, 
succeeding his father and grandfather in that office. He was long the senior warden 
and always a consistent and earnest member. His contributions to the church, to 
charity, and the other worthy objects were incessant. Honored and esteemed, and 
and active in advancing the best interests of humanity, his life was a model one. 
His death occurred on the sixtj'-first anniversary of his marriage. 

He was married in 1835 to Miss Elizabeth A. Phelps, a native of Hartford, Conn., 
daughter of Walter Phelps, who died in 1891. Their surviving children are Walter 
P. Warren, Mrs. John I. Thompson and Mrs. Isaac McConihe, of Troy; and Mrs. 
John M. Glidden, of New Castle, Me. 

The following is an editorial tribute from the Troy Press of September 10, 1896: 

Joseph Mabbett Warren, whose name has been an honored household word in Troy for two 
generations, and whose enterprise has been one of the foremost fulcrums of its growth, in the 
plenitude of age has normally changed his world. Only the first decade of the closing century 
had elapsed when Mr. Warren first saw the light of day in Troy, with whose manufacturing, 
mercantile, financial, municipal, political, social and religious activities he was destined to play 
so prominent a part. Although once mayor of the city and again representative in Congress, 
these offices were merely incidental to a prolonged and splendid career of usefulness rather than 
objective points of his ambition. His ancestry was distinguished, embracing sturdy pioneers of 
civilization upon this continent— men renowned in varied fields of endeavor— and his life was an 
embodiment of the a.xiomatic truth that blood tells. Mr. Warren was progressive in his ideas, 
yet his nature was so tempered with conservatism that he successfully withstood the many 
panics and perils that shook the business world during his day and maintained his large fortune 
substantially unimpaired. The great hardware store on River street and Hroadway and the 
magnitude of its operations are alike monumental to the genius of the eminent citizen whose 
form has finally fallen under the weight of years. 
80 



634 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Joseph M. Warren lived a simple, manly, noble life. His transition to a higher estate was calm, 
painless and unfearing. 

"The winds breathe low, the withering leaf 

Scarce whispers from the tree; 
So gently flows the parting breath 

When good men cease to be." 



THOMAS A. GRIFFIN, D. D. 

Rev. Thomas A. Gkiifin was born in Hastings, England, September 1, 183'2, and 
was reared and educated in Canterbury, England, and came to Troy in 1853, where 
he placed his credentials with the State Street M. E. church and joined the Troy Con- 
ference in the spring of 1854. He was pastor at different times of churches, among 
others, at Albany, North Adams, Mass., Burlington, Vt., Gloversville and Green- 
bush, N. Y. Besides his various pastorates he has served two full terms as pre- 
siding elder of the Plattsburg and Saratoga districts, and in 1894 was appointed pre- 
siding elder of the Troy district, in which capacity he is still serving. He was 
elected to the General Conference in 1876 and in 1884, and was a reserve delegate 
in 1896. 

Since joining the Ti'o^^ Conference in 1854, Rev. Mr. Griffin has been actively en- 
gaged in his professional duties. He has been a trustee of Troy Conference and 
also of Troy Conference Academy since its organization. In 1895 the New Orleans 
University conferred upon him the degree of D. D. 

In 1856 he married Laura A. Wells, of Cairo, Greene county, N.Y. They have two 
sons: J. Wesley Griffin, of Chicago, and T. Almern Griffin, a lawyer of Greenbush, 
N. Y. Their eldest daughter was Mrs. W. B. Mooers, of Plattsburg, who died in 
1880. Their youngest daughter is Dr. Jennie H. Griffin, a graduate of Ann Arbor 
and Cleveland Medical Colleges, now practicing in Troy. Their second daughter is 
Sarah E. Griffin. 



M. ARTHUR WHEELER, M. D. 

Dr. M. Arthur Wheeler was born at Sand Lake, Rensselaer county, N.Y., June 
18, 1861. His father was Michael Wheeler, who died June 18, 1871 ; his mother, 
Hannah C. (Snyder) Wheeler, died in September, 1873. 

M. Arthur Wheeler received his education in the Boys' Academy at Albany, and 
at Hartwick Seminary in Otsego county. He studied medicine with Dr. Clappsaddle 
for one year, and for two years with Dr. W. H. Hall. Two years later he entered 
the Albany Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1884, and immediately 
began practice in Troy, locating on Pawling avenue where he still remains. He is a 
member of the New York State Medical Society, the Rensselaer County Medical 
Society, and the Medical Association of Troy and Vicinity. He is a member of 
Apollo Lodge, F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter, Bloss Council, Apollo Commandery, 
Oriental Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Silver Brook Lodge, I. O. O. P., of 




M. ARTHUR WHEbLER, M. D. 




DANltL H. AYERS. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 635 

which he is past grand; he is interested in temperance work and for six terms served 
as chief templar of the East Side Lodge No. 207, I. O. G. T., and is a member of the 
Grand Lodge of the State. He was appomted physician and surgeon for the Rens- 
selaer county almshouse January 1, 1896, 

March 22, 1888, he was married to Ella F. Hastings, of Troy, by whom he has two 
sons and three daughters: Arthur H., Ruth S., Colonel C, Ethel M. and Elsie L. 



PHILIP H. HICKvS. 

Philip H. Hicks was born in Columbia county, N. Y., in 1832. His earliest an- 
cestors in this country came from England in 1821. He is the son of Philip R. 
Hicks, a physician of Livingston, Columbia county, who was supervisor for several 
terms; he died in 1852. His mother, Mary (Hood) Hicks, died in March, 1896, 
aged ninety-seven years. Mr. Hicks received an academic education and came to Troy 
in 1852, and was for a number of years in the railroad business. He then bought 
out the bakery business of his brother in Catskill, N. Y. , where he remained for 
about two years, when he came to Troy and bought the bakery where he is now. 
The name of the firm is P. H. Hicks & Son, King street, and they run a general 
bakery business. He is a member of Apollo Lodge and Chapter. In 1869 he mar- 
ried Elizabeth Her, of Troy, N. Y., by whom he has had one son, W. H. Hicks, who 
is in partnership with his father, and one daughter, Lillian M. 



DANIEL H. AYERS. 

Daniel H. Ayers was born in Ulysses, Tompkins county, N. Y., May 18, 1848. 
His father. Daniel B. Ayers, was born in Bergen, N. J., and removed to Ulysses 
when but seven years of age with his parents, Richard and Mary (Jeffry) Ayers. He 
was a farmer, and died December 11, 1860; his wife, the mother of Daniel H., was 
Harriett (Hollister) Ayers, born in Burnt Hills, Saratoga county, N. Y., and died 
September 4, 1892. 

The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools, Trumansburgh 
Academy, and the high school at Marshall, Mich., where he was prepared for college 
with the view of attending the University of Michigan, but changing his mind, 
entered Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie, where he graduated, then be- 
came a clerk in a hardware store in Ithaca, N. Y. Subsequently he went to Tru- 
mansburgh, N. Y., and there engaged in the hardware business with Jared S. 
Halsey ; after nine years he sold out his interest to Mr. Halsey. Then with the view 
of taking up the insurance business he became connected with the Syracuse General 
Agency of the New York Life Insurance Co. In 1882 he went to Schenectady as 
general agent of the company, and four months later moved his headquarters to 
Troy, where he looks after the interests of that company in ten counties. 

While in Trumansburgh he was village treasurer for a number of years, being 
active in local politics. He is an elder in the First Presbyterian church of Troy, and 



636 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

assistant superintendent of the Sunday school. He belongs to King Solomon's Lodge 
No. 91, F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter No. 48, R. A. M., Bloss Council No. 14, R. & S. 
M., Apollo Commandery No. 15. K. T., of which he is eminent commander, Delta 
Lodge of Perfection, A. A Rite, the Albany Sovereign Consistory, S. P. R. S., and 
Oriental Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., thus having attained the thirty- second degree 
in Masonry. He is a member of the Citizens' Association, the Good Government 
Club, the Ionic Club, and the Vocal Society and Choral Club of Troy. In politics he 
is a Republican. 

On the 10th of January, 1883, he married Martha Conde, of West Troy, N. Y. ; 
they had one son, now deceased. 

Mr. Ayers, though not having graduated from college, continued his studies during 
his leisxire hours, principally in literature and general science. He is a gentleman 
of scholarly tastes and decided literary ability. His reading covers a wide range. In 
this way he not only keeps fully informed as to the current questions of the day, but 
has made himself familiar with the productions of the best minds of the present time 
and earlier periods. He is an occasional contributor to the press, and has the gift of 
fluent and effective expression. Various poems which he has published in the Troy 
Times and other periodicals under a nom de plume attest his capacity for graceful 
versification. 



ELI HANCOX. 

Eu Hancox was born in England in 1838, where he learned the blacksmith trade. 
He came to the United States in 1863 and settled in Troy, where he worked at his 
trade with John Hollinger. In 1865 J. B. Carr established the American Chain 
Cable Works. They manufactured the tirst large chain cable made in this country, 
which was used at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The firm was incorporated in 1896, 
under the title of the J. B. Carr Co., of which Mr. Hancox is vice-president. 

Mr. Hancox was elected alderman of the Thirteenth ward in the fall of 1895. He 
is a member of Apollo Lodge, F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter, and of the Republican 
Club. 

He was married to Sarah Jane Morrison, of Troy, by whom four children have 
been born : William, who married Mary Jane Bissell ; Belle, the wife of Edward Petty ; 
Hattie and Charles. 



P. ROMER CHAPMAN. 

P. RoMER Chapman was born in Putnam county, N. Y., August 11, 1856, and is a 
son of James and Catharine Chapman. James was born in Putnam county in 1812, 
was a son of Silas and Hannah Chapman, and was engaged in the coal and later in 
the lumber trade; he married Catharine, daughter of Peter and Catharine Romer, 
of his native place, by whom he had nine children who reached maturity; he died 
in April, 1893. 




ELI HANCOX. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 637 

P. R. Chapman was educated in the public schools, at the Peekskill Military Acad- 
emy and under private tutelage. He read law with H. H. Hustis, afterwards with 
Edward Wells, of Peekskill, and was graduated from the Albany Law School in 
1879, He began practice in Peekskill, remaining there until 1881, when he came 
to Lansingburgh, where he has since practiced with success. He was appointed 
village attorney in 1896. 

In June, 1883, he married Carrie A., daughter of William and Eliza J. Lansmg, of 
Lansingburgh. They have two children : William Lansing, and an adopted daugh- 
ter, Ruth. 

Mr. Chapman is a past ma.ster of Phoenix Lodge No. 58, F. & A. M., and a mem- 
ber of Bloss Council No. 19, and Apollo Commandery No. 15, K. T. His family is of 
Dutch and English descent. 



RANSEN GARDENIER. 

Ransen Gardenier was born in the town of Schodack, N. Y., October 26, 1838. 
His people were farmers, and he resided on the farm until he was sixteen years of 
age, and received a liberal education at the old Schodack Academy. After complet- 
ing his schooling, he taught school for a year and seven months, when he went into 
the mercantile trade as a clerk in 1857. In 1859 he went to Georgia and clerked in a 
store until 1861, when the war feeling in the South became so obnoxious to him as a 
loyal Unionist that he returned North. He then went into the employ of Mr. 
Horace W. Peaslee as clerk and remained with him until 18 6, when he went back 
to his father's farm. 

He shortly afterwards embarked in the mercantile business at Valatie and re- 
mained there until 1876. In the spring of 1877 he went into the freighting business 
at Schodack Landing with W. H. Schermerhorn, who died in 1893, and whose sons 
now represent his interest in the concern. They do an extensive freighting business, 
carrying about 60,000 tons annually, and in addition conduct a mercantile enterprise 
and deal in coal, etc., and have a large trade in ice, owning two ice houses on the 
river. He has always been a staunch Republican, but never aspired to political 
honors. He was, however, while a resident of the town of Kinderhook, Columbia 
county, N. Y., induced to become his party's candidate for the office of supervisor in 
1873, to which office he was elected by a large majority, being the first Republican 
representative from the town of Kinderhook in the Board of Supervisors in about 
twenty years. He was persistently urged to accept a renomination, but refused, 
preferring to remain in the ranks of civil life and give his attention to his own busi- 
ness. 

Since 1879 he has been a resident of Schodack Landing, and has been by his party 
considered an available candidate for positions of honor and trust, and frequently 
urged to accept such nominations, but steadily refused to enter into political life. Mr. 
Gardenier is one of the leading men of Schodack. 

In 1865 he married Annis L. Peck of Onondaga county, N. Y. They have five 
children living as follows: William I., Charles L., Howard T., Mrs. Mary T. O'Con- 
nor and Annis M. Gardenier; John Peck died in 1869 at the age of four, and Ransen 



638 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

A. died in 1890 at the age of twenty years. Mr. Gardenier's parents were John A. 
and Sarah (La Due) Gardenier; the grandfather was Andrew S. Gardenier. 



MOSES T. CLOUGH. 

Moses T. Clougii was born in Hopkinton, N. H., November 23, 1814. He is the 
son of Phinehas Clough, who was born in the same town in the year 1783, the grand- 
father, James Clough, having come from Massachusetts and being one of the early 
settlers of the old town. Phinehas Clough, the father, died in July, 1866, at the age 
of nearly eighty-three years. In early life he learned the trade of a carpenter, aban- 
doned it in middle life and became a farmer on the old homestead, devoting him- 
self almost entirely to farming and town business, being for many years one of the 
selectmen of the town, two years representative to the General Court, or State 
Legislature. He was also a member of the constitutional convention of the State of 
New Hampshire, and nearly all of his life engaged in the settlement of estates, act- 
ing as guardian, executor and administrator down to almost the time of his decease. 
He was always the intimate personal and political friend of ex-President Franklin 
Pierce, who was his lawyer, and also of Matthew Harvey, governor of the State. 
He married Judith Currier, of Warner, N. H., and at his death left him surviving 
four sons: Willard, Moses T., Daniel and Stephen, and one daughter, Maria J., the 
wife of Ozni Pearson, of the city of Troy, N. Y. 

Moses T. Clough, the subject of this sketch, commenced his classical studies with 
one John O. Ballard, who for many years was a well known and distinguished teacher 
of a select, private and high school of that town ; afterwards attended the academy 
there, and at the age of fifteen years entered Dartmouth College, graduating in 
the year 1834 in the same class with ex-Gov. Moody Currier and Judge Daniel 
Clark of Manchester, N. H., and Richard B. Kimball, the well-known writer and 
author. At the expiration of his college life and in pursuance of a prior determina- 
tion to come to the State of New York and study law, he entered the office of Eliph- 
alet Pearson, at Ticonderoga, N. Y. Soon after this Mr. Pearson removed from that 
place and Mr. Clough went into the office of James J. i^tevens, a brother of the dis- 
tinguished lawyers, Samuel and Cyrus Stevens, of the city of Albany, N. Y., where 
he finished his studies and was admitted to the bar in 1838. In 1844, at the age of 
thirty years, he was appointed district attorney of the county of Essex and held that 
office for more than six years, having been at the expiration of his term of appoint- 
ment in 1847 nominated and elected as a Democrat in that ever strong Whig and 
Republican county. At the formation of the Republican party in that county he was 
urged to take the nomination for that office again, but declined, being always a Dem- 
ocrat and having no sympathy with the new movement. He was postmaster at 
Ticonderoga under the administration of President Polk, alfeo a master in chancery 
and Supreme Court commissioner; also supervisor and assessor of his town and a 
candidate of his party for judge and member of assembly, but defeated by the almost 
always overwhelming majority of the Republican party, both in that town and 
county. He continued there in a very successful practice until the j^ear 1857, when 
he removed to the city of Troy, N. Y., where he now resides (1896) and is in the full 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 639 

practice of his profession at the age of eighty-one ; he, with ex Governor Currier of 
New Hampshire and the Rev. Wm. Symmes Coggin of Boxford, Massachusetts, who 
sat side by side in the recitation rooms in their college days, being the only survivors 
of the class of 1834. Mr. Clough has never maaried. 



REV. JAMES G. PHILLIPS 

Rev. James G. Phillips was born on the farm he now owns in the town of Peters- 
burgh in 1822. His great-grandfather, Thomas Phillips, was a native of England, 
and one of four brothers (Thomas, Samuel, Christopher and Peter) who came to 
America about 1720. Thomas married Anna Blinn. His grandfather, also Thomas, 
was born in Rhode Island in 1752. He settled in the town of Petersburgh on the 
farm now owned and occupied by James 'G., immediately after the Revolutionary 
war and there spent his remaining days. He reared two sons and ten daughters, 
and died in 1834. The father of Rev. James G. was the third Thomas, and was born 
in Petersburgh on the homestead in 1782; in course of time he came into possession 
of the farm and there spent his whole life. His wife was Mary Green, who was born 
in Rhode Island, a daughter of Mansir Green, a native of Coventry, R. I., a Revo- 
lutionary soldier who settled in Petersburgh in 1777. Thomas Phillips and wife 
(parents of James G.) had fourteen children, of whom seven sons and five daughters 
reached maturity. He died at the age of seventy-nine years, and his wife survived 
him four years. 

James G. Phillips was educated in the common schools and attended the Troy 
Conference Academy three terms, but was prevented from graduating by illness. 
He graduated from the four years' course of study in the Troy Conference and was 
ordained elder by Bishop Janes in Albany in June, 1854. During his four years' 
course of study he served as pastor of the M. E. church at Hoosick Falls one year, of 
the M. E. church at Hyde Park, Vt., two years, and one year was pastor of the M. E. 
church at Winooski, Vt. 

After his ordination he was pastor of the M. E. church at Milton two years, of the 
church of Cheshire and Adams, Mass., two years, of the Valatie and Kinderhook 
(N. Y.) church one year, and of Broadalbin and Mayfield two years, when he was 
placed with the superannuated, and retired to the homestead which he purchased 
from the other heirs, and there he has resided, cultivating the farm, which contains 
154 acres. 

A few years after his return to the homestead he united with the Baptist church, 
and since then has served as supply to the Petersburgh Baptist church, sometimes 
for a year at a time; he is also clerk of the church. In 1854 he married Julia N. 
Hinkley. a native of Wilton, Saratoga county, N. Y., and a daughter of Philip and 
Esther (North) Hinkley. Their children are Clark S., Charles H. and Mrs. Louisa 
Jones of Williamstown, Mass. 



640 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



LEMUEL BRINTNALL. 

Lemuel Bkimnam., the second son of Thomas and Lucy Bullard Brintnall, was 
born in Sudbury, Mass., May 10, 1782. He removed to Troy, N. Y. in 1804, and was 
married to Rebecca Covell, daughter of Silas Covell, of Troy, in May, 1810. He re- 
mained a resident of Troy nearly allof his life, and was in active mercantile business 
in that city for about fifty years. Before the city was incorporated he was for a num- 
ber of years a magistrate for the village of Troy and county of Rensselaer, being 
annually appointed to such position by the governor. He had three sons and three 
daughters; the sons were Olney Winser, Charles Edward (Colonel Brintnall), and Silas 
Covell; the daughters were Mrs. James L. Bliss, Mrs. Robert L. Fairchild and Mrs. 
B. C. Bostwick. He died at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Bostwick, at Morris- 
ania, N. Y., on the 22d day of January, 1864, in the eighty-second year of his age, 
and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery at Troy. 



COLONEL CHARLES E. BRINTNALL. 

Charles Edward Brintnall was born in the village of Hoosick Falls, Rensselaer 
county, State of New York, on the 25th day of June, 1812, and was a son of Lemuel 
and Rebecca Covell Brintnall, of Troy, N. Y. He was of the si.\th generation in 
direct descent from Thomas and Esther Brintnall, who came to Boston, Mass., from 
England about 1660, and in the fifth generation from Captain Thomas Brintnall of 
Sudbury, Mass., who was an officer in the army during the colonial wars, and who 
married Hannah, daughter of Major Simon Willard, who was a prominent officer in 
command of colonial troops at the time of King Philip's war. Paul Brintnall, son of 
■Captain Thomas Britnall and great-grandfather of Colonel Brintnall, lived at Sudbury, 
Mass., and was a member of the General Assembly, and his son Thomas, grand- 
father of Colonel Brintnall, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and was with 
Montgomery at Quebec and afterwards with the American army at Saratoga. 

Colonel Brintnall, the subject of this sketch, lived in Troy, N. Y., most of his life. 
In 1835, when twenty-three years old he resided in New York city and was a mem- 
ber of the New York Volunteer Fire Department at the time of the great fire that de- 
stroyed all the lower part of the city, in December of that year, when he lost every- 
thing by the burning of his residence and place of business, except his fireman's uni- 
form. After the fire in New York he removed to Toledo, Ohio, and was one of the 
first settlers of that place. He was there engaged in the hardware business. He 
was the first chief engineer of the Toledo Fire Department and captain of the first 
military company organized in that city. In 1838 the city of Toledo was almost 
totally destroyed by fire and he again lost all his worldly possessions. He then re- 
turned to Troy where he ever afterwards resided. 

In 1852 he was admitted to practice as an attorney and counselor at law, and con- 
tinued in the practice of his profession (except during his service in the army at the 
time of the Civil war) until his death in 1877. Colonel Brintnall was connected with 
the military nearly all of his life. He was first commissioned a captain by Governor 




COL. CHARLES E. BRINTNALL. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 641 

William L. Marcy in the National Guard of the State of New York, October 4, 1834, 
when but twenty-two years old, commanding a company attached to the Fifth Reg- 
iment of Infantry and located at Troy. While a resident of Toledo, Ohio, in 1836, 
1837 and 1838, he organized and commanded the first military company of that place 
and part of the National Guard of the State of Ohio, and known as the Toledo Guards, 
and which company he continued to command until he left the State. On his return 
to Troy in 1839, he became a member of the famous Troy Citizens Corps, and on 
April 80, 1845, he was elected by the company and commissioned by Gov. Silas 
Wright, first lieutenant of the Corps, which position he continued to hold until he 
was commissioned captain of the Troy City Artillery, the 3d day of June, 1846. This 
company volunteered for the Mexican war on the 15th of June, 1846, and was attached 
to the 4th Regiment of U. S. Volunteer Infantry, but was never called into active 
service. Captain Brintnall remained in command of the Artillery until September 6, 
1856, when he resigned. On the 19th of July, 1859, he was commissioned as lieuten- 
ant-colonel and assigned to the command of the 24th Regiment National Guard of 
New York, which position he held for one year, when he again resigned on account 
of business interests. 

On the breaking out of the Civil war in 1861, he opened a recruiting office on the 
17th of April of that year, and in less than five days raised and organized a company 
for the war and it was immediately accepted; he was at once elected captain, and 
this company, afterwards known as Company B, 30th New York Volunteers, was the 
first company recruited for that regiment. On the organization of the regiment, 
Edward Frisbie, of Albany, who was afterwards killed at the Second Battle of Bull 
Run, in September, 1863, was elected colonel and Captain Brintnall, lieutenant- 
colonel, and was commissioned as such by Governor Morgan on the 20th of June, 
1861, and the regiment left for Washington on the 27th of that month. The regiment 
remained in camp at Brightwood, I). C, and at Hunter's Chai^el, Virginia, until the 
following spring. In the winter of 1862 Colonel Brintnall was ordered to take com- 
mand of a fort on Upton's Hill, Va., and while superintending the construction of 
the fort and the mounting of some heavy siege guns, he was badly injured, and in 
consequence of such injury he was compelled to resign, and was honorably discharged 
from the service by order of General McClellan, on the 11th of March 1862, when he 
returned to Troy. After a year's illness, on partially recovering his health, he re- 
sumed his practice as a lawyer and continued such practice until his death in 1877. 

From 1843 to 1847 he was a member of the Common Council of the city of Troy, 
and for seven years he was a justice of the Justice's Court of the city (from 1848 to 
1855); he was also for several years police justice, being annually appointed by the 
Common Council for that position. He was at different times associated in the 
practice of the law with George R. Davis, jr., Gilbert Robertson, jr., and Messrs. 
Holmes & Disbrow. 

Colonel Brintnall was married September 28, 1836, to Miss Sarah A. Seymour, 
daughter of Horace Kellogg Seymour, of West Hartford, Conn. They had three 
sons, Charles, William and George, but one of whom is now living, Charles S. Brint- 
nall, a lawyer, residing at Troy, N. Y. 

Colonel Brintnall died at his residence in Lansingburgh, February 9, 1877, and was 
buried in Oakwood Cemetery. 
81 



642 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

CHARLES CLEMINSHAW. 

Charles Cleminshaw was born in Albany in July, 1833. His parents moved to 
Troy when he was but a child and he has lived here since. He left school at ten 
years of age and went to work for Hosea Leach in the lamp and fluid business. He 
took up the manufacture of soda-water when seventeen years of age, with a capital 
of one hundred dollars borrowed money, in connection with a young man named 
Moslcy. After about three years he purchased Mosley's interest and continued in the 
business for about thirty years, thereby accumulating a comfortable fortune. Dur- 
ing that time he became connected with the Troy City Railroad Company, was 
elected vice-president June 10, 1876. and subsequently elected president of the com- 
pany June 14, 1887. Under his management the road has been greatly enlarged and 
prospered, and its franchise privileges extended. 

He is a director of the Troy City Bank, and a few years ago was made vice-presi- 
dent, which position he still holds; he belongs to Apollo Lodge, F. & A. M., of which 
he was treasurer twenty-three years, also was one of the original organizers of the 
Masonic Hall Association, and connected with the building of the temple, and has 
attained to the thirty-second degree in Masonry; he was formerly president of the 
Ionic Club. 

Mr. Cleminshaw was married to Mary Jane Wood, April 29, ISM; she died June 
10, 1864; of that union were born two children, Charles G. and Charlotte Louise, 
wife of C. E. Hall, of New York city. His second wife was Mary Jane Holbrook, to 
whom he was married on July 19, 1865; they have one son, William H., a resident of 
Cleveland, Ohio. 

With Mr. Curtis he organized the firm of H. C. Curtis & Co., in connection with 
his eldest son, Charles G. Cleminshaw; the three constitute the firm, it being one of 
the leading industries of the city devoted to the manufacture of cuffs and collars. 
Mr. Cleminshaw has for over a quarter of a century been actively identified with 
many of the most important business enterprises which have done so much toward 
building up and promoting the growth of Troy. For about twenty-five years he has 
been a vestryman of Christ's Episcopal church. In politics he has always been a 
staunch Republican and for many years recognized as infiucntial in the ranks of his 
party in Troy. 



CHARLES RUSSELL INGALLS. 

JrsTiCK Ch aki.es R. Ingai.i.s was born at Greenwich, Washington county, N. Y.. 
September 14, 1819. He is of English descent, both on the paternal and maternal 
sides, the earliest ancestor of whom he possesses reliable information being Edmund 
Ingalls, who with his family emigrated from Lincolnshire, England, and arrived in 
the colony of Massachusetts Bay in June, 1629, settling in the territory which is now 
the city of Lynn. Four of his kinsmen were soldiers in the Revolutionary army, 
one of them, James Ingalls, a great-uncle, being killed at the battle of Bunker Hill. 

Charles Ingalls, his grandfather, resided in Methuen, Mass., and after being grad- 
uated from Dartmouth College, removed to Washington county, N. Y., and read 




CHARLES CLEMINSHAW. 



filOGRAPHiCAL. G43 

law. As soon as he was admitted to practice in the courts of this State, in 1802, he 
located in Greenwich, where he opened the first law office and successfully conducted 
a law practice until his death, September 2, 1S12. 

Charles Frye Ingalls, father of the subject of this record, adopted his father's pro- 
fession, and after his admission to the bar, October 9, 1819, began the practice of 
law at Greenwich, which he continued until within a few years of his death, which 
occurred March 5, 1870. He served as district attorney and judge of the Court of 
Common Pleas of his county, and a member of the New York Assembly ; he was 
highly esteemed for his integrity and ability as a lawyer, and for his probity as a 
citizen. 

The maiden name of the mother of Justice Ingalls was Mary Rogers; she was the 
daughter of Nathan and Dorothea (Cleveland) Rogers, natives of Canterbury, Conn., 
who removed in the year 1800 to Greenwich, N. Y., where they became prominent 
citizens and were held in high regard for their intelligence and moral worth. 

Charles Russell Ingalls read law at Gi'eenwich under the instruction of his father, 
and on January 12, 1844, was admitted to the Supreme Coui't and Court of Chan- 
cery. Soon thereafter he formed a partnership with his father, who had secured an 
extensive and lucrative practice. In June, 1860, he removed to Troy and became a 
partner of David L. Seymour, a lawyer of recognized learning and abilitj'. The 
business, which was equal to an^' in the county, was conducted under the firm name 
of Seymour & Ingalls. 

Mr. Ingalls became so favorably known as a lawyer and a citizen in the Third Ju- 
dicial District that, in 1863, he was unanimously nominated, and elected to the office 
of justice of the Supreme Court of that district. In 1870 he became ex-oflicio a 
member of the Court of Appeals. In 1871 he was nominated by both political par- 
ties for the same office, and was elected for fourteen years without opposition. In 
1877 he was appointed by the governor a member of the General Term of the Su- 
preme Court of the First Department of the State, comprising the city of New York. 
In 1885 he was again nominated, and without opposition elected to the same office 
for another term of fourteen years. He continued to serve until January 1, 1890, 
when he retired from the bench, having been a Supreme Court justice for twenty- 
six years, and having attained the age of seventy, the limit prescribed by the Con- 
stitution of the State. 

He had the honor in 1896 of being appointed as one of the Committee of One 
Hundred to the Conference at Washington, D. C, to consider the practicability of a 
permanent system of arbitration between Great Britain and the United States. 
Justice Ingalls was a delegate at large from the State of New York to the National 
Democratic Convention which met in 1860 at Charleston, S. C, and favored the 
nomination of Stephen A. Douglas for president ; he was subsequently a delegate at 
Baltimore and still favored Douglas. 

He retains the home at Greenwich, N. Y., which has been in the possession of the 
family for over sixty years. He has been a trustee of the Rensselaer Polytechnic 
Institute for twenty-five years, and in 1887 was unanimously elected its president, 
but declined the office because he deemed it incompatible with his judicial duties. 
Since retiring from the bench Justice Ingalls has occupied much of his time by con- 
sultations and hearing references. He has been a member of the Second Street 



644 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Presbyterian church of Troy, and is and has been a ruHnii: ehler therein for many 
years. 

In September, 1846, he married Mary E., daughter of Dr. Charles R. Mosher, of 
Easton, N. Y. She died in February, 1848. In June, 1852, he married Lorenda Ste- 
vens, of Troy, N. Y., who died in December, 1872. In November, 1880, he married 
Margaret L., daughter of the Rev. Uriah Marvin, of Troy, N. Y. They have one 
daughter, Margaret M.. who is twelve years of age. 

Justice Ingalls survives a sister, Mary Ingalls, and a brother, Thomas Ingalls, who 
were born, resided and died in Greenwich, N.Y. ; the latter was a lawyer, who, after 
graduating from Trinity College, Hartford, Conn., read his profession in the office 
of his father and brother, and became their partner. In politics Justice Ingalls is a 
Democrat. 



EDGAR LUYSTER FURSMAN. 

Hon. Edc.'VR L. FiKSMAN was born in Saratoga county, N. Y., August 5, 1838. 
His ancestors on the paternal side were of English descent ; on the maternal side 
they were Dutch, having come to this country and settled on Long Island in l(t42. 
His father, Jesse Budd Fursman, was born in Rensselaer county, and when young 
removed to Saratoga, and subsequently to Easton, Washington county, where he was 
supervisor and assessor many years; he died in 1875. His wife, mother of the sub- 
ject of this record, Barbara (Hulst) Fursman, was a native of Dutchess county, N.Y. ; 
she died in 1881. 

Judge Fursman was educated in Schuylerville and Greenwich Academies, the New 
York Conference Seminary at Charlotteville and Fort Edward Institute. He studied 
law with Hon. A. D. Wait, of Fort Edward, and was admitted to practice in 1858 at 
Caldwell, N. Y. After practicing for a time at Schuylerville, in 18(!0 he came to 
Troy and formed a partnership with Hon. James Forsyth, as Forsyth & Fursman, 
and in 1870 the partnership of Smith, Fur.sman & Cowen was formed, which contin- 
ued for about twenty years. In 1882 he was elected county judge and re-elected in 
1888. In 1889 he was elected justice of the Supreme Court ; his term expires in 1903. 

As a lawyer Judge Fursman early took his place among the able practitioners of 
the State; he is thoroughly grounded m the philosophy of the law and posses.ses a 
strong logical and analytical mind, and is learned and erudite. He brought to the 
bench a mind thoroughly trained by years of study and e.xperience. His judicial 
papers and discussions exhibit strength, clearness and persj)icuity of diction, and a 
judicial fairness which have placed him in the front rank of the distinguished jurists 
who have shed lustre upon the bench of the Empire State. 

He was president of the Young Men's Association of Troy for several years, 
and held a commission as colonel in the New York National Guard, and was judge 
advocate on General Carr's staff for three years. He is a trustee of the Victor Cotton 
Manufacturing Co., a director in the Fort Miller Bridge Co., a director of the Troy 
City Railroad, a member of Apollo Lodge, Chapter and Commandery, and Oriental 
Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. In politics Judge Fursman is a Democrat. 

June 13, 1860, he married Abbey Minerva Cramer, of Saratoga county, a daughter 




ARBA R. GRhEN, M. D. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 045 

of the late James Payne Cramer, a prominent business man of that countj-. Their 
son, James Cramer Fursman, is a lawyer of Troy. 



ARBA R. GREEN, M. D. 

Dr. Area R. Green was born in Troy, N. Y., August 18, 1854. His father, J. 
Crawford Green, also was born in Troy and is the senior member of the firm of 
Green & Waterman. His mother was Mary Goodspeed, a native of Troj', a daugh- 
ter of Anthony Goodspeed; she died March 11, 1895. 

Dr. Green's early education was meagre on account of his being afflicted with a 
spinal trouble, preventing him from studying before he was thirteen years old, at 
which time he entered Troy Academy; five years later he entered the New York 
HomcEopathic Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1880 and has since 
practiced in Troy. He is now in the enjoyment of good health, which is considered 
almost a miracle, as in his early childhood his life was despaired of by five learned 
physicians. 

He was the last president of the Troy Homoeopathic Society. In the fall of 1879 
he was appointed coroner by Governor Cornell, to fill the unexpired term of Dr. 
Woodruff, and was elected to that office by the people in 1881, and again was nomi- 
nated, but defeated. He has been medical examiner for the Knights of Honor for 
fourteen years; is a member of the Hahnemannian Society of New York, and was 
elected professor of medical jurisprudence of that institu4;ion. He is of the Baptist 
faith. 

He married Lydia V. Richmond, of Averill Park, in 1880. His son, Crawford R. 
Green, is now a student at Troy Academy and intends to enter Williams College in 
1897. 



CHARLES E. HANAMAN. 

Charles E. Hanaman was born in Watervliet, N. Y., November 19, 1848. His 
father, Jonas Edward Hanaman, was a native of Brunswick, Ren.sselaer county, 
N. Y., born November 10, 1820, and for many years was engaged in the milling 
busines.s. He removed to Troy in the early fifties, becoming a prominent (lour mer- 
chant of that place; was also a director in the Union National Bank of Troy. His 
death occurred in 187S. His wife was Ursula J. (Gowey) Hanaman. 

Charles E. received the rudiments of his education in the public schools, and grad- 
uated from the Troy Academy in 1869, then went into business with his father in 
general milling and the wholesale flour trade, the firm being J. E. Hanaman & Son. 
A year afterward the firm name was changed to Hanaman & Ingalls. In 188(i he 
retired from the business on account of poor health. 

In 1888 he was elected secretary and treasurer of the Troy Savings Bank, and after 
the death of Derick Lane, which occurred in December, 1892. he was elected presi- 
dent of that institution, which office he now holds. For several years he has been a 



64G LANDMARKS OP RENSSELAER COtJNTV. 

a director in the Union National Bank. He is treasurer of the Orphan Asylum ; 
treasurer of St. John's Episcopal church, also one of the vestrymen ; was one of the 
founders of the Troy Scientific Association ; is a fellow of the American Association 
for the Advancement of Science; a fellow of the Royal Microscopical Society of 
London, England, and a member of the American Microscopical Society. 

Mr. Ilanaman has, from early boyhood, been impelled by an inborn love of the 
subject to devote a large portion of his leisure to the study of natural history and the 
construction and use of the microscope as applied to the subject. 

When a boy of ten years, he began the collection of insects and plants and the 
careful study of their structure and habits of growth ; and by the dissection of many 
of our common animals soon gained a good foundation knowledge of anatomy and 
jihysiology. At the age of fifteen he became the happy possessor of a compound 
microscope and began a systematic course of biological study, which he has con- 
tinued in his leisure moments, and as a recreation from busmess cares, to the pres- 
ent time. He has in the mean time become the owner of a large scientific library, a 
number of fine microscopes, and a large collection of permanent microscopical 
preparations illustrative of his special studies in natural history. 

Of late years his studies have been confined chiefly to those branches of the 
science of biology known as general morphology and normal and pathological his- 
tology; and as a student of the latter he is frequently consulted by his physician 
friends. 

As a microscopist he is also frequently consulted by beginners in the use of the 
micro.scope, both in regard to the selection of the form of instrument best adapted to 
their prospective work, and in determining for them the true value of the optical 
performance of the lenses offered them by dealers in optical goods. 

Mr. Ilanaman has during the past twenty-five years occasionally appeared as a 
lecturer before the Troy Scientific Association and other societies in Troy whose 
members are interested in natural history subjects, and during the whole of this 
period he has held the office of secretary of the Microscopical Section of the 
Association. 

Notwithstanding this strong natural bent for science, Mr. Hanaman has never 
permitted his .studies to interfere in the slightest degree with his business appoint- 
ments and duties. On the contrary, he and many of his friends believe that the 
mental discipline and the exact methods of thought and action developed by his 
scientific work has been an important factor in his success as a business man. 

He is a member of the Troy Club, and a member of the Savings Bank Association 
of the State of New York, and as president represents the bank in the American 
Bankers' Association. 

In politics Mr. Ilanaman is a Republican, but in no sense a politician ; as a busi- 
ness man he is recognized as strong, careful and conservative. 

On the 22d of October, 1872, Mr. Hanaman married Miss Mary E. Worth, of Troy, 
N. Y., daughter of Asa and Elizabeth Worth. To Mr. and Mrs. Hanaman were 
born four children; John died in 1874; those living are Helen Ursula, Hldith Law- 
rence and Elizabeth Worth. 




JHRHMIAH MAHOiNhV 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 647 

WILLIAM F. GREENE. 

William F. Greene was born iti Coxsackie, N. Y., April 22, 1838. He comes from 
old New England stock, his ancestors having come to this countiy in the early part 
of the seventeenth century. 

His first business experience was with James W. Greene & Co., known as the Troy 
Stamping Works. He began the manufacture of .stove trimmings and hardware 
specialties in 1890, and from the outset his efforts have met with success. His factory 
occupies two entire floors of the large building at 1981-1987 Sixth avenue, Troy, and 
is fully equipped with all necessary machinery and tools for the manufacture of 
stove trimmings and hardware specialties. His leading specialties are the Jewel, 
Crown and Zero stove trimmings, and Zero wire goods; about fifty workmen are 
employed. 

Mr. Greene was in the navy during the war until its close on the United States 
frigate Potomac, where he acted as paymaster's clerk. He is a member of Post 
Griswold, G. A. R., of the Ionic Club and of the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church. 

Probably there is no one better acquainted with the hardware trade in this country 
than Mr. Greene, having spent a good part of his life traveling. He ships his goods 
to all parts of the world. 



JEREMIAH MAHONEY. 

Jeremiah Maiioney was born in Troy, N. Y. , Angust 18, 1844, the thiixl of seven 
sons of John and Mary (Hurley) Mahoney. His parents came to this country in 
1836 from Durimanway, County Cork, Ireland, and settled in Troy, where his father 
died in 1854. His mother resides with him. 

Upon leaving school Mr. Mahoney engaged with E. C. Connell in the manufacture 
of tobacco ; after working with him for sixteen years, he bought him out and carried 
on the business for four years, when he retired from the' tobacco business and with 
his brother William engaged in the liquor trade and the manfacture of cigars, the 
firm being J. & W Mahoney at 376 River street. 

He was elected alderman of the Seventh ward in March, 1868, being the youngest 
alderman ever elected in Troy. He was made chairman of the Railroad Commis- 
sion. The Troy & Lansingburgh Railroad Company desired to increase the fare 
one cent, and Mr. Mahoney was offered a large sum of money if he would report 
favorably on the bill; but he reported against it. In his speech on the subject, 
among other things, he said, " The poor must ride on the horse cars, but the rich 
can ride in carriages, and I strictly oppose making the working people's burden any 
harder for them." When the old Capital Police were abolished he was one of the 
first police commissioners elected for a term of four years, and during that time not 
a burglary was committed in the city of Troy. He was appointed city superinten- 
dent May 1, 1896, by Mayor Molloy. Mr. Mahoney is five feet ten inches in stature, 
weighs over 200 pounds and built in proportion. He has never had a day of sickness 
in his life. He is said to resemble in personal appearance Gen. Fitz Hugh Lee, 



648 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

present minister to Cuba, who is considered a very fine-looking man. Mr. Mahoney 
resides at No. 310 Eighth street, and has hved in the Seventh ward all his life. 

He married Mary E. Terrell, of Troy, in 1809; she died in 1875. He has one 
daughter, Mary Catherine. 



DR. CHARLES H. GABBLER. 

Dk. Chaki.k.s H. (i.MiKLKR, .son of William E. anil Elizabulh (Winne) Gabeler, was 
born in Sand Lake, Rensselaer county, May 17, 1858. His father, who was also born 
there, was a son of William whose father, Godfrey Gabeler, came to that town from 
Germany at a very early day ; Godfrey, William and William E. were all glass 
workers. Mrs. Elizabeth Gabeler is a de.scendant of the old and respected Winne 
family of Troy. There were three sons, Addi.son 'W., practicing dentistry in Pitts- 
field, Mass. ; William A., practicing dentistry in Lawrence, Mass. ; and Charles H. 

Dr. C. H. Gabeler attended the public schools of Sand Lake and received his dental 
education in Albany. He began the practice of dentistry in Troy, March 1, 1892, 
and is now in business at No. '62 Fourth street, maintaining his residence in Lansing- 
burgh. 

He is a member of King Solomon's Primitive Lodge No. 91, F. & A. M., Bloss 
Council R. & S. M. Phoenix Chapter R. A. M., Apollo Commandery No. 15, K. T., 
and Oriental Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He was also for three years a 
member of the Albany Burgesses Corjjs. 

February 22, 1884, he married Mary Augusta Van Natten, daughter of James H. 
and Elizabeth (Cornwell) Van Natten; they have two children: Clyde W. and 
Clarion 'E. 



JOSIAH A. WAIT. 

JosiAH A. Wait was born in New Lebanon, Columbia county, N. V., in 1S17. His 
father, Josiah Wait, was born in Dutche.ss county and later moved to New Lebanon, 
where for thirty years he carried on the business of a hatter; he served in the war 
of 1812, and died in 1862. His mother, Cynthia (Palmer) Wait, was born in Dutchess 
county; she died in 18G3. 

Josiah A. Wait received his education in the public schools and the academy at 
Lebanon, after which he was in the store of Chester Griswold, of Nassau. He taught 
school for one season, opened a country store, and came to Troy in 1854, where he 
started in the coal business under the firm name of Wait, Fisher & Co. He later 
bought out his partners and carried on the business alone until David Ritchie and 
Mr. Wait's son Louis H. were taken as partners, when the firm name became J. A. 
Wait, Son & Co. Mr. Wait is the oldest living coal dealer in Troy, having been con- 
tinuously engaged in the business for forty-three years. 

He is a director in the A. M. Church Company, and a director and stockholder in 
the Troy National Bank. He is a member of Mount Ziou Lodge F. <& A. M., Apollo 



1 




CHARLES H. GABELbR, U. D. S. 




EDWARD W. WOLF. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. fi49 

Chapter, Bloss Council, Apollo Commandery, and Oriental Temple of the Mystic 
Shrine. 

In 1844 he married Sarah M. Kinney, of Troy, and their children are Louis II., 
Mrs. Amelia Sanders, Mrs. Mary A. Hall, and Julia Hoyt. 



EDWARD W. WOLF. 

Edward W. Wolf was born in the city of Troy, N.Y., December 4, 1861. He was 
educated in the public schools and Lasalle Institute. He received his musical edu- 
cation from Prof. Louis Davis and Dr. T. J. Guy of Troy. He is organist in the 
Temple Berith Sholon on Third street, and is a private instructor in vocal and in- 
strumental music. 

August 21, 1888, he married Anna M., daughter of John A. Nuttall, of Cohoes, 
N. Y., by whom he has had three children: Edward W., jr., John A. and Anna M. 
His father, John F. Wolf, was born in Cannawurf, Thiiringen, Germany, July 6, 1828; 
he was educated there and came to the United States m 1854 and located in Troy. 
For his second wife he married Waldburga Storts, of Troy, formerly of Baden, 
Germany. He was a member of Doring's band^f the 2d N. Y. Vols, in the late war, 
and was honorably discharged by surgeon's certificate of disability. Prior to coming 
to America he served his time in the German army. He died in 1891 and his wife 
died January 1, 1892. 

Prof. Wolf is a member of Jerusalem Lodge No. 355, F. & A. M., of Lansing- 
burgh, and is master of the lodge at this date (1896), and has held that office two 
years. He is also a member of Phoenix Chapter No. 133, R. A. M., Bloss Council 
No. 14, R. & S. M., Apollo Commandery No. 15, K. T., Delta Lodge of Perfection, 
Delta Lodge Council P. of F., Delta Chapter Rose Croix, Albany Sovereign Consis- 
tory S. P. R. S., Oriental Temple, Nobles of Mystic Shrine, and the Apollo Drill 
Corps. The ancestry of the family is German English and Dutch. 



JOHN W. BURNS. 

John W. Burns, deceased, was born in Troy, N. Y., in the year 1838. After an 
early completion of his education, he succeeded his father (John) in the undertaking 
business; he built a very extensive business, and was considered one of the best and 
most successful men in his profession. He was a pioneer in the livery business, hav- 
ing one of the largest and most complete establishments of this kind in the State. 
He was interested in all movements that were beneficial to the public, and took great 
interest in any charitable work, being especially interested in the Home for the Aged 
and Poor. He was one of the trustees of the Troy Hospital, and also of St. Peter's 
church. He never took any active interest in politics. The only political office ever 
held by him was that of coroner, being appointed by Governor Cornell to fill an unex- 
pired term. After an honoraV)le and very successful career, he died April 9, 1881, 



650 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

being survived by his wife and five children: J. George (who has since died). Cor- 
nelius F., James H., David A. and Miss Nellie Burns. The sons succeeded their 
father in the business, and are very successfully carrying on the same. 



WILLIAM H. ROWE. 

William H. Rowl ranks m the forefront of the men who have the best interests 
of Troy at heart, and always has a warm place in his heart and memory for its citi- 
zens. He is president of W. H. Rowe & Son, whose business has lately been 
changed from a partnership to a corporation, and is one of the largest knit goods 
manufacturing concerns in the United States. 

Quiet, unassuming and gentle, a thorough business man, yet one who takes time 
to notice those interests that pertain to his business indirectly or not at all, and seek- 
ing to fulfill in the highest sense his duty to his neighbors, it is worth while to live 
in this world, where from the heights of success one can look back upon achieve- 
ments which have crowned persistent efforts; yet many of those who know Mr. 
Rowe know little of the important positions he has lilled and the weighty responsi- 
bilities he has carried for himself and others. 

Besides the vast interests of his New York house, Mr. Rowe is president of the 
Wayside Knitting Mills of Troy, N. Y., president of the Amsterdam Knitting Com- 
pany of Amsterdam, a director in the National State Bank of Troy, a director of the 
Troy Waste Manufacturing Company, a director in the Merchants* National Bank of 
Glens Falls, and a director of the Glens Falls, Sandy Hill & Fort Edward Railway 
Company. 

But all his interests do not lead along business lines, nor does he allow business to 
usurp them. He is president of the board of trustees of the Fifth Avenue Methodist 
Episcopal church of Troy, of which he has been a member for many years; a direc- 
tor of the Mohawk and Hudson River Humane Society; one of the trustees of the 
Y. M. C. A. of Troy, and a trustee of the M. E. church of Hartford, N. Y., which he 
remodeled into a beautiful structure as a memorial to his tlaughtcr, Miss Lucy A. 
Wood Rowe. 

Mr. Rowe's beneficences have been large and numerous, and he has become known 
as one of the greatest philanthropists, one of the most earnest humanitarians, une of 
the noblest of men, who spends much of his busy life in unsellisli devotion to the 
welfare of his less fortunate fellow beings. One of the enduring monuments to his 
name is the Lucy A. Wood Rowe memorial building on Fourth street Troy, erected 
by him for a home for the Mohawk and Hudson River Humane Society, which, when 
completed in the closing days of 189G, will be devoted to the uses of this society, 
which has for one of its greatest objects the prevention of cruelty to children. Its 
cost was over $30,000, and it is one of the handsomest buildings in Troy. Mr. 
Rowe, in connection with members of his family, has also purchased a lot on King 
street, Troy, on which they are about to erect a handsome building to be used by the 
Salvation army. This building will cost, when completed, over $22,000. The 
donors of the lot, besides Mr. Rowe, are Mrs. Rowe and his two sons, Col. William 




■ ^r,£lS [-Uatamr i3£r.r 




!? 




^rzUT" 




BIOGRAPHICAL. 651 

H. Rowe, jr., and J. P. W. Rowe. It is because of these gifts so munificent in ex- 
tent and piiilanthropic in character that Mr. Rowe is referred to as the " George W. 
Childs" of this section of the State 



COL. WILLIAM H. ROWE, Jr. 

Col. William H. Rowe, Jr., is justly entitled to the reputation which he enjo5'S, 
that of one of the most popular and public spirited young men of Troy. As a 
philanthropist he follows in the footsteps of his honored father, seeking at all times 
to do something to benefit his fellow men. He was educated in the public schools 
of Tro}', prepared for college in the Fort Edward Collegiate Institute, and entered 
the class of '91 in S3'racuse University, and became a member of the Psi Upsilon 
fraternity. 

Since leaving the college his attention has been devoted mainly to the large mercan- 
tile and manufacturing institutions in which his father and he are interested, in which 
hisconservative judgment, coupled with his keen executive ability, has been of material 
advantage and has given him a firm gra.sp of the enterprise in which he is inter- 
ested. Colonel Rowe is the youngest member of the board of trustees of the Syra- 
cuse University, and he also enjoys the distinction of having been the youngest 
World's Fair commissioner from the United States at the great exposition at Chicago 
in 1893. 

When Roswell P. Flower assumed the office of governor of the State of New York 
he appointed Mr. Rowe as assistant quartermaster-general on his staff, with rank of 
colonel. Colonel Rowe also holds the following offices: Treasurer W. H. Rowe & 
Son, New York city; treasurer of Wayside Knitting Mills, Troy, N.Y. ; secretary of 
Amsterdam Knitting Mills, Amsterdam, N. Y. ; a director in the Central National 
Bank, Troy N. Y. ; a director of the R. R. Y. M. C. A., Troy, a director of the Y. M. 
C. A., Troy, and a member of the advisory board of the publicaticn for all the 
American colleges, "The Bachelor of Arts;" also a member of the Troy Club, and 
he is a 83' Mason ; a trustee of the Troy Conference Academy at Poultney, Yt. ; a 
trustee of the M. E. church at Hartford, N. Y. ; treasurer of the Office Supply Com- 
pany of Troy, N.Y. In 189.") he was elected national director from New York State 
for the Children's Home Society, which at the World's Columbian Exposition at 
Chicago received the award for the most aggressive humane movement. Within 
twelve years the society has placed 7,000 children in good homes. 

Colonel Rowe has given a scholarship in the Syracuse University, called the 
"Mrs. W. H. Rowe scholarship," in honor of his mother, and also has given a 
scholarship in the Troy Conference Academy called the "Lucy A. Wood Rowe 
Scholarship," as a memorial to his sister. Personallly Colonel Rowe is of a kind and 
generous nature. He gathers to himself hosts of friends in all walks of life; he is 
active and progressive in politics, and is recognized as one of the leading Democrats 
of New York. In 1S94 he was prominently mentioned as the Democratic candidate 
for mayor of Troy, but he would not allow his friends to carry his name before the 
nominating convention. As a public speaker Colonel Rowe posse.ssesthe qualities of 
those who by the matchless gift of eloquence are orators of the highest rank. His 



652 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTT. 

brilliant addresses receive the richest praise and have already won for him most 
worthy fame. Active in society, prominent in business circles and successful in 
whatever he undertakes, he is a representative of a splendid type of manhood, of 
which Troy may justly feel proud. 



EDGAR LYND. 

EnG.\u Lynii was born in Poestenkill, October 31, 1848. Archelaus Lynd, his 
great-grandfather, was a native of England and one of three brothers who came to 
America about 1750; he settled in or near Albany. He was given the use of 300 
acres of land for two years in what is now Poestenkill by the Van Rensselaers, in 
order to open that section of territory and to assist in colonizing it. His first clear- 
ing was made about 1755 on the site of the Lynd Cemetery, which he founded in 
17(53, and where now stands a large and elegant monument dedicated to him. After 
ten years he paid a nominal rent. He was a soldier during the Revolutionary war. 
He reared four sons, John, Leonard, Archelaus, and the foiu'th was killed when a 
young man at a house-raising in Albany. 

Archelaus (2d), grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Poestenkill, 
and was a farmer all his life. Ilis wife was Rosetta Ives. They reared seven sons 
and seven daughters. 

Leonard Lynd, the t'allier of Edgar, was the youngest of fourteen children men- 
tioned above. He was born in Poestenkill, February 15, 1817. He began his busi- 
ness life when seventeen at farm work at eight dollars a month. He later purchased 
a team of horses and engaged in teaming, lumbering, coal hauling, etc. He soon 
after began lumbering on his own account, at which he made a success, and also en- 
gaged in buying and selling cattle and other stock, and later bought and sold iarms 
and timber lands. He first ran the Union hotel in Poestenkill for two years. He 
was originally a Democrat, but has been a Republican since the formation of that 
party. He served nine terms as .supervisor and was the Republican nominee for 
sheriff. He is a member of King Solomon Lodge. F. & A. M. His first wife was 
Auges Whyland, daughter of Jacob Whyland ; they reared two children: Albert 
(deceased) and Edgar. His second wife was Estena Hront, of Schodack. 

Edgar Lynd received his education at Fort Edward Collegiate Institute and ^le- 
chanicvillc Academy. Up to 187fi he remained at home a.ssisting his father. That 
year he removed to Troy and embarked in the grocery and feed business. In the 
years 1879 and 1880 he was the Republican supervisor for the Second ward of Troy. 
In 1884 he returned to the homestead, the better to assist and transact business for 
his father. He took an active interest in building the Troy and New England Elec- 
tric Railway, of which he is a heavy stockholder; he was one of the first board of 
directors of that road, which office he filled from 1891 to 1895. 

He is a member of King Solomon Lodge No. 91, F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter No. 
48, P.loss Council No. 14, Apollo Commandery No. 15, Oriental Temple, Nobles of 
the Mystic Shrine, Poestenkill Lodge No. 704, I. O. O. P., Premium Lodge Knights 
of Pythias, and Pafraets Dael Club of Troy. 




EDGAR LYND. 



^Mmwm^m^' 



I 







^ 




GILBERT GhER, JR. 



Biographical. g53 

In 1870 he married Ella E. Neilson, of Mechanicville, a (laughter of La Fayette and 
Rose Neilson; to them were born two children, Leonard E. and Rosalie Agnes, 
wife of R. V. Tompkins, of Mechanicville. 



GILBERT GEER, Jr. 

Gilbert Geer, Jr., was born in the city of Troy, N.Y., May 8, 1827; he descended 
from George Geer, a native of Hevitree, England, where he was born in 1621 ; he 
came to Salem, Mass., in his fourteenth year; there he formed the acquaintance of 
Robert Allyn and with him in 1637 removed to New London county, Conn., and was 
one of the original .settlers of the town of Groton; he married Allyn's eldest daugh- 
ter, Sarah, in 1650. Richard Geer, the grandfather of Gilbert, jr., was the great- 
grandson of the original George and was born at Groton (now Ledyard) in 1753; he 
removed to Pittstown, Rensselaer county, N. Y., in 1811, and in company with his 
son Erastus bought a large tract of land from Major Douglass, where he died in 
1835. 

Richard was in the Revolutionary war and a pensioner the latter part of his life. 
Gilbert was born in 1795 and was less than seventeen years of age when war was 
declared against England in 1812, but afterwards in 1814, both he and his brother 
were members of Capt. George R. Davis's company and took part in the famous 
campaign under Gen. Gilbert Eddy. 

Gilbert Geer married Audria Spencer of Arlington, Vt., in 1822. He had learned 
the carpenter trade and with his brother and brother in law, Benjamin Gibbs. The 
Quaker meeting house in Pittstown was built by him and his brother more than 
seventy years ago. 

In 182G Gilbert Geer moved his family to Troy; he had two children, Erastus and 
Huldah, the eldest born in January, 1824; he bought a double house located on the 
east side of North Second street directly north of the corner of Grand Division street; 
here Gilbert Geer, jr., was born. In 1829 he built a large frame house. No. 13 Fed- 
eral street, directly opposite the North Market; here he resided until 1838, and it 
was in this house that Mary P., Charles Henry and George S. Geer were born. He 
died in Waterford in April, 1882. 

Gilbert Geer, jr., spent his boyhood days in the Fourth ward ; he early went to 
school to James Parks, who kept a select school for boys at No. 108 Fourth street. 
In 1839 he went to Lanesboro, Mass., to N. P. Talcott's boarding school, where he re- 
mained until Mr. Talcott's death; afterwards he went to Greylock at South Williams- 
town, Mass., where he remained two years. He married, in the fall of 1849, Frances 
Adaline Mosher, and opened a retail grocery store on the corner north of the Fulton 
Market ; in 1854 he was in the manufacture of stoves in company with his brothers, 
and in 1858 went into the insurance and real estate business over the Market Bank 
on River street, and removed to the Mansion House block, where he continued until 
his death. He possessed excellent traits of character, was everybody's friend and 
the most companionable of men ; in illustrations he was most apt and his jokes were 
always new and to the point. 

Gilbert Geer, jr., like his father, when a young man was initiated into the Masonic 



654 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

order and was very prominent its councils ; was past master of King Solomon's Lodge 
and a Knight Templar. He cast his first vote for General Taylor in 1848 and sup- 
ported the Whig party until 1856, when he transferred his allegiance to the Repub- 
lican party, of which he was a devoted and active member. He served the Third 
ward of the city of Troy for two terms in the School Board and for nine years follow- 
ing represented his ward in the Board of Aldermen, of which he was the leader of 
his party, and no more efficient or able representative the city ever had. When 
Senator Edward Murphy was mayor he appointed him to one of the most responsible 
offices in his gift, notwithstanding he was one of his most active opponents. 

His business relations were very extensive; was president of the Board of Under- 
writers for a number of years, and secretary and treasurer of several large manufac- 
turing corporations in the city of Troy and vicinity, in which he had investments. 
He was in every sense a true citizen ; he stood up for Troy and its magnificent oppor- 
tunities always. The Citizens Line was his favorite and he was proud of its success. 
Every year since Block Island in Rhode Island became a summer resort, had he 
made it his home during the month of August. Ilis demise occurred on the 26th day 
of March, 1896. 

George S. Geer was assistant engineer in the navy and was on the Monitor from 
the time she was launched until she was lost off Hatteras. He was in the same 
capacity on an ocean steamer after the war and plied between New York and New 
Orleans, and also in the South American trade. He died in Charleston, S. C, Octo- 
ber 9, 1892, where he was engaged as manager and superintendent of the phosphate 
mines for the Bradley Company of Boston, Mass. 

George S. Geer had as much of the Geer in him as any of the boys; he was a chip 
of the old block, physically and mentally ; what he knew he could demonstrate in the 
most conclusive manner, and his knowledge of men and things was almost illimita- 
ble. As Macbeth said when he was advised of the death of his wife: " He should 
have died hereafter." 



ALBERT C. COMSTOCK. 

Hon. Albkrt C Comstock was born in Lansiugburgh, Rensselaer county, Septem- 
ber 20, 1845. His father. Prof. James C. Comstock, who was born in Ballston Spa, 
N. Y. , in 1819, came to Lansiugburgh about 1840, and for forty-five years was princi- 
pal and superintendent of the public schools of that village. Professor Comstock 
was for two terms, or six years, school commissioner of the Second District of Rens- 
selaer county, and at the time of his death in 1881 was one of the oldest and most promi- 
nent teachers in the State. He married Miss Elizabeth A. Dummer, of Waterford, 
N. Y., who with four daughters and one son survives him. Albert C. Comstock was 
educated in the public schools and academy of Lansingburgh and taught school for 
eighteen months, being principal of district No. 2, of that town. He read law with 
the late Hon. Eugene Hyatt, was admittted to the bar in 1867, and began active 
practice in Lansingburgh on January 1, 1869. On August 11 of the latter year he 
married Mary E. Benson, of Syracu.se, then principal of the Lansingburgh Grammar 
school, and on November 1 he formed a copartnership with his preceptor, Mr. Hyatt, 




ALBERT C. COMSrOCK. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 655 

which continued for twenty-four years. In 1879 he was elected on the Republican 
ticket member of assembly from the second Rensselaer district, and in the Legisla- 
ture served on the committee on cities, general laws and public education. He de- 
clined a renomination and again devoted his attention to his law practice. In 1883 
he was elected State senator from the 16th senatorial district (Rensselaer and Wash- 
ington counties) over Robert Hamilton, Democrat, and was a member of the judi- 
ciary, canal, and commerce and navigation committees. He was also a member of 
the special committee appointed by the Senate in 1885 to investigate certain public 
affairs in the city of New York. This was popularly known as the Gibbs committee. 
In 1885 he was re-elected State senator without opposition, and was chairman of the 
judiciary committee. He drew and put through the Senate the resolution under 
which a senatorial committee was appointed to investigate the methods whereby the 
franchise was granted by the board of aldermen of New York city in 1884 to the 
Broadway Surface Railway Co. During his four years as senator he had charge of 
a large amount of general legislation as well as all matters pertaining to this locality. 
He was active in debate, was one of the influential and trusted leaders on the Re- 
publican side, and coined the popular phrase, " peanut politics." In 1'887 he was a 
candidate before the Republican State Convention for the nomination of comp- 
troller, but was defeated by Judge Lamereaux, of Ballston Spa. In 1893 he was 
elected surrogate of Rensselaer county over Hon. James Lansmg, the then incum- 
bent. Mr. Comstock has been a leader and a potent factor in Rensselaer county 
at the bar and in politics for twenty years, and has been a delegate to many Repub- 
lican conventions. He was for more than fifteen years corporation attorney of the 
village of Lansiugburgh, is a trustee of the Lansingburgh Academy, and a member of 
Riverside Club of that place and Pafraets Dael Club of Troy. He has one son, 
Robert B., born June 14, 1870. He is also a member of the Court House Commis- 
sion of this county. 



JUSTUS MILLER. 

Justus Miller was born in Fair Haven, Vt., November 9, 1825. His father, James 
Miller, of Scotch-Irish parentage, came from Belfast at the age of nineteen and 
settled in Argyle, N. Y. His wife was Miss Anna A. Allen, who was born in Bristol, 
Vt. Her grandfather was a cousin of Ethan Allen and was a soldier in the Revolu- 
tionary war. James Miller was the owner of one of the first lines of canal boats on 
the Champlain Canal, and for many years he was engaged in the lumber business, 
cutting the timber in the northeast part of Castleton, Rutland county, Vt. He was 
also interested in a tannery and carried on shoemaking on a large scale for that 
time. Owing to too many business enterprises, he failed, but paid his debts, leaving 
his family poor. 

Juitus Miller was educated in the common schools and learned the blacksmith 
trade. In 1853 he held a position with a New York house as a buyer of produce and 
continued with them for eleven years. In 186C he came to Troy and engaged in the 
manufacture of collars and cuffs, establishing the firm of Hamlin, Miller eV Co. Mr. 
Hamlin's interest was purchased by Mr. Miller shortly after, and the firm of Miller & 



656 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Wheelock was formed, whicli became Miller, Wheelock & Co., after having taken in 
Mr. E. W. Bingham. Later the firm was Miller & Bingham, and in 1884 the present 
firm of Miller, Hall & llartwell was organized. 

Although there have been several changes in the personnel of the firm, its founder 
(the subject of this record) has always retained his activity in the business. lie was 
the first to go into the manufacture of shirts in Troy. The firm is now one of the 
most extensive in this country. 

Mr. Miller was one of the pioneers in this branch of business in Troy. Owing to 
the failure of his father in business, he began life without capital, and his subsequent 
success has been the outcome of untiring energy and intense application to business. 
He has always been regarded by his business associates as a man of the strictest 
integrity and honor, who.se promise required no bond to secure its performance. 

He is a director and vice-president of the Central National Bank of Troy. For 
many years he has been one of the leading temperance and prohibition w(jrkers of 
the city of Troy and adjacent portions of the State, and by his efforts much good to 
humanity has been accomplished. In 1892 he was the Prohibition candidate for 
lieutenant-governor of the State. At the age of twenty-five he became a member of 
the Hartford (Washington county) Baptist church, and on his removal to Troy he 
united with the Fifth Avenue Baptist church, where he has been a deacon for several 
years. 

His fir.st wife was Miss Eliza Brayton, daughter of Caliph Braytou of Hartford, 
Washington county. She died in 1864, leaving three children; two sons and one 
daughter; one son is still living. In 1868 he married Elizabeth E. Baucus, daughter 
of Geo. W. Baucus, of Schaghticoke, N. Y. 



GEORGE vS. EMERSON. 

George Sewari> Emeks(j.\, Troy, N. Y., was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., October 19, 
1848. His father, Charles Franklin Emerson, was born in New Hampshire, and his 
mother, Emma Nichols, was born in Bath, England. His parental ancestors were 
the earliest settlers of New Hampshire, removing from Plymouth, Mass. Mr. Emer 
.son was educated in the public schools of Lowell, Mass., left there at the age of six- 
teen for Troy, N. Y., where he learned his trade, that of mason and builder. He has 
been in business in Troy about fifteen years and is recognized as one of Troy's most 
substantial and honorable citizens. Among the prominent buildings erected by 
him are the extensive plant of the Ludlow Valve Manufacturing Co., Van Zandt & 
Jacobs's collar factory, the Waterford M. E. church, the J'^tua Mills in Troy, the Cluett 
Memorial spire on the State Street M. E. Church, Troy, and others. Mr. Emerson 
has been an influential member of the Prohibition party for many years, and at one 
time was its candidate for mayor of the city of Troy. He is a member of Mt. Zion 
Lodge, F. & A. M., and of the State Street M. E. church of Troy. Mr. Emerson 
married Nettie Dowd. Five children have been born to them, three of wlujm arc 
living: George B. , Addie M. and Josie. 




GHORGE S. EMERSON. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 657 

OTIS G. CLARK. 

Otis G. Clark was born in Rutland, Vt., November 26, 1816, the eldest son of 
Alanson and Elutheria Clark. His father was a builder and died in 1836 at the age 
of fitty years; his mother died in 1833. He received a common school education, 
and learned the trade of mason and builder. 

After the death of his father he came to Troy and worked at his trade for three 
years, at the expiration of which time he entered into partnership with Jonathan 
Childs under the name of Childs & Clark. Mr. Childs died m 1845, and Mr. Clark 
continued the business alone until 1862 when he formed a partnership with Jesse 
Van Zile. Three years later Mr. Clark retired from the business. 

In 1867 he was one of the organizers of the Star Knitting Company, located at 
Cohoes, N. Y., and was business manager of the company for twenty years. 
He is a director of the Troy and Lansingburgh Railroad; he was a director in the 
Central Bank of Troy for afew years until the First National Bank was organized, of 
which he became one of the original stockholders and was a director for twenty 
years, when the bank went into liquidation ; he then became a director in the newly- 
organized National Bank. He is a trustee of the Troy Orphan Asylum, and for 
many years was connected prominently with the Young Men's Association of Troy 
during its early history. 

For two years he represented the Third ward in the Common Council, and also 
served six years as supervi.sor. He was one of the original members of the Board of 
Fire Commissioners, on which he served six years. Mr. Clark is now the oldest 
member of the Masonic order in Troy, having attained the degree of Knight Temp- 
lar many years ago. On the organization of the First Regiment of National Guards 
of New York he was made engineer of the corps of Sappers and Miners, with the 
rank of major, and was on the staff of Col. William T. Willard. 

He is a member of the Fifth Avenue Baptist church, being a charter member at 
its organization in 1848, since which time he has been a member of the board of 
trustees. In politics he is a staunch Republican. 

In 1840 he was married to Amelia S. Bardwell of Troy who died February 11, 
1895. His son. Dr. Charles G. Clark of Troy, died in 1894. He has four sons sur- 
viving: George H., Walter A., Warren G. and Jay W. Clark. 



ALONZO L. JOHNSTON. 

Alonzo L. Johnston was born in 1835 at Hoosick Falls, N.Y., son of Robert P. and 
Eliza B. (Dorr) Johnston. His school days were brought to an end when he was ten 
years old by the death of his father in 1845. He then went to work in the cotton 
factory for C. Hand and I. J. Merritt. He followed this employment until 1853, 
when he began to learn his trade of iron moulder with the W. A. Wood Company, 
where he remained for fifteen years, laboring industriously and intelligently, estab- 
lishing a reputation as a workman and a citizen worthy of emulation. 

In 1868 he erected a building and started a general store in Hoosick Falls, which 
8.3 



658 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

enterprise is in successful operation at the present time under the management of 
one of his sons. 

In 1880 Mr. Johnston was largely instrumental in the organization of the First 
National Bank of Hoosick Falls, of which institution he was made a director and 
later was elected vice-president. In 1894 he purchased a foundry and machine shop 
and formed a copartnership with James A. Noble, for the purpose of manufacturing 
paper mill machinery; the business has proved successful and is now in operation. 

Early in life Mr. Johnston connected himself with the First Presbyterian church of 
Hoosick Falls and at the present time is one of its trustees. During his whole life 
Mr. Johnston has exhibited a praiseworthy love for his native place and has never 
been backward in rendering every service in his power to promote its welfare. His 
life record is a commendable one, an example of what honesty, industry and fru 
gality may accomplish when a.ssociated with an intelligent and well-behaved mind. 
In politics he adheres to the Republican faith, and while not aspiring to ofHcial 
position, has taken the active part in politics imposed by duty upon every thorough- 
going citizen. 

Mr. Johnson was married in 1855 to Martha P. Bryant of Greenwich, N.Y. 



PETER H. BUCKLEY. 

Pic lEK H. BicKi.EY was born in Ireland in 1839, and came to this country with his 
l)areuts in 1852, when they settled in Troy. He obtained his education in Ireland 
and in the public and Christian Brothers' schools at Troy. 

He learned his trade with Otis G. Clark, an old contractor and builder of Troy, 
and was with United States Engineer Captain Green in New York during 1859, 
1860 and 1861, after which he returned to Troy. In 1863 he went into business on 
his own account and continued thus until 1866, when he formed a copartnership with 
Levi H. Button, and under the firm name of Button & Buckley continued in the 
contracting and building business. Twenty years later, in 1886, he took the business 
entirely into his own hands and has since carried it on alone. 

Among the most notable buildings he has constructed are the Troy Savings Bank 
building, the post-ofHce, the Troy armory, Hall's building and the collar factories of 
Miller, Hall & Hart well, and numerous others of like proportions. He is a member 
of the Ionic and the Robert Emmet Clubs. 

He married Susan M. Tetreault, by whom he has four sons and two daughters. 



JOHN WARR. 

John Wakr was born at Boonton Falls, N. J., in December, 1835. His father, 
James Warr, came to this country from England in 1820, and subsequently in asso- 
ciation with Mr. Hodgkins built the iron works at Boonton Falls. He married 
Laviua, daughter of Mr. Hodgkins. He was connected with iron works in many 




PETER H. BUCKLEY 



I 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 659 

places, last in Cleveland, Ohio, where he died in 1876, his wife dying there in April, 
1896. 

John Warr received his education in the Rev. John Smith's private academy in 
Troy, and afterwards entered the employ of R. & J. V. Bosworth, and later was 
with the firm of Haight & Gillespy for three years. At the age of twenty-one he 
and Burrows Cure bought out J. V. Bosworth and carried on the grocery business 
under the firm name of Cure & Warr. Two years later he purchased Mr. Cure's in- 
terest and continued alone until 1893. He then took in as a partner C. H. Clifton, 
since which time the firm has been John Warr & Co., and is such at the present 
time. 

In 1859 Mr. Warr was married to Jane Selva, daughter of James Cross and sister 
of Capt. John A. Cross, for many years captain of police in Troy. His family con- 
sists of three daughters and two grandsons, Ralph and John Warr. 



GEORGE A. STONE. 

George A. Stone was born December 3, 1821, m Greenfield, Saratoga county, 
N. Y. His ancestors were Deacon Gregory Stone, of Watertown, Mass., and later 
of Cambridge, whose fourtli son was Deacon Samuel Stone, who married Sarah 
Stearns, of Watertown, June 7, 1655; she died October 4, 1700, aged sixty- five years; 
he died September 37, 1715. His fourth son was Joseph Stone, who married Sarah 
Waite, and died in 1702. His second child was Isaac Stone who was born in 1700 and 
was married July 24, 1722, to Elizabeth Brown, of Sudbury, and moved to Shrewsbury, 
Mass., about 1726 or 1727, where he was a member of the first Board of Selectmen 
and a lieutenant, and died April 22, 1776; his widow died in 1794, aged ninety-six. 
His third child, Jasper Stone, was born in Shrewsbury, Mass., April 30, 1728, and 
was married April 17, 1755, to Grace Goddard; he died in April, 1802; she died Octo- 
ber 31, 1815, aged eighty years. Jasper had a brother Nathaniel who removed to 
Pittsfield, Yt. Nathan Stone, fourth child of Jasper, and grandfather of George A., 
was born May 6, 1761, at Shrewsbury, Mass., was graduated in 1783 and entered the 
army as assistant surgeon ; he married Alice Knowlton, of Shrewsbury, April 24, 
1788, and removed to New Fane, Yt. , where he practiced his profession until his 
death, which occurred March 19, 1839; his wife died November 14, 1865, aged ninety- 
six years. His son, Edson Stone, father of George A., was born August 2, 1789, at 
New Fane, Yt, and subsequently moved to and was a merchant in Greenfield, N. Y. ; 
he married Mary Wood October 18, 1810, and died January 18, 1834; she died March 
17, 1843. 

George A. Stone received his education in the select and public schools of Broad- 
albin and Lansingburgh, and afterwards was a clerk in different stores in Lansing- 
burgh. He came to Troy in 1848 and engaged with the dry goods firm of Lockwood 
& Orvis as bookkeeper. In 1851 he entered the Troy City Bank as bookkeeper, and 
in April, 1853, was appointed cashier of the Mutual Bank. In February, 1873, he 
was appointed cashier of the Troy City National Bank, and on September 2S, 1885, 
was elected president of that bank, which office he still holds. 

He is a trustee and one of the executive committee of the Troy Savings Bank, a 



mo LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

trustee of the State Street M. E. church, and was its treasurer fourteen years, and 
belongs to the Troy and Ionic Clubs. For twenty-five years he has been one of the 
governors and the treasurer of the Marshall Infirmary. Politically he was originally 
a Whig, but affiliated with the Republican party upon its organization and has been 
a staunch supporter of its principles since. 

In 1842 he married Mary A. Lockwood, of Lansingburgh, and has one daughter, 
Mrs. Edmund Cluett, of Troy. 



JEREMIAH O'CONNOR, M. D. 

Dr. Jeremiah O'Connor was born in Troy, N.Y., in 1850, son of John and Bridget 
(O'Day) O'Connor. His parents came from Ireland in 1846 and settled in Troy. 
His father served in the war in the 91st N. Y. Vols., and died in 1867 from injuries 
received while in the service; his mother died in Troy in 1865. 

Dr. O'Connor came to the Troy Hospital as a patient in 1865, having so badly in- 
jured his arm by an accident that it required amputation. He was cared for by the 
Sisters of the hospital, and his active, inquiring mind made him a favorite with 
them, and they determined to take charge of his education. Entering the Albany 
Medical College, he was graduated with honors in 1881. Thereafter he was ap- 
pointed resident physician at the Troy Hospital and filled that position until 1895, 
when he was compelled to resign on account of ill health. After his retirement as 
resident physician, he continued to reside at the hospital and rendered valuable pro- 
fessional services. 

He was a member of the Rensselaer County Medical Society, the Medical Asso- 
ciation of Troy and Vicinity, the A.O.H., the Robert Emmet Club and the Emerald 
Beneficial Association. In 1883 he was appointed police surgeon of Troy, and held 
that position at the time of his death. 

Dr. O'Connor died at the Troy Hospital, October 14, 1896. In a notice of his 
demise the Troy Times says of him : 

" Dr. O'Connor was a man of refined temperament and studious habits. He was 
jovial and his friendships were never broken. Those who knew him loved him, and 
his unexpected demise will cause regret. The deceased was never married. A 
meeting of the hou.se staff of the hospital was held when appropriate action was 
taken on the death." 



WALTER A. WOOD. 



Hon. Walter Ahhott Wood was born in the town of Mason, Hillsboro county, 
N. H., October 23, 1815, the second son of Aaron and Rebecca (Wright) Wood, of 
English descent. He died at Hoosick Falls, N. Y. January 15, 1892. 

When he was about one year old his parents removed to Rensselaerville, N. Y., 
where the boy grew to manhood. His education was obtaiied in the public schools. 
His father was a maker of wagons and plows, and in his shop, when not attending 







JEREMIAH O'CONNOR. M. D. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 661 

school, the son assisted his father in the manufacture of the utensils named, develop- 
ing an innate mechanical genius to a remarkable degree, not only in the skill and 
taste with which he did his work, but in originality of thought and means of execu- 
tion. 

When twenty-one years of age he went to Hoosick Falls and entered the employ 
of Parsons & Wilder as a blacksmith, where he labored about four years, earning the 
reputation of being the best workman in the manufactory. From there he went to 
Nashville, Tenn., and was employed in a carriage manufactory, and after a time re- 
turned to Hoosick Falls. Here he formed a partnership with John White, as White 
& Wood, and carried on the manufacture of plows and a general foundry business 
until the autumn of 1852, when the partnership ceased, and with J. Russell Parsons, 
he formed the firm of Wood & Parsons, and began the manufacture of mowing and 
reaping machines, under John H. Manny's patents, the right of which for the State 
of New York the new firm had purchased. 

This was the modest beginning of the extensive business which in its growth and 
development has made the names of Walter A. Wood and Hoosick Falls familiar as 
household words throughout both continents. The following j^ear Mr. Parsons with- 
drew from the firm, and the business was continued by Mr. Wood alone. He pur- 
chased the Tremont cotton mills and transformed the same for his uses. 

It was at this point in his career that Mr. Wood seems to have found the proper field 
for his genius. There was ample room for improvement in the crude Manny ma- 
chine, and to this improvement Mr. Wood devoted his inventive genius, with the 
result that he secured many patents for devices which so changed the original ma- 
chine that it was scarcely recognizable in the improved mower and reaper known by 
the name of Walter A. Wood. From a start of two machines in 1852, an annual sale 
of 8,000 was reached in 1865, when the business had grown to such proportions that 
it became necessary to organize the Walter A. Wood Mowing and Reaping Machine 
Company, of which Mr. Wood was the president from its inception to the time of his 
death. 

Without cataloguing a list of the events where the Wood machines were on exhibi- 
tion and triumphantly carried off the first prizes, we will leave this interesting part 
of the history of Mr. Wood's success with the statement that more than 1,200 differ- 
ent prizes, including gold and silver medals, have been won by the Wood machines; 
perhaps the greatest triumph being at the last International Exposition at Paris, in 
1889, where the new straw-band binder was exhibited, and where the space occu- 
pied by the Wood display exceeded that of any other firm in the agricultural machin- 
ery department. 

Mr. Wood's latest efforts were devoted to the perfection of the straw-band and 
grass-twine binders, designed to replace the expensive twine binder — costing 
American farmers $15,000,000 annually — and which at the great trial at Joliet, 111., 
in 1891, proved to be thoroughly successful. 

The great benefits to mankind due directly and indirectly to Mr. Wood's genius, 
industry and enterprise may be partially estimated from the fact that from 1852 to 
1891 the output of the establishment increased from two crude machines in the finst 
named year, to 90JI00 mowers, reapers and self-binding harvesters in the latter year, 
and that the total production for the whole period was nearly 1,000,000 machines. 



Gf)2 LANDMARK:^ OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

while the works in which this vast output is manufactured cover nearly forty acres 
of ground and give employment to nearly 2,000 workmen. 

Mr. Wood won his high place as a power for good among men not alone by his 
mechanical genius and business enterprise and foresight; he was in every way a 
noble man. His standard of duty was high and in all the relations of life he lived 
up to it. None realized this more than his employees, who always found him ready 
with sympathy, advice and material help to make their lives easier and better. As 
a citizen he evidenced a public spirit and interest in the welfare of the community in 
which he lived, and as well in the country at large, never stinting his time or labor 
for the Dublic good. He was lacking in no trait that goes to make up the thoroughly 
good and useful citizen. 

He was for a number of years president of the village of Hoosick Falls, and several 
times president of its Board of Education. He was a director of the First National 
Bank of Hoosick Falls, of which he was one of the organizers. He represented his 
district in the 46th and 47th Congresses in the House of Representatives, where he 
did manly service as a Republican. He was a member and senior warden of St. 
Mark's Episcopal church, to which he was a most liberal contributor. 

Mr. Wood was mar:ied in 1842 to Miss Bessie A., daughter of Seth Parsons, who 
bore him two sons, both deceased. She died in 1866, and in 1868 he was married to 
Miss Elizabeth Warren, daughter of the Rev. George H. NicholN, D.D. She died 
January 25, 189:^, and is survived by her two children, Walter A. Wood, jr., and Julia 
N. Wood. 



THE MASTERS FAMILY. 

TiiK earliest ancestor of this family in America, Nicholas Masters, came from the 
Island of Guernsey in 1720 and landed at Black Rock, Conn. He married a lady by 
the name of Elizabeth Shelton, of Farmington, Conn. They had three children, 
John, Samuel and James, all farmers. 

John had one son (John) and a grandson (John), a physician. 

Samuel settled in Schaghticoke about 1790, and had five children: Samuel and 
Nicholas Shelton were two of the sons. 

James, son of Nicholas first, married three times; his first wife was Miss Rogers; 
his second Miss Toucey; and the third was Mrs. Hull, a widow, the mother of Gen. 
William Hull and grandmother ot Commodore Isaac Hull, the commander of the 
United States frigate Constitution. James Masters removed from Woodbury, Conn., 
to Schaghticoke in 1782. He had five children: Nicholas, James Shelton, Josiah, 
Elizabeth and Lydia. 

James Shelton married for his first wife a Miss Allen; his second wife was Mrs. 
Cronkhite, a widow. By his first wife he had seven children. 

Judge Josiah Masters, son of James, married for his first wife Miss Adams, of 
Litchfield, Conn. ; his second wife was Lucy Hull, of Derby, Conn. ; and his third 
wife was Ann Smith, of Hamilton, N. Y. He represented the county of Rensselaer 
in the Legislature from 1797 to 1802, and was representative in Congress from his 
district from 1806 to 1810. For twenty-five years he was judge of the County Court. 



i 

JByL 





E. SHELTON MASTERS. 



I 




FRANK A. MASTERS. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 663 

He had seven children: Josiah ; Samuel J., born August 1, 1801, died October 12, 
1883; Augustus, born April 15, 1807, died August 26, 1881; Eunice, lanthe, Louise 
and Eliza. Samuel, the second son, died as above stated at Middle Falls, Washing- 
ton county; he followed the sea for forty-six years, sailing as captain and traveled 
all over the world, making no less than nmety voyages to foreign ports — Europe, 
Asia, Africa and South America; he was at one time U. S. consul to British Guiana 
under President Pierce, and in 1855 he was sent out in the U. S. sloop of war Fon- 
dalia to the Ladrone Islands, to settle an international dispute with Spain. 

Elizabeth, daughter of the first named James, was married three times ; first to 
James Mallory; second to Dr. Jabez Hurd; and third to George Rheab. George 
Rheab, jr., was a captain in the U. S. army and was taken prisoner at Queenston ; 
he married Almira Brown, of Rupert, Vt., by whom he had two children. 

Lydia, .second daughter of the first named James, married Merritt Clark of Oyster 
River, by whom she had nine children. 

Nicholas Masters, second son of James first, married Sally Phelps, of Rupert, Vt., 
by whom he had two children: Nicholas Merritt, born in Schagh' icoke, May 8, 1790, 
died in Greenwich, N. Y., March 28, 1872; Albert Phelps, born in Schaghticoke, 
December 10, 1791, died August 10, 1854; the former was the pioneer powder manu- 
facturer and proprietor of the Schaghticoke Powder Mills. 

Nicholas Merritt Masters married Anna T. Thomas, of Sandj- Hill, N. Y. , by 
whom he had two children, as follows: Sarah Ann, born August 23, 1816, died May 
15, 1825; John T., born in Troy, March 25, 1819, died Ja^nuary 12, 1894. 

John T. Masters married Mary Elizabeth Mowry, of Greenwich, Washington 
county, N. Y., September 16, 1840, by whom he had four children, as follows: Nich- 
olas Merritt Mowry, born August 23, 1842, died September 10, 1875; Mary Elizabeth, 
born August 3, 1845. died May 27, 1854; William Mowry, died September 7, 1846, 
aged three weeks; Leroy Mowry, born July 24, 1851, died May 5. 1868. 

Nicholas Merritt Mowry Masters married, June 6, 1866, Mary Hervey, of Cincinnati, 
Ohio, by whom he had two children, as follows: Blanche Elizabeth, born March 21, 
1867, died March 10, 1869; Maude Hervey, born October 7, 1870, married Walter A. 
Cottrell, June 29, 1896. 

Albert Phelps Masters married Sally Maria Rising, of Rupert, Vt., October 15, 
1817, by whom he had four children, as follows; Edward Nicholas, born in Rupert, 
Vt., January 8, 1821, died January 22, 1896; Josiah Rising, born in Rupert, Vt., 
October 11, 1818, died January 13, 1895; Marshall Merritt, born at Schaghticoke, 
August 29, 1823, died November 6, 1858; Anna Maria, born in Schaghticoke, August 
29. 1831, married George G. Arnold, of Troy, N.Y.. December 16, 1856. 

Edward Nicholas Masters married Alice Le Barnes, of Sheftield, Mass., Septem- 
ber 18, 1850, by whom he had eight children, as follows: William Bliss, l)orn Febru- 
ary 26, 1852, died July 23, 1861 ; Alice Adelaide, born July 4, 1854; Mary Elizabeth, 
born December 16, 1856; Ellen Maria, born December 26. 1859, died September 4, 
1861; Annie Maria, born October 5, 1862, died September 11. 1863; Edward Bliss, 
born February 4, 1865; John A., born May 30, 1867; and Albert Marshall, born 
April 9, 1869. Edward Nicholas Masters and family removed to Montrose, Colo., 
in 1890. 

Mary Elizabeth IMasters (daughter of Edward Nicholas Masters) married Sterling 
Sherman, of .Salem, N. Y. 



664 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Marshall Merritt Masters (born August 29, 182P>, died November 6, 1858) married 
Lucy Mary Benjamin, ot Pittstown, N. Y. , September 16, 1842, by whom he had 
three children, namely: Georgiana Maria, born August 30, 1844, and married Calvin 
B. Lockvvood, of Brooklyn, N. Y., April 19, 1870; Francis Albert, born January 16, 
1847; and Edward Shelton, born December 16, 1849. 

Francis Albert Masters has one son, Harold L. , who was born June 6, 1887, and 
one daughter, Lucy Benjamin, born April 10, 1886, died January 15, 1890. He 
(Francis A.) received a common school education and worked on a farm, until he was 
twenty-one years of age and then came to Troy; he was clerk at various times at 
the Mansion and American hotels in Troy and the Tifft House in Buffalo, N. Y. In 
1878 he became a member of the firm of Marston & Masters in the grocery and pro- 
vision business, and when Mr. Marston retired in 1887 the firm of Masters Bros, was 
formed. 

Edward Shelton Masters was born in Schaghticoke, N.Y. , December 16, 1849. He 
received his education in the public schools and worked on a farm until 1872, when 
he came to Troy and engaged in the coal business with E. B. Arnold, where he re- 
mained until 1876; he then went to Williamsburg, Kansas, where he was engaged in 
railroad construction and coal mining. In 1880 he returned to Troy and became a 
member of the firm of Marston & Masters. His first wife was Fanny L. Marston, 
daughter of Perrin M. Marston, of Troy to whom he was married December 81, 1877 ; 
shedied July 24, 1887. His present wife was Martha L. Marston, a sister of his first 
wife, to whom he was married April 17, 1890. His children were Helen Elizabeth, 
born in Williamsburg, Kansas, December 4, 1878, died in Winfield, Kansas, June 3, 
18S0; Robert Shelton Masters, born in Troy, N. Y., December 31, 1880, by his first 
wife; and Perrin M. Masters, born June 22, 1892, by his second wife. 



BARENT W. STRYKER. 

Barent W. Stkvkk.r was born on a farm in Gilboa, Schoharie county, January 6, 
1862. He was educated in the common schools and Kingston Academy, after which 
he taught school for some years. When principal at the Catskill Grammar Schools 
he resigned to take up the study of law. He studied with Judge Schoonmaker, of 
Kingston, and Judge Griswold, of Catskill, and was admitted .to the bar in 1887, 
and has an office in the Times building, Troy. Mr. Stryker is an able and eloquent 
lawyer and not only holds a front place in the profession, but is universally regarded 
as one of the leading Democrats of this county. He has been president of the vil- 
lage of Castleton, and has been nominated by his party for senator. 

Mr. Stryker's parents were Charles H. and Jane R. (Lament) Stryker, of Schoharie 
county. His grandfather was Barent W. Stryker. Mr. Stryker s family originally 
came from Holland where they have records of fourteen generations prior to 1791. 
In 1652 some of them came to New York and thence to Schoharie county. Mr. 
Stryker is a member of the Holland Society of New York city, which city, as vi-ell as 
Brooklyn, contains the names of his ancestors among the leading people. 

October 25, 1888. he was married to Miss Mary A. Fincke, daughter of Hannibal 
Fincke, of Castleton, N. Y. They have three children, Katherine, Gretchen and 
Barent W., jr. 






r-H^ 



\ 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 665 

HENRY TOWNSEND NASON. 

Hon. Hknry Townskni) Nason is the son of Henry Bradford Nason, LL.IJ., an 
eminent chemist and naturaHst who was for thirty-six years a professor in tlic 
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, and Frances K. Townsend, the daughter 
of Hon. Martin I. Townsend of Troy. He was born August 13, 1865, at Troy, N. Y. 
He received his rudimentary education in the schools of that city. He spent t\v(j 
years in fitting for college at the Williston Academy in Easthampton, Mass., and 
then four years at Yale College where he graduated in 1886, having secured a posi- 
tion for scholarship of above one hundred of his class of about one hundred and 
forty. He attended the Law School of Columbia College in New York from 1886 to 
1888 and graduated there. In 1888 he formed a copartnership in the practice of the 
law at Troy with his grandfather, Hon. Martin I. Townsend and Hon. William J. 
Roche, under the firm name of Townsend, Roche & Nason, and diligently pursued 
the duties of the profession of the law until November 3, 1896, when he was elected 
county judge of Rensselaer county oyer his opponent, Hon. James Lansing, by the 
flattering majority of 3,044 votes. The term of the office is six years, and for that 
period Mr. Nason will by the constitution be debarred from discharging the duties 
of a lawyer. Mr. Na.son is a very close and diligent student of the law and early 
attracted the attention of his associates and clients for scholarship as a lawver, and 
this attraction has brought success. 



CHARLES E. HICKS. 

Charles E. Hk ks was born in the town of Halfmoon, Saratoga county, N. V., 
June 13, 1852, and was educated in private and public schools. He entered Stevens 
In.stitute at Hoboken, N. J., and took a special course in mathematics and engineer- 
ing, and has practiced his chosen profession since 1873. He came to Lan.singburgh 
in the spring of 1889 and has been corporation engineer since that date. In the spring 
of 1895 he formed a partnership with Charles A. Romer, of Troy, under the name of 
Hicks & Romer, at 255 Broadway, Troy, while he retains his residence and a branch 
office in Lansingburgh; they are doing a successful business. His father was Will- 
iam and his mother was Harriet Knowlton. 

Mr. Hicks was married to Frances R. Knight, of his native town, September 20, 
1877; they have four children: Lulu B., W. Grant, Charles K. and Leslie E. The 
family attend the Baptist church; politically he is a thorough Republican. The an- 
cestry of his family was Welsh and English, and dates back tivc hundred years here 
and in Wales. 



JOHN A. CIPPERLY. 

John A. Ciim'Ekly was born in Brunswick, Rens.selaer county, N. Y., February 8. 
1843. His ancestry is traceable to Holland. His father was Barnard J. Cipperly, 
84 



660 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

who was also born in Hniiiswick, in 119G. He was tlic jiroprietor of the famous 
Platestown Hotel for many years, which was a great resort for noted men ; such men 
as Russell Sage and William A. Beach, of New York, used to summer with him. He 
died in 1861). His wife was Katherinc (Burdict) Cipperly, who was born in ISOO; 
she was the daughter of August Burdict, of Burnswick; she died in 1880. 

John A. Cipperly attended the common schools, entered Wilbraham Academy at 
Wilbraham, Ma.ss., in 1857, left there in 1858, then attended the Pittstown Institute, 
then a flourishing school, until 1861, and from that time on took private instruction. 
He taught in the public and select schools of the county for six years. He came to 
Troy in 1862, and studied law with Warren & Bankers and Lottridge & Traver, and 
was admitted to practice in 1865. He formed a copartnership with Alva Traver, 
which was di.ssolved in 1872, Mr. Traver retiring to Sand Lake where he died in 
September, 1896. He then was with Judge Strait for nearly ten years. He is now 
conducting a large and lucrative general law practice in Troy. He is a member of 
Zion Lodge, F. & A. M., also a member of the East Side Club. 

He was married to Charlotte A. Eddy, of Troy, by whom he has one son, nine 
years of age. 



JAMES F. COWEE. 

Jamks F. Cowkk was born in Troy, N. Y., September 2;J, 1844. His father, l)avid 
Cowee, was a native of Westminster, Mass., and when a young man came to Troy 
and took a position in the wholesale drug house of J. L. Thompson. He later became 
a partner in the house, which relation continued for fifty years. He was a director 
in the manufacturers' Bank, a trustee of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and 
for many years an elder in the First Presbyterian church. He died in 1887. His 
mother, Mary E. (Young) Cowee, was born in Troy, where she is now living. 

James F. Cowee was educated in the public and high .schooliiof Troy and entered 
Williams College in the class of 1865. In 186!) he became a partner in the house 
of John L. Thompson, Sons & Co. He is an elder in and trustee of the First Pres- 
byterian church, a trustee and the treasurer of the Young Men's Association, a mem- 
ber of Mt. Zion Lodge, F. 8c A. M., the Troy Culb, the F^ast Side Club, the Ionic Club, 
and he is a director in the Manufacturers' National Bank. 

In 186J) he was married to Louise Denison of Berlin, N. Y., by whom he has one 
son, Harvey Denison Cowee. 



JOHN HUGH KNOX. 

JiiiiN Hr<;ii Knox was born in Troy, N. Y., October 25, 1845. He is the .son of ilic 
late John Le Grand and Elizabeth(Sigourney) Knox, prominent in Troy for many years. 
His father was one of the early settlers of Troy, and married for his first wife the 
daughter of the late Stephen Warren; his .second wife was Elizabeth Sigourney, of 
Hartford, Conn., whose father was one of the founders of Trinity College, Hartford, 
and her mother was the celebrated poetess, Lydia Huntley Sigourney; she was de- 



j^SfeS;i*'s.i 




JAMhS F. COWEH. 



I 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 667 

scended from the celel:)rated Sigourneys, of Huguenot descent, who settled in Boston 
at an early day. The mother of John L. G. Knox was Mary Cannon, a daiighter of 
Le Grand Cannon, an early settler of Troy. By his second marriage John L. G. 
Knox had six children ; those living are Charles Sigourney, John H. and James 
Carter. John L. G. Knox died August 21, 1879, and his wife Elizabeth, May 35, 1885. 
Charles S. and James C. are head masters of St. Paul's School at Concord, N. H. 

John H. Knox graduated from Churchill's Military Academy at Sing Sing, N. Y., 
in 1862, after which he entered the hardware hou.se of Hannibal Green at Troy 
where he remained six years, and for a number of years was a salesman for Roy & 
Co. of West Troy. He went into the insurance and real estate business in 1878, and 
in 1888 formed a partnership with Mr. Mead, under the firm name of Knox & Mead, 
which is one of the most extensive houses of the kind in Troy. It embraces the fol- 
lowing numerous lines of insurance; fire, life, plate glass, accident, steam boilers, 
profits, indemnity, tornado, employers' liability, public liability, use and occupancv, 
and rent insurance. 

He belongs to the Troy Club, was one of the organizers of the Laureate Boat Club, 
and was formerly one of the managers of the Young Men's Association, a. member 
of the Arba Read Steamer Co. ; for a number of years he was a trustee of the Fire 
Department, and for the past thirty-five years has been prominently identified with 
the best musical interests of the city. He has been solo basso at St. Paul's, which 
is his mother church, of St. John's church, and is at present a solo basso at the Church 
of the Holy Cross. He is one of the founders of the Troy Vocal Society and is at 
present vice-president of the same. In politics he is a Democrat. 

He married Maria Talmadge Farnsworth of Troy, N. Y., September 8, 1878; her 
grandfather on the maternal side was General Talmadge who at one time was on 
■General Washington's staff; and her great-grandfather was William Floyd, of Long 
Island, N. Y. , prommently identified with the early history of this country and a 
signer of the Declaration of Independence. To Mr. and Mrs. Knox have been born* 
two children : Elizabeth Sigourney and John Floyd. 



S. vS. STEVENS. 

• 

S. S. SiKVRNs was born in Warwick, Mass., in 1829, son of Nathaniel and Nancy 
(Stoughton) Stevens, a lumberman, tanner and farmer; his paternal grandfather was 
one of the minutemen of the Revolutionary war. Mr. Stevens .served an appren- 
ticeship at machine tool work in, Worcester, Mass., and for several years was engaged 
in building and putting up paper mill machinery at Hartford, Conn. He came to 
North Hoosick in 1809 and purchased an interest in the old factory and became its 
general manager. 

He is the senior nieml)er of the firm of Stevens & Thompson, paper manufactu- 
rers at North Hoosick, and of the Walloomsac Paper Co. at Walloomsac; these are 
among the largest paper mills in the county. Mr. Stevens is himself au expert ma- 
chinist and has made several important inventions in connection with the manufac- 
ture of paper, for which he holds letters patent. He has recently completed and put 
in operation a double roll beating and mixing engine, for which he has applied for a 



r,f58 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

patent ; the improvement in this engine is considered by experts to be a most vahi- 
able addition to the mechanical appliances for making paper. 

Mr. Stevens was married in November, 1857, to Marcia M. Lamberton, of Ware, 
Mass. ; she is the daughter of Gideon and Lucina (Fuller) Lamberton, farmers, an 
old family of Scotch descent who had lived many years in that section. Gideon 
Lamberton lived to the age of ninety-three. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens have four chil- 
dren: Mrs. Anna S. Carpenter, Mrs. Lois Cobden, Frank L. and Fred L. Stevens. 
In IHTH Mr. Stevens built a palatial home on the hill at North Hoosick. 



WTTJ.TAM L. HALL. 

Wii.i.iAM LoKU Hai.i. was born in Simsbury, Conn., June 7, 1838. His father, 
Joseph Nelson Hall, was born in 1809 in Somers, Conn. ; he was of English lineage; 
for many years a farmer in Simsbury, afterwards moving to Windsor, Conn., where 
he died i« 1849. His wife was Wealthy Ann (Lord) Hall, born in East Windsor. 
Conn., August 12, 1812, and is now living in Enfield, Conn. They had a family of 
three children, of whom William Lord Hall and Mrs. Adelaide D. Woodward are the 
only ones living. 

William L. Hall received a common school and academic education, and when 
fourteen years of age went to work as a clerk in Windsor, Conn. He came to Troy 
in 1878 and entered the concern of Miller & Bingham, having a working interest in 
the firm, and in 1884 he became a member of the firm of Miller, Hall & Hartwell. 
This firm is one of the most extensive shirt and collar manufacturers in this country. 
Mr. Hall is a director in the Central National Bank, and in politics is a Republicait. 

In 188G he married Lucia Helen Cady, of Bennington. Vt., a daughter of Lewis 
and Lucy (Vaughn) Cady. Mr. and Mrs. Hall attend St. John's Ejjiscopal church of 
Troy. 



DAVID L. SEYMOUR. 

David Lowkev Sicymouk, an eminent lawyer of Rensselaer county, and conspicu- 
ous during the last generation in State and National politics, was born in Wethers- 
field, Conn., December 2, 1808. His parents, Ashbel Seymour and Mary Lowrey, 
were de.scendants of families identified with the settlement and growth of the com- 
monwealth. The original ancestor of the Seymours, Richard Seymour of Essex- 
shire, came to Hartford from the Bay Colony in 1085, and was a prominent co-<jpc- 
rator with the pious and earnest Hooker in the settlement of the three towns, Hart- 
ford, Wethersfield and Windsor, which for a period constituted a little State. From 
this Richard are descended nearly all bearing the name in the LTnited States, a 
progeny including sevaral governors and members of congress, and a very large 
number of representatives distinguished in the various fields of theology, law or 
medicine. 

David Tx)wrey Seymour, after a careful jireparation in the lf)c:il schools, entered 




WILLIAM L. HALL. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 669 

Yale College. His powers of application were exceptional, and his mental faculties 
well developed even as a boy. One of bis fellow collegians, still living, in the ses- 
sion of the State Constitutional Convention of 1867, during the proceedings sug- 
gested by the death of Mr. Seymour, alluded as follows to the youthful promise of 
the deceased: "It was well understood that .so far as David L. Seymour was con- 
cerned, in his class he stood pre-eminent as a mathematician, and equal in all other 
respects in learning with his associates. It was then predicted of him, and talked of 
among the faculty and students, that life and health being spared to him, his mark 
would be undoubtedly made in the world." At the graduation of the class in 182G, 
the prediction of professors and classmates was already vindicated in anticijKition, 
Seymour being given the salutatory, the second honor at Commencement. For a 
considerable period antecedent to graduation in his academic course, young Sey- 
mour had selected the legal profession for his life's pursuit. Very soon after receiv- 
ing his degree, he entered upon his new studies as a member of the Yale Law 
School, which then, under the princijial direction of Hons. David Daggett and Sam- 
uel J. Hitchcock, two of the most eminent jurists of New England in that day, en 
joyed a high reputation throughout the country. In 1828, while still pursuing his 
professional course, he was honored by an appointment as tutor from his alma 
mater, which he accepted, performing his duties for two collegiate years, besides 
attending the lectures and joining in the forensic exercises of the law school. 

In 1830, having finished the law course, and received the most cordial commenda- 
tion of his instructors, he was admitted to the bar after an exceptionally satisfactory 
examination and prepared to enter upon an active practice. At that time the com- 
paratively fresh fields for New England enterprise and talent in Northern and Cen- 
tral New York were attracting general attention, many families having gone from 
the Connecticut River towns, to the larger and richer territories of the Hudson and 
Mohawk. The rising village of Troy, then promising to control the headwaters of 
the former river, and monopolize the trade of the whole region as far as the St. 
Lawrence and the lakes, was especially favored in the regard of adventurous spirits, 
several of its conspicuous citizens — and notably the Gales and Buells — having origi- 
nally come from Killingworth and other old towns in the Connecticut Valley. Sey- 
mour, carefully weighing the reports from various parts of the country, determined 
to commence his professional career in Troy. 

In June, 1830, he found himself started in business, entering the ofiice of the Hon. 
John P. Cushman, one of the most able and popular counsel of that day in the State. 
The first two years of his experience, though not altogether desolate so far as pat- 
ronage was concerned, were especially valuable in the familiarity with the rules 
and modes of practice they taught, and the strength they imparted, under associa- 
tion so favorable to a well poised and equipped intellectual temperament. At the 
end of this period, Mr. Cushman, justly appreciating the honest aspirations and fine 
parts of the young lawyer, and requiring a junior, offered him a partnership. So 
flattering and advantageous a profTer was gladly accepted, and the firm of Cushman 
& Seymour was formed. From this date .Seymour's professional success was as- 
sured. 

The firm as originally constituted lasted for many years, until the death of the 
senior partner, in fact, 'i'he local bar at this time comprised a large number of ex- 
cellent lawyers, iiuhuling such names as David Huell, jr., Isaac McConihe, Hiram P. 



070 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Hunt, Daniel Hall, Tlionias Clowes, and Archibald Bull. In this brilliant coterie 
Seymour at once was accorded a rank unprecedented for so youthful an advocate. 
His thorough knowledge of the old English law, of which he was an ardent and de- 
voted lover, found him a great favorite with the scholars of the profession, while his 
cultivated oratory, and clear, incisive rhetoric, secured for him an imusual popu- 
larity on the rostrum, or before a jury. During the earlier years of their partner- 
ship, the senior partner was charged with the presentation of all cases of intrinsic 
importance, but very soon after their association, that experienced advocate had 
made the discovery that for the preparation of a cause he could fully rely upon the 
excellent judgment, exact method, and ripe erudition of his younger brother. This 
was true to the -degree that, after a short experience of his assf)ciate's thoroughness 
in all respects, Mr. Cushman, the leader of the Rensselaer bar, and surjiassed by 
but few in the ranks of jurisprudence of the State, rarely looked at a cause before 
going into Court, trusting fearlessly to its perfect preparation at the hands of his 
faithful and indefatigable junior. 

Besides, and notwithstanding his devotion to his profession. Mr. Seymour was 
greatly interested in the politics of the day. The breadth and largeness of his phi- 
losophy naturally predisposed him to a study of public questions, whether involv- 
ing political or social economy. In sympathy his conservative tone of mind allied 
him with the Democratic party of the period. Soon after his establishment in Troy 
his i)ersuasive and logical eloquence, in occasional addresses at public meetings, en- 
listed the favor of the local politicians, and in 1835 he was urged to accept a nom- 
ination to the Assembly. His candidacy was successful, and his service both on the 
floor and in committee was so satisfactory to his constituents that a reuomination 
was proffered the succeeding year. Declining a second election, he accepted the 
office of master in chancery thereupon proffered by the governor, and performed its 
duties for several years. 

In 1S42 he was persuaded to re-enter the political field. The Democratic party of 
the district desiring to pit its utmost popular represeniative against a very strong 
candidate of the opposition, tendered to him the nomination for Congress. This 
nomination was, after careful consideration, accepted by Mr. Seymour, and he went 
into the canvass. After a contest of unusual warmth, he was handsomely returned. 
In December, 1843, at the age of forty years, he took his seat as a member of the 
Twenty-eighth Congress. The tariff question was at that date the principal topic of 
agitation, and Mr. Seymour's position as a prominent member of the Committee of 
Wavs and Means, to which the bill was referred, made imperative his declaration of 
policy. In this instance his essential integrity of sentiment and strong individuality 
was demonstrated in a marked manner. Not satisfied with the views of his asso- 
ciates of either party on the committee, and unwilling to endorse the free trade 
tlicta of the Democracy, or the jnotective and almost jjiohibitory theories of the 
Whigs, he made a distinct and independent report, embodying his own views in 
favor of a discriminating system, that would have encouraged industry, while not 
crushing out the commercial interests. 

During this session the annexation of Texas was likewise a theme of grave dis- 
cussion. Mr. Seymour developed a kindred individuality in his treatment of this 
question, opposing the measures contemplated by the joint resolution of Congress as 
infringing upon constitutional leservntions, but linailv voting in favor of the 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 671 

amended hill as it came from the Senate. Mr. .Seymour was chairman of the Com- 
mittee on Revolutionary Claims, and the author of the bill of January, IH44, extend- 
ing the scope of the pension laws in a manner to eml)race many meritorious cases 
previously unprovided for. 

In the fall of 1844, at the expiration of his first term, he was again the candidate 
of his party, but through the action of the Anti-Rent faction, which threw this 
suffrage for his opponent, was defeated. A third nomination, however, in 185(», was 
successful, the agrarian agitation having been extinguished and the district again 
returning him by a handsome majority. In this canvass not a few of his Whig 
friends and neighbors forgot their allegiance to their own party, giving their votes 
to Mr. Seymour in generous recognition of his support in Congress of the industrial 
progress of the country. In the Thirty-second Congress Mr. Seymour's influence 
was greatly felt on many questions of national importance. The majority of the 
House of Representatives acknowledged him as one of its wisest and most reliable 
leaders, and many measures of legislation lost their extreme partisan purpose 
through his essentially patriotic and constitutional prevision. The position of chair- 
man of the Committee on Commerce, a body numbering among its members Alexan- 
der H. Stephens, Andrew Johnson, and William Aiken, was a universal endorse- 
ment of his very varied knowledge of affairs and broad statesmanship. During the 
first session he again demonstrated his independence of party dogmatism by report- 
ing a bill appropriating several millions of dollars for the improvement of rivers and 
harbors, which was signed by the president, thus adopting the liberal and fostering 
policy of the Whigs, rather than the ultra restrictiveness of the Democrats. In the 
second session, in response to a general demand from State Legislatures and Boards 
of Trade for a reciprocal system of free trade between the United States and British 
Provinces, his committee framed the original report which served as a basis for a 
subsequent treaty and laws for reciprocal trade. He was also ma'nly instrumental 
in securing the passage of the first enactment requiring a rigid inspection of steam 
boilers, and providing the guaranties of safety on ship-board, since elaborated under 
the title of "Navigation Laws" into a thorough system of protection cigainst the 
dangers of travel upon water. 

Retiring from the active political field after his second term at Washington, he 
returned with increased zest to the pursuit of his much loved profession. His part- 
nership with Mr. Cushman having some time previously expired, he formed a new- 
connection with Hon. George Van Santvoord, with whom he was associated until 
1860. Mr. Van Santvoord at this time became the recipient of official honors which 
interfered with the devotion of his entire time to the business of the partnership, 
and the firm w^as dissolved. Judge Ingalls was next associated with him in his law 
office, under the flrm name of Seymour & Ingalls, a connection which lasted until 
the junior member was called to the bench, after which Mr. Seymour continued with 
a younger member of the bar, Mr. Charles E. Patterson, a partnership that lasted 
until his death. The law offices of which he was the head, after his retirement from 
Congress were among the first in Northern New York for the aggregate of their 
business, and the importance of their causes, and under the tuition of the accomp- 
lished lawyers thus associated were developed many of the ablest members of the 
profession now practicing in Rensselaer and Albany counties. 

Mr. Seymour's professional career was a success beyond that of most men, and he 



672 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

was often called upon lo contend with the best and most powerful minds in the State, 
while many of the weighty causes in which he was engaged were of that superior 
prominence which will make them always stand as established precedents in the re- 
ports of his State. Among the noted causes in which he was engaged stands prom- 
inent a suit involving rights under a patented invention, and known to all the bar 
of Northern New York as the " Spike Case." For nearly thirty years this case had 
occupied the attention of the Courts, and for the last twenty years of his life did he, 
as their leading counsel, so well guard the interests in that case, of his clients Messrs. 
Corning, Winslow and Homer, that it is regarded among the profession that by his 
efforts they were saved from what seemed inevitable disaster and the payment of 
ruinous damages. In 1S(;6 Mr. Seymour received the degree of LL. D. from Hamil- 
ton College. 

In April, 1867, he was nominated as a delegate at large by the Democratic State 
Convention, to the convention called to revise the State Constitution, and was elected 
in the canvass which followed a month after. His participation in the labors of the 
convention was marked by the same integrity of purpose, and unpartisan spirit, that 
had distinguished his professional and legislative career. His very last public effort 
was an exhaustive argument upon a ([uestion affecting the State Canal system, in 
which he dissented from the majority report of his committee. 

In the latter part of September, he went to his country seat at Lanesboro, 
Mass., proposing a few days' freedom from official and other effort which had per- 
ceptibly worn down his general vitality. Shortly after his arrival, he was prostrated 
by a severe attack of a disease from which he had previously suffered. His illness 
lasted for sixteen days, at the end of which period, having endured prolonged and 
extreme agonies in a spirit of calm and trusting resignation, relief came in that 
mortal slumber, which to the Christian sufferer is the prelude to immortal joys. 

Mr. Seymour's death was the occasion of universal gloom in the city of which he 
had been for so many years a most honored and useful resident. The bar, the pre.ss, 
the community, without regard to party, sincerely mourned the loss of a citizen, 
whose talent, integrity, un.selfishness and public spirit had alike been unimpeach- 
able. At a formal meeting of the legal profession, eloquent addresses from the lips 
of his surviving brothers in jurisprudence, commemorated in cheerful encomiums the 
virtues and ability of the deceased. He was buried on the 15th of October from St. 
Paul's church. On the 12th of November, the Constitutional Convention reassembled 
after its recess; Hon. Martin L Townsend announced the death of his colleague from 
Troy in an elaborate oration, and was followed by Hons. Amasa J. Parker, Henry 
C. Murphy, James Brooks, Thomas J. Alvord, John M.Francis, and other prominent 
members of that body. 

This sketch cannot be better concluded than in the words uttered on that occasion 
by the Hon. Erastus Brooks; " 1 can .say and all who knew him will bear witness to 
the truth of what I say, that he was in all respects a true Christian gentleman, and 
not only a member of the church, but an ornament of the church which he represented 
and of which he was a member. He has left that behind him which is better than 
all the wealth which he left, and that is the reputation of an honest man and a faith- 
ful public servant. In the largest and highest sense he was what may be called a 
statesman, becau.se he comprehended the necessities of the country, and that the 
tluties of a public man are not merely to the constituents which he immediately rep- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 673 

resented, but to tlic State at large. He was a patriot, loo, in its largest sense, as 
has been said, becau.se he has not only loved his country with sincerity but served it 
with the highest devotion. He recalls to me those lines of Pope, in uttering which I 
will e(.)nclud€ the brief remarks I have to make: 

" 'Statesman, yet friend to truth; of .soul sincere: 
In action faithful, and in honor clear; 
Wlio broke no promise, served no jirivate end, 
Wlio gained no title, and who lost no friend!' " 



DAVID vS. HASBROUCK. 

!>A\iiJ vS( HooNMAKKK HAsHRoiiCiv was bom in Roudout June 16, 1850. He comes 
of the Huguenot and Holland Dutch stock with which Ulster county was originally 
settled, his ancestors having located there in the latter part of the seventeenth cen- 
tury. Most of his boyhood was spent upon a farm, and he had very meagre educa- 
tional advantages — limited to spasmodic attendance at a rural district school. In 
his early 'teens he secured employment at clerical work in Rondout. Having a 
little spare time he utilized it in furnishing news items to local papers. In 1870 he 
became connected with the Rondout Freeman, then published weekly, and when 
the Daily Morning Freeman was started the following year he was assigned to the 
night editorship. He tilled this position for three years. Afterward the Freeman 
w^as transformed into an evenmg paper and he served resijectively as city editor and 
managing editor. In October, 1878, he came to Troy and assumed the duties of 
news editor on the Daily Times, later was general editorial writer and literary edi- 
tor, and on the death of William E. Kissel)3ui-gh in 1887 was appointed managing 
editor, which post he still occupies. 



JOHN JOHNvSON. 

John Johnson, managing editor of the Troy Press, was born in Westford, Otsego 
county, N. Y., January 22, 1851, and is the son of William and Zada Johnson. His 
parents soon removed to Exeter, N. Y., and from there to Columbus, Chenango 
county, where he helped his father on a farm until sixteen years of age. Then he 
became an apprentice in the office of the Chenango Union at Norwich, N. Y., where 
he remained upwards of three years. Afterwards he worked for a short time as a 
printer at Utica, Sherburne, Greenwich and Saratoga. In 1874 he founded the 
Schuylerville Standard, but soon sold it. He then secured a position on the Troy 
Whig as reporter, but after a few months was employed by the Troy Times, where 
he remained about four years as reporter, news editor and city editor respectively. 
•In 1879 he established the vSaratoga Eagle and edited that paper for ten years, run- 
ning a job printing ofHce in connection therewith. In December, 1888, he was en- 
gaged by the Troy Press, where he has since remained. His editorial conduct of 
that paper has been instrumental in elevating it from a comparatively obscure pub- 
85 



R74 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

icaliou Lo a position among Ihc foremost in the country. Mr. Johnson married Km- 
ma J. Harrington of Saratoga in 1877, and has one daughter, Edna. 



HENRY O'R. TUCKHR. 

Henry O'Rkii.i.v Tickku was born at I'ahnj'ra, N. Y. After receiving a eonmion 
school education he learned the printer's trade in the office of the Wayne vSentinel, 
published by his father, Pomeroy Tucker. At the age of fifteen years he removed 
to Troy and accepted a position as bookkeeper in the counting-room of the Troy 
Daily Times. In September, 1863, he purchased a quarter interest in that establish- 
ment and in May, 1869, became a half owner. In 1882 he retired from the news- 
paper business and after a year's recreation, engaged in the manufacture of clothing 
in Utica, N. Y., in which business he continued for five years under the firm nameof 
Tucker, Calder & Co. In December, 1888, he secured a controlling interest in the 
Troy Daily Press, since which time he has been publisher. The Troy Times under 
his business management was remarkably prosjierous. After he assumed control of 
the Troy Press it quickly found a place among the leading successful Democratic 
[)apers of the country. 



GEORGK H. ANDERSON. 

Gk()Ri;k Bakkk Andkkson of Troy, N. Y., was boru in Am.sterdam, N. Y., April-'. 
1866, and is the second son and youngest child of Dr. John K. and Catharine S. 
Anderson. Both his paternal and maternal ancestors were soldiers in the Continen- 
tal army in the War of the Revolution. On his mother's side he is descended from 
Sir Godfrey Schuhe, a German baron, whose sons emigrated to this country about 
the year 1700, one of whom became one of the pioneers of Saratoga county, N. Y. 

George B. Anderson was educated by his father and in the cf)mmon schools of 
Amsterdam and Fultonville, N. Y. At the age of fifteen he began teaching school, 
which vocation he followed for five years. In 1884 he became a reporter on the Am- 
sterdam. N. Y., Daily Democrat. In 1887 he accepted a similar position on the 
Albany Evening Journal, subsequently becoming connected with the Albany Express 
and Albany Argus. While .serving in an editorial capacity on the latter paper he 
was also for two years a representative of the New York State Associated Press at 
the Capitol, and represented .several other papers in the State Legislature. In tlie 
fall of 1891 he became editor of the Ballston Spa, N. Y., Daily News, and in July, 
189B, removed to Troy to become an editorial writer on the Troy Press, which posi- 
tion he has since filled. 

Me has been a frecjueiit contributor of special articles tf) leading newspapers, and 
is the author of a number of short stories. He is also the editor-in-chief of " Land- 
marks of Rensselaer County," and has written a historical novel dealing principally 
with'the first attempt to assassinate President Lincoln, which will soon be published. 
In March, 1896, he founded the Morning Star, a daily newspaper in the city of Troy, 




GEORGE B. ANDERSON. 




GARDNHK RANU. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 675 

but suspended publication a lew weeks later, convinced that there was no demand 
for a morning paper in that city. In 1896 he was elected to active membership in the 
Troy Scientific association. June 20, 1894, he married Ma/.ie A. Harrison of Ball- 

ston Spa, N. Y. 



GIDEON REYNOLDS. 

GiuKoN Reynolds was born in Petersburgh, Rensselaer county, N. V., August 9, 
1S13, and died at his home in Hoosick July 1'5, 1896. He was the only son of Thomas 
and Waity Reynolds, natives of Westerly, R. I. Subsequently the familv settled in 
Petersburgh. In 1836 the family moved to Hoosick and occupied the Reynolds 
homestead, where the son Gideon had since resided. Tlwmas Reyncjlds died there 
February 12, 1854. Gideon early displayed an aptitude in educational matters and 
took every opportunity for advancement. His early educational training was re- 
ceived in the district schools in that vicinity and later in the public schools at Ben- 
nington, Vt. He was a teacher in the district schools for a few years and soon after- 
ward became prominent in political circles. In 1838 he was elected to the State Legisla- 
ture by the Whigs. In 1843 he was chosen sheriff of Rensselaer county and served 
one term. He was elected to Congress in the fall of 1846 and was re-elected for an- 
other term in 1848. At the close of his second term he was satisfied to retire for a 
time to private life. On August 29, 1862, he was appointed by President Abraham 
Lincoln internal revenue collector of the fifteenth district. He served in that capac- 
ity for two years, when he resigned. He was a delegate to the Fremont convention 
in 1856, and also the Chicago convention which nominated Abraham Lincoln for 
president. He was a Whig until the Republican party was organized in 1856, when 
he became a Republican and continued such until 1867, when he changed to a Demo- 
crat. January 16, 1845, he married Julia, daughter of Josiah and Phebe Warren 
Richmond of Potter Hill. Seven children were born to them, four of whom are liv- 
ing. His wife died in 1890. The surviving children are Josiah G. Reynolds of Mar- 
quette, Mich. ; Marcus T. Reynolds, of North Adams, Mass. ; Olin, the youngest, 
who resides at the homestead, and Annie E. Reynolds, who also lives at Hoosick 
Falls. 



GARDNER RAND. 

Gakdnkr Rand was born in Troy, N. Y., and is the only surviving son of Gardner 
Wheeler and Deborah (Van Cott) Rand, who were for many years well known resi- 
dents of Troy. Gardner Wheeler Rand, a native of New England, settled in Troy 
in 1818 and died there in 1867; he learned the trade of blacksmith, became a promi- 
nent manufacturer and was the owner of large blocks of real estate, including Rand's 
Opera House, which he built in 1853; he was for many years a trustee of the First 
Baptist church of Troy, and throughout a long and useful life retained universal re- 
spect and ^confidence. His wife, a daughter of Daniel Van Cott, of Troy, died in 
1865; thev had two sons: John, who died in infancy, and Gardner. 



C7G LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Gardner Rand was educated in the Troy public schools and acadeni}', and for sev- 
eral years held a position as bookkeeper and cashier in the dry goods store of George 
Bristol & Co. Subsequently he became a clerk and afterwards paying teller in the 
Commercial Bank of Troy, where he acquired those thorough business habits which 
have characterized his life. He remained there until the bank went out of business, 
when he became connected with the Bank of Troy where he remained until it was 
formed into the United National Bank, when he retired, and since then has devoted 
his time and energies to the care of his large property mterests. 

Among his real estate holdings are Rand's Opera House and block. Rand s Con- 
cert Hall and a number of valuable corner blocks and lots. His handsome brown 
stone dwelling at Nos. 12G and 128 Second street was built by him in 1880 on the site 
formerly owned by his maternal grandfather, Daniel Van Cott. Mr. Rand is a pub- 
lic spirited citizen and has always taken a deep interest in the prosperity and ad- 
vancement of his native city. He is a trustee of the First Presbyterian church and 
a life member of Mount Zion Lodge No. 311, F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter No. 48, R. 
A. M., Bloss Council No. 14, R. & S. M., and Apollo Commandery No. 15, K. '1\ 

In 1856 he was married to Miss Ellen M., daughter of Henry Young, of South 
Williamstown, Mass. They had four children ; the oldest, Ellen Gertrude, died in 
LSfiS; the three surviving children are Maud, Estelle and Harry Gardner. 



WILLIAM E. HAGAN. 

Wii.UAM E. Hagan, son of Joseph and Sarah (Collins) Hagan, was born in Troy, 
N. Y., November 24, 1826. His father was a well known merchant and later a resi- 
dent of New York city. 

William E. Hagan was educated at the Troy Academy and in 1S43 entered the 
employ of Charles Heimstreet, a manufacturing chemist. Upon attaining his major- 
ity he began the study of chemistry and medicine in New York, where he finally 
became a clerk for A. B. Sands & Co. Returning to Troy he became, in 1854, a 
l)artner of his old employer, under the firm name of C. Heimstreet t\.- Co., and on 
the death of Mr. Heimstreet .succeeded to their drug business, which he finally sold 
to A. M. Knowlson. 

He was largely interested in raising the 2d Regt., 125th Regt. and the 16!(tii Regt. 
N. Y. Vols. He was appointed honorary director of the State Sanitary Commission. 

In January, 1859, the attention of Mr. Hagan, Arba Read John A. Griswold and 
Hannibal Green was drawn to the necessity of a steam fire engine for the city of 
Troy, and its proper construction for practical use. Mr. Hagan was one of the com- 
mittee who really designed the first successful steam fire engine built in the United 
States — the well known Arba Read ; with him on this committee were N. B. Starbuck 
and L. L. Southwick. 

In 1865 he opened an office in New York and acted largely as an Expert in me- 
chanics and chemistry as applied to the arts. In 1874 he opened an office in 'i'roy. 
Having devoted much study to the subject of handwriting, his opinion as an E.xpert 
has been often called for in court in many important cases of this kind in the United 
States, notably in the Cadet Whittaker case at West Point, the Morey letter case in- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. r,77 

volving the forgery of Garfield's name, the Callagan, David Holt, Gordon and many 
other will cases, etc. As an Expert in handwriting he is well known throughont the 
country, and he has had greater experience in this line of study than any other man 
living. He has written many papers on scientific subjects and is the author of the 
well known work, " Hagan on Disputed Handwriting," published in 1894. 

He has practically been a lifelong resident of Troy, where since 1874 he has been 
engaged in business as a scientific expert and solicitor of patents. He is a member 
of several social organizations, was formerly a member of the Troy Citizens Corps 
and is now and has been for ten years a member of the Troy Club. 

In 1853 he married Lydia R., daughter of the late Stephen Covell, of Trov, and 
they have had five children, as follows: Mrs. W. B. M. Miller and Mrs. William C. 
Buell, of Providence, R. I., Mrs. Frederick F. Buell. of Troy, Mrs. Joseph II. Du 
Barrv, ji'-, of Philadelphia, Pa., and Frank, who died young. 



JOHN PAINE. 

John Paink was born in Windsor, Vt., February 12, 1793. While yet a youth of 
thirteen years he came with his parents to Troy, where he resided until his death. 
In 1809 he entered XTnion College and was graduated therefrom in 1811. Selecting 
the profession of law as a calling, he immediately began the study thereof in the 
office of the eminent jurist. Judge John Wells, of New York city. Upon being ad- 
mitted to the bar in 1814, he returned to Troy and began the practice of his ])ro- 
fession with his father. 

In 1836 Mr. Paine received the appointment of cashier of the Bank of Troy, when 
he practically abandoned a large legal practice and became a financier. His great 
ability in financial matters had been proved long before the time when he became 
cashier, but subsequent events placed him at the head of the financiers of his day. 
One instance of his conceded financial skill may be cited: the officers of the munici- 
pality of Troy consulted him on all matters of finance if of sufficient consequence. 
He was at the time of his death. February 7, 1853, connected with many financial 
enterprises in Troy and elsewhere. He was recognized in all respects as a leading 
citizen of Troy. The public press at the time of his death bore witness to the 
value set upon the man and his deeds by his contemporaries. 

In human affairs men seem to arise that the times call for and require. When 
Troy was young and needed assistance Mr. Paine espoused her interests and became 
deeply interested in her prosperity. As a banker his aid was at all times extended 
to business enterprises that were for the welfare of Tro3\ With a keen eye he saw 
what railroad connections were for her good, and these he interested himself to 
bring about; in fact, in everything that Troy required, and in everything that was 
for her welfare he was early in devising. Indeed it was only ten days before his 
decease that he attended at Schenectady a meeting of the directors of the Mohawk 
Valley Railroad and took an active interest in its deliberations. This was a pro- 
jected railroad to Buffalo, and the Troy and Schenectady Railroad, built and then 
owned by the city of Troy, was to become a part of the line. Mr. Paine was known 



078 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

at home and abroad as one of those honest, sterhng, sagacious, energetic and sub- 
stantial men of whom, in its early days, Troy had several. 

In February, 1827, he married Eliza Ann Warren, eldest daughter of Ksaias 
Warren of Troy. Mrs Paine died in 186G, leaving three children: Elizabeth Homer 
(now Mrs. Cicero Price), Esaias (decea.sed), and John Wells Paino. 



WILLIAM H. HOLLISTER, j\<. 

Wiii.iAM H. Hoi.Lisi KK, Jk., was born in the town of Coxsackie, Greene county. 
X. v., October 11, 1847; his parents were lifelong residents of the town. He was of 
the seventh generation from Lieut. John Hollister, an officer of the English army, 
who came to this country in 1C42 and settled in Connecticut. 

William H., jr., was reared on his father's farm and attended the district schools 
and academy of his native town until he was eighteen years of age. In 1865 he c<m- 
tiuued his preparatory course for college at the Phillips Andover Academy in Massa- 
chusetts and subsequently at the Hudson River Institute at Claverack, N.Y. In 18(iG 
he entered Williams College with the class of 1870, with which he was graduated. 
While in college he was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, a Junior 
prize orator, and was chosen one of the editors of the Williams Quarterly ; he was 
elected president of the Philologian Society, president of Class-day, and at gradua- 
tion was one of the Commencement orators, and a member of the Phi Beta Kapjia 
Society. 

In 187(1 he was appointed by (ieneral F. A. Walker, superintendent of the Ninth 
Census, to a clerkship in the Census Bureau. September 4, 1871, after resigning from 
the Census Bureau, became to Troy and entered the law office of (Jeneral E. F. Bull- 
ard; after a clerkship of three years he was admitted to the bar in September, 1874, 
at Binghamton, and immediately after became the partner of General Builard in the 
])ractice of law. 

In 1880 he formed a partnership with Nelson Davenport under the firm name of 
I .'avenport &• Hollister, which has now continued for over sixteen years. He has 
never held political office, excepting that he served for one term of three years as 
school comnii.ssioner of the city of Troy, to which office he was elected in 1878. Dur- 
ing his residence in Troy he has been a member of the Second Presbyterian church 
.'in<l was superintendent of the Sunday school for five years, and has been president 
of the P>oard of Trustees since 1881. In 18S4 he was chosen an elder in that church, 
and in 188(J was elected a commissioner of the Presbvtery of Troy to the (Jeneral 
Assembly of the church at Minneapolis. In 1875 he was elected one of the trustees 
I if the Troy Orphan Asylum and for nineteen years was secretary of its board. He 
was one of the organizers of the Troy Vocal Society and has been one of the directors 
and secretary for many years. He was one of the most active promoters of the 
enterprise for the establishment of a first class morning newspaper in Troy, which 
resulted in the publication of the Troy Record, and is al.so connected with the man- 
agement of that paper. He was one of the organizers of the Troy Young Men's 
Christian Association in 189;") and was one of the original directors. 

October Hi, 1878, he was married to Julia F'rauces, daughter of the late Joseph 
Hillman. He has one son, Joseph Hillman Hollister. 




WILLIAM H. HOLLISTER, JR. 



* 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 67!» 

JOHN w. Mcknight. 

Hon. John W. McKNUiin was born in Albany, December J!i, 1.S47. He oblained 
hi.s edueation in the public schools, the Business College of Albany and one term at 
Germantown. He taught country schools for two years, and for twelve years he 
taught in Castleton, N. Y., where his educational and natural abilities attracted 
public attention to him, and drew him into politics. 

He was collector, assessor and supervisor of Schodack, three times trustee of the 
village of Castleton, and for twelve years a member of the vSchotjl Board; he was a 
deput}' under Sheriff Reynolds, for whom he also was clerk three years in Troy. 

He next became chief clerk of the U. S. postal card agency, which office he held 
until 1889, when he was elected member of assembly by a majority of 1,806, the 
largest ever given a candidate in the district up to that time. He was re-elected in 
1890. In 1892 Mr. McKnight was appointed chief clerk at Auburn Prison, which 
position he filled with fidelity and efficiency for two and a half j'ears. In December, 
1895, he was again appointed chief clerk of the U. S. postal card agency, which posi- 
tion he at present holds. 

In 1875 Mr. McKnight married Fannie M. Schermerhorn ; they have an interesting 
family of four children, namely; Frank Harder, John W., Frederica Hill and Marion 
K. Mr. McKnight's parents were William and Catharine (Higgins) McKnight. 

Mr. McKnight is a prominent Mason, and is a past master of Sunnyside Lodge 
No. 781, F. & A. M., also Royal Arch Mason, Kinderhook Chapter, and a member 
of the lodge of the Knights of Pythias formerly located in Castleton. He also has 
been chief engineer of the Fire Department, and is in everyway a broad minded and 
enterprising man whose support is ever heartily given to all worthy projects for the 
advancement of his home village, and the county. He enlisted in Co. I, Ulst X. V. 
Vols., in 1863 and served in the 5th Army Corps until tlie close of the war. 



Wn>LIAM HENRY FRI^:AR. 

Thk principal merchant of Troy, N.Y., is a native of- Coxsackie, N.Y., and oldest 
of the eight children of William and Deborah A. Davis Frear. 'Phe father was born 
in Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, of French Huguenot lineage, the family name 
having been originally spelled Frere. William Frear was taken in infancy to Can- 
ada and lived for several years in Uuebec, where his father, Joseph, was instrumen- 
tal in raising the first Bethel flag in the harbor and in organizing the lirst Sabbath 
school in the city. Of the eight children of William and Deborah A. Frear four arc 
now living— William H. Frear, Edwin A. Frear, Isabella D. Frear and Mrs. Martha 
B. Frear-Parks. The maternal ancestors of the subject of this biograi)hy were 
among the earliest seafaring residents of Long Island, N.Y. 

The tuition of the future merchant of Troy, who was born March 2!), 1841, was i.l)- 
tained in the old red school house of district No. 6, Coxsackie, of which his father 
was a trustee, and in the excellent academy of the place, where he spent three years. 
He was an ambitious lad, determined while yet in early boyhood to make a mark for 
himself in the bu.sy world. He at first intended to fit himself for a career in the law 



680 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

or in arcliiteclure, bul the current of his life was changed (hiring a vacation in tlie 
early part of 1857 by the invitation of Barnet Gay, who kept a general store in the 
upper village of Coxsackie, and who asked Mr. Frear to assist him during the tem- 
porary absence of a clerk. Mr. Gay found his new assistant au unusually bright, 
(piick, versatile and earnest lad, and persuaded the latter to remain, which he did 
"for two years. 

In March, LSoll. John Flagg, a leading dry goods merchant of Troy, having a 
place of business on Fulton, near River street, in that city, offered Mr. Frear a place 
as salesman, and this he accepted, discharging his duties with more than credit for 
a period of six years, developing superior ability, winning the confidence and 
esteem of all with whom he came in contact and mastering every detail of the 
business. Determined at last to be his own master and having saved a few hundred 
dollars, Mr. Frear embarked in the dry goods business in Troy in March, 1865, at his 
own risk, with Sylvanus Haverly as a partner, opening, March 9, a store at No. ^523 
River street, under the name of Haverly & Frear. His entire capital was then 
!52,O0O. which was furnished in part by his father and mother and his good Wife, to 
the loyal and unselfish counsel of whom, and to their kind, cheerful and sustaining 
words and good example, Mr. Frear attributes a goodly share of his success. By 
(lint of remarkable industry, self denial and application so incessant that it ap- 
proached hardship, notwithstanding that the first year's business was done on the 
rai^idly falling market which followed the Civil war, the efforts of the new firm were 
rewarded with success; and although they occupied only about 1,(100 s(iuare feet of 
lloor room, their sales the first year amounted to over $100,000. This was an 
admirable beginning. In March, 1868, the two partners joined forces with John 
Flagg and removed to the store in Cannon place, which had failed under Decker (it- 
Rice, opening April 9 under the title of Flagg, Haverly & Frear, with Mr. Frear as 
managing partner. January 3, 1869, Mr. Haverly withdrew, the firm name changing 
to Flagg i!i- l<"rear. October 27, 1869, Mr. Frear purchased Mr. Flagg's interest, and 
carried on the business under his own name and on his sole account for twenty-live 
years, and with plienomenal success. During the early part of this quarter of a 
century Mr. Frear did all of the buying and iidvertising and was his own manager, 
as well as acting at times as bookkeeper and salesman. It is believed that during 
lliat time the business was greater in magnitude than that of any .similar store in any 
cily in the world of the population of Troy. His admirable system made Frear's 
Ha/.aar a household word and well known in almost every State and Territory in the 
United States, from nearly one thousand post-offices of which a constant stream of 
mail orders find their way to the Bazaar. 

Within fifteen years after Mr. Frear had taken sole charge retail cash sales had 
risen to over $12,000 in a single day and over !:>1, 20(1, 000 in a single year. Employ- 
nu'iit was given to 370 people. This is a remarkable record for an inland city, of 
then not more than 50,000 population. The store is much the largest in Troy, has 
fifty i\\'e complete live departments and is known by the name of Frear's Troy Cash 
Bazaar. After carrying on business under his own name for twenty-five years Mr. 
Frear changed the firm to William H. Frear & Co. May 34, 1894, upon the admission 
of his brother, Edwin A. Frear, and his eldest son, Charles W. Frear. 

At the outset of his career as a merchant Mr. Frear originated the motto which 
appeared in his first announcement, " Prices and perfect satisfaction guarantied or 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 681 

money cheerfully refunded." Mr. Frear takes far more pride in the fact tiiat what- 
ever he has accomplished is due to upright dealing, strict integrity and earnest, 
legitimate effort, than in the abundant financial success which has attended his en- 
terprise. He is yet in the vigor of manhood, and in the full tide of success, and is 
in daily attendance at the large establishment which his perseverance, industry and 
genius have called into being. 

Mr. Frear did some remarkably fine pioneer work in advertising. He was 
"nothing" with his pen or his schemes "if not original." Everybody who can 
remember so far back as the period from 1870 to 1880 is familiar with his original gas 
light openings, with military band and floral accompaniment. His trip with the 
original four-in-hand tally-ho delivery wagon, sounding the praises of the Troy 
Bazaar with bugle from New York city to Lake George — his originating the widely- 
copied gift sales, his illustrations of the poem, "The Night Before Christmas," 
drawn about the streets, his living "Santa Claus" and living reindeer, identifying 
Frear with Christmas in the minds of everybody, etc., etc. 

October 27, 1863, Mr. Frear married Miss Fannie M., daughter of Charles Wright, 
of Pownal, Vt., and of Martha M. Bradley, of Lanesboro, Mass. They have three 
children, Charles Wright Frear, a member of the firm of William H. Frear & Co. ; 
William Bradley Frear, who recently graduated from Williams College and is now- 
connected with the Troy Bazaar, and Edwin Henry Frear, a student at the Troy 
Academy. 

Mr. Frear has proved his confidence in the future of the city of his adoption and 
his willingness to bear his share of its burdens, by the fact that he is the largest in- 
dividual owner of real estate in the city of Troy and is constantly adding to his hold- 
ings. He has owned since 1891 the big building known as Cannon Place, in which 
his business has gradually enlarged until now the buildings, occupying an area of 
130 feet on Broadway and 120 on Second street, five stories and basement, are en- 
tirely occupied by Frear's Troj' Cash Bazaar. The entire purchase price, nearly 
§150,000, was paid on the spot in cash. When, in 1879, the city dispo.sed at auction 
of its pubhc market, known for over fifty years as the Fulton Market, Mr. Frear 
purchased the valuable property. In 1878 he bought the American House, facing 
the market property and standing at the intersection of three of the leading thorough- 
fares of Troy. The hotel is now known as the Frear House. Two lots of property 
adjoining have since been acquired, and it is an open secret that in Mr. Frear's fer- 
tile mind there are plans for a grand mercantile edifice upon that site, which will be 
unrivaled outside of the cities of the very largest size. Mr. Frear has a fine city 
residence on Third street and a beautiful suburban home at the the junction of Oak- 
wood and Frear avenues, with grounds decorated with statuary and fountains. 

While faithful in a remarkable degree to the demands of a vast business, which 
while having its centre in Troy spreads to neighboring States, Mr. Frear has a mind 
open to the refining influences of life. He is a judicious reader of the best literature 
and a discriminating patron of art. His home is a choice gallery of paintings and 
no sale of valuable pictures is without his presence, as a connoisseur who has the eye 
to see and the capacity to acquire gems of art which will both enlarge and enrich his 
own collection. 

The alertness and activity of Troy's great merchant, even in his vacation days. 



682 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

are sliown by a sumptuous volume, entitled " Five Weeks in Eurojie," which contams 
the joint work of Mr. Frear's pen and camera. The book bears the sub-title of "A 
Photoj^raphic Memorandum," and is a unicpie and felicitous recognition of the memor- 
able welcome given to Mr. Frear by the employees in his store on his return from a 
transatlantic jaunt. Appended to each photograph taken by Mr. Frear is an appro- 
priate descriptive extract from Mr. Frear's letters to his wife while on the journey. 

Mr. Frear has public spirit and that rapidity of judgment which enables him, in 
the midst of intense business activity, to give to the affairs of the community effort 
and counsel of genuine value. His penetrating thought has often added wisdom to 
public movements. Always responsive to the calls of charity, his was one of the 
names first thought of when a conflagration in February, 189(), in the Burdetl build- 
ing wrought terrible terrible loss of life and destruction of the property of working 
women. As treasurer and one of the chief almoners of the relief fund, he assumed 
a task which involved weeks of almo.st unremitting attention. 

In politics Mr. Frear is a loyal Republican, but while too busy a man to seek or 
desire public office, yet he has not escaped having official positions seek him with 
such insistence as to compel acceptance. He was a member of the Troy Centennial 
Committee of One Hundred in 1889 and of the Citizens' Committee of Public Safety 
in 1894. He has also been a trustee of the Second Presbyterian church, the Troy 
Young Women's Association, the Troy Young Men's Christian Association, adirector 
of the Troy City National Bank and associate member of Post Griswold, G. A. K. 
At one time Mr. Frear served on the staff of Brigadier-General Alonzo Alden, wilii 
the rank of captain. 

The chief element in Mr. Frear's mercantile success has been personal attention 
to the details of business. He has known his store, his salespeople and his custom- 
ers, his knovvledge being first hand. The motto which he had engraved on his 
trademark at the start: " Par Negotiis Neque Supra," expresses it exactly. Next 
to this personal insight has been the practice of cash payments for goods bought. 
His customers have been cash buyers, and when he he has gone mto the markets 
of America and Europe he has taken in his hand the golden key which has opened 
the gates to the best goods at the lowest prices. Mr. Frear's check book is proof 
that " the nimble sixpence is better than the slow shilling," but the aggregate of 
those sixpences would astound any one except a metropolitan buyer. 

An incident of Mr. Frear's undaunted energy and extraordinary enterprise occurred 
in December, 1893, when fire destroyed his stock of goods and seriously damaged 
his store. On the morning of the fourth day after, the ponderous icebergs had dis- 
appeared, a temporary roof had been built, settlement completed with the insurance 
companies, he had re-opcned his store and his holiday trade went on with its usual 
mammoth proportions. 



WESLEY O. HOWARD. 

Wesi.ey O. Howard was born in the Sixth ward of Troy, N. V., September 11, 
1863. His grandfather came to this country from Germany when a boy and settled 
in Grafton, N. Y.. where he resided all his life. His father, Joel T. Howard, was 




WHSLHY O. HOWARD. 



I 




IRVING HAYNHR. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 683 

bord in Grafton, was for many years on the old capitol police force, and died in 1869. 
His mother, Susannah (Sweet) Howard, died in 1866. 

Wesley O. received a common school education in Grafton and an academic edu- 
cation in Lansingburgh, after which he taught school for seven years. He entered 
the law office of Robertson, Foster & Kelley in the fall of 1886, was with that firm 
about two years, then went with William W. Morrill to finish his legal studies, and 
was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1889. 

Mr. Howard was attorney for the Board of Supervisors two years. He had the 
management of the prosecution and collection of the evidence against the repeaters 
and election offenders in the winter of 1893, and was attorney for the committee in 
charge during the whole examination. He was one of the attorneys for the Commit- 
tee of Safety which continued the same work, and was also one of the attorneys for 
the Senate investigating committee. He was secretary of the Republican County 
Committee for three years. He was elected district attorney in the fall of 1896. He 
is a member of the Knights of Pythias. 

He was married October 1, 1884, to Carrie A. Millias, of Grafton; they have two 
daughters, one ten and the other three years of age. Mr. Howard's residence is in 
Bath-on the-Hudson. 



JAMES J. CHILD. 

James J. Child, son of Joseph and Agnes (Johnston) Child, was born in Brooklyn, 
N. Y., April 22, 1854, and moved to Troy with his parents in 1862. He finished his 
education at the Lansingburgh Academy in 1871, and on December 8, 1872, entered 
the employ of David Judson, the leading coal dealer of Lansingburgh. Soon after- 
ward Mr. Child was made manager, and upon Mr. Judson's death in 1881 he formed 
a partnership with the latter's son, David A. Judson, which continued successfully 
until May 1, 1893, when he organized the James J. Child Coal Company, of which he 
has since been the president and treasurer. This company probably handles more 
coal than any other concern in Northern or Eastern New York, and conducts strictly 
a wholesale business, largely with railroads and other large corporations. 

Mr. Child has alwaj^s taken a keen interest in j)ublic affairs, lending his support 
and encouragement to all worthy objects. He is a member of the Riverside Club of 
Lansingburgh, and was a prominent member and trustee of Olivet Presbyterian 
church of which he was also an elder for many years until the spring of 188(1, when 
he transferred his meml)ership to and became an active worker in Westminster 
Presbyterian church. 

He was married on April 1, 1882, to Miss Marion E., daughter of Duane Lock- 
wood, of Lansingburgh, and they have three children: Grace A., Dudley L. , and 
Mildred I. 



TRVINC; HAYNER. 

Irvinc ILwNEK was born in Brunswick, N. Y., April 8, 1838, the sou of David and 
Lanah (Bornt) Hayner. His father and mother died in 1876 and 1884 respectively. 



684 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Mr. Hayner was educated in the public schools and was graduated from Fort Ed- 
ward Institute in 1857. He read law with Hon. W. A. Beach, was admitted to the 
bar in 1865, and began practice in Troj', where he now conducts a general law busi- 
ness. He represented the Fifth ward of Troy in the Board of Aldermen two years, 
and was school commissioner for six years. He is a member of King Solomon's 
Primitive Lodge F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter, Apollo Commandery and the Mystic 
Shrine, is a director in the National State Bank, and is one of the charter members 
of the East Side Club, a prominent social organization, and has been its president 
for two terms. 

In 1868 he married Carrie H. Halladay, of Vermont, and his children are Horatio 
H., a lawyer, Mittie, Helen and Carolyn. 



NELSON DAVENPORT. 

Nelson DAVENroRT was born September 13, 1827, in Tompkins county, N. Y., the 
son of John G. Davenport, of the Rhode Island family of that name, and Esther 
(Miller) Davenport of the Millers of White Plains, N. Y. 

He entered the Troy Conference Academy with Esek Cowen and R. A. and F. J. 
Parmenter. 1 )eciding to enter the profession of law, he entered the National Law 
School, and in 1850 was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the State, and 
subsequently to the Supreme Court of the United States. In 1865 he was appointed 
by Governor Fenton one of the commissioners of the capitol police and held that 
position five years. He is one of the trustees of the Troy Young Men's Association, 
one of the new Court House commission, and one of the commissioners of State 
l)risons. For over twenty years he has spent the mornings and evenings of the sum- 
mer months on his farm in East Greenbush, on the heights overlooking the Hudson. 

In 1857 he married a daughter of Hon. Jason C. Osgood and has one child living, 
who is the wife of Casper \'. W. Burton. 



CALVIN H. CLARK. 

Cai.vin H. Ci.ARK was born in Troy, N. Y., April 6, 1842. He is the grandson of 
of Peter Clark, one of the first settlers of Green Island. His father, Willard Clark, 
was born in Troy and for many years was in the employ of the D. Sz H. Railroad Co , 
and died July 4, 1848. His mother, Eliza J. (Capron) Clark, was born in New Hamp- 
shire and is now living in Troy. 

Calvin H. Clark began self-support at eleven years of age; he worked in a satinet 
factory in Troy and in cotton and hosiery factories until 1869, when he entered the 
bakery of Charles Vail, where he remained for four years. He later was in the em- 
ploy of the National E.xpress Co., and after si.x months bought the baggage e.xpress 
business of Henry Ogden. Later he was baggageman on the railroad for three 
years, and was four years employed by the Troy & Albia Railroad, when he bought 
out a general store at Albia, which he sold out and again went into the. Vail bakery; 




CALVIN H. CLARK. 




R. H. WARD. M. D. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 685 

later he was agent for Little & Stillman, tobacco manufacturers, following which he 
was in the Troy &• Boston freight office for three years, during which time he was 
learning undertaking and embalming. October 18, 188:5, he engaged in the under- 
taking business with Charles J. Reedy under the firm name of Clark & Reedy; four 
years later he bought out Mr. Reedy, and since that time he has carried on the busi- 
ness alone at 820 River street. He has built two fine business blocks in North Troy, 
and has one of the most complete undertaking establishments in the city of Troy. 
He is a 32° Mason, a charter member of the Royal Arcanum, trustee of the Exempt 
Firemen, and a trustee of Grace M. E. church, of which he is also treasurer. 

January 1, 18fi3, he married Maria Hastings, daughter of Nathan and Ruth Hast- 
ings, of Troy, by whom he has one daughter, Mrs. George Blake, of Troy. 



R. HALSTED WARD, M. D. 

Richard Halsted Ward, A. M., M. D., F. R. M. S., was born in Bloomfield, N. 
J., June 17, 1887. He was the eldest son of Israel C. and Almeda Hanks Ward, a 
leadmg family of the place, and prominently connected there, as well as in the 
neighboring city of New York where the business interests of the family were mostly 
situated. 

After preparation in the local schools, he entered Williams College at the age of 
seventeen, and was graduated at twenty-one (A. B. in 1858, A. M. in 1861). While 
in college he was librarian, and afterward president, of the Philotechnian Lit- 
erary Society, editor of the Williams Quarterly, and a most active member of the 
" Florida Expedition " (1857), one of the first and most successful of the parties that 
have been sent out from the various colleges for the purpose of scientific study ami 
collection. 

He next spent four years of thorough study in the medical schools and hospitals of 
New York and Philadelphia, and took the degree of M. D. in 1862, from the College 
of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. After a short service in the U. S. ]\Iilitary 
Hospital at Nashville, Tenn., and a year's residence, as a sanitary measure, in Min- 
nesota, he established in Troy, in 1868, being soon associated with Dr. Thomas W. 
Blatchford until- his sudden death in 1866, the large and important medical practice 
in connection with a course of earnest scientific activity, which has been maintained 
uninterruptedly ever since. He is a member of the Medical Board (attending phy- 
sician since 1868, consulting physician since 1892), and of the Board of Ciovernors 
(since 1868, secretary since 1875), and of the Committee of Management (since 18S5. 
secretary of the committee since 1888), of the Marshall Infirmary; an institution in 
which he has always taken an unceasing interest, and to whose executive as well as 
medical and sanitary afi:"airs he has always taken pleasure in giving a large amount 
of time and labor. He was president of the Rensselaer County Medical Society (1877, 
re-elected in 1878) ; is member of the Medical Society of the State of New York (dele- 
gate 1868, permanent member 1878), and of the American Medical A.Si-ociatiou ; and 
Fellow of the New York State Medical Association (1886), andof the AmericanAcademy 
of Medicine (1889). He has been a delegate to the International Medical Congress, at 
severalmeetingsheldindifferentcountries;and at the Berlin Congress in 1890 he was 



C8G LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

oneof the verj' limited number that received invitations and attended the emperor's 
reception at court. In his numerous and extensive travels in this country and abroad, 
he has always made a study of the medical and sanitary affairs, especially as to 
climate and local conditions of importance to health, as to domestic habits and hy- 
giene, water supply, hospital facilities and management, etc. Several of Dr. Ward's 
l^apers on medical subjects have been published in the " Transactionsof the Medical 
Society of the State of New York" 

His instinctive fondness for scientific studies was obvious in his school-boy days, 
when his assistance was constantly sought in the scientific work of the institutions 
where he studied. In college, the same taste remained and grew more prominent 
in connection with a reputation as an original, independent and analytical writer; 
and after concentrating his attention upon botany, under the teaching of the young 
and enthusiastic Professor (afterward President) Paul A. Chadbourne, he permanently 
fi.Ked upon that and the related departments of biology and microscopy as his special 
field of work. 

He was ajjpointed instructor in botany at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 
1867, and was made professor of botany the second year followmg, until his resig- 
nation after twenty-si.x years of service, in 1892. He has also delivered courses of 
lectures on microscopy at the Institute on several occasions, and he was lecturer on 
histology and microscopy in the scientific course leading to the degree of B. S. 

Outside of the Institute he has long been known, not only in this country but 
abroad, as a thorough student, a philosophical and suggestive writer, and an in- 
structive lecturer. He has always been a popularizer of science, taking the greatest 
pleasure in treating the most difficult and unpromising subjects, and in so simplify- 
ing them as to make them easy and interesting. He has been especially interested 
in philosophical, applied and economic botany, and his writmgs and lectures, on 
whatever subject, have seldom lost sight of his favorite theme, the practical appli- 
cations of science. A characteristic incident occurred at the Nashville meeting of 
the American Association for the advancement of science in 1877, when an evening 
was given to a microscopical exhibition for the entertainment of the citizens, and the 
instruments were arranged in the great hall of the State Capitol. But when the 
hour arrived the whole place was packed solidly "from'pit to dome" with the best 
])eople of the city. To move about and view the objects was impossible, and an ad- 
dress must be substituted, but no speaker had been provided. The choice fell upon 
Dr. Ward to fill the gap, and without preparation he gave an address, which one of 
the local professors illustrated with a lantern; and only after the audience was dis- 
missed and most of them had gone home, were those who remained able to circulate 
and view the exhibits. 

His necessities as well as his taste have led him to accumulate a large and useful 
library, especially in the direction of science, industries and arts. His microscopical 
library is equalled by very few private collections in the world, containingmany rare 
and valuable works, all the microscopical journals ever published in America as well 
as most of the foreign ones, and thousands of pamphlets, rejirints. extracts, etc., 
pertaining to biology and microscopy in its widest sense. 

His botanical experience furnished a large part of his recreation as well as of his 
work. Botanizing walks were always his best jiastime and rest from the care and 
wear of business. His summer vacations were yearly si)eiU in travel, avoiding as 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 687 

far as possible the haunts and habits and notoriety of tourists, and studyinj^ unnoticed 
the peoples and their regions from their own point of view. In thi'^ way he has, 
(luring a very active life, gained some familiarity, especially as to their vegetation, 
and horticulture, and their sanitary and medical characteristics and affairs, with 
selected points in nearly all the States of this country, and in nearly every country 
of Europe. His habits as well as his love of instruments of precision gave him great 
fondness for the rifle, and especially for target shooting, and he was for many years 
a member, and much of the time president, of the Trojan Rifle Club. 

Professor Ward's original work in the advancement of science, and that which has 
gained him most distinction abroad, has been chieHy in the direction of microscopy, 
of which he was one of the pioneers in this country, and in which he has long been 
an acknowledged authority. In addition to an extensive use of the microscope from 
the first, not only as a constant aid in his own medical practice but also for the ben- 
efit of other physicians, he was among the first to apply that instrument successfully 
to the discrimination of different kinds of blood in connection with criminal cases, 
and to the detection of forgeries, erasures and other falsifications in handwriting. 
Besides introducing the microscope as a critical element in important criminal trials, 
he has made it prominent and sometimes decisive in many legal, medical, sanitary 
and economical cases pertaining to water supply, adulterations or falsifications of 
food, medicine or other commercial products, etc. His address as president of the 
American Society of Microscopists, at its Buffalo meering in 1879, on the Practical 
l^ses of the Microscope, gave an importance and prominence to this class of work, 
and secured for it a development which was far in advance of former experience. 
F'inding the existing standards of measurement quite unsatisfactory for work of such 
precision, he took a leading part, in connection with the late learned President F". 
A. P. Barnard of Columbia University, in organizing in 1878, the " National Com- 
mittee on Micrometry," and in securing the standard micrometer of the American 
Microscopical Society, which is now acknowledged as authority for such purjio-ses. 
Among his inventions and contrivances, which have been steps in the pnjgress of 
development of the modern microscope, are an erecting arrangement for binoculars, 
and an illuminating arrangement for the same, the iris illuminator, an eye shade 
which has been extensively used with great comfort and satisfaction for the protec- 
tion from fatigue of the unemployed eye while working with the monocular micro- 
scope, a lens holder for dissecting purposes, and a safety mailing box for slides which 
has been used for twenty years by the American Postal Microscopical Club in the 
circulation of thousands of slides throughout the country, with a convenience and 
immunity from danger of breakage of the specimens that was wholly unknown 
before. 

His connection with numerous scientific societies, of several of which he was a 
founder and most active and etticient supporter, has brought him into intimate rela- 
tions with the most advanced scientific work and progress of the times'. He was the 

first president of the Troy Scientific Association (1870-77, and 1880 ), and in its 

early years he often entertained the society at his residence, at annual soirees and 
microscopical exhibitions, at which the custom was introduced of cataloguing the 
exhibits according to the character of the objects themselves, and arranging them ac- 
cordingly in different parts of the house in natural groups suitable for instructive study, 
instead of the fashion which is still common of listing the microscopes, mostly accord- 



688 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

inj;j to the bij^ness of the stands, and letting the objects come wherever they happen 
to. He was the designer and leader of the many " field meetings" held by this so- 
ciety, and contributed the chief share of the work that made them successful and 
famous for many years; and he has also been, from the first, the leader of the micro- 
scopical section of the society, in connection with which he has been always ready 
to assist others however inexperienced, and has done scientific work that has been 
recognized abroad and that gained for him, as president, an honorary appointment 
in 1879 as e.v officio Fellow of the Royal Microscopical Society in London. He was 
one of the originators, and the president, of the National Microscopical Congress 
held at Indianapolis in 1878, and the first president of its successor, the American 
Society of Microscopists (1879); and in 1896 the latter society, now known as the 
American Microscopical Society, elected him as an honorary member, a distinction 
which has been conferred on but three or four persons during the whole history of 
the society. He was manager of the American Postal Microscopical Club for twenty 
years, from its foundation in 1875 until 1895, when he became president; he has 
acted as editor of its published reports, and has been a large contributor to the 
original notes and other work of the club; and some idea of the amount and charac- 
ter of his work in this enterprise can be gained from one or two extracts from the 
published comments of various members: "Dr. Ward is the president and father of 
this club. An unusual love of microscopical science prompted him to organize it, 
and an inborn ability to guide and interest, enabled him to condiict it successfully 
for twenty years. Those of us who know him best sintciely hope that he 'may live 
long and prosper' and continue yet to guide for many years. . . Dr. Ward's 

careful essays in this series of books are a most valuable feature, and should be at- 
tentively studied. They contain information not easily obtained elsewhere. — S. G. S." 
"There are many members who will be pleased to see the photo of such a dis- 
tinguished, unselfish, untiring worker for the be.st interests of our club as Dr. R. H. 
Ward, of Troy, N. Y. — G. M. H. " "All these essays by Dr. Ward are veritable 
word-pictures; only a long experience as a teacher could fit one to carry information 
in such clear-cut .sentences. — S." He is al.so a member of the American Metrological 
Society (1879), in which he labored earnestly in connection with the late President 
F. A. P. Barnard for reform in weights and measures, an agitation which was an 
important step in the adoption of the metric system in American microscopy; also 
of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the 
Advancement of Science (member 1868, Fellow 1874; chairman of the sub-section 
of microscopy 1872, 1876 and 1877), and active member of the local committee of 
arrangements for the meetings at Troy (1870) and Saratoga (1879); and Fellow of 
llic Royal Microscopical vSociety, London. He has attended, as associate member, 
.several meetings of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. He is 
iionorary member (1877) of the Societe Beige de Microscopic, which rare distinction 
has been conferred upon but one other American, the late Dr. J. J. Woodward of the 
U. S. Army Medical Museum in Washington; of the Minnesota Academy of Natural 
Sciences (1873); of the Troy Citizens Corps (1878), etc. He is corresponding mem- 
ber of the Boston Society of Natural History (1872); of the Albany Institute (1870), 
where he has delivered addresses on several occasions; of the New York Microscop- 
ical Society (1888), State Microscopical Society of Illinois (1872), San Franci-sco 
Microscopical Society (1879), and many other societies in various partsof thecountry. 



I 




GEORGE A. ROSS. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. (jyy 

In the summer of 1891 he attended and represented this country as a member of 
the Committee of Honor and Patronage, the International Exposition of Microscopy 
held at Antwerp, Belgium, in celebration of the three hundredth anniversary of 
the invention of the microscope, a report upon which he published the following 
year. 

Professor Ward is author of the elaborate article on " Microscopy" in Appleton's 
Annual Cyclopedia for 1884; of a "Microscopical Slide-Catalogue" (4\ Troy, N. V., 
188(5), for the systematic and descriptive registering of the slides in any collection ; 
of " Plant Organization" (4°, Troy, N. Y., 1889; 2d ed., Boston, 1890), an analysis 
of plant forms and structures, for the use of students by the written method ; and 
editor, conjointly with Rev. A. B. Hervey, of the American Revision of Behrens on 
the "Microscope in Botany" (Boston, 1885), to which work he made extensive con- 
tributions respecting the microscope and its accessories from the point of view of 
American experience. His numerous scientific papers, published during the last 
thirty years, and many of which have been reprinted abroad, have pertamed mostly 
to such subjects as the "Practical Uses of the Microscope," "Medical Microscopy," 
" The Study of Blood and of Handwriting," "Micrometry," "Illumination," "The 
Powers. Aperture and Nomenclature of Objectives and Oculars," "Students' Dis- 
secting and Bmocular Microscopes," etc. His papers have been mostly published in 
the Proceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and 
of the American Society of Microscopists, now American Micro.scopical Society, 
and in the Reports of the American Postal Microscopical Club, in the American 
Naturalist (Salem, now Philadelphia), American Journal of Microscopy (New York), 
American Monthl}^ Microscopical Journal (Washington), The Microscope (Ann Arbor, 
now Washington), the Monthly Microscopical Journal (London), the Journal de 
Micrographie (Paris), the Microscopical Bulletin (Philadelphia), etc. Many of them 
have been republished in pamphlet form and extensively circulated. For twelve 
years he was associated with the editorial corps of the American Naturalist, having 
established (1871) the department of microscopy of that journal, the first micro- 
.scopical department in any scientific journal in this country; and during that time 
he contributed a monthly budget of critical notes in regard to that branch of science, 
which were prepared with such care and judgment as to be constantly quoted as 
authority. 

He was married in 1862 to Charlotte A. Baldwin, daughter of Caleb D. Baldwin, 
of Bloonifield, N. J., and has four children, of whorh the eldest, Henry B. Ward, 
Ph. D., has succeeded to his father's love of, and aptness for, scientific work, and is 
now engaged in the same as professor of zoology in the University of Nebraska. 



GEORGE A. ROSS. 

Geoki;e a. Ross, the genial proprietor of the Frear House, has risen to his pres- 
ent position through sheer force of character and energy, characteristics of the 
sturdy Scotch race from which he sprung. After securing a common school educa- 
tion in Troy and an academic education in the Lansingburgh Academy he cf)m- 
menced life for himself as a bell boy in present hotel, which was then owned by 



690 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Lucius Wright. Upon the removal ot Mr. Wright to Poughkeepsie Mr. Ross accom- 
panied him, where he remained as clerk of the Morgan House until his return to 
Troy, when he again became connected with the American House and remained 
as Ijookkeeper until June, 1888, when he became proprietor of the last named hos- 
telry, and in 1898 changed its name to the Frear House. This is one of the old 
landmarks of Troy as a hotel and has for many years enjoyed a wide popularity witli 
the traveling public. 

The parents of George A. Ross were Uavid and Elizabeth (GrievejRoss, who were 
born in Scotland and who came to America and settled in Troy in 1845. David 
Ross was a cloth finisher by trade and died here in 1867, leaving nine children. 
Mrs. Elizabeth Ross still resides in Troy at the advanced age of eighty years. 

Mr. Ross is vice-president of the Troy Rubber Stamp Works, of which his brother. 
D. G. Ross, is president, and another brother, Andrew W. Ross, is secretary and 
treasurer. 



GEORGE A. MOSHER. 

George A. Moshek was born in Sharon, Vt., October 6, 1845. He is the elder son 
of Albert B. Mosher, for several years a member of the Vermont Legislature, and 
Lucretia Eldredge, a great-granddaughter of Gen. Israel Putnam of Revolutionary 
fame. 

He attended the common schools, the Royalton Academy, at Royalton, Vt., and 
later Kimball Union Academy at Meriden, N. H., from which he graduated and 
entered Dartmouth College in 1868. He was graduated from Dartmouth in 1867, and 
the same year he assumed charge of Champlain Academy at Champlain, N.Y., as 
jirincipal. The following year he came to Troy, studied law in the office of R. A. & 
F. J. Parmenter, and he was admitted to practice in 1868, while with that firm. 

About two years later he formed a partnership with Hon. James Forsyth, under 
the firm name of Forsyth 8c Mosher, which continued until 1879. He then devoted 
much time to the study of mechanical and patent matters, and in 1882 became asso- 
ciated with the law firm of Davenport & Hollister, of Troy, making a specialty of 
patent law practice. In 1893 he entered into partnership with Frank C. Curtis, of 
Troy, with whom he is now associated under the firm name of Mosher & Curtis. The 
business of the firm is devoted to patents and patent law exclusively. 

Mr. Mosher has been interested, both as mechanical expert and counsel, in many 
important law suits relating to patents; and he is himself the inventor and patentee 
of several labor-saving devices, perhaps the most important of which is a machine 
now in general use for attaching buttons to shoes by means of wire staples. 

During his residence in Troy, Mr. Mosher has become largely interested in real 
estate, owning a large tract of land east of Pine Wood avenue on Mt. Ida Lake, the 
improvement of which has formed his principal recreation. This property, which 
was an uninhabitable wilderness when acquired by him, he has transformed into one 
of Troy's most delightful suburban localities, through which extend Lake street and 
Belle avenue, two streets which have been opened and given to the city by him. 

Mr. Mosher was one of the founders of the East Side Club, of which he was the 




GEORGE A. MOSHER. 



1 




EDWARD L. LYONS, M. D. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 691 

fourth president, and has been a trustee of the same continuously since its organiza- 
tion. He is also a trustee of the Ionic Club, of which he has been a member sixteen 
years; and is vice-president of the Eastern New York Whist Association. 

He was married in 1870 to Belle M. Holden of Springiield, Vt., who died in 1880; 
and in 188?> he married Mrs. Jennie A. Kenyon, of Troy, who died in October, 1894. 



JOHN T. NORTON. 

Hon. John T. Norton was born in Troy, N. Y., February 4, 1865. His father, 
Thomas Norton, came to this country from Tipperary, Ireland, in 1846 and settled 
in Troy; for many years he was superintendent of the Clinton Iron Works, and was 
alderman for a number of years ; he was a local leader in the Democratic party ; 
his death occurred August 24, 1888. The mother of John T., Rose (Shattuck) 
Norton, was born in Belfast, Ireland, and is still living. 

John T. Norton was educated in the public schools and entered Williams College, 
from which he was graduated in 1886. He studied law in Troy and in Buffalo, and 
was admitted to the bar at the latter place in 1889 and returned to Troy where he 
has since been engaged. He was elected member of assembly in 1894 by a majority 
of 750 and in 1895 by a majority of 2,147. He was one of the counsel in the " Bat" 
Shea case. He is a member of the Old Guard, Troy Citizens Corps, Pafraets 1 )ael 
Club, and Laureate Boat Club. 

He was married to Margaret Hammond, of Buffalo, N. Y., in January, 1891. 



JOHN J. FARRELL. 

Jo}iN J. Farrei.l was born in Troy, N. Y. , October 30, 1870. His father, John M. 
Farrell, came from Ireland and settled in Troy ; he was in the grocery business until 
he was burned out in the great fire of 1862, when he went into the coal business, 
which he followed until his death in 1886. His mother was Mary Lennehan, who 
was born in Ireland and died in Troy in 1889. 

John K. Farrell was educated at St. Mary's Academy in Troy, aud after- the death 
of his father took charge of his estate. In April, 1896 he was appointed fire com- 
missioner by Mayor Molloy, and has the distinction of being the youngest fire com- 
missioner in the State. He is a member of Arba Read Steamer Co., and was assist- 
ant captain two terms; he is also a member of the Laureate Boat Club. 



EDWARD L. LYONS, AF. D. 

Edwaki) L. Lvons was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1863. When very young his father, 
Edward Lyons, came from Ireland with his parents who settled in Troy ; his mother, 
Ellen (English) Lyons, died in 1890. 



6JV2 LANDMARK^? OF RENSSELAKR COUNTY. 

Dr. Lyons atteiuknl the HiKthtMs' Academy, and uftotwards entered the Medical 
University of the City of New York, from which he was gradnated. He went to 
Europe and studied medicine in Berlin and Vienna, afterwards returning and be- 
jliuninj; practice iu Troy in 1888. He is attendinj; physician at the Brothers" Male 
Orphan Asylum, and is a member of the Rensselaer County Medical Society and the 
Medical Association of Troy and Vicinity ; he also is a member of the Robert Kmmett 
Association. 



IIKRBI^.RT E. DE FREEST. M.l). 

Dk. HivKiiKKr K. Dk FKKKsr, was born in North Oreenbush. N. V.. Aujjust 11. 
1868, of Holland Dutch descent. His father, Edwin De Freest, was also born in 
North Greenbush and is a farmer. His mother is Louisa (Bass) De Freest. 

Dr. De Freest received his early education in the public schools of North Green- 
bush and Troy, and held the highest honors in a class of ISO that took examinatii>ns 
for the High School. He graduated from the High School in 1881). and entered Rut- 
gers College. New Jersey, taking a special course in Cierman. French and chemistry; 
he entered Albany Medical College from which he was graduated in 189;?, liaviug 
received the highest honors in surgery and the highest degree m the specialty o( the 
eve and ear. While in Albany he occupied various positions in the Albany Hospi- 
tal. After graduation he began practice iu North Troy, where he is now locatcil. 

He is a member of the State Medical Society, the Rensselaer County Medical So- 
ciety, and the Medical Association of Troy and Vicinity; he is a member of Diamoml 
Rock Lodge I. O. O. F., of the order of Red Men No. 280. of the F^ast Side and Riv- 
erside Clubs, and of the D. K. E. of Rutgers College. He is examining physician 
for the Royal Arcanum, the National Life Insurance Co. of Montpelier. Vt., Ger- 
mauia Life of New York. Mutual Life. Home Life, and Northwestern Masonic of 
Chicago, and is also i>ne of the State examiners in lunacy. 

He married in 18l)S, Edith Haslehurst, of Troy; she is a daughter i>f the late The- 
odore Haslehurst, who was a thirty-third degree Mason, ami at tuie time was grand 
coiumander of New York State; he died in December, 1888. 



BEECHER E. CARPENTl^R 

Bkklukr E. Carikntkr was born in Glens Falls. N. Y., in 1840. His paternal 
grandfather. Elias Carpenter, was a Revolutionary soldier and died at the age of 
ninety-two. His maternal grandfather, Beecher Higby, o( Glens Falls, was a car- 
penter and builder and died at the age of fifty. His father, ^Vaite S. Carpenter, was 
for many years proprietor of the Glens Falls Hotel and died at the age of sixty-nine. 
His mother, Mariette (Higby) Carpenter, was born in Glens Falls and died in L^^JHl. 

Beecher E. Carpenter received a common school education, and afterwards assisted 
his father in the hotel business until about 1881. when he came to Troy and entered 
the empU>y oi ]ohn B. Clark, who then carried on a large liverv. carriage and furn- 




BI:l:C:iil:U h. (:A1<IM:N IhK. 



I 



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^^^l^^^^ft ''*M 



WILLIAM DOiNOHUL. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 693 

ishing goods business. He bought Mr. Clark's interest in the fall of 1890, and is do- 
ing an extensive business at his store at Nos. 18 and 20 State street in carriage and 
horse furnishing goods. He belongs to Glens Falls Lodge, F. & A. M. 

He married Miss Julia E. Clark in 1874; she is the daughter of John B. Clark, who 
was known throughout the country as a trader and dealer in horse goods of all de- 
scriptions. He was the first to start the carriage business in Syracuse, N. Y , and 
died in the fall of 1894. Mr. Carj^enter has one daughter, Bessie M. 



JAMES HENRY LYONS, M. D. 

Dr. James Hknky Lyons, son of John and Alicia (Martin) Lyons, was born at Eagle 
Bridge, N. Y., May 13, 1858. His father died at the battle of Antietam, September 
15, 1862. 

Dr. Lyons received his education in the public schools of Eagle Bridge, Johnson- 
ville and Schagaticoke, and was graduated from Mechanicville Academy as saluta- 
torian of his class in 1883. He entered Williams College in the fall of that year and 
was graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1887. In 1890 he was graduated from 
Albany Medical College with the degree of M. D., and was valedictorian of his class. 
In May, 1890, he began active practice in Lansingburgh ; later he took a course in 
the New York Po.stgraduate Medical School, graduating in August, 189fi. He took 
a special course of lectures in surgery when in New York city, and is a member of 
the Rensselaer County Medical Society. 



WILLIAM DONOHUE. 

William Donohue was born in Troy, N. Y., October 3, 1832. His father, Timothv 
Donohue, came to this country in 1825 and settled in Troy, where he resided until 
his death in 1857. His mother, Elizabeth Mahoney, died in 1840. 

William Donohue attended the old First ward Lancasterian school and private 
schools, and went to work when ten years of age. He learned the trade of coach- 
making, at which he worked from 1850 to 1858, when he began business on his own 
account and so continued to 1864. He was elected alderman of the First- ward in 
1861, and was appointed clerk of the Justice's Court in 1865. He was elected justice 
for three years and afterwards re-elected. In 1876 he was appointed police magis- 
trate and retired in 1881 ; he was again appointed in 1887 and still holds that office. 
He is a member of the firm of Donohue, Tierney & Isengart Brewing Co. and is its 
treasurer. He has been a member of the Democratic County Committee twenty 
years, and a member of the Central Committee ten years. 

In 1856 he married Miss Catherine Roche, of Tr:^y, who died in 1876. Thev had 
four children: Elizabeth, Thomas N., Catherine and William. In 18.S7 he married 
Miss Nellie F. Mallou, of Troy. 



694 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

FRANCIS J. MOLLOY. 

Hon. Francis J. Moi.i.oy was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1849. His father, Michael 
Molloy, came to this country in IS'6'2 and was a prominent grocer in Troy for thirty 
years. His wife, mother of the subject of this sketch, was Jane (Wilson) Molloy; 
she died in 1875. 

Francis J. attended St. Joseph's Academy, but left there after the big fire of 18G2. 
When his father placed James E. Molloy in business, Francis J. took a position with 
him as clerk, and in 1870 became a partner in the wholesale grocery business, the 
(irm name being James E. Molloy & Co., which is one of the oldest and largest estab- 
lishments of the kind in the city. 

In 1880 he was elected alderman for a term of eight months, a change in the char- 
ter making a short term necessary at that time. He was elected police commissioner 
to fill the unexpired term of James F'leming, and held that office until elected mayor 
in 189;}, to which office he was re elected in 1895. As mayor he has ever been fore- 
most in promoting the best interests of the city, its growth and development, and 
during his administrations the franchi.ses and privileges of the electric car lines have 
been largely extended. During his term of office close attention has been given to 
the economical administration of the city government, never, however, losing .sight 
of the proper growth and development of the city ; and the best people, irrespective 
of political affiliations, concede to him a clean, popular and progressive adminis- 
tration. 

He is a member of the Democratic State Committee from his district, and for 
many years has been recognized as among the leaders of his party in the State. He 
is a director in the Manufacturers' National Bank and the Troy Gas Co. He is a 
member of the Catholic chiirch, and worships at St. Marj^'s, the church of which 
Rev. Peter Havermans is pastor. 



FRANK P. HARDER. 

Hon. Fkank P. Hakdku was born in the town of Schodack, March 19, 1^45, and 
was educated at Nassau and Pouglikeepsie. He was engaged in the freighting busi- 
ness for twelve years, and was in the lumber, flour and feed trade for many years. 
He has been connected with the National Hank of Castleton since 1885, and has been 
president of the bank since 1890; his father was one of the organizers of this bank 
and for many years its vice-president. 

In 1879 he was elected county treasurer by the Democratic party, and from Janu- 
ary 1, 1880, to December 31, 1888, a period of nine years, he filled that responsible 
])osition with credit to himself and for the best interests of the county. 

After the expiration of his term as county treasurer, in the fall of 1889, accom- 
])anied by his wife, he started on a tour around the world, spending two years visit- 
ing the principal places of interest in Great Britain and continental Eurojie, also 
China, Japan, Ceylon and other oriental countries, returning via San Francisco. 

Mr. Harder is a 32 Mason, being a member of the Chapter, Apollo Commandery 
K. T. of Troy and Albany Consistory ; he also is a prominent member of the Knights 



I 



;.~~T - ■ i V!' vmnswmf. 







GHORGE SCOTT. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 695 

of Pythias, of which organization he was grand chancellor in 187fi. For many years 
he has been one of the most active Democrats in his section of the State, and is now 
chairman of the Third Assembly District Committee. As a business man he takes 
front rank among the best men of the county. He is regarded as safe and con- 
servative, and has been successful in all his undertakings. He is public-spirited 
and has done a great deal for the county in which he was born and has lived all 
his life. 

In 186S Mr. Harder married Charlotte Pegg. His parents were Andrew and Kve 
(Clapper) Harder. His grandfather, Peter Harder, was a native of Dutchess county, 
and the family came from Holland originally about the year ICTU. 



GEORGE vSCOTT. 

Thk late George Scott was born in New York city, July 8, 181:?, and died Decem- 
ber 30. 1884. He was educated in the public schools. His people moved first to 
Sullivan county, N. Y., and from there to Albany. At the age of seventeen became 
to Lansingburgh and learned the brush making trade. In 1835, with a partner, he 
began the manufacture of brushes; after a short time the partnership was dissolved 
and he continued the business alone ; in the market his brushes were considered the 
best. At the beginning of the war, on account of the unsettled condition of the 
country, he failed in business, made an assignment and settled with his creditors at 
seventy five cents on the dollar. He later resumed business and met with success, 
and paid his former creditors in full, both principal and interest. 

He had much influence for good with young men ; he was a member of the M. K. 
church, being a teacher and superintendent of the Sunday school over fifty years. 
He left "a good name, which is better than precious ointment," and his life is a* 
perpetual lesson to all who had the enjoyment of his acquaintance. In his political 
choice he was an ardent Republican. 

October 29, 1835, he married Abigail Morrison, (died July 19, 1888)of Middlebury, 
Vt. ; they had six children, four of whom grew to maturity : Margaret (wife of (leorge 
C. Gage, of Waterford), George A., Mary A. (wife of H. C. Hill; the business of Mr. 
Scott is now conducted by Mrs. Hill), and Adelaide vS. (widow of George W. Smith). 
The two daughters last named occupy the old homestead of their parents. 

George A. was born in 1842. At the age of seventeen he conceived the idea of anew 
brush; at nineteen enlisted as a private in the 30th N. Y. Vols, m the late war; and 
at twenty-two had his brush patented and was admitted as a partner in the Florence 
Manufacturing Company at Florence, Mass. While abroad during the following ten 
years he e.stablished in London the Leonite Manufacturing Company and applied 
electro-magnetism to the brush and to other articles. In electro-magnetism he was 
a well-known inventor. 

In 1879 he returned to New York and became one of the greatest advertisers in 
the country, expending §150,000 annually in making known his products; until his 
death, which occurred February 11, 1890, at Colorado Springs, he was considered one 
of the " makers of New York," and one of the most .successful sons of Lansingburgh. 



69ry LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Inheriting a kind heart from both of his parents, his visits to his birthplace were 

memorialized by generous deeds. He was surrived by a widow, a daughter and son. 

Both father and son were men of large benefactions, and their good deeds live as 

one of the noblest traits of character, and they were held in the highest esteem by all. 



WILLIAM H. DOUCUITY. 

Wii.i.iAM lifiwAKii Dui CHI V is a Trojan by ancestry, education and a life-long cit- 
izenship. He leads a busy and a useful life. Entirely independent of pecuniary re- 
turns for personal exertion, he voluntarily assumes the cares and perplexities of 
business. His leisure from more exacting work is largely devoted to the educational, 
humane and charitable institutions that seek his advice and command his liberal 
support. He is profoundly interested in current problems of general and municii>al 
government, but is not in the least what is recognized as a practical politician. He 
reads widely in general literature, has a keen appreciation of the humorous, and ex- 
cels as a conversationalist and raconteur. He is a Presbyterian by conviction and 
in practice a Christian gentleman. 

The " Doughty " name dates from before the Norman Conquest and it has been 
spelled in precisely its present form, at least since the reign of Henry VHL The 
" Doughty'' ancestor of the American family, from whom William Howard Doughty 
is descended in the eighth generation, was Rev. Francis Doughty who emigrated 
from England and settled at Cohannet in Plymouth Patent (Taunton), Mass., about 
K;;};), among the earliest of the Puritans. A little later he withdrew from the New 
England Colony and settled in 1642, with many others from Cohannet, near the site 
of the present city of Brooklyn, N. Y., under a patent granted by Governor Kieft of 
the Dutch colony of New Netherland. His own bouwery was on the east side of 
Flushing Bay known as Stevens Point. Subsequently seeking refuge from the dep- 
redations of Indians, he took up his residence in New Netherland near the fort, where 
he had purchased property. He soon established a church within the fortifications, 
ministered there himself and became the first man to preach in the English tongue 
on Manhattan Island. He was a "Puritan father," a friend and guest of Cecil, Lord 
Baltimore, founder of the Roman Catholic colony of Maryland, and a leader among 
some of the sturdiest colonists who laid the foundations of New York. From these 
facts it would be easy to infer a character not so varied from that of the sketch as is the 
nineteenth from the seventeenth century. 

William Howard Doughty was born in Troy, N. Y., September 11, 1837, son of 
Lieut. Ezra Thompson Doughty (b. 1811, d. 1843) of the United States Navy, and 
Harriette Howard (t). 1818, m. 1836, d. 1870), daughter of Richard P. Hart, one of 
the most successful business men ever identified with Troy. His paternal grand- 
mother was a sister of Smith Thompson, secretary of the navy in the cabinet of 
President Monroe, and afterwards judge of the Supreme Court of the Ignited States. 
Mr. Doughty left home for boarding school at the early age of seven years, was en- 
tered at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ten years later, and was graduated as 
civil engineer (C. E.) in 1858 in the same class with William Metcalf of Pittsburgh, 
Pa., Clark Fisher of Trenton, N. J., and other well known engineers. He subse- 




WILLIAM HOWARD DOUGHTY. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 697 

quenth^ traveled throughout the continent of Europe and made extensive excursions 
into Asia and Africa. In 1870 he became connected with the office of the Hart Es- 
tate and from 1878 took charge of its business management. Becoming skilled in 
large and intricate financial transactions his counsel was sought by investors, and 
he became associated with men of affairs in all the activities of his native city. He 
is now a member of the Executive Committees of the Troy Savings Bank, the Troy 
Orphan Asylum and the Young Men's Christian Association; he is one of the Ad- 
visory Committee of the Presbyterian Home Association ; he was one of the incor- 
porators and is the first president of the Samaritan Hospital; he is a trustee of the 
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and has been president of its Alumni Association ; 
he is a trustee of the Emma Willard School (formerly Troy Female Seminary) and 
of the Troy Young Men's Association ; he is chairman of the trustees for the erection 
of the Hart Memorial Library building; he is a director of the Rensselaer and Sar- 
atoga Railroad Company and the Albany and Vermont Railroad Company; a direc- 
tor of the Troy City Bank and of the Troy and West Troy Bridge Company ; he is 
a member of the City (political) Club, the Troy Club, and several athletic associations. 
Surely this is the record of a kind, versatile and useful man. 

Mr. Doughty married, April 7, 1874, Alice Clarkson Crosby, daughter of Edward 
Nicoll Crosby, of New York. They have seven children: Wiliam Howard, jr., Ed- 
ward Crosby, Ralston, Richard Hart, Hariette Hart, Alice Crosby and Marion 
Rutgers. 



EDWARD MURPHY, Jk. 

Hon. Edward Miki-hv, Jr., is the son of Edward Murphy, sr., and was born in 
Troy, N. Y., December 15, 1836. His father came from Ireland to Canada in ISHo 
and soon afterward settled in Troj', where he began a successful career as a brewel". 
Senator Murphy received his rudimentary education in the public schools of his na- 
tive city. He then entered Montreal College at Montreal, Can., and afterward at- 
tended St. John's College at Fordham. where his education was completed. Return- 
ing home he became his father's assistant in the brewery business, which he aided 
materially in building up and developing. Finally the father relinquished the en- 
terprise to the son. Mr. Murphy earned on the busmess alone for several years, 
then forming a copartnership with William Kennedy, another brewer, he estabhshed 
the present firm of Kennedy & Murphy, one of the largest and best known in this 
part of the State. 

Senator Murphy has been an unswerving Democrat from an early age. When 
twenty-five years of age he was a delegate to the Democratic State Convention 
which nominated William Kelly for governor. Since then he has been a delegate to 
almost every State convention of his party. He was a sturdy supporter of Samuel 
J. Tilden in the latter's warfare upon the "canal ring," was a delegate to the Na- 
tional Democratic Convention which met in St. Louis in 1876 and nominated Mr. 
Tilden for president, and also heartily supported the administration cf Governor 
Robinson. He was a delegate in 1880 to the National Convention which placed 
Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock in nomination for the presidency, though on this occa- 
88 



6{)S LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

sion he again favored the selection of Mr. Tilden. As a delegate to the Democratic 
State Convention at Syracuse in 1883 he first cast his vote in favor of Erastus 
Corning as candidate for governor, but finally cast his vote and that of his fellow - 
delegates from Rensselaer county for Grover Cleveland. Mr. Murphy's was the de- 
cisive vote and completed Mr. Cleveland's majority in the convention. As delegate 
to the Democratic National Convention of 1884, at Chicago, Mr. Murphy favored the 
nomination of Roswell P. Flower for president, and at the St. Louis convention four 
years later he supported Mr. Cleveland's renomination. In ,1892 he was one of the 
four delegates-at-large from New York to the Democratic National Convention in 
Chicago, being elected chairman of the delegation, where he supported the nomina- 
tion of David B. Hill for president, but he acquiesced loyally in the nomination of 
Mr. Cleveland. He was chairman of the Democratic State Committee of the State 
of New York from 1887 to 1895. and from that time to 1894, during his incum- 
bency as chairman, his party was successful in electing its candidate for State 
positions. 

Mr. Murphy was elected a member of the Common Council of the city of Troy 
in 1864 and served in that capacity two years. In 1874 he was chosen fire commis- 
sioner, serving until elected to the mayoralty. In 1875 he was elected mayor, and 
by re-election served three additional successive terms. He was then renominated, 
but positively declined to become a candidate again. Under his administration as 
mayor the new city hall was built at an expense of $18,000 less than was appro- 
priated ; he gave the city a fine system of granite pavement, improved the water 
supply, increased the value of the city's bonds from below par to a premium, and left 
the corporation with a smaller debt than anj'^ other city of its size in the Ignited 
States. During his eight years as mayor he never drew his salary of §2,000 per 
annum for his own use, but at Christmas time distributed it among the charitable 
institutions of the city without distinction as to creed. At a critical moment he 
courageously came to the rescue and saved the Manufacturers' National Bank of 
Troy. 

January 17, 1893, the New Y'ork State Legislature elected Mr. Murphy as United 
States senator to succeed the Hon. Frank Hiscock, and at the extra session of Con- 
gress in March of that year he took his seat for a full term of six years. His career 
in the United States Senate has been dignified, active and exemplary, and for the 
best interests of his party and constituents. 

Early in life Mr. Murphy was married to Miss Julia, daughter of Michael Dele- 
hanty, a prominent citizen of Albany. They have had nine children: Mary, who 
died in 1894; Edward, 2d, a practicing attorney of Troy; Julia, wife of Hon. Hugh 
1. Grant of New York; William; John and Joseph, twins, students at Georgetown 
University; Jane L. , Richard and Helen. Senator Murphy and his family reside, 
when in Troy, in their beautiful residence at No. 1819 Fifth avenue, where, besides 
their large circle of friends in this city, they have entertained many of the most dis- 
tinguished men in public life. Personally Senator Murphy is of a courteous and 
kindly disposition, a staunch friend, liberal in his dealings with his fellow-men, and, 
above all, a man who never fails to keej) his promises. These traits of character 
have won for him the respect of his fellow-citizens and are responsible for his rise to 
the distinguished position which he now occupies. 




ALBERT SMITH. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 699 

ALBERT SMITH. 

Alhert Smith, son of Hiram Sheldon and Adaline (Warren) Smith, was born No- 
vember 8, 1844, in Rupert, Bennington county, Vermont. His ancestors were among 
the early settlersof New England, the paternal branch of the family having descended 
from the Rev. Henry Smith, who left the Plymouth Colony with Thomas Hooker 
and was installed the first pastor of the church at Weathersfield, Conn., in 1636. 
About a century later Nathaniel, his grandson, left Suffield with his family to find 
new homes in Vermont. Enoch, one of his sons, was one of the pioneer settlers of 
Rupert. His son Thaddeus was the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. 

The maternal lineage of the family also originated in Massachusetts at an equally 
early period. Henry Warren, twenty years ago a well-known merchant of this city, 
an uncle of Albert, was the only immediate representative of his family in Troy, 
most of whom are located in the west and include several distinguished members of 
the bench and bar. 

Albert's boyhood was spent upon the ancestral farm, where he received the advan- 
tages of education in the common and select schools, supplemented by the invaluable 
instruction of his parents, both of whom had large experience as teachers. When 
his turn came to receive the liberal education which it was the highest ambition of 
his parents to give to their children, Albert pursued a preparatory course at the 
Seminary in Castleton, Vt., and entered Union College in the fall of 1866. His 
natural aptitude and previous training placed him at once in the front rank of his 
class. Throughout the course he was the recipient of the Dr Nott prize scholarship 
for general proficiency in his studies, received the firs^ prize, a gold medal, for excel- 
lence in Oreek, and on his graduation was appointed salutatorian and class orator. 
He was also a member of the Alpha Delta Phi and Phi Beta Kai:)pa societies. Im- 
mediately after graduating he came to Troy and entered the law office of Townsends 
& Browne, from which he was admitted to the bar in 1872. At once opening an office* 
he continued in practice alone until 1878, when he formed a partnership with George 
B. Wellington and Frank S. Black under the firm name of Smith, Wellington tV 
Black. At the end of one year Mr. Black retired, the remaining members of the firm 
continuing together under the firm name of Smith & Wellington until 1887, when 
Henry W. Smith, the only brother of Albert, was admitted to the firm, which con- 
tinued, so constituted, until the death of Albert, March 27, 1898. 

Mr. Smith was married September 3, 1879, to Eliza J. Haigh, daughter of Edward 
Haigh, a prominent woolen manufacturer of Newburgh. They had five children, 
two of whom, Albert Edward and Bertha M., survive. 

He was a member of King Solomon's Primitive Lodge No. 91, F. & A. M., of which 
he was master during the years 1888 and 1889; also a member of Bless Council, 
Apollo Chapter and Apollo Commandery, of which he was captain-general at the 
time of his death. He belonged to no religious organization, but was a member of 
the congregation of the First Presbyterian church of Troy. A staunch and life-long 
Republican, the only political office to which he was ever elected or for which he was 
a candidate was that of school commissioner, which a deep interest in educational 
matters induced him to accept, and which he filled with ability for eight years, ending 
in 1890. 



700 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

In the professional career of Albert Smith, measured by its actual achievements, 
the casual observer would fail to discover anything to distinguish him from many 
other successful lawyers, yet achievement is not always the true measure of great- 
ness. Cu'cumstances are often a controlling factor in detei mining success, and separ- 
ate judgment must often be jironounced upon a man and his works. With no extra- 
neous assistance beyond the self-denial of his parents in placing within his reach the 
opportunities for a liberal education, he won his way to a position among the leading 
members of the Troy bar. Many others have been apparently as successful in their 
profession who would by no means be accorded equal rank by those capable of mak- 
ing a just estimate of men, and many others have won far higher distinction at the 
bar and on the bench possessing no greater qualifications nor higher attainments. 
He was a man of strong intellect, line sensibilities and a will that never faltered in 
the accomplishment of a worthy purpose. His reasoning faculties, well trained, 
subjected everything which claimed attention to rigid analysis. Sine iaf/o?if nil 
might be said to have been his motto. His examination of every subject was a 
search for principles. No authority had weight with him which did not convince his 
own understanding. His investigations were those of the judge seeking the truth 
rather than the advocate endeavoring to fortify his position. Eminently practical 
and fertile in resources, no expedient which savored of indirection was ever employed 
to win a case. By inheritance and as the result of early training his judgments were 
habitually ethical. He would have deemed it disloyalty to his higher nature to rest 
upon a conclusion which did not accord with his intuitive sense of justice. His 
understanding asserted what he conceived to be its divine right and duty to pass 
upon the claim of everything which sought a place in his category of truth. No 
human authority was in itself sacred. His own judgment and conscience were the 
tribunal of last resort no less in theology than in the domain of law and philosophy. 
It was natural, therefore, that, repelled by dogmatic doctrinal theology, it should be 
left for the experience and deeper insight of his mature years to reveal to his nature 
religious truth. His profound interest in the subject of human duty and a future 
life were attested in his later years by a constant attendance of the church of his 
choice whose spiritual teachings exerted deep influence upon his life. 

Though in general undemonstrative, he possessed a deeply emotional nature 
which found expression in acts of sympathy and kindness in every relation of life. 
In the words of an intimate associate and friend, "His sympathy for the down- 
trodden and his active aid to many of the unfortunate and struggling fellow beings 
who came within his limited abilities to assist was most marked, and I believe, un- 
usual." Excessive modesty, rather than an under-estimate of his own ability, led 
liim to shrink from the pursuit of office, preferring even in his professional duties to 
assign the more public part to others. .Self-advancement ff)r public honors was to 
him unseehily. His modesty, coupled with perhaps undue sensitiveness or over- 
refined sensibilities, constituted a weakness which may have been responsible for 
his failure to be called to some important official station, which he probably would 
have occupied later had he lived. His judgment of men as well as of legal questions 
was sound and charitable. He invariably refused to undertake a case where he be- 
lieved his client was consciously in the wrong, and advised a settlement if he regarded 
the issue doubtful. This habit won for him a desirable clientage and made his clients 
friends. He was at his best where combined legal knowledge and business judgment 




HENRY W. SMITH. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 701 

were required. He carried out a campaign with as much abiHty as was displayed in 
laying it out, never relaxing his efforts until the end was accomplished. It was this 
quality which helped gain for his portrait a place by that of General Grant over the 
desk of a loyal client and friend, who was accustomed to point tf) them, saying: 
"Those are my two generals." 

In the brief space alloted to this sketch a meagre outline only is possible of a char- 
acter which was the embodiment of intellectuality, gentleness, integrity, fidelitj' in 

a word, true manliness. More brilliant minds have adorned the profession, but few 
enjoyed a higher degree of confidence and respect among those who knew him best 
and they never doubted his loyalty to truth and justice. 



HENRY W. SMITH. 

Henry W. Smiih was born in Rupert, Bennington county, Vt., October 6, 1848. 
He is the younger brother of Albert Smith, the subject of the preceding sketch, in 
which appears the family origin. His father's family consisted of seven -children, 
two sons and five daughters. On leaving the schools of his native town he com- 
pleted his preparatory course at Burr and Burton Seminary, Manchester, Vt., and 
Alfred Center, Alleghany county, N. Y., entering the sophomore class in Dartmouth 
College in the fall of 1872, and graduating with the class of 1875. Following in the 
footsteps of his brother he became a member of the Alpha Delta Phi Society. During 
sophomore year he was appointed one of the editors of both the weekly and monthly 
college periodicals, occupying that position throughout the remainder of his course. 
He was twice appointed to represent his class as prize speaker, received the Grimes 
prize for excellence in English composition, together.with commencement honors, and 
on graduation was elected a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. 

Soon after leaving college he came to Troy and commenced the study of law with 
his brother, who had just opened an office. To replenish his exchequer, he ac- 
cepted a position on the Troy Morning Whig for the following winter. Re.suming 
his law studies in the spring, he was admitted to the bar in February, 1878. Com- 
mencing practice on his own account in the office of Smith & Wellington, he con- 
tinued alone, though closely connected with the linn, until 1887, when a partnership 
was formed which continued until his brother's death in 189S. 

The following January the partnership between Mr. Wellington and himself was 
dissolved, since which time he has been alone and enjoys a lucrative practice. 

Mr. Smith is a member of King .Solomon's Primitive Lodge No. 91, F. & A. M., of 
which he was master in 1894 and 1895; also a member of Bloss Council, Apollo 
Chapter, Apollo Commaudery. and the Scottish Rite" bodies of Troy. He was mar- 
ried June 6, 1880. to Annie Bainbridge Wendel, daughter of Robert Bainbridge, 
who for manv years held a responsible position in the Troy Steel and Iron Com- 
pany. Mrs. vSmith died August 3, 1891. Their daughter, Eleanor W. Smith, died in 
February, 1889. One son, Sheldon Bainbridge Smith, survives. 

Mr. Smith is a member of the First Presbyterian church of Troy. In politics he 
has always been a zealous Republican and an influential member of his party. He is 
engaged in the general practice of the law, and by his legal knowledge and natural 



702 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

qualifications has won an enviable reputation for skill and ability. In the practical 
solution of legal and business complications he occupies a prominent position in the 
very able bar of Trov. 



JAMES K. P. PINE. 

James K. P. Pine is a native of the town of Hoosick, Rensselaer county. N. Y., 
born November 21, 1841. He received his early education in the public schools and 
at Ball's Seminary in Hoosick Falls, and in 18(!0 became a clerk for Coon &• Van 
Valkenburgh, collar manufacturers of Troy. In 1862 he established himself in that 
business in Troy, and subsequently became a member of the firm of Cole, Dyer & 
Pine, later Dyer & Pine, and afterwards Dyer, Pine & Miller. This name was 
changed to Pine, Miller & Dunham, and again the name was changed to Pine, Adams 
&• Dunham. On the death of Mr. Adams in 1878, a laundering department was added 
to the collar trade, Mr. Myron Hamlin having charge of the former under the firm 
name of Pine &- Hamlin. 

Mr. Hamlin died in 1880 and Mr. Pine conducted the entire business until 1890. In 
1884 Mr. Pine erected the present factory in Lansingburgh, and in 18^-0 The United 
Shirt and Collar Company was incorporated and succeeded to the entire business. 
Mr. Pine was the treasurer, and in the spring of 1893 was elected first vice-president, 
and on the death of Mr. Sanford he was elected president of the company in August, 
1896, which position he now holds. On assuming the office of president he resigned 
the treasurer's office; the vacancy was filled by the election of his son, Charles L. 
r^ine. 

Our subject has also been president of the People's Bank of Lansingburgh since 
its organization in 1889. He is a director of the Troy City National Bank, a 
trustee of the Troy Savings Bank, president of the Record Publishing Company of 
Troy, vice-president of the Ostrander Fire Brick works, a trustee of the Young 
Women's Association, and member of Mount Zion Lodge No. 811, F. & A. M., Bloss 
Council No. 15, Apollo Chapter No. 48, R. A. M., Apollo Commandery and the 
Scottish Rite bodies, having attained to the 32d degree in Masonry. He is a mem- 
ber of the Troy Club, Riverside Club and honorary member of the Troy Yacht Clui). 

In 1865 Mr. Pine married Clara M. Adams, of Troy, N. Y., and they have two sons 
and three daughters: Charles L., I. Kate, Bessie H., C. Louisa, and Warren A. 
Mr. Pine and wife are members of the First Presbyterian church of Lansingburgh, 
and for the past fifteen years he has been an elder of that church. In politics he is 
a Republican and is influential in the councils of his party, always taking an active 
interest, though he is not rated as a partisan. 

For many years Mr. Pine has held front rank among the representative l)usiuess 
men of this portion of the State, being a leader in many enterprises which have been 
a potent factor in the develo]iment of T,ansingburgh and Troy. 




J. FRANKLIN FELLOWS. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 703 



J. FRANKLIN FELLOWS. 

J. Franklin Fki.i.uws was born in Troy, N. Y., September 14, 1862. His father is 
A. Clarke Fellows, a man prominent in business circles in Troy for many years (a 
sketch and portrait of him appears on another page of this work.) His mother, 
Anna M. F'ellows, is a daughter of Lyman Bennett, the founder of the collar indus- 
try in Troy. 

J. Franklin Fellows received his early education in the public schools of his native 
city, afterwards attended the Troy Conference Academy at Pouitney, Vt., and 
was prepared for college at the Centenary Collegiate Institute, Hackettstown, N. J., 
from which institution he graduated in 1881. He then entered Wesleyan University, 
Middletown, Conn., and spent four years at that institution. He was graduated 
from Wesleyan University with the degree of Ph. B. in the class of 1885. He then 
entered the factory of his father, in the manufacture of collars and cuffs, and is now 
one of the firm of Fellows & Co., succeeding his father, who retired from the busi- 
ness in 1888. While in college he made a specialty of the study of chemistry, and 
made original researches in physiological chemistry. He investigated at some 
length the nutritive value of different foods, and also of the sources of the nitrogen 
found in plants. The results of these researches have since been published by the 
United States government. He has also invented several machines which are used 
in the manufacture of collars very successfully, saving several large items of ex- 
pense of manufacturing. 

He is a member of King Solomon's Lodge, F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter, Bloss 
Council, Apollo Commandery, and the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the 
East Side Club. He is an exempt fireman, having served a full term as member of 
the Read Steam Engine Co. No. 1. 

In 1890 he married Flora A. Haynes, of Saranac, N.Y. He has one child, Haynes 
Harold, born in July, 1891. 

Fellows & Co. — The leading industry of Troy, the manufacture of linen collars 
and cuflfs, was begun about the year 1834, one of the first to engage in it being 
Lyman Bennett. When the business was established by Mr. Bennett its limits were 
extremely circumscribed and the amount of capital invested was far from adequate 
to the operations of a large establishment. It was only a question of time, however, 
and the business house founded by Mr. Bennett in a modest way over sixty years ago 
has now immense proportions, and a trade extending to all parts of the country, which 
has been built up by his energy and that of the succeeding members of the firm 
Mr. Bennett conducted the business alone until 1851, when he associated with him 
Mr. Hicks and Mr. Edson, who carried on the business under the firm name of 
Bennett, Hicks & Edson. In 1855 Mr. Edson bought .several sewing machines, and 
took them to his residence, where he instructed several girls in his employ how to 
use them— the work jireviously had been done by hand. As soon as the girls had 
acquired sufficient proficiency the machines were taken to the factory, and at once 
revolutionized the industry. Afterwards the application of steam power to the 
operation of the machines materially increased their productiveness. The introduc- 
tion of sewing machines became general after the event mentioned, and the cost of 
linen collars and cuffs rapidly diminished as a result. 



704 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

There are numerous changes to note in the style of the firm. In 1861, after the 
death of Mr. Edson, A. Clarke Fellows became a member of the concern, the firm 
being Bennett, Strickland & Fellows; by the retirement of Mr. Strickland .soon after 
the firm was known as Bennett & Fellows; H. C. Curtis and George H. Atwood 
having been taken in as partners a few years later, the firm then became Bennett, 
Fellows & Co. ; a few years later Mr. Fellows bought out the interest of Mr. Curtis, 
Mr. Atwood retired, and the firm became Fellows & Company, Mr. Fellows admit- 
ted as partners James C. Archibald and Geo. S. Hastings. In 1888 James Franklin 
Fellows was admitted as a partner, and later his brother, Hervey, A. Clarke Fellows 
retiring in 1888, the name of the firm remaining Fellows & Company. 



A. CLARKE FELLOWS 

A. Ci.AkKK. Fki.i.ows was born in North Grecnbush, N. Y., in 183H. He is the son 
of the late Zachariah and Catherine (Weatherwax) Fellows, of Greenbush, N.Y. He 
was educated in the public schools and at the Jonesville Academy in Saratoga 
county and came to Troy, N. Y., in 1857, where he had charge of the shipping de- 
partment of the Washington F'oundry for two years ; later he was for one year a 
bookkeeper in a store in Albany. 

In the spring of 1860 he went into the employ of Bennett, Edson & Strickland in 
the collar business as bookkeeper, and after the death of Mr. Edson, one year later, 
he became a partner in the concern, the name being Bennett, Strickland & Fellows; 
by the retirement of Mr. Strickland soon after the firm was known as Bennett <.V- 
Fellows. H. C. Curtis and George H. Atwood having a few years later been taken 
in as partners, the firm then became Bennett, Fellows & Co. Mr. Atwood and Mr. 
Bennett retired, the firm then became Fellows & Curtis, which continued about 
eight years, when Mr. Fellows purchased Mr. Curtis's interest and took in as partner 
James C. Archibald and George L. Hasting, and the firm has since remained Fel- 
lows & Co. In 1888 Mr. Fellows's eldest son, James Franklin, was admitted, and 
later another son, H. W., was taken in as partner, and Mr. Fellow^ retired from the 
firm, his sons continuing the business. The factory has been located on Fulton street 
over forty years. 

Mr. Fellows was for many years one of the stockholders of the Star Knitting Co. 
of Cohoes, N. Y., and was atone time president, and has been a director of the 
Union National Bank of Troy for twenty-five years, and for many years was one of 
the trustees of the Cable Flax Mills of Schaghticoke, and is still one of the largest 
stockholders in the same. He has been a member of the State Street M. E. church 
for years. 

He married Mrs. Anna M. Bennett, a daughter of the pioneer collar manufacturer 
of Troy. They have two sons living, James Franklin and Hervey William, before 
mentioned. 




A. CLARKE FELLOWS. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 705 

DERICK L. BOARDMAN. 

TiiK Hon. Dkrick Lank Boakuman died at his home, No. 95 First street, Troy, N. 
Y., on Wednesday morning, September 6, 1893, and was l)uried in Oakwood Ceme- 
tery. He had been for over a year a sufferer from a compHcation of diseases. In 
Mr. Boardman's death Troy sustained that loss which every community sustains 
when one of its best citizens is called to his final reward. His was a career which, 
while confined almost exclusively to business circles, shed an added lustre to I lie 
city's name. Mr. Boardman came to Troy in 1867 and, in connection with the Rev. 
Stephen Parks and John T. Christie, assumed control of the general agency of tlic 
Mutual Life Insui'ance Company of New York. In this position, which he retained 
up to the hour of his death, he by his indomitable energy and perseverance, coupled 
with his genial personalit}^ and enviable tact, built up a business which reached 
throughout the entire northern portion of the State and which to-day is one of the 
largest and most extensive of its kind in New York. Mr. Boardman's early man- 
hood was devoted to the law. Born at Watertown, N. Y., in March, 1824, he laid 
the foundation of his education in the public schools of that city. Then, after a 
preparatory course at the Jefferson County Institute, he entered Williams College in 
1840, graduating with honor four years later. Immediately after his graduation he 
began the study of law, and in 1847 was admitted to practice, locating at Rome, N. 
Y. Six years later he was elected to the Assembly from Oneida county, serving one 
term with ability and declining a renomination. In 1854 he, with the late D. M. K. 
Johnson, formed the legal firm of Johnson & Boardman, which enjoyed a lucrative 
practice until Mr. Boardman retired to enter the insurance business. The alma 
mater of the deceased, Williams College, also sulTered a severe loss in Mr. Board- 
man's death. From the day of his graduation he took the liveliest interest in the 
affairs of old Williams, and for twenty-five years never failed to be present at 
commencement. lu 1878 he was chosen an alumni trustee and six years afterward a, 
life trustee. In addition he served a term as president of the Alumni Association. 
The Kappa Alpha fraternity numbered him as one of its most honored members. 
In addition to his insurance business, Mr. Boardman was prominently identified with 
Troy's banking interests, being at one time a director of the Central National Bank, 
and at the time of his death first vice-president of the Troy Savings Bank. The 
chief charm of Mr. Boardman's personality and the one which attracted and held the 
friendship of scores was to be found in his scholarly attainments and refinement f)f 
taste. His cultivated mind was a veritable storehouse of intellectual delight wliich 
liis friends were always at liberty to draw upon. His conversational gifts were 
brilliant in the extreme and he never lacked for listeners when he chose to talk. 
The religious side of his character was sincere and earnest, though never obtrusive. 
He was a member of the Second Presbyterian church and gave liberally toward the 
cause of Christianity. In addition he was a believer in charity of the quiet and 
practical .sort and how many deserving persons who owe needed aid to his kindness 
will never be known. Mr. Boardman was the son of Rev Dr. George S. Boardman 
and a grandson of Derick Lane of this city. He is survived by his widow, the 
daughter of the late Hon. Henry A. Foster of Rome, a son, Henry F. Boardman, 
the surviving member of the firm of D. L. Boardman & Son, and one daughter, 
Mrs. E. S. Warren of Buffalo. 
89 



706 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

WILLIAM SHAW. 

William vSiiaw was born in Saratoga Springs, N. Y., June 1^, lb4:2. He was of 
New England parentage, and his boyhood was spent on a farm at Chester, \'t. He 
received a district school education, and has earned his own living since he was 
eight years of age. He came to Troy in 1860. 

He .served as a private in the 25th N. Y. Vols, in the war of the Rebellion, after 
which he studied law in the office of Beach & Smith, and was admitted to the bar in 
1805. He has .since practiced law in the city of Troy, and at present is at the head 
of the law firm of Shaw, Bailey & Murphy. He was appointed assistant police 
magistrate of Troy by Gov. John A. Dix. He was captain of Troy City Artillery; 
president of the Young Men's Association Debating Society; president of the Young 
Men's Association in 1877; and at the present time is court house commissioner. He 
is a director of and counsel for the United National Bank, the Manufacturers' Na- 
tional Bank and the Troy City Railroad Company ; he is a director of the Waterford 
and Colioes Railroad Company, the Union Railway Company of New York city, the 
Troy and Lansingburgh Railroad Company, Troy and New England Railway Com- 
pany, and is receiver of the Gilbert Car Manufacturing Company, trustee of the first 
Baptist church of Troy, and a member of Post Griswold G. A. R. 



JOHN AUGUSTUvS GRISWOLD. 

Hun. John Augustis Griswold, only son of Hon. Chester Griswold, was born in 
Nassau, Rensselaer county, November 11, 1818, and descended from a" long line of 
worthy and influential ancestors, some of whom fought in the Revolutionary war, 
one being captured by the British and confined in the prison ship Jersey. Hon. 
Chester Griswold was for several years supervisor of Nassau, was member of assem- 
bly for Rensselaer county in 1823, 1831, and 1835, and during a long and active life 
was highly esteemed and respected. He had one son, John A., and one daughter 
who married Isaac B. Hart, of the firm of Hart, Leslie & Warren, of Troy. John 
A. Griswold was educated for commercial pursuits. When seventeen he entered the 
hardware establishment of Hart, Lesley & Warren and when eighteen became 
bookkeeper for C. H. & L J. Merritt, cotton manufacturers, with whom he remained 
some time, living in the family of his uncle, Major-General John E. Wool. Soon 
afterward he engaged in business for himself. He soon became interested in the 
manufacture of iron, which formed the principal business of his life. Mr. Griswold 
being first identified with the late Hon. Joseph M. Warren and other gentlemen in 
what afterwards grew to be the great Albany-Rensselaer Iron and St«el Company 
of Troy, which is well kpown in the past as having been one of the most conspicuous 
enterprises in this section of the country. 

Mr. Griswold was originally a Democrat, and in 1855 he was elected mayor of 
Troy. In 1862 and 1864 he was elected as a war Democrat to the Thirty-eighth and 
Thirty-ninth Congresses, being heartily supported by the Republicans, and serving 
in each session as a member of the Committee on Naval Affairs. He was re-elected 
to the Fortieth Congress and served on the principal committee of the Hou.se and 




WILLIAM SHAW. 



;«^. 




STEPHEN KIMBALL. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 7O7 

the Committee on Ways and Means. He sustained Lincoln's administration through- 
out the war and loyally supported all worthy measures. When the navy depart- 
ment was attacked in the House he made a speech in defence of its policy and espe- 
cially in regard to the construction of monitors. He aided in raising and equipping 
the 2d, 12r)th, and 169th, the Griswold Light Cavalry, and several other New York 
regiments, and was a leading member of the War Committee of Rensselaer county 
during the Rebellion. 

Mr. Griswold and his associate, the late Hon. John F. Winslow, formerly of Troy, 
furnished the capital and built Ericsson's Monitor, the iron being largely furnished 
from the Troy works and the vessel itself being constructed in New York. As a 
matter of fact, the Monitor, when she fought the Merrimac, was still the property 
of Messrs. Griswold, Winslow and Ericsson, her designer, the government at that 
time not having fully accepted the vessel. The success of the Monitor led to the con- 
tracting on the part of the government with Mr. Griswold and his associates, con- 
tracts for the ironclad Dictator and a number of other vessels of similar type, many 
of which were conspicuous in the naval engagements of the Civil war. 

In 1868 he was nominated by the Republican Union State Convention for gov- 
ernor uf New York and received 411,355 votes, the largest number ever given for 
any gubernatorial candidate prior to that year. His party claimed his election by a 
majority of the votes actually cast, and many prominent members of the opposing 
party admitted the fact, but he was counted out through what were afterward 
proved palpable frauds. He died in Troy October 3, 1872. On September 14, 1843, 
he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Richard P. Hart, of Troy, and they had 
three sons and three daughters. 



STEPHEN KIMBALL. 

Stei'hen Kimuall, whose portrait is pictured on the adjoining page, is of the fam- 
ily of that name, so numerous throughout the New England States. He was born at 
Chepatchet, in the State of Rhode Island, March 29, 1818. His father, being limited 
in means but industrious in purpose, so soon as Stephen had acquired a knowledge 
of the studies taught m the district school of his neighborhood, put the boy to work. 
Accordingly, at an early age he became a practical blacksmith and wheelwright. 
Soon after attaining his majority, deeming business opportunities more favorable in 
New York than in his native place, he immigrated to Saratoga county, where he 
commenced his business career. After a little he removed from Saratoga to East 
Greenbush, making that place his home for the remainder of his life. Here he en- 
gaged in his trade, of which he was master, and meeting with the success which 
ability and prompt attention uniformly secures, he enlarged the field of his industry 
by purchasing and conducting a farm. Later he became owner of the major part 
of the stock of the Rensselaer and Columbia Turnpike Company, and for the period 
of twenty years was secretary, treasurer and general manager of the affairs of the 
company, to the profit and entire satisfaction of the other stockholders. Later in 
life, and for several years, Mr. Kimball conducted a furniture store at 22 and 24 
Green street in the citv of Albany. He was to a considerable extent a dealer in real 



708 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

estate, more especially in Albany. For several years prior to his death Mr. Kimball 
e.xercised supervision over the affairs of the property and management of the large 
farm of his daughter Charlotte, consisting of two hundred and forty-five acres situ- 
ated in East Greenbush. 

The only civic office Mr. Kimball ever held was that of deputy sheritf, and that not 
from choice so much as by solicitations of friends. Mr. Kimball was eminently en- 
ergetic and industrious, — no duty was left unperformed by him, no business interest 
allowed to slumber for a more convenient time for action. His promptness in these 
respects was coupled with probity, making his life a profit and blessing to his family. 
He died February 23, 1887, respected by all who knew hmi. 

Mr. Kimball was three times married; first to Charlotte Anthony of Saratoga, 
second to Catherine Snook of Sand Lake, and third to Kate E. Bullock of Albany, 
who still survives. One son was born of each the first and third marriages, neither 
of whom survive. By the second marriage there were born two daughters, Charlotte 
A. and Sarah A., both of whom are still living, the latter unmarried and invalid. 
Charlotte A. while still in her teens became the wife of Albert Smith, an extensive 
farmer and successful business man in East Greenbush. The grandparents of Albert 
were Jesse and Rachel (Furman) Smith, of Providence, R. I., where Nehemiah, the 
father of Albert, was born, and who when a young man settled in East Greenbush 
as farmer and speculator. He was successful in business, being at the time of his 
death (1864) the owner of landed property in Albany and Rensselaer counties to the 
extent of eight huudred acres. 

Albert Smith died in 1866 at the age of twenty-nine years, leaving his widow and 
an infant son surviving. The son has since died. The widow, Mrs. Charlotte A. 
Smith, since the death of her father has developed into an all-round business woman, 
taking personal chai-ge of her own large property, succeeding also to the offices, 
duties and responsibilities of her father in connection with the Turnpike Company, 
and exhibiting the business ability and personal characteristics of her father. 



JOSEPH B. CARR. 

Gknkkai, JosKi'H Bradford Carr was born in Albany, N. Y., August 16, 182S, and 
flied in Troy, N. Y., February 34, 1895. His father and mother emigrated from Ire- 
land in 1824. He attended the public schools of Albany, and early in life learned 
the trade of cigar-making. In 1842 he removed to Troy and engaged in cigar mak- 
ing, continuing in that business until the breaking out of the civil war in 1861. His 
military career began in 1849, when he joined the Troy Republican Guards, being- 
promoted by degi"ees to the command. He was chiefly instrumental in organizing 
the Second Regt., N. Y. State Vols., and April 15, 1861, was elected lieutenant-colonel 
of that regiment. The regiment was mustered in May 4, 1861, and left Troy May 
18 in command of Colonel Carr. In May, 1862, he was given command of a brigade, 
and shortly afterward was ordered to report to General McClellan at Fair Oaks, Va., 
and was assigned to Patterson's Brigade of Hooker's Division of the Army of the 
Potomac. At the battle of Malvern Hill he superseded General Patterson, and Sep- 
tember 7, 1862, upon recommendation of (ieneral Hooker, " for gallant and merito- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 709 

rious service in the field," he was made brigadier-general of the Volunteers. Janu- 
ary 12, 186B, he was given command of the Second Division, Third Corps, and de- 
stroyed the Rappahannock bridge. In April, 1864, he was assigned to the command 
of the Fourth Division, Second Corps. He afterwards commanded divisions in the 
First Corps, had charge of defenses on the James River, and June 1, 1865, was bre- 
vetted major general. He was mustered out of service August 24, 1865, having pre- 
viously been nominated for secretary of state of New York. 

In 1879 he was a candidate for secretary of state on the Republican ticket and was 
eleced by a large majority. He was re-elected in 1881 and 1883. In 1885 he was the 
Republican candidate for lieutenant-governor, but was defeated. 

Upon returning to Troy General Carr became the senior member of the firm of J. 
B. Carr & Co., chain manufacturers, continuing in that business until the time of his 
death. Without any previous knowledge on his part he was appointed by the gov- 
ernor to be major-general of the Third Division, N. Y. S. M. He was highlv 
esteemed at home and abroad, and many organizations bestowed honorary member- 
ship upon him. He was connected with the Old Guard of New York, the Ninth 
Regiment, the Troy Citizens Corps, and the Burgesses Corps of Albanj-. He was a 
member of the Loj^al Legion, the highest militar}' organization in the country; the 
Second Regiment Association, the Third Army Corps Association, Post Willard, the 
Troy Club, the Ionic Club, was vice-president of the Rensselaer County Soldiers' and 
Sailors' Monument Association, a director in the Mutual National Bank, second vice- 
president and a director of the Troy City Railway Company, and a trustee of the 
New York State Gettysburg Monument Association. At his death he left a widow, 
formerly Mary Gould; a daughter, Marjf Carr; and a son, \Villiam G. Carr. 



JOHN A. OUACKENBUSH. , 

Hon. John A. Quackenrush was born on the homestead on the banks of the beau 
tiful Hoosick River in the town of Schaghticoke, N. Y., October 16, 1828. His edu- 
cation was obtained in the district schools and Stillwater Academy. He is a farmer 
and speculator in farm products and lumber. September 29, 1852, he married Harriet 
E. Kinney, of his native town; they have two children, a son and daughter, namely: 
John H., and Ema. John H. was educated in the common schools, and Poultney 
Academy, Vermont, and Willbraham Academy, Mass. He is farming in connection 
with his father at home. They have a herd of registered Jersey cows in which they 
justly take much care and pride. John H. married Nellie Newland of Stillwater. 
N. Y. ; they have one daughter, Lionne N. Ema married G. Ira Haner of the town 
of Schaghticoke. Mr. Quackenbush's father, Herman, was born here in the year 
1798, was educated in the schools of that day, and was a farmer and surveyor. He 
married Elizabeth Baucus, of his own town; they had four children, Jacob. John A., 
Harriet A., and Charlotte L. He died at the age of thirty-four years and his wife 
died in January, 1878. Mr. Quackenbush's grandfather, Jacob Ouackenbush. was 
born here on the old homestead in the year 1770. He married Anna CJroesbeck. 
This property has been in the family since 1705. A census was taken of this town in 
1712 and nineteen Dutch families were found at that time. The eighth generation 



710 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

is now living on the property in the person of Mr. Ouackenbush's granddaughter. 
Lionne N. Mr. Quckenbush has been elected three times supervisor of the town of 
which he is an honored citizen, viz.: in 1861, 186'-2, and in 186B. In 1868 he was 
chairman of the Board of Supervisors. In the fall of 1862 he was elected member of 
assembly of the Second district and served his constituents with ability. He was 
elected sheriflf of Rensselaer county in the fall of 1873, and served in that capacity 
three years. In the year 1888 he was elected to the Fiftj'-first Congress, and re- 
elected in 1890 to the Fifty-second. In the first he served on the committee on 
public buildings. In his second term on the committee on rivers and harbors and 
other important committees. He has been a member of the State Central Republi- 
can Committee for the past ten years. He has served as delegate to three national 
conventions and was an alternate to the St. Louis convention. In caring for his con- 
stituents' interests, this congressional district never had a member who did more 
than did Mr. Quackenbush. During his term in Congress he secured the appropria- 
tion for the building of the magnificent court house in Troy, and w^as largely instru- 
mental in securing an appropriation of two and a half millions for the improvement 
of the Hudson River, which improvement will be finished during the year 1897; also 
some appropriations for the improvement of the navigation of Lake Champlain. It 
was through his determmed efforts that .sufficient protection in the McKinley bill 
was given to the shirt and collar industry of Troy, by which they were enabled to 
pro.sperously conduct their business. The family attend the Presbyterian church at 
Stillwater. Mr. Ouackenbush is a member of Victor Lodge No. 680, F. & A. M., ami 
Apollo Conimanderv of Troy. The ancestry of this family is Plolland Dutch and 
German. 



EZRA THOMPSON GALE, C. E. 

Mr. Ezr.v 'I'homi'so.n Galk was born in Troy, N. V., April 27, 1819; died at his 
residence in North Greenbu.sh at 12.30 o'clock, July 4, 1887. Mr. Gale suffered from 
creeping paralysis, and had been an invalid for several years. He passed a portion 
of the last two summers at Saratoga, and was greatly benefited. On the 23d of 
June of the latter year he went to his summer residence, where he died. The re- 
mains were brought to his residence on First street. The Rev. T. P. Sawin, of the 
First Presbvterian church, of which the deceased was a member, conducted the 
service. The remains were interred in Oakwood Cemetery. 

Mr. Gale was a native of Troy, having been born in this city April 27, 1819. His 
father was Dr. Samuel Gale, who.se father was also Dr. Samuel Gale, who came to 
this section of the country from New England, Killingworth, Conn., in the latter part 
of the last century, \September, 1787. His ancestors came to America at a very early 
date, prior to 1640, and settled near Boston, Mass. Edmund Gale died in Boston in 
1642, and the first Dr. Samuel Gale studied medicine with his uncle, Dr. Benjamin 
Gale, Killingworth, Conn., who was also a professor in Yale College. He held a 
captain's commission under Gov. Jonathan Trumbull, dated May 1, 1775, serving a 
considerable time during the Revolutionary war. The elder Gale was a physician, 
and for sonic years was the only one practicing in the valley adjoining Ashley's 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 711 

Ferry, as the latter place occnjn-ing the present site of 'I'roy was called. \)v. (lale 
was one of the original trustees of the First Presbyterian church, which were 
appointed December 31, 1791. The meeting at which they were chosen was held at 
the house of Stephen Ashley. The place was then known as the town of Troy. Dr. 
Gale had been in Troy about four years at the time that this church was organized. 
On arriving here he bought of the patroon, Jacob Van Der Heyden, the second lot of 
and below the ferry on the river road. He desired to become possessed of the next 
lot north, but the patroon would not part with it, and Mr. Gale was obliged to con- 
tent himself with what he could get. Mr. Van Der Heyden had not yet become very 
well acquainted with the new comer, and for some business reason he did not care to 
give him a piece of land that might control the ferry, which was a fruitful source of 
income to the jjatroon. 

We read in these days of the treatment of small-pox by inoculation, but Dr. Gale 
possessed that theory and reduced it to practice when he first came to Trov. He 
inoculated many of the inhabitants, and they had small pox as the result. Dr. Gale 
was evidently a man who lived beyond his time, as his inoculation plan showed. 
The small pox ran its course, and the thriving young village was soon free from all 
danger of a sudden and severe visitation of that disease. Dr. Gale grew in public 
favor and estimation. A cotemporary man said Dr. Gale was a born gentleman. 
His figure was tall and commanding, and he was built in good proportion. Besides 
being a gentleman by nature he was a splendid specimen of physical manhood. In 
those days he drew about him men of superior intelligence and worth, and was indeed 
the leader in a refined and cultured circle. The nobler attributes of the man came 
down to his son and to his grandchildren. E. Thompson Gale was a man of unusual 
strength of character, and the most natural thing to him was to be a refined and cul- 
tured gentleman under all circumstances. No trait in his character shows with more 
resplendent brilliancy than this. Dr. Gale's whole heart was in the j-oung village that 
began to prosper .soon after he arrived here. One day there came to this part of tlio, 
country Wait Rathbun. He was considered a wealthy man, and had 88,(100 in his 
money bags. He desired to settle in Troy, and ofFei-ed to purchase of the patroon 
a lot on the northwest corner of Congress and First streets, and to the surprise of 
everybody he wanted to pay ca.sh for the entire amount. Mr. Van Der Huydcn did 
not understand why a man should wish to pay all cash when he could get the proj)- 
erty by paying so much each year, and declined to sell. Mr. Rathbun took himself 
to Lansingburgh, and was about to settle there, but Dr. Gale prevailed upon the 
patroon to accept the proposition, and the new comer was retained as a resident of 
Troy. He erected a handsome residence on his purchase, and it stood there until 
Dr. Wotkyns built the block of stores that now occupy the .site. 

The death of Mr. Gale left his brother, John B. Gale, the sole remaining repre- 
sentative of that New England element that came to the valley of the Hudson at the 
time we have above referred to. Other men and women sv.rvive to represent the 
later comers to Troy, but of the ones referred to nearly the last vestige has passed 
away. As the coming of Dr. Gale to Troy marked a new era in the progress of the 
place, so the birth of his grandson, E. Thomp.son Gale occurred at a time when the 
whole country was swelling with pride at the successful ending of the second great 
war with England. Only a short time after the close of that war Mr. Gale was born. 
His father early took special pains to guide the footsteps of his boy mto that path of 



712 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

rectitude in whicli lie himself had trod, and to lay in him the foundation of a career f)f 
usefulness and honor surpassed by no man who ever called Troy his home. That is 
a broad compliment to pay to him ; it is to choose him from among many men who 
iiavc left behind them enduring monuments of their public spirit and Ijoundless 
generosity; but that compliment is deserved. If ever a man merited the approba- 
tion of his fellows and the plaudits of his friends, that man was Ezra Thompson 
Gale. His early education was received in the select schools of the town and village, 
and the rudiments of practical work were carefully instilled into his young mind. He 
entered the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute when that school was in its infancy, 
and its fame was yet to be earned and spread. He was a good sample of the work 
done there, and a credit to the Institute, as he was to everythmg el.se with which his 
name was connected. After he left the Institute he spent the next few years in ex- 
tensive travel in America and in Europe. The late William Howard Hart was his 
companion in some of his European travels, and the two enjoyed not only the rare 
scenes and places that they visited and the companionship of traveled people, but 
they enjoyed the opportunity that they got to add to their store of knowledge by that 
sure and certain teacher — observation. The journeys of Mr. Gale were not taken 
for the pleasure that often prompts such goings — idle curiosity to see that which 
others have not seen, and to relate for the edification of friends, and for self glorifi- 
cation, stories of life in other lands and of people in other climes. He was a !-.earcher 
after knowledge. He was laying broad and deep that sure foundation on which he 
was to build the superstructure of a life filled with that success that comes of honest 
effort and well directed attention to the work that is given him to do. He entered 
the business world as a clerk in a mercantile house, and in 1840 the hardware firm of 
Hriukerhofif, Catlin & Gale was organized, with our subject as the junior partner. 
During his connection with this house, he made his European journeys. In 1843 the 
firm became E. Thompson Gale & Co. They did business on lower River street, 
and the style remained unchanged until 1853, when it was changed to Catlin & Sex- 
ton, with Mr. Gale as a special partner. The firm manufactured as well as traded 
in hardware, and the business was a very extensive one. In 1857 Mr. Gale closed 
out his interest and withdrew, but a few years later his eldest son, Alfred de Forest 
(Jale, entered the firm, and the style became Lane, Gale & Co. Alfred de Forest 
Gale died March 30, 18T7. 

As a financier Mr. Gale took high rank among the most successful men of that 
class in this county. His habits of life led him to be careful and systematic in his 
dealings, and to search for cause and effect in his own way. He never studied a 
subject on its superficial bearing. He did not look for results to-day or to-morrow, 
but beyond the present he saw the reward that would come to well-matured plans, 
or the ruin that would follow some fleeting fancy of the hour. In 1850 he became a 
director of the Farmers' Bank. He took the seat that was once occupied by his dis- 
tinguished father in this, one of the oldest monetary institutions of the land. In 1859 
he was elected president of the bank, and held that position until 18()5, when the 
bank was consolidated with the Bank of Troy under the name of the United National 
Bank of Troy. He was chosen president of the new institution, and held that posi- 
tion until 1885, when he passed it to the care and keeping of other men, while he re- 
tired to enjoy the evening of his life, after a day well spent and fruitful of good works. 
Under his guidance, the bank made a reputation throughout the State for its solid- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 713 

ity aud fair conservatism, lu speaking on several occasions with the writer on various 
topics, Mr. Gale often showed that he had great confidence in men of moderate 
means who had gathered their hoardings themselves, and also knew the value of 
them. He seemed to think that the motto, " Come lightly, go quick," was never 
more appropriately applied than to men who inherited fortune and suddenly became 
possessed of the idea that they were financiers when theretofore they had shown 
little or no aptibility for anything but ease and comfort. " I have more confidence 
in the note of a man who is worth $20,000," he said, " than I have in one of a man 
who is worth $100,000. The former will not fail if he can help it; but very often the 
latter will not pay if he can help it." 

In 1848 the question of building the Troy & Boston Railroad was laid before our 
citizens. Mr. Gale was foremost in advocating the building of the road. He brought 
to bear on this subject the foresight and sagacity that had done him such good ser- 
vice on numerous other occasions. He lent not only his influence and experience to 
the scheme, but he freely put his money into it, and was satisfied to wait for a return. 
He saw that the road would be of material benefit to the city in bringing trade and 
business to it, and he saw also that the route selected was the only one that could 
reach that fertile section of the country through which it was to run. No other road 
could divert the trade to some competing centre, for the short route of the Troy and 
Boston practically excluded competing points against Troy. He was for many years 
connected with the Troy Gas Company, and was one of its original organizers. In 
the Troy Savings Bank he was a director, and in its board of trustees his financial 
ability was of vast value to the bank. The same conservative and far-seeing policj' 
that marked his connection with the United National Bank was used here. Mr. Gale 
considered his trust a sacred one. He guarded the meagre holdings of poor people 
with even more jealous care than he did those of more fortunate ones. In times of 
panic, when runs were made on the Savings Bank, he knew that the storm was but 
a passing one, and when it should leave, the atmosphere would again be clear and * 
bright. He knew that the safe and sure policy of the institution during many years 
had prevented its vaults from being filled with wild-cat securities, and that as soon 
as the strain should cease and men's minds assume the natural bent, the old Troy 
Savings Bank w-ould be found steady, strong and firm amid the financial wrecks. 
Kindly and firmly he told this story to the assembled people. Those who knew Mr. 
Gale only waited for his opinion, and having been assured of safety they went away 
content. Those who did not know him listened to the cool, dispassionate advice of 
the man. His very manner and bearing brought conviction, and thus many dollars 
of poor people were saved. In 1859 Mr. Gale became a director of the Rensselaer & 
Saratoga Railroad board. Much costly and valuable work was done during his term. 
His profession of a civil engineer made him a safe adviser, and his suggestions were 
followed by the board. 

In 18(50 Mr. Gale was elected a trustee of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a 
position which he held at the time of his death. Some two years ago Mr. Gale said 
to the writer: "There are two things that I hope to see accomplished before I die. 
They are the endowment of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the Young 
Men's Association." These objects were not lost sight of. When the work of years 
had begun to tell adversely upon his physical self, his brain was active and alert. 
While he sat is his quiet library at his home, he spent his hours in devising plans to 

yo 



714 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

reach these two great euds. His whole heart was in that work. " I will go about from 
house to house, from friend to friend, begging money to help these great institutions," 
he said. Mr. Gale gave from his means liberally to these objects. He never asked 
anybody to give more than he could give himself, and in fact, none gave more. The 
men who had the means and the disposition to assist worthy public objects, and who 
would outdo our respected townsman, were few — in fact, there were none. While in 
the perfect possession of his mental powers, he saw the great engineering school 
rise from want to a state of independence. He saw the institution that has given 
his native city a world-wide fame placed on a substantial basis and made perpetual. 
The Troy Young Men's Association was always a great pride to Mr. Gale. His de- 
sire for the education of the masses was ardent. He often remarked that education 
was the great leveler of crime; it was the hope of American institutions. He was 
one of the founders of the old free reading room, and he contributed liberally to its 
support. In its library was placed the "Gale Alcove," in memory of his son, 
Alfred de Forest Gale, whose death is noted above. He desired that the Troy 
Young Men's Association should share the prosperity of other like institutions in the 
country. The only way that this could be done was to endows it. For fifty years it 
has been maintained by the efforts of active young men of the city, who yearly sold 
membership tickets and gathered money for its maintenance. The task was be- 
coming too arduous to be successfully performed, and other objects called for the 
attention of those who had been active there in other years. Its library contained a 
choice collection after fifty years of careful work, but they were sealed to all but 
members. Mr. Gale desired to give the public the benefit of this store of knowl- 
edge. He headed the subscription paper with a liberal sum, and induced others to 
do the same. The work that he engaged in here was a labor of love. He pursued 
it steadily until its end was accomplished, and when the fiftieth year of its existence 
expired it was turned over to a board of trustees, created by law to have the care 
and management of the funds that had been raised for its endowment. 

The Troy Female Seminary was also an object of deep concern to Mr. Gale. He, 
wath a number of other gentlemen, bought the property some eight years ago in 
order that the school of Mrs. Emma Willard, which educated .some of the brightest 
w^omen of the land, should hold its identity. He subscribed liberally to the fund 
that brought about this, and he felt a just pride that he was able to aid .so worthy 
an object. 

These are but a few of the many acts of ben?volence and public spirit that char- 
acterized the life of Mr. Gale. It is not possible to present the list in anything like 
its completeness. These are but the acts that necessarily came before the public. 
The greater portion of his good works he kept concealed from the world. His left 
hand rarely knew what his right hand did. In the deep recesses of his generous 
heart he kept the secret of his well-doing. He sought not the pleasures of the 
world. His reward and his satisfaction lay in the consciousness that he had lent a 
helping hand to a needy object. Creed and nationality were never considered by 
him. He looked only at the object that sought his help, and Catholic mstitutions, 
as well as' those of his own faith, shared his gifts. The Memorial Chapel at the Day 
Home that overlooks Seventh street, was built by him from his private purse. It 
stands there a prouder monument to his goodness than would ever be made by a 
polished shaft or a bron/.e tablet. Although his life race is run, and he sleeps the 




EDWARD O. HOUSE. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 715 

sleep of death, his works survive him, and this will ever keep his memory green in 
the community where he lived, and where every man called him friend. 

Mr. Gale married Caroline de Forest, a daughter of Benjamin de Forest, a 
prominent merchant of New York. Mr. de Forest died in 1850 and Mrs. Gale in 
1864. Seven children were born of this union, four of whom are now living— Mrs. 
John Clatworthy, Miss Margaret E. Gale, Edward Courtland Gale and Miss Caroline 
de Forest Gale, now Mrs. S. Alexander Ovv.— Troy Dailv Press, /u/y j, iSSr. 



RICHARD H. VAN ALSTYNE. 

RicHAKD H. Van Alstyne was born in Troy, N. Y., May 23, 1851, being the son of 
Hon. William L. and Calsina (Johnson) Van Alstyne. Mr. Van Alstyne (William L.) 
was descended from along line of Dutch ancestry who were early and honored pioneers 
of the original colony and Empire State. Both he and his wife were natives of 
Columbia county, N. Y. After settling in Troy he engaged in the dry goods business 
on River street, and subsequently became a wholesale grocer at 221 and 223 River 
street. He served one term as mayor of Troy. Politically he was a Democrat. He 
ran twice for Congress against Hon. John A. Griswold; it being a strong Republican 
district, he was defeated. He was a long and honored resident of the city for many 
years, where he continued to reside until his death. The death of his wife also oc- 
curred in Troy. They were both members of the Fifth Avenue M. E. church. 
Richard H. was educated in the public schools and academy of Troy, and then took 
a position as clerk in the First National Bank, subsequently became teller of the 
National Exchange Bank, which position he filled until 1878, when he engaged in 
the insurance business. In 1887 the present copartnership of Van Alstyne & Har- 
rington was formed. He was elected alderman of the Fourth ward in 1883, and 
afterwards was elected supervisor for six years. In 1889 he was appointed deputy col- 
lector of internal revenue for the county of Rensselaer, holding that office until Novem- 
ber 1, 1804. In 1895hewaselectedcounty clerk, being the candidate of the Republican 
party. He is a prominent Mason, being a member of King Solomon's Lodge, F. & 
A. M., Apollo Chapter, Bloss Council, Apollo Commandery, the Mystic Shrine, and 
Royal Arcanum. He is also member of the Pafraets Dael, the Laureate Boat Club 
and the Trojan Hook and Ladder Company, Troy Republican Club, and is likewise 
an honored member of the Holland Society. 

Mr. Van Alstyne was married on the 6th of October, 1875, to Eleanor Morris, of 
Troy. In politics he has always been an active Republican, exercising a strong 
influence in the ranks of his party in Troy and the county. 



EDWARD O. HOUSE. 

Edwaki) O. Housk, son of Samuel A. and Elizabeth S. (Morrison) House, was born 
in Mechanicsville, N. Y., April 24, 1853. His parents moved to Troy, where he re- 
ceived his education, graduating from the Troy Academy in 1868. 



716 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

He became a member of the firm of S. A. House & Sons, which firm continued in 
the shirt and collar business until January 1, 1878, when Mr. S. A. House, father of 
Edward O., retired, and the name of the firm was changed to S. A. Hou.se's .Sons. 
Mr. S. A. House died September 29, 1886. July 1, 1890, the United Shirt and Collar 
Company was organized by the consolidation of several independent firms, among 
them that of S. A. House's Sons. Of this company Edward O. House was elected 
director and secretary, in which latter office he continued until August, 1S96, when 
he was elected first vice-president. 

Mr. House is a member and first vice-president of the City Club of Troy, a director 
of the Central Branch of the Young Men's Christian Association, and of the National 
Machine Company; an official member of the State Street Methodist Episcopal 
church, and a trustee of the Oakwood Cemetery Association. Politically he has al- 
ways been identified with the Republican party. As a business man, he is recog- 
nized as broad-minded, liberal, energetic and clear-headed, and has been a potent 
influence for good in the commercial life of the community in which his life has been 
spent. 

He was married on October 14, 1874, to Annah K., daughter of Joseph Hillman, 
of Trov, and thev have two children, Edward H. and Beatrice A. 



REV. THEOPHILUS P. SAWIN, D. D. 

Rk\. TiiEoPHii.us Parsons Sawin, D. D., was born at Lynn, Mass., January 14, 
1841. His ancestors came to this country in 1682 and settled in Boston. His grand- 
father, Robert Mason, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was a participant 
in the battle of Saratoga when Burgoyne surrendered to General Gates. His father, 
the Rev. T. P. Sawin, was a prominent Congregational minister of New England, 
who died in January, 1886. His mother, Martha Mclntyre Mason, was born in 
Andover, Mass., and died in 1895. 

Rev. Theophilus graduated from the High School at Manchester, N. H., and pre- 
pared for college at the Kimball Union Academy and entered Yale in the class of 
1864. He left college in the sophomore year on account of poor health. He subse- 
quently went to New York city where he taught in the Mount Washington Collegiate 
Institute two years, later he engaged in newspaper work and still later went to Mil- 
waukee, Wis., where he was a professor of Latin and Mathematics in the Milwaukee 
Academy, during the time pursuing his theological studies, and was ordained to the 
gospel ministry at Racine, Wis., where he preached for four years. He was then 
called to the Congregatif)nal church in Janesville, Wis., where he served for six 
years. 

During this period his well known interest in educational work led to a State ap- 
pointment as lecturer before the Teacher's Institutes. He was also made a member 
of the Board of Examiners at the Whitewater Normal School. From Janesville he 
received a unanimous call to the Mystic Congregational church in Medford, Mass. 
After serving here for nearly five years he was called to the First Presbyterian 
church of Troy, the oldest church in the city, and was installed June 17, 1886. 




CHARLhS L. ALDHN. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 717 

This church celebrated ils centennial anniversary in 1891, and Dr. Sawin prepared 
the historical reco'-ds of the same, which were published in a volume of 140 pages. 

During his ministry here he has been in demand as a lecturer on literary and his- 
torical subjects. He has been invited to deliver the Baccalaureate sermon before 
the R. P. I. five times, and every year since his coming here he has delivered the 
Memorial Address before the Grand Army Posts on the Sunday evening preceding 
Memorial Day. He is an associate member of Post Griswold, G. A. R. He is also 
a trustee of the Troy Academy. He received the degree of D. D. from Williams 
College. Many of his sermons and addresses have been published in pamphlet form, 
but his most extensive work is a volume entitled The Transfiguration of thk 
Cross. 

He was married in 1864 toEmeline T. Farel, and has had two children, the younger 
of which died in 1887. The elder, Cara Angenette, was graduated at the Lasell 
Seminary, Auburndale, Mass., in 1896. 



CHARLES L. ALDEN. 

Charles L. Ai.den was born in the town of Essex, Essex countj^ N.Y., on August 
21, 1827. He is the son of Isaac and Hannah (Snow) Alden. Mr. Isaac Alden was 
a native of Massachusetts and Mrs. Alden of Vermont, she being the second child 
born in Montpelier. Isaac Alden on his removal from Vermont to Essex, N. Y., in 
1821, established the first nail works m that part of the country, subsequently moved 
to Westport, N. Y., where he owned saw mills, and afterwards moved to Lewis, 
N. Y., where he had a saw mill and a farm and where he died August 17, 1860; the 
death of his wife occurred November 23, 1869, at Sand Lake, N. Y. This branch of 
the Alden family are lineal descendants of the celebrated John Alden of colonial 
fame and our subject, Charles L., is of the eighth generation in regular descent. 
William Alden, grandfather of Charles L., was a soldier in the Revolutionary war 
and his son, Isaac, served in the war of 1812, and Gen. Alonzo Alden, a brother of 
Charles, participated in the war of the late Rebellion, becoming a distinguished offi- 
cer; thus it will be seen that the family is one of patriotism and soldierly valor. 

When he was about six months of age the parents of Charles L. moved to West- 
port, and when he was about eleven years old they moved to Lewis, N.Y., he remain- 
ing there until January, 1843, being there employed on his father's farm. On Janu- 
ary 11, 1843, he left the parental home and after a narrow escape from drowning in 
Lake Champlain, arrived in Troy January 13, 1843. and entered the dry goods store 
of his brother, J. J. Alden, where he continued until October 1, 1844. He then went 
to Oberlin, Ohio, where he fitted for college, spending the freshman and sophomore 
years; he then entered Williams College, Mass., in the junior year, from which in- 
stitution he was graduated in 18r)l. In 1852 he became clerk and student in the law 
office of Hunt, Fairbanks & Gale, of Troy, and after attending the Albany Law 
School was admitted to the bar in March, 1853. 

In 1855 he became one of the firm of Fairbanks, Gale & Alden ; the .same year Mr. 
Fairbanks removed from Troy and the firm became Gale & Alden; in 1884 Henry 
A. King became a member of the firm and so continued until 1890, when Mr. John 



718 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

B. Gale removed from Troy, and since tliat time Mr. Alden has practiced alone, be- 
ing engaged in a general practice. He has always enjoyed a lucrative practice and 
for years has been recognized as among the able lawyers of the bar of Troy. Much 
of his time has been given to that branch of the law relating to real estate and the 
settling of estates. 

In October, 1868, Mr. Alden married Mary L. Taylor, daughter of James W. 'i'ay- 
ior of St. Paul, Minn. They have four children living and three others died in early 
youth. Politically since the beginning of the late Civil war he has been a Repub- 
ican, and for nearly thirty-two years has been treasurer of the First Presbyterian 
church of Troy. Me has been president of the Troy Young Men's Association. Mr. 
Alden is a man of scholarly attainments, genial manners, graceful and jjleasing ad- 
dress. 



LEWIS E. GURLEY. 

The subject of this sketch is of New England parentage. His father, Ephraim 
Gurley of Mansfield, Conu., having with his wife, Clarissa Sharpe, moved in ISK? 
to the State of New York, and takinguptheir residence in Gibbonsville, now Watervliet, 
opposite the city of Troy. In 1818 he removed to that young and growing city, and 
with Alpheus and Truman Hanks erected on what is now the southeast corner of 
Fifth avenue and Grand street the first iron foundry in the place. 

Their youngest child, Lewis E. Gurley, was born December 30, 1826, and three 
years after, with an older brother, William, and a sister, Clarissa A., was left to the 
charge of his widowed mother, then a woman of delicate health and limited means. 
Lewis was sent to the best private schools and later entered the Rensselaer Polj'technic 
Institute, where he remained for three years, completing the course of instruction 
there, but not receiving his degree until some years later on account of his youth. 
In the year 1844 he became an apprentice to Jonas H. Phelps in the busines;^ of the 
manufacture of philosophical and mathematical instruments. 

Earnestly craving a better education he, in 1847, entered Union College, Schenec- 
tady, and supporting himself largely by working at his trade in vacations and holi- 
-days, he graduated with credit in 1851, receiving the degree of A. B. In February, 
1852, in connection with his brother William, he purchased the interest of Mr. 
Phelps and the firm assumed the now widely known name of W. & L. E. Gurley. 
Tlie followmg April the brothers purchased the Hanks property on the northeast 
corner of Fifth and Fulton streets with the buildings thereon for the sum of §4,25(1, 
and at once began the erection of a building suited to the needs of their business, 
completing it in time for the starting of the engine on the 10th of December. Here 
began an interest destined to an uninterrupted success, and which made the name of 
the firm almost a household word all over the world. The new firm commenced with 
about twenty-five workmen, but .soon increased their force and supplied instruments 
to almost every civilized country, .sending their products 'to all parts of the I'nited 
States, Mexico, South America, Australia, China and Japan, and making constantly 
new friends by the superior character of their work. 

The factory, with hundreds of other buildings, was completely destroyed in the 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 719 

great fire of May 10, 1802, but before the fiames were extinguished they had secured 
a part of the building at No. 41 Ferry street, in which they commenced work on the 
following week. They immediately began the erection of a new building three 
times the size of the old one and on an enlarged site, and had the satisfaction of again 
starting a new engine and machinery on December 10 of the same year. To-day 
the firm is easily the largest in the world engaged in the manufactnre of engineer's 
and surveyor's instruments and usually employs about 150 men. 

On January 10, 1887, occurred the death of the lamented William Gurley, but the 
name of the old firm was still retained, the younger brother becoming the senior 
partner, with his son William F. associated in the business, and Paul Cook, a son- 
in-law of William, representing his estate in the concern. 

In 1858 Lewis E. Gurley married Olive E. Barnes of Brunswick, whose death oc- 
curred in 1874, leaving a son, William F., and a daughter, Grace, now Mrs. J. L. 
Young of Watervliet. In 1878 Mr. Gurley was again married, his second wife being 
A. Louise Brown of Newport, N. Y., and of this union were born two daughters: 
May L. and Edith B. 

Mr. Gurley has always been a busy man and though ardently attached to his own 
chosen business, has yet found time to fill numerous positions of honor and useful- 
ness. In 1861 he was elected a school commissioner and served the schools with un- 
wearied interest for twelve years, in the last of which he was jDresident of the board. 
Upon the death of his brother in 1887 he was elected president of the Union Na- 
tional Bank, which office he has since continued to fill. 

Taking a great delight in rural occupations and scenery, he was for years presi- 
dent of the Rensselaer County Agricultural Society and has many choice friends 
among the farmers of his vicinity. He has been always active in religious move- 
ments and work, having been for over forty years superintendent of the Sunday 
school of the Fifth Street Baptist church and president of the County Sunday School 
Union for at least half that period. Mr. Gurley has been ever interested in all that 
concerns the welfare of his native city and has been president of the Citizens' Asso- 
ciation, vice-president of the Orphan Asylum, a governor of Marshall Infirmary and 
trustee of Colgate University at Hamilton, N. Y. His warm interest and arduous 
labors in the cause of education have been conspicuous in the time and money he has 
given to the preservation and development of the Troy Female Seminary, now the 
Emma Willard School. This famous school, endeared to him as the source of his 
cherished sister's education, was saved rn 1873 very largely through the heroic de- 
votion of William Gurley, assisted by his younger brother. After William's death 
there came the thought of giving to the school a larger and more modern building, 
which should not only serve as a lasting and beautiful home for the institution, but 
be as well a sacred memorial of his brother and sister, so dearly associated with its 
history. The structure was erected in 1891 and dedicated complete in June, LSJCi. 
the furnishing being supplied by the munificence of the heirs of William Gurley. 
The Gurley Memorial Hall, costing a fortune in itself, forms the center of a group 
of magnificent buildings to which every resident of Troy points with feelings of 
pride. 

Mr. (Jurley has been president of the trustees of the seminary for ten years and 
lieside the gift already named has been unwearied in his devotion to the interests of 



720 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

the school and marvellously successful in securing the lieneficence of others in its 
behalf. 

Mr. Gurley has ever been a man of strong religious nature, with hand and heart 
ready for the furtherance of every Christian and charitable work and has bestowed 
largely of his time and means for the support of the smaller churches of his own and 
other denominations. Especially has this been true of the South Baptist church, of 
which he has been the leader and constant reliance in all its history. He has also 
warmly sympathized with the Young Men's Christian Association in all departments 
of its work, and largely contributed to the Railroad Branch in Troy from the time of 
its first inception. 

Though in many ways a public man, Mr. Gurley has always found his truest hap- 
piness in the more private circle of domestic life, and there surrounded with his 
dear ones, with choice books and the comjianionship of his many friends we arc 
glad to leave him now. 



JOHN M. FRANCIS. 

Hon. John M. Fk.\ncis, the founder, editor and senior proprietor of the Troy 
Daily Times, comes of a hardy stock, noted for its physical and intellectual vigor and 
marked force of character. The Hon. Thomas L. James, ex-postmaster-general of 
the United States, is of the same race origin. In a recently published article Mr. 
James related in a most interesting manner the journey from Wales, in the latter 
part of the last century, of a party including " Joseph Harris and family and Thomas 
Price and family of Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, and Richard Francis, probably 
the ablest and wealthiest man aboard the ship, with his family. This party came 
from Wales and made their new home at Utica, N. Y. Subsequently Mr. Francis 
purchased a tract of land at Frankfort Hill, four miles from Utica, and still later he 
removed with his large family to Prattsburgh, Steuben county, then little better 
than a wilderness. Joseph Harris was the grandfather of Mr. James's father and 
Thomas Price was his mother's father. Richard Francis was the father of John M. 
Francis. Hence the close personal relations which have always existed between the 
latter and Thomas L. James are founded on ancestral ties created about one hundred 
years ago, as well as the fact that they sprang from the same virile Welsh race." 
In concluding his article Mr. James paid this tribute to Mr. Francis: 

" I may be permitted to say, in closing, that the life and labors of John M. Francis 
present to my mind one of the most attractive and instructive subjects which one 
can contemplate. Industry, conscientiousness, absolute fidelity to duty, and a pref- 
erence for a high plane of moral conduct have been conspicuous traits of his character. 
They were the adequate guarantee of the eminent success that crowned his efforts, 
and of the tribute of esteem that is paid to him by all who enjoy the privilege of his 
acquaintance. ' Not he alone,' said the Roman moralist, ' serves the state who pre- 
sides in the public councils, or administers affairs of peace or war ; but he who by 
earnest advocation cares for the education and elevation of the people and thus in a 
private station is filling a public office.' This is the present station in life of the 
father and founder of the Trov Times." 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 721 

Joliii M. Francis was born at Prattsburgh, N. Y., March (i, 1823. He was next to 
the youngest of his father's thirteen children, and early started out to make his own 
way in the world. The advantages of education accessible to him were very limited, 
but he found his training in that " college of journalism," the printing office, to which 
his taste strongly inclined him. Serving an apprenticeship on the Ontario Messen- 
ger at Canandaigna, N. Y. , to which place he had gone in 1838 without pecuniary 
means, and reinforced by the dauntless will which was to carry him to success, he 
soon won recognition as a forcible writer, and in 1843 was engaged for editorial 
work on the Palmyra Sentinel. Subsequently he was associated for a period with 
the late Hiram Bumphrey in the editorship of the Rochester Daily Advertiser. In 
184G he went to Troy and became chief editor of the Northern Budget, then one of 
the leading Democratic journals of the State, of which he also became a joint owner, 
invested with full editorial control. At this period occurred the memorable split of 
the Democratic party into the " Barnburner" and " Hunker" factions. Mr. Francis, 
with his ardent love of liberty and justice, heartily espoused the Barnburner or Free 
Soil side, and his advocacy of its principles was characterized by the vigor which he 
has ever displaj'^ed in the expression of his convictions. In 1849 he sold his interest 
in the Budget, and for a short time was connected with the O'Reiley telegraph en- 
terprise, but later resumed journalistic work under a brief engagement on the Troy 
Daily Whig, a morning newspaper. 

On the 25th of June, 1851, was founded the Troy Daily Times, which has become 
the proudest monument to his enterprise. It was a small affair compared with its 
present dimensions, but it had in it the germ of a sure and healthy growth. Mr. 
Francis started out to make it first of all a news paper, and that has been its unfail- 
ing characteristic ever since. It required the most arduous toil, unremitting self- 
sacrifice and wonderful endurance to successfully carry on the work, but all necessary 
qualities were combined in John M. Francis. What the Times is now, in its forty- 
sixth year, and the maturity of its powers, Mr. Francis has made it — a live, enter- 
prising, clean and popular paper, enjoying a reputation for excellence unsurpassed 
by any of its contemporaries. 

Mr. Francis became a member of the Republican party at its birth, and has ever 
since labored consistently and faithfully for its principles. Under his guidance the 
Troy Times has been and is one of the ablest and most influential exponents of 
Republicanism in the country. But in his fidelity to party there has been no ser- 
vility by Mr. Francis. He has been loyal to his own convictions at all times, and 
has not hesitated to express his views even when they were contrary to those of his' 
political associates. His counsels have ever been on the side of right and justice, 
and he has never sacrificed his principles to expediency. These are the qualities 
which have made him and his paper powerful agencies for public good. 

High political honors, though unsought, have come to Mr. Francis. In 1867-8 he 
was a member of the New York State Constitutional Convention, and served in that 
body with conspicuous ability. In May, 1871, President Grant appointed him United 
States minister to Greece, and he accepted the trust and discharged its responsi- 
bilities with marked capacity and to the great satisfaction of his government, for 
three years. After tendering his resignation he made a tour of the world, accom- 
panied by Mrs, Francis. President Garfield had chosen Mr. Francis for the mis- 
91 



722 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

sion to Belgium, but the pistol of Guiteau prevented the earrying out of the plan. 
President Arthur, however, appointed him minister to Portugal, and in 188-1 he was 
pnjmoted to be envoy extraordinary andminister plenipotentiary to Austria-Hungary 
with a residence at Vienna. 

In 1893 the Republican state convention without his knowledge nominated Mr. 
Francis as one of the candidates for delegates-at-large to the constitutional convention 
which the law required to be held the following year. The Republican nominees 
were elected, and Mr. Francis received the largest number of votes cast for any del- 
egate to the constitutional convention. When that body met at Albany in May, 
1894, Mr. Francis, owing to his previous service of like character, was given impor- 
tant committee assignments. He was made chairman of the Committee on Preamble 
and Bill of Rights, had second place on the Committee on Cities, and was a member 
of the Committee on Civil Service. This all involved work of a very exacting kind, 
and Mr. Francis labored most industriously and indefatigably in committee and on 
the floor, making numerous speeches and putting forth earnest and effective effort in 
the support of some of the most important amendments which were adopted by the 
convention and subsequently ratified by the people, and are now embodied in the 
revised State constitution. 

An act which became a law March 26, 1895, incorporated the Trustees of Scenic 
and Historic Places and Objects, and named a number of prominent citizens of the 
State and their associates and successors as .such trustees. The list of trustees in- 
cluded William H. Webb, John M. Francis, Andrew H. Green, Chauncey M. Depew, 
Horace Porter, Benjamin F. Tracy, John Hudson Peck, and other well known gen- 
tlemen. April 6, 1895, the trustees met in New York for organizaton. Andrew H. 
Green was chosen president and John M. Francis first vice-president. The organi- 
zation as then effected has since remained intact and the trustees have done much 
valuable work in preserving and perpetuating objects and places of historic and 
scesic interest. 

Mr. Francis, although fond of travel and absent more or less from his editorial 
desk, may be considered as " in the harness" and still is the controlling power in 
the conduct of the Troy Times. Associated with him, under the firm name of J. M. 
Francis & Son, is his only son, Charles S. Francis, upon whom is devolved the man- 
agement of the paper. 



JAMEvS LANSING. 

Jamks Lansing, of Troy, N. Y., was born at Decatur, Otsego county, N. Y., May 
9, 18'J4, and resided there with his parents for about twenty years. Just before at- 
taining his majority he went to Mississippi, locating at North Mount Pleasant. 
Soon afterward he became a school teacher there, and later at Macon, Tenn., his 
work in that profession covering a period of eight years. While at the latter 
place he married Miss Sarah A. Richardson, of Poultney, Vt., who returned with 
him and assisted him in the school in his charge. While he was engaged in teach- 
ing he began the study of law, pursuing his research evenings. Later on he re- 
turned to New York State and entered the Albany Law School, from which he 




JAMES LANSING. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 723 

graduated in 1864. He then removed to Troy and began the practice of his chosen 
profession. He remained a few months in the ofhce of Warren & Banker, soon re- 
ceiving the appointment of clerk to the Surrogate's Court under Hon. Moses Warren, 
then surrogate of Rensselaer county. Three j^ears later he formed a copartnership 
with Hon. Robert H. McClellan, which continued for fourteen years. On the disso- 
lution of that firm he practiced law alone for several years until he associated with 
him William P. Cantwell, jr. Upon the death of the latter John B. Holmes was ad- 
mitted to partnership, which still exists. Mr. Lansing has been a successful lawyer 
and has long enjoyed a large practice. His reputation as an accurate, painstaking 
and critical lawyer, not only in the courts of original jurisdiction, but in the appel- 
late courts of this State, was established soon after his admission to the bar, and 
this position gained by close and careful study aided by capacity of a high order, he 
has maintained for more than a quarter of a century. He has been connected with 
many of the most important litigations in civil cases that have occurred in this 
county during that period. 

In 1891 Mr. Lansing was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the United 
States, upon the occasion of his presentation of an argument in a case then pending 
in that court, upon the motion of Hon. William M. Evarts, then United States 
senator from this State. 

In 1889 Mr. Lansing was elected surrogate of Rensselaer county and held that 
office for a term of six years. He was a candidate for re-election in 1895 and, 
though defeated, ran ahead of his ticket by a large number of votes. In 1896 he 
was a candidate for the office of county judge, but the county was carried by the 
Republicans by a large majority and Mr. Lansing's opponent was therefore elected. 
Upon his retirement from the office of surrogate the Troy Times spoke of his life 
and services as follows: 

"The Times, which aided in Mr. Comstock's election, endeavors to be fair to 
political opponents. It is simple ju.stice to say, therefore, that the retiring surro' 
gate, Hon. James Lansing, has presided for six years with admirable dignity and 
fairness. His decisions and opinions, always sustained by the higher courts, have 
added to his reputation as a lawyer, while his courtesy has increased the personal 
esteem in which he is held. 

"Mr. Lansing's ancestors came from Holland early in the seventeenth century 
(1666) and settled in Albany. He was born and bred on a farm in Otsego county, 
spent some years of his early manhood as a teacher, and at the time he entered 
upon his duties as surrogate had long been a prominent member of the bar of this 
county. 

"Mr. Lansing's industry is shown in the plan which he has followed of writing 
exhaustive opinions in the more important cases which have come before him. 
Many of these opinions have been published, and, though coming from an inferior 
tribunal as Surrogate's Courts are designated, they have been extensively cited as 
authoritative in legal publications, notably such prominent ones as the latest edition 
of Bliss's Annotated Code of Civil Procedure and of Redfield's Law and Practice in 
Surrogate's Courts. 

" During his term of office Mr. Lansing has observed some abuses incident to the 
established procedure in dealing with decedent's estates; and for his successful 
efforts to remedy some of them he has earned the gratitude of the people not only 



724 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COtJNTY. 

of this county but of the entire State. We call attention especially to certain amend- 
ments to the Code of Civil Procedure which at his suggestion were enacted by the 
Legislature of 1895. Heretofore the surrogate had (as he still has, except by con- 
sent of parties), no power to pass upon disputed claims. Such claims must either 
become the subjects of regular actions in the Courts, or else were sent to a referee — 
this was the practice favored by the statutes. The result was that the expense of 
litigation would often be quite out of proportion to the amount in dispute, and as a 
choice of evils it was not infrequent to pay unjust demands in full or in part, rather 
than subject estates to the expense and delay of references. The amendments 
spoken of were a substitute for the reference, the submission of claims to the sur- 
rogate to be determined by him, upon the judicial settlement of executors' or admin- 
istrators' accounts, and make it to the interest of both parties to consent to such sub- 
mission. This preserves all the good features of the form?r practice, since the sur- 
rogate still has it in his power to appoint a referee whenever he deems it advisable ; 
while at the same time it enables him to decide the smaller cases himself, and to 
summarily dispose of a legion of groundless claims. Both the economy and justice 
of this legislation are apparent, and its adoption is primarily due to Surrogate Lan 
sing, who prepared the bill and watched its progress through the Legislature. 

"As Mr. Lansing retires to devote his entire time to his extensive private practice, 
we feel sure that the people of the county will unite with the Times in extending him 
God speed." 

Mr. Lansing is in religion a Presbyterian, and has for many years been president 
of the Board of Trustees of the church of which he is a member. He is also a 
trustee of the Albany Law School. 

In politics Mr. Lansing is a staunch Democrat. He has been the father of eight 
children, six of whom are now living. Mrs. Lansing died April 7, 1895. 



GEORGE WEIDMAN DAW. 

George Weidman Daw, son of Peter Ferris Daw, a prominent lawyer and public 
officer of Cohoes, Albany county, was born in Cohoes, N. Y., May 34, 1855, attended 
the public schools of his native place and of Albany, and was graduated from the 
Albany High School. His father's death prevented him from securing, as he liail 
intended, a college education, and in 1877 he entered the offices of Smith, Fursnian 
& Cowen of Troy, as a student at law. He was admitted to the bar in 1S80 and 
immediately began the practice of his profession. In 188'^ he formed a copartnership 
with Eugene L. Peltier, which continued until 1890, since which time he has prac- 
ticed alone. He was attorney for the Excise Board of Troy from 1883 to 1886, was 
one of the organizers of the Rensselaer LTnion (now the Troy Republican) Club, and 
was an organizer of the People's Bank of Lansingburgh, of which he is a director. 
He is also a director in the R. T. French Company of Rochester, N. Y., and was 
acting chairman of the Rensselaer County Republican Committee during the Blaine 
campaign of 1884, having seventeen uniformed clubs under his charge. He is a 
member of the Troy Club, was the originator and is a director of the Riverside Club 
of Lansingburgh, is a vestryman of Trinity church, Lansingburgh, and is prom- 




GEORGE W. DAW. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 725 

inently ideutiHed with several other local organizations. While in Southern Califor- 
nia in 1887 he plotted and laid out the now thriving village of Vernondale. His 
paternal ancestors were French Huguenots, who, m the latter part of the seventeenth 
century, came with other religious refugees to New Rochelle, New York. He was 
married on May 10, 1882, to his cousin. Miss E. Eugenia, only daughter of Daniel 
Weidman, of Albany, and they have had two children: Ellen Elminaand Georgena. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. Daw are descendants of Capt. George Denison, a noted officer in the 
Indian Wars of Connecticut, w-hose wife was Lady Boradail, an English lady of rank. 
His father, William Denison, came to America in 1631, in the good ship Lion, with his 
wife Margaret and three sons, Daniel, Edward and George. Captain George, after the 
death of his first wife, returned to England, served under Cromwell in the army of the 
Parliament, was wounded at Nasby, was nursed at the home of John Boradail by his 
daughter Ann, whom he married, and returned to Roxbury, Mass., and finally set- 
tled in Stonington, Conn., where he has been described as " the Miles Standish of 
the settlement." Mr. Daw's grandmother was Esther, the third child of Daniel and 
Elizabeth Denison ; Daniel was the .second child of Daniel, jr., (and Esther), who 
was the ninth child of Daniel (and Mary), who was the fifth child of Captain John 
(and Phebe), who was the first child of Captain George (and Lady Ann). Esther 
Denison was born in 1776, married Miner Walden at Pawlet, Vt., and moved to 
Berne, Albany county, N. Y., where Mr. Daw's mother was born. 



WILLIAM T. vSHYXE. 

Occui'viNc a prominent position among the largest and best equipped livery, 
boarding and sales stables in Eastern New York, is that of Wm. T. Shyne, of 22, 
24 and 20 State street, Troy. This stable having been in existence about thirty* 
years has a first-class reputation for efhcient service and liberal business methods, 
which has developed for it a very large patronage. The premises occupied are 
comprised in a two-story building 100x125 feet in dimensions, which is furnished, 
with spacious stalls, commodious carriage rooms, harness rooms and office, well 
lighted and ventilated and supplied with every modern convenience for the transac- 
tion of business. Mr. Shyne is an experienced horseman and gives his personal 
attention to all operations of the business. His horses are all safe and free drivers 
and nowhere else in Troy can be obtained more stylish and attractive turnouts, 
which include wagons, single and double carriages, coaches and coupes; victorias, 
Sec, are provided for funerals, weddings, theatres, shopping and calling. 

The service is prompt, attentive and reliable. This stable off'ers unsurpassed 
accommodation for boarding hor.ses, and the greatest care and attention is given to 
both horses and carriages belonging to private parties. The community is to be 
congratulated upon the accession of so valuable and well conducted an establishment 
as this one. and its future success and influence may be confidently predicted, as it 
has increased to enormous proportions under the management of its preseut pro- 
prietor. 

W. T. Shyne, son of Wm. Shyne, was born at Brunswick, Rens.selaer county; he 
received a public school and business college education, assisting his father on his farm, 



726 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

and other business in the meantime. At an early age he managed one of the meat 
wagons; later he was transferred to the milk route, which work he continued until 
it became one of the most extensive in the city of Troy. In 1894 he purchased the 
livery stable formerly occupied by J. B. Clark, which establishment is a successful 
factor of the trade accommodations of this city. He is a member of Robert Emmet 
Association, V,. P. O., Elks, No. 141, and the Troy Democratic Club. 



FRANK wS. BLACK. 

Hdn. Frank S. Bi..\ck was born March 8, isr):{, in Limington, York county, Me. 
His father was Jacob Black, a respected farmer of that community, who died in 1882. 
Frank S. Black was one of the eleven children born to Jacob Black and his wife, 
Charlotte B. Black, and he received only those advantages which fall to the lot of a 
son of a poor New England farmer. From his early youth he was thrown upon his 
own resources. Beginning with hard manual labor on a farm, and afterward teach- 
ing school and earning his way through college, he gradually made his way upward. 
Early in his youth he made up his mind to become a lawyer. He taught his first 
school when he was but seventeen years of age, and in the following year, with the 
money thus earned, together with the money secured by working on a farm, he en- 
tered Dartmouth college at Hanover, N. H., with the class of 1875, at the age of 
eighteen years. He had prepared for college partly through his own exertions and 
partly through Lebanon academy, in his native county, but his preparation had 
been indifferent, and he found the greatest difficulty in keeping abreast with his 
fellow-classmen. To make the burden worse, he was compelled to provide himself 
with the necessities of life. How pluckilyhe combatted his troubles is shown by the 
fact that during his junior year he attended the college session eleven weeks only, the re- 
mainder of the time being occupied in teaching. He taught every year he was in 
college, and during the summer months, when the schools were closed, he was em- 
ployed on his father's farm. But despite the obstacles in his path, he was one of the 
editors of the college magazine, twice was chosen prize speaker and had the distinc- 
tion of being an honor man at commencement. 

Immediately after being graduated from college Mr. Black went to Johnstown, N. 
v., where he began the study of law. As far as he knew, he had not a friend in all 
New York State. In Johnstown he entered the law firm of Wells, Dudley <.V Keck. 
The necessity of gaining a livelihood forced him to accept the management of the 
Johnstown Journal, then under the proprietorship of W. M. Ireland. Mr. Black con- 
ducted this paper for several months, when he came to Troy. In Troy he became 
a reporter on the Troy Whig, then under the proprietorship of Alexander Kirk- 
l)atrick of Lansingburgh, but after a few months he entered the registry department 
of the Troy post-office as clerk. At the age of twentj'-two he resumed the study of 
law in the office of Robertson & Foster, and in 1879, four years after his graduation 
from college, he was admitted to the bar. In the following year Mr. Black, with 
Albert Smith and George B. Wellington, formed the firm of Smith, Wellington & 
Black. A year later he retired from the firm and from that time forth practiced 
alone. 




J. H. OSTHRHOUT. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 727 

One of Mr. Black's rules as a lawyer has been never to conduct the trial of a crim- 
inal case, and once only has he appeared in a divorce trial, and then only at the 
most earnest solicitation of a woman whom he believed to be the victim of persecu- 
tion. He was a stranger to all criminal proceedings until the tragedy on election 
day in March, 1894, when his services at the inquest into the death of Robert Ross, 
who was murdered by Bartholomew Shea at the polls, made him a conspicuous 
figure. He also was counsel for the special Senate committee which investigated the 
government of the city of Troy. Mr. Black was attorney for the receivers of the 
Troy Steel and Iron company and prepared the papers in the proceedings which 
effected the receivership. He also acted in the same capacity in connection with 
the affairs of the Gilbert Car company, and he has been interested either as counsel 
or attorney in many of the most important legal actions in Troy and vicinity for sev- 
eral 3'ears. 

Up to the year 1894 Mr. Black had not been conspicuous in political affairs, 
although in 1888 and again in 1892 he took the stump in behalf of the national Re- 
publican nominees. He had never held nor sought political office, although he had 
been his party's choice for about every office in its gift in Rensselaer county. In 
the fall of 1894 he became the Republican candidate for member of Congress from 
his district by the unanimous vote of the Congressional convention, and was elected 
over Charles D. Haines, who was a candidate for re-election, by a plurality of 3,440. 
His career so recently begun in Washington made him the acknowledged leader of 
the Republican party in Rensselaer county. At the Republican State convention 
held in Saratoga Springs August 26, 1896, he received the nomination for the gover- 
norship, after a spirited, but manly and honorable contest. At the election held No- 
vember 3 following he was elected governor of the Empire State by a majority of 
212,992, larger than ever before had been given to any candidate of any party in the 
State. 

In speaking of Mr. Black's characteristics the Troy Times, on the day of his nom- 
ination for the governorship, said: 

"Mr. Black is essentially a home man. He finds his greatest pleasure with his 
family, with whom he spends a month of each year in seeking recreation out of the 
city. Every year he visits his native count}', in which he takes much pride as being 
one of the counties which compose the district in Congress which Speaker Reed rep- 
resents. Mr. Black enjoys a legal practice second to none in this locality As a 
member of the bar his integrity, sincerity and ability have won him a standing of 
much prominence." 

Mr. Black was married in 1879 to Miss Lois B. Hamlin of Provincetown, Ma.ss. 
They have had three children, but only one, Arthur, a boy .sixteen years old, survives. 



JOSEPH H. OSTERHOUT. 

Joseph H. Ostkuuuli was born in Warsink, Ulster county, N. V., September 9, 
1845. He was educated in the public schools and Monticello Academy. He left his 
father's farm at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in a dry goods store eleven 
years. He then came to Troy, N. Y., where he has conducted a shirt factory for 



728 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

twenty years, lirst in company with George \V. Chapman for three years. At his 
death he bought the entire plant, and has done a prosperous business, employing 
six hundred people in the factory and surrounding vdlages. November 21, 1882, he 
married Elizabeth O. Vosburg, of Troy, N.Y. They have two sons, Eugene V. and 
J. (iordon. Mr. Osterhout's father, Joseph, was b<irn at Stone Ridge, Ulster county. 
N. Y., in the year 1824; he was a farmer by occupation. He married Rachael Dol- 
son, of Greenfield, of his native county. They had three children: Joseph H., 
Eugene I., and Mary. Mr. Osterhout died in 1893, and his wife in 1855. Mrs. 
Osterhout's father, Allen J. Vosburg, was born in Montgomery county, N. Y., in 
1823. June 2, 1845, he married Susan Grant, of Glenville, Schenectady county. 
Thev had seven children: Mary, Elizabeth, A. Leslie (who died in infancy), Fannie, 
A. Leslie, Martha, and Charles. Fannie and Martha are also dead. Mr. \'osburg 
died August "iT, 188.1. Mr. Osterhout purchased Fernwood farm in 1888, for a 
country seat and iiome, and for the purpose of breeding first-class blooded horses, 
such as Ilambletonian, Wilkes and Electioneer. 



COL. CHARLES L. MACARTHUR. 

Col. Chari.ks La Favkitk MalArthur was born at Clareniont, N. H., January 7, 
1824. After a partial education in the district and select schools he was graduated 
from the Black River Institute at Watertown, N. Y. He was editor and proprietor 
of the Carthaginian at Carthage, N. Y. , and then, went west and became a local 
reporter for the Detroit Free Press. From there he went to Milwaukee, Wis., about 
1843, and joined a government party as secretary of the expedition to make a treaty 
with the Sioux Indians, on the upper region of the Platte River. He was the fu'sl 
editor of the Milwaukee Sentinel, which was the first daily paper published in Wis- 
consin. He remained in Milwaukee until 184(5, when he moved to New York city 
and became the city editor of the New York Sun. 

In September, 1847, he joined John M. Francis in the purchase of the " Troy Daily 
Hudget." In 1851 he went to Europe and in 1856 he visited Cuba, under a secret 
government commission, to look into certain matters connected with the island con- 
sulates. He continued with the " Budget" until January 1, 1859, and on October 18, 
1859, established the " Troy Daily Arena," but sold out in the spring of 1861 to go to 
war as quartermaster of the 2d N. Y. Vols. 

He was in the battle of Great Bethel and went with his regiment, after the cap- 
ture of Norfolk, to Portsmouth and participated in its experiences until appointed 
by President Lincoln as captain and assistant quartermaster in the regular army. 
He served as brigade and division quartermaster, and was at the battle of Fredericks- 
burg, through all the battles from Fair Oaks and McClellan's seven day.s' fights, in 
the change of ba.se to the James River. 

On leaving the army he received two brevet promotions from Governor Fen ton 
for faithful service in the late war. In the fall of 1864 he established the "Troy 
News," the first Sunday newspaper outside New York city. He sold the " News" in 
1866, having become one of the proprietors and editors of the "Troy Daily Whig." 
March 24, 18()7, he re-established the "Troy Northern Budget," as a Sunday jour- 




SAMUEL O. GLEASON, 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 729 

nal. In the publication of the "Budget" he has associated with him his son, under 
the firm name of C. L. MacArthur & Son. 

Mr. MacArthur has been an active and inrtuential poHtician. He was a Free 
Soiler in 1848 and a Democrat up to the time of Lincohi. He was for .several years 
a member of the Democratic State Central Committee, and a delegate to the na- 
tional convention of 1856 and a frequent delegate to the State conventions. He was 
alderman of the Second ward in 1852 and 1853, and twice for a number of years col- 
lector of the port of Troy. Since Lincoln's first election he has been a Republican. 
He was a member of the State Senate in 1881 and 1888, representing the 19th district, 
and declined a renomination. Colonel MacArthur has been a prominent officer in 
the organization and doings of the G. A. R., and was president of the Soldiers' and 
vSailors' Monument Association. 

In the later years of his life he has devoted much of his time to travel in foreign 
countries, and to the publication of accounts of his journeyings, which have been 
widely read, and have given him a high reputation as a traveler and writer. In 
189(5 he was appointed one of the park commissioners of Troy by Mayor Molloy, and 
was also one of the founders of the Citizens' Steamboat Line, of which he is director 
and one of the large stockholders. 



SAMUEL (). GLP:AS0N. 

Samuel O. Gle.a.s<)N was born in Shaftsbury, Vt., in 1833. He is descended from 
a long line of New England ancestors who came from England to the Colony of 
Massachusetts and made a settlement about year 1654. His great-grandfather was 
in the colonial wars, knowaiasthe French and Indian wars. He served with the Eng- 
lish forces. Both his great-grandfather and his grandfather served in the Revolu- 
tionary war, enlisting in a MassachuStetts company and regiment from the town of 
Spencer, Worcester county, Mass. They bore an honorable part in that eventful 
struggle for independence. 

His father, Samuel Gleason, was born in Jamaica, Vt., and was a farmer and 
school teacher. He died in Troy, N.Y. , in 1851 ; his wife, the mother of our subject, 
was Polly (Ober) Gleason ; she died manj^ years ago. 

Samuel O. received a common school education and came to Troy in 1850, where 
he clerked in the drug store of Wallace & Knickerbocker until January 1, 1856. when 
he purchased the drug store at 314 River street, where his store was burned in the 
big fire of 1862. He rebuilt and resumed business; he subsequently sold out to 
C. H. Bosworth in 1882. In September, 1882, he was elected cashier of the Manu- 
facturers National Bank of Troy, which office he has held since. He was elected 
treasurer of the Fire Department in 1855 or 1856, holding the office five years. In 
1863 he was a candidate for county treasurer, but was defeated by Roger A. Flood. 
He was appointed county treasurer in March, 1864, to fill the vacancy made by the 
death of Mr. Flood, and was nominated by the Democratic party for the same office 
in the fall of 1864, and was elected ; re-elected in 1867, and again in 1870, holding 
the office for nearly ten years. In 1870 he had no opponent to run against him, it 
92 



730 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

beint^ the only time that such an occurrence ever happened iu the ccnnity. He was 
appointed fire commissioner about 1878, holding the office a little over a year, when 
he resigned. He is also a member of the Board of Water Commissioners, being 
appointed February 3, 1887, and has been president of the board since 1888. Mr. 
Gleason is one of the commissioners of the funded debts of the city of Troy, and one 
of the trustees of the Troy Gas Co. On April 1, 1893. he was called to the treasurer- 
ship of the Walter A. Wood Mowing aud Reaping Machine Co., and served in that 
capacity until the company dissolved in December, 1895. 

Mr. Gleason is a life member of Mount Zion Lodge, F. & A. M. In 1859 he married 
Mary Burdick of Greenwich N.Y. She died in Troy in 1869, leaving two daughters; 
Carrie E., now the wife of William Henry Warren, and Mary B., at home. In poli- 
tics Mr. Gleason has always been a strong and influential Democrat, representing 
this Congressional district on the State Democratic Committee five years from 1875, 
and was also chairman of the Democratic County Committee about the same time. 
He was one of the strong and influential supporters of Mr. Tilden for governor in 
1874, and for the presidency in 1876. As a careful and conservative business man 
and financier, Mr. Gleason has made a most honorable and enviable record. 



JEROME B. PARMENTER. 

Major Jerome B. Parmenter, lawyer, soldier, editor, and literary man, was born 
in Pittstown, Rensselaer county and State of New York, and was the youngest son 
of Dr. Azel F. Parmenter. He was educated at Cambridge Academy, and gradu- 
ated with distinction at Union College in 1857. Studied law in' the office of his 
brothers, Roswell A. and Franklin Jay Parmenter, at 47 First street, Troy, N. Y. ; 
was admitted to the bar in 1859. In August, 1862, on the organization of the One 
Hundred Sixty-ninth Regt. N. Y. X'olunteers, he became first lieutenant, was soon 
promoted to captain, and afterwards was placed in several responsible positions, 
as adjutant on Colonel Buel's staff, and on Colonel Buel's military commission as 
judge advocate. The 169th made a glorious record during the Rebellion. Of the 
nine hundred and fifteen men on the rolls at the first muster, less than one hundred 
and twenty returned home with the regiment at the close of its term of service. 

In August, 1863 Major Parmenter, while leading an attacking force at the siege of 
Charleston, S. C, was struck down by the concussion of a shell fired by the besieged. 
He was borne off the field, supposed to be mortally wounded, and taken to the hos- 
pital at Beaufort, S. C. , where he remained for some time, and in December of that 
year, he was honorably discharged " (ju account of physical disability contracted m 
the service." 

In 1864 he returned to Troy, and resumed the practice of the law, and became a 
member of the firm of Parmenter Brothers, whose clientage was among the first at 
the bar. But after his serious injury at the siege of Charleston, before mentioned, 
at certain seasons of the year, he suffered much pain therefrom, as his spine had 
been much injured, but he would not apply for a pension until, at last, spinal men- 
ingitis set in, and he was confined to his house, out of which he never came again in 
life. His pension did not wait the slow process of red-tape, but was granted at once. 




FRANKLIN J. PARMENTER. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 731 

one or more officers of the pension bureau having known Major Parmenter during 
his military service in the South. 

In 18G8 Mr. Parmenter, with Charles C. Clark, purchased the franchise and prop- 
erty of the Troy Press, and the paper was conducted by Parmenter & Clark until 
Mr. Clark's death in 1873. Mr. Parmenter then became the sole owner, and en- 
larged and improved the paper vastly in its daily and weekly editions; and being 
an able and ready writer, he made the Press a great favorite, and many of his 
political articles were copied by all the leading journals of the country. The late 
vSamuel J. Tilden was his warm political and personal friend. His biographical 
sketch of Dr. Nott, the late president of Union College, with whom Mr. Parmenter 
was a great favorite during his attendance at the college, attracted much attention 
and was copied by the New York journals. As soldier, lawyer and writer Mr. Par- 
menter has left a bright and honorable record; and his character as a man of ster- 
ling honor and integrity, and pleasing manners, endeared him to all with whom he 
had political, business, or social relations. 

This accomplished man died at his temporary residence in Bennington, Vt., on 
the 27th day of April, 1891, in the fifty-fifth year of his age. 



FRANKLIN JAY PARMENTER. 

The Parmenter family is of French origin, tracing their descent from Jehan Par- 
mentier, who was born at Dieppe, France, in 1494. He was a distinguished navi- 
gator and author, being the first known discoverer of the Indies as far as Sumatra, 
where he died in 1530. His works were published in Paris the year succeeding his 
death. From him descended Jacques Parmentier, the celebrated painter. The 
founder of the American family. Robert Parmenter, was born in England in 1621,* 
and with his wife, Leah, settled in Braintree, Mass., in 1648. Their eldest child, 
Joseph Parmenter, was born October 20, 1655, and lived to the age of eighty-two. 
His son, Benjamin, was born September 9, 1682, married Hannah Bigelow of "Wes- 
ton, Mass., and about the year 1716 settled in Newport, R. I. Their eldest son, also 
named Benjamin, born December 16, 1712, was the fatherof John Newton Parmenter, 
the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. His son, Azel Fiske Parmenter, born 
in 1786, was a graduate physician, and came to this State in 1810. He did not prac- 
tice his profession, however, but for many years taught schools in various parts of 
New York State. In 1820 he married Lavinia, daughter of Roswell Ray of North- 
umberland, N. Y., soon afterward removing to Pittstown, where Franklin Jay Par- 
menter was born August 28, 1829. His mother was a most extraordinary woman. 
Always of delicate constitution, yet gifted with much beauty in her young woman- 
hood, her ambition was beyond her physical strength, and notwithstanding her strong 
and resolute spirit, her life went out before her hair was gray. Her son was wont 
to say that to his mother's industry and her practical busine.ss sagacity, he and his 
brothers were indebted for the greater part of their educational advantages; and 
that to whatever success in after years the brothers may have attained, is in a great 
degree attributable to that good mother's fond and solicitous incitements to their 



732 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

ambition. Mr. Parmenter's mother died in 184S, and her husband died ten years 
hiter. 

Franklin Jay Parmeuter, after attending the district schools in his town, in 184G 
entered the academj' at Hoosick Falls, where he remained for about two years, 
teaching school during the winter seasons to help pay his expenses. In 1848 he en- 
tered the Troy Conference academy at Poultney, Vt., where he completed his aca- 
demical education. In April, 1849, he came to Troy and began the study of law in 
the office of McConihe & Parmenter. He taught a district school in Brunswick the 
following winter, and in the spring of 1850 opened a select school on the corner of 
First and Ferry streets, Troy. At the close of 1851 he abandoned teaching, and ap- 
plying himself diligently to the study of his profession, was admitted to the bar May 
4, 1852, and at once began practice. He was police justice of the city of Troy from 
1860 to 1864, and during the rebellion contributed largely to the expense of raising 
the 169th New York Yols. , and made many speeches in favor of a vigorous j^rosecution 
of the war. In 1869 Union college conferred upon him the degree of M. A. 

Mr. Parmenter is a brilliant writer and the author of many poems. The best 
known, perhaps, is the "Welcome to Dickens," published by the Harpers and re- 
published in England with illustrations. His poem of "Troy's Centennial" was 
greatly admired, and is republished below. June 16, 1886, the Troy Conference 
academy held its semi-annual meeting, and Mr. Parmenter was chosen as the poet 
of the occasion. In 1872 he married Lorenda Silliman, daughter of the late Capt. 
Robert D. Silliman. Their son, Frank Silliman Parmenter, is now a student in the 
Harvard Law school. 



TROY'S CENTENNIAL— 1789-188!). 

liV I'RANK |. rAKMKNl I';K. 

Wliere mils llu- nqjid Delaware to Kreet the .Scluiylkill'.s title 
A band of hardy patriots resolved, whate'er betide, 
'I'liat this fair land Columbus found, to which the Pilgrims fletl, 
Should bow beneath no tyrant's rod while tlirv had blood to shed ! 

They fouKbt, thev won, and passed away, and on their graves tlie sun. 

As mindful of such sacred dust, an hundred years has shone. 

Their country's harps their praise have hymned, and History's .^rraver pen 

Has traced the struggle well and oft of those bold-hearted men; 

And as we celebrate to-day a City's birth, and view. 

With hasty glance, her mighty .strides a busy Century through, 

Our hearts turn back to those true souls that sowed for us to reaj), 

,\nd their bcfiuest of T^iberty in grateful memory keep! 

.\nd other men, and nearer friends crowd on the scene to-day: 

The Founders of our City that so lately passed away, 

Whose vigorous brain impelled the power that, like Uranus' son, 

Struck with a hundred-handed force till victory was won, 

.\nd " \'anderheyden's Ferry " that had grown a stron,g-liml)ed l)oy. 

Received the manly toga, and the classic name of Troy;— 

A name the blind old harper sang throughout the Isles of (Ireece, 

A City war can't terrify although her paths are peace! 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 733 

< )f tluise .Sfray Sires to whom we owe so jifreat a debt, a few 

As they were stepping Heavenward, ourselves and children knew: — 

A Tibbits with his stalwart form worn more by toil than aj;;c, 

Onee only, and while Death looked on, I saw that reverend vSai^e ! 

Like him, the Warren brothers left their impress all arciund. 

And we behold with sfrateful hearts their footprints on the ground; 

N(^r does it bring less joy to us or the observant Muse 

To see their children's children stand in the ancestral shoes. 

The Lanes, the Vails, the Harts unite in equal zeal with those, 

And like her ancient prototype our lofty City rose; 

That upon old Scamander's bank and this by Hudson's side, 

As wide apart in time and place, their fame may be as wide; 

Though let us hope that ours shall not beneath the sword expire; 

A.s^for its ally, we have shown we gather strength from fire ! 

liut let us pause to look around and njark what change is here 

Where scarcely stops the cradle's rock before we call the bier: — 

-Mong the shores of yon bright stream that rolls his peaceful tide 

Whilom, the red Mohican in his bark canoe did glide; 

And where the cunning Scotchman's wheel in ponderous round is whirred. 

In aid of Labor's handicraft the Pequoit yell was heard; 

And all along our eastern bounds and where the Poestenkill, 

'I'o turn the spindles of the town, leaps roaring down the hill. 

The Indian camp-fires burned; and there, beside the brawling stream. 

The dusky brave his maiden wooed beneath paie Dian's beam; 

They did not tarry long with us, but they have left behind 

The most euphonious names of all that History can find; 

Tomhannock, Mohawk, Wompeconck, and Schaghticoke are known; 

Bad taste has blotted others out to substitute his own. 

Our thoughts come back to later times, and with a joyous pride. 

Hail Fulton's genius panting up the noble Hudson's tide ! 

Xo son of ours, but yet we feel an interest in his fame. 

And every town the tide-waves wash should bless his sacred name ! 

See yonder toiling Ferryboat, two horses on each side. 

Sore struggling under thong and oath to cross the heaving tide. 

Lo, what a change!— a trim-built craft floats gracefully and free; 

A Silliman applied the steam where "Brommy's" power was, — " OVc.'" 

And on the glorious river's breast where crawled the sloop so slow. 

Dependent on the fitful breeze whether she stand or go. 

The rapid steamers laden with the products of our town, 

Witli busy men, and women fair, sail swiftly up and down; 

And on our streets the lumbering stage no longer shocks the siglit. 

And Gas and Electricity have put whale-oil to flight. 

To Morse who loosed the Lightning's tongue, and him whose telejihone 

Can send to distant ears the voice, to both our debt we own: 

Yet to our own home enterprise the stirring Centviry through. 

More than from any other source our present strength is due. 

One instance must suffice to show how Trojans override 

.Ml obstacles that come atliwart their profit or their pride: - 

Three stout young Trojans (two of whom are now returned to clay. 

Though Robinson is vigorous still) felt much inclined one day. 

To stroll through Boston Commons, but the Mountain barred their way I 

Opposed by such tremendous power what could our three friends do ? 

Turn back? — They seized the pick and spade and tore the mountain through, 

Went on their course, surveyed "The Hub," secured what freight they could. 

And then returned ; but Weed and Vail sleep now in green Oakwood ! 



734 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Trade and our Manufactories are seldom idle here. 

Except when Labor, wrong or right, "gets up upon his ear," 

Throws by his tools, suspends his craft, and forming some compact, 

Rejoiced if he and Capital both suffer from the act I 

"Tis strange a twain f-at God ordained to journey hand in hand 

fan find no cdnimon ,i;iound whereon with ec|ual rights to stand ! 

\Vc must not boast loo niuch to-day, though pride may tinge thr thci 
And vanity close whisper us to let the Eagle scream; 
And so my Muse with humble brow forbearsto sing or say 
Von mountain could not stop our march nor conflagrations stay; 
Hut modesty, methinks, may urge, nor startle him who hears. 
That not a city in the State within these hundred years, 
Has taken longer strides, and shown what enterprise can do, 
Aided by thoughtful hand and brain, with'future weal in view, 
Than this, the City of our love, that sits on Hudson's shore, 
Whose furnaces and workshops ring with labor's ceaseless roar, 
And wlierc to Toil and Capital she opens wide lier door. 

Where so much virtue can be found within our City's bounds. 

If one should tind a fault or two, it should not call for frowns ; 

Most rules have their exception, and the virtues I have named 

Cannot be dimmed by censure, nor blush when justly blamed ; 

So now if tny censorious Muse, in tune a little out 

With her glad song that's gone before shall sing to you about 

A few sad evils that exist, but easy to remove. 

She hopes you'll heed the censure mild and cordially api)rovc : 

You'll own it is a sore reproach that seventy thousand dwell 

Within a city that contains not one first-class hotel ! 

Tlioso lliat wc have are fairly kept, but surely cannot vie 

Witli many in less wealthy towns that stand reproachful by ! 

And tlicn we need a cable road, an inclined plane at least, 

So that our pent-up citizens will people the broad East 

That lies in sunlight, sweet and vast, and smiling with good will, 

And singing in her healthful voice, "Wise men, come o'er the Hill I 

And build upon our lovely plain, the first to greet the sun, 

And watch the roaring Poestenkill his boisterous journey run I " 

Besides, we've not a breathing spot to free the lungs of Toil, 

Where Pain may find a quick relief and Pleasure stroll awhile ; 

Where Beauty with her winning face may trip along to see, 

(As if she saw him not), her lover sighing by the tree ; 

Where Age may hold his crutch, and sit beneath the tunc'l'iil sliadc 

And take a little grateful rest before his grave is made ; 

And where the heaviest tax-payer may find relief from care, 

\or think his purse too highly taxed for all his comforts tluic. 

Do I assume too much, my friends, when 1 express belief, 

That ere these blessings come to us the time will be but biief ' 

Sherry, our Man of Ross, has not the only heart that beats 

With iihilanthropic sentiment upon our crowded streets; 

A thousand others just as strong but in the pulse less fast 

Only require some time for thought before the die is cast. 

But I must close ; the Century ends, and here must end my song : 
Time fails, or I would sing of more will be remembered long ; 
It but remains for me to hope the next one hundred years 
May bring to those shall (ill our place, more joy and fewer tears ! 




H. O. INGALLS. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 735 

HARRY O. INGALLS. 

Hakrv O. Ingalls was born at the city of Troy, N. Y., March 15, 1870, where he 
still resides with his parents. O. F. Ingalls, his father, came from the village of 
Hartford, Washington county, N. Y., when a young man in the year 1860, and with 
his brother, T. E. Ingalls, entered into the fiour and produce business, and has since 
that time been one of the wholesale merchants of Troy in that line. His mother is 
Mary E. (Hale) Ingalls, formerly of Hartford, N. Y. Horace H. Ingalls, the grand- 
father of Harry (). Ingalls, is a farmer and although ninety-one years of age is yet 
very active at his home in North Granville, Washington county, and still attends 
regularly and punctually to his affairs. 

Harry O. is one of a family of four brothers. He received a public school educa- 
tion, and perfected himself in the higher courses of study under private instruction. 
After serving a clerkship as a student at law in the offices of Smith & Wellington, 
he entered the law department of Union University, the Albany Law School, and 
graduated from that in.stitution in the class of 1893. He was admitted to the bar as 
an attorney and counselor at law at the Genei^al Term of the Supreme Court held at 
Saratoga Springs in September, 1893, since which time he has been actively engaged 
in the practice of his profes.sion with offices in the Keenan building. 

He is identified with the Republican Club of Troy, and was a member of the 
executive committee of that organization for the years 1892-93. He is also a mem- 
ber of the Trojan Hook and Ladder Company of the Troy Fire Department. In 
March, 1896, he was elected attorney to the Board of Supervisors of Rens.selaer 
county. It was during" his terni as such attorney that the defalcation of George H. 
Morrison, county treasurer, was discovered. After an investigation by the finance 
committee of the Board of Supervisors, he brought several actions for the county of 
Rensselaer to recover the amount embezzled by Morrison, which was about .S250,0OO. 
Those actions are now pending in the Supreme Court. 



PART III. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 



FAMILY SKETCHES 



Speirs, James, born in Scotland, September 9, 1832, is a son of Allen and Jean 
(Dunlap) Speirs, both born in Scotland, where they lived and died. He was reared 
as a weaver and educated in the common schools. He came to Paterson, N. J., and 
began working in Adams's mosquito net mill and was there until 1869, when the 
mill burned and Mr. Speirs went to Pine Meadow, Conn., and engaged in a mill 
manufacturing hammock cloth; after about fifteen months he went to New York 
city in the employ of James C. Thompson, now of Valley Falls, and engaged in the 
manufacture of mosquito netting for eight years; in 1877 he came to Valley Falls as 
general manager in a cotton mill for four years and in 1881 built the hotel he now 
occupies. Mr. Speirs was married in 1865 in Paterson, N. J., to Catherine Finley, 
born in Scotland and daughter of William Finley of Scotland. Mr. Speirs is a Re- 
publican in politics and was school collector about seven years. He is a member 
of Victor Lodge No. 680, F. & A. M. ; he was a member of the Chapter Lodge in 
Scotland. He is also a member of Columbian Lodge No. 689, L O. O. F. In 1887 
he built a large town hall known as Speirs Hall. In this hall the First Baptist 
church originated November, 1891, and it was used by that church two and a half 
years. Mr. Speirs and wife attend and support the Baptist church. 

Sproat, Charles A., born in Lambertville, N. J., December 26, 1857, is a son of 
Henry and Harriet (Perriman) Sproat, born in England and emigrated to Philadel- 
phia and then to Lambertville, N. J., in 1861; Mr. Sproat died in 1869; his widow 
still lives at Valley Falls. Mr. Sproat was engaged in the manufacture of twine and 
formed a partnership with Thomas Lape. Charles A. was educated in the common 
schools and Troy Business College from which he was graduated in 1872, after which 
he worked for his brother, John Sproat, in the manufacture of cigars; at the age of 
twenty-one years he engaged in the same work and has been very successful, em- 
ploying seven men. Mr. Sproat was married in 1877 to Maria Beach, and has two 
children: Laura and Charles H. Mrs. Sproat died in 1882 and Mr. Sproat married 
Georgia A. Bennett in 1884; they have one child, Frank R. Mr. Sproat is a member 
of Victor Lodge No. 680, F & A. M., Valley Falls Lodge No. 689, I. O. O. F., and is 
also a member of the Elks, No. 141, Troy. 

Snyder, Charles W., born in Pittstown, September 1, 1843, a son of John A. and 
Anna Eliza (Finch) Snyder; he born in Pittstown and she in Schaghticoke. The 
grandfather of Charles W. was Andrew Snyder, a native of Pittstown and son of 
John. The grandfather was a farmer and lived and died on the farm now owned 



4 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

by Charles W., whose father was also a farmer and owned at one time 326 acres of 
land in Pittstown; he died July 8, 1870, and his wife March 2, 18S1. Charles W. was 
reared on a farm and educated in the common schools, Jonesville Academy and was 
graduated from Bryant & Stratton's Business College of Troy in 1862. He follows 
farming and owns 380 acres of land. He has been supervisor of Pittstown for eight 
years (1873-74, 1881-83, and 1893-95). Mr. Snyder was married October 4, 1865, to 
Eliza E. Giffin. born in Morriston, St. Lawrence county, and daughter of Rufus T. 
and Dorothy E. (Reese) Giffin; he a native of St. Lawrence county, where his wife 
died in 1889; he was a carriage maker, and served in the late war. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Charles W. Snyder were born, three children: Nellie F., wife of Stephen L. 
Cushman of Pittstown; they have two children: Grace and Mabel. John A., de- 
ceased. Ermina, attending Lansingburg Academy. Mr. Snyder was a member of 
Victor Lodge No. 680, F. & A. M., Phoeni.K Chapter No. 133, R. A. M., of Lansing- 
burgh, and a charter member of Raymertown Lodge No. 672, L O. O. F., and is also 
deputy of the district. The family attends the M. E. church. Mr. Snyder is a 
member of P. of L and is grand trustee for the State and president of the county 
and has been since its inception. 

N^nyder, Jacob H., was born in Pittstown, N. Y. He is a son of Jacob and Eliza- 
beth (Alexander), he a native of Pittstown and she of Brunswick. The grandparents 
were Andrew and Esther Harmon, he was a native of Pittstown. Two brothers of 
Mr. Harmon were in the battle of Bennington in the Revolutionary war. The great- 
grandfather, John Snyder, was born in southeastern New York, whence he came 
to Rensselaer county. He was a natural mechanic and built and ran mills in Pitts- 
town and Schaghticoke and owned about 700 acres of land. He married Barbara 
Weatherwax. Mr. Snyder died near Tomhannock. His son Andrew, father of 
Jacob H., was a farmer of Pittstown, where he died in 1849 at the age of eighty-five 
years. Jacob A. was under General Eddy in the war of 1812. In 1825 he bought 
the farm where Jacob H. now resides and here lived and died. He was born in 1796 
and died May 25, 1878. Mrs. Snyder was born 1792 and died January 16, 1877. 
Jacob H. has always resided on the homestead. He married Mary Talbut, a native 
of Ireland. Mr. Snyder has about 700 acres of land and carries on mixed farming. 

Van Wirt, J. D., M. D., born in Ancram^ Columbia county, N. Y., August 8, 1858, 
is a son of Rev. Nichols and Mary P. (Campbell) Van Wirt, he a native of Johnstown, 
Fulton county, N. Y., and she of Schoharie county, N. Y. The grandfather of Dr. 
Van Wirt was Daniel Van Wirt, a native of Johnstown, N. Y., where he lived and 
died. The father of Dr. Van Wirt was a Lutheran minister who was educated at 
Fairfield Seminary and took a theological course at Hartwick Seminary and the The- 
ological college at Gettysburg, Pa., from which he was graduated about 1863; he 
taught seven languages and had many private students; he came to Rensselaer 
county in 1877 and settled at Melrose, N. Y., for about five years; then went to 
Montgomery county and engaged in the mercantile business at Palatine Bridge and 
Canajoharie, N. Y., until 1894, whenhecame to live with Dr. Van Wirt at Johnson- 
ville, where, October 14, 1895, he passed to the land beyond. Dr. Van Wirt was 
reared at Sharon Springs and Stone Arabia, Montgomery county, and educated at 
Hartwick Seminary, Fort Plain Seminary, and Troy Academy; he was graduated 
from Albany Medical College in 1883 and went to Ketchum's Corners and Quakers 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 5 

Springs, N. Y., where he practiced five years, thence removed to Boyntonville, N. 
Y., and was there until December, 1891, when he came to Johnsonville, where he 
has a successful practice. He was first married in 1883 to Mary I. Bonesteel of Mel- 
rose, who Vjore him one son, J. Purcelle. His wife died in April, 1892 at Johnson- 
ville. September, 1894, he was married to Mary Esther Herrington of Johnsonville, 
N. Y. He is a Republican and justice of the peace; he is a member of Victor Lodge 
No. 680, F. & A. M., and Johnsonville Lodge No. 411, L O. O. F. The family at- 
tend and support the M. E church. October. 1894, he also engaged in the drug 
business in Johnsonville, N. Y. Dr. Van Wirt is a member of the Medical Associa- 
tion of Troy and Vicinity. 

Wright, E. L., was born August 9, 1833, in Hoosick, N. Y. He isason of Edmond 
and Charlotte (Payne) Wright, he a native of Hoosick and she of Massachusetts. 
The grandfather of Mr. Wright was Moses Wright, a native of Rhode Island and 
one of the early settlers of Hoosick ; he was a captain in the war of 1812 under Gen- 
eral Eddy; his wife was Miss Haynes of Rhode Island, and her father was one of the 
early settlers of the town, coming on horseback following his route by marked trees. 
The father of Mr. Wright was a harnessmaker and lived in Boyntonville for forty 
years; he died in October, 1873; his wife died about 1846. Mr. Wright was reared 
in Boyntonville and educated in the common schools and the academy of Hoosick 
Falls. At the age of eighteen years he went West and finally landed in California 
when he was about twenty-four years old ; he remained there twelve years, engaged 
in mining and in mercantile business. In 1869 he returned to this State and was 
engaged in mercantile business at Eagle Bridge for five years; in 1879 he came to 
Johnsonville, N. Y., and built the store he has since occupied. He is a member of 
the Victor Lodge No. 680, F. & A. M. October 3, 1872, he was married to Mary E. 
Silkworth, of Pittstown, N. Y. They have two children: Lena A. and Elsa M. 
Lena is a graduate from, and Eksa is a member of the class of 1897 atTemple Grove, 
Saratoga. 

Wadsworth, G. H., was born in Pittstown, N. Y., January 7, 183r. He was edu- 
cated in the common schools and Bennington Seminary and began life as a teacher; 
about three years after he engaged in mercantile business at Boyntonville for three 
years and then went to Eagle Bridge and was in partnership with E. L. Wright in 
the same business for six years. They sold out and Mr. Wadsworth retired to Boyn- 
tonville and was engaged in selling agricultural implements for three years, and 
in 1880 he went to Valley Falls and engaged in business as a merchant and continued 
until 1892. He then went to Blue Mountain Lake and cared for his sick daughter 
until her death, which occurred January 7, 1894. At present Mr. Wadsworth is en- 
gaged at auctioneering, a business he has followed for twenty-nine years. Mr. 
Wadsworth was married in 1858 to Lottie P. Wright, born in Pittstown and daugh- 
ter of Edmund and Charlena (Payne) Wright, he was born at Hoosick Falls, and she 
in Springfield, Mass. The grandfather of Mrs. Wadsworth was Moses Wright, an 
early settler of Hoosick Falls. The wife of Moses Wright was Polly Haines, daugh- 
ter of Edmund Haines, who built one of the first frame houses at Hoosick Falls. Mr. 
Wadsworth and wife had one daughter, Kittie L., born in 1859, educated at Bus- 
kirks where she was prepared for Mount Holyoke Seminary, from which she was 
graduated in June, 1880. She was married in 1884 to B. L. Crapo of Pittstown and 



6 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

had four children: George W., Earl (deceased), Virgie (deceased), Vera K. (deceased). 
She died January 7, 1894. She was organizer of the Blue Mountain Lake division 
Sons of Temperance, which adopted resolutions at her death. Her husband is a M. 
E. preacher. Mr. Wadsworth was overseer of the poor eight years. The grand- 
father of Mr. Wadsworth was Joseph Wadsworth, who was born in Connecticut. 
He was supervisor of Pittstown for nine years in succession and member of assembly 
for three years, and a blacksmith by trade. He built a hotel at Boyntonville of 
which he was proprietor many years and was succeeded by his son H. H. Wads- 
worth. Mr. Wadsworth was for seven years captain of a company of National 
Guards in the State militia. He had also been a teacher of vocal and mstrumental 
music for a number of years and was chorister of his church for twelve years. 

Richmond, Theodore C, born in Pittstown, N. Y., October 20, 1815, is a son of 
Josiah and Phoebe (Warren) Richmond, he born in Taunton, Mass., in 1786, and she 
at Fall River, Mass., in 1788. Edward Richmond, the grandfather of Theodore C, 
came to Hoosick in 1792 and lived and died there; he was a lieutenant in the Revo- 
lutionary war. The father of Theodore C. was a wagonmaker by trade; he was 
afterwards a farmer and hotel keeper at Potter Hill in town of Hoosick, and died 
there September 12, 1835, and his wife in July, 1843; he was commissioner of high- 
ways and held other minor town offices, and, also, served in the war of 1812. Theo- 
dore C. was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools and at Benning- 
ton, Vt. He has been a farmer and was in early life a dealer in wool and produce. 
Most of his life has been spent in Pittstown, where he has bought and sold land and 
in 1863 settled on the farm of 125 acres he now owns; he also owns in Pittstown and 
elsewhere 243 acres and 200 acres in Grafton. He was married first in 1838 to Emily 
C. Geer; she died in 1858, and in 1854 he married Caroline Baucus, daughter of 
William L Baucus. They have had five children: Charles T., who resides in Cleve- 
land and is one of the stockholders of the Natural Carbon Co., was president of the 
Thompson-Houston Co. at Fremont, Ohio, and a graduate in 1876 from Yale; Emily, 
who is at home; Phoebe, wife of William S. Gunnison of Lansiugburgh ; Mary R. and 
William I. at home. The daughters were educated at Pittslield, Mas.s. William I. was 
graduated at Greylock Institute, and has been justice twenty-four years and super- 
visor two terms. He was active in his town during the late war, and Mrs. Richmond 
was president of a ladies' association during the war for the purpose of raising 
money and supplies for the suffering. The family attend and support the M. E. 
church. 

Potter, L. E., during his seven years' residence at Hoosick Falls has won as a man 
the high esteem of the community besides having established the reputation among 
his townsmen of being one of the best and most successful dentists in the county. 
He made able preparation for his profession, which he acquired at Philadelphia, 
spending two years at the Philadelphia Dental College, thence to the New York 
Dental College, from which he was graduated in 1887. He is a horseman and is the 
possessor of fast trotters ; also a valued member of the Order of Odd Fellows. He 
married Nellie E. Holnbeck, of Bennington, by whom he has one daughter, Alice 
B., now five years old. Her twin sister, Ruth, lived to be six months old. 

Stewart, Hiram E., a prominent and well known veteran of the late war, was 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 7 

born in Petersburgh in 1843. Eliphalet, his grandfather, was one of three brothers 
who came from Scotland before the Revolutionary war ; he became a soldier and 
participated in the battle of Bunker Hill, and after the war removed to Petersburgh, 
where he engaged in farming. He was twice married and reared three children by 
his first wife and four by his second ; he lived to be eighty-eight. Hiram, father of 
Hiram E., was bcrn in Petersburgh in 1812, a child of the last marriage; he 
spent his life as a farmer. His wife was Mary A. Hiscock, born in Peters- 
burgh in 1817 and a daughter of William Hiscock; their children were Hiram, 
William, Franklin and Sarah; he died in 1888 and his wife survives him and resides 
on the homestead ; they were both members of the M. E. church. Hiram E. re- 
mained at home until the war broke out, when he enlisted in Co. H, 169th N. Y. 
Volunteer Infantry, August, 1862, and served three years, participating in all the 
the engagements of his regiment. He was wounded in the leg in the battle of 
Petersburg. After his return he became station agent for the old Troy and Boston 
Railroad at North Petersburgh, with whom he remained until 1870, when he en- 
gaged in the hotel and general mercantile business, and was postmaster from 1871 
until 1888. In politics he is a Democrat and he has served on the Board of Super- 
visors three years, chairman of the board one year, and held all other responsible 
offices of his town. He is a member of the G. A. R., Post Wood of Hoosick Falls. 
In December, 1866, he married Frances E., born in Stephen town and daughter of 
Garrison Town. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart are both members of the Christian church. 

Jones, Eugene M., M.D., was born in Berlin in 1859. Timothy Jones, his great- 
grandfather, was born in Rhode Island, one of ten sons whose father settled in 
Berlin at an early date, where he took up 1,000 acres of land. Russell R., his 
grandfather, was born in Petersburgh in 1808, became a farmer and owned two 
farms at the time of his death. His wife was Annis Clark; their children were 
Darius, Ann, Samantha, Lucinda, and Antoinette, all now living but Ann ; he died 
when about sixty-eight years of age. Darius, the father of Eugene, was born in 
Petersburgh in 1827. became a wagonmaker, owned and operated a shop in the vil- 
lage of Berlin for twenty years and also followed carpentry for some years. About 
1879 he came in possession of his father's homestead of 100 acres, and in 1885 re- 
moved to the farm where he has since resided. His wife was Jane, daughter of 
Oliver and Nancy (Wilcox) Main. Their children are Byron W., Eugene M., and 
Ransom L. Dr. Jones worked in his father's shop when a boy, later engaged at 
blacksmith work in the village of Berlin. When twenty years of age he married 
Carrie, daughter of David C. and Ann Eliza (Saunders) Crandall; to this union were 
born two children, Lena C. and Nellie B. His wife died about three years later. 
When twenty-two he began the study of medicine under Dr. Merryott. He 
later registered and practiced one year under Dr. Moses of Petersburgh, then 
studied three years under Dr. Fred Green, during this time attending the Al- 
bany Medical College, from which institution he was graduated with the class 
of 1887. In 1891 he passed the State Civil Service examination and received 
his certificate. His first practice for himself was begun in March, 1887, in the town 
of Grafton, where he practiced for five years. In the spring of 1892 he removed to 
the village of Petersburgh, where he soon had an extensive ride and in addition to 
this he retained his practice in Grafton. In February, 1896, through the earnest 



8 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

solicitation of his friends and patrons of the town of Grafton, he returned to that 
town, where he has a good and reliable patronage with bright prospects for a future 
life of usefulness and success in his profession. In May, 1887, he married his second 
wife, Miss Mamie O'Neil of Albany. They have one child, Viola T. 

Darling, David, has l^ecn an extensive contractor and builder, as many buildings 
of Hoosick Falls and elsewhere will attest; the Holmes block, Wilder building and 
many dwellings are among the number. He came here in 1880 from Pittstown 
where he followed the same vocation. He also acts as agent for Hon. J. Russell 
Parsons. He has been village trustee, and was once commander of the G. A. R. 
Post here. His birthplace was Grafton, N. Y., where he was born in 1838, son of 
Allen Darling, of an old Vermont family. He was reared in Shaftsbury, Benning- 
ton county, and enlisted in 1861 in First Vermont Cavalry as a private. He was in 
the battle of Gettysburg and at Second Bull Run, was taken prisoner at Broad Run, 
Va., and incarcerated at Libby. An e.xchange soon was made and he joined the 
regiment at Gettysburg, where he was injured by being thrown from his horse, and 
was discharged, when he went lo Pittstown. He is an official member of the M. E. 
church. 

Mosher, F. D., the popular principal of the Eagle Bridge school, is one of the fore- 
most educators of his town, and a teacher who has had a wide field of experience, 
having always followed that profession. He was born near Bennington, Vt., in 
1855, son of Dyer P. Mosher, a farmer. He is a graduate of Easton Seminary, 
Washington county, and of Troy Business College in 1876. Mr. Mosher also carries 
on the culture of small fruit, shipping to various towns in the vicinity. Politically 
he is a Republican. He married Marcia Howard in 1881 and has two children: 
Rose S., a stenograjsher at Boston, and Howard F. 

Gooding, Walter C, is the only son of the late Hiram M. Gooding, who died aged 
fifty-three in 1889, leaving a widow, Charlotte Fenton Gooding, five daughters and 
Walter. The latter was born at Eagle Bridge in 1872 and resides on the old home- 
stead, a pleasant country home with 200 acres of choice land devoted to general 
farming, of which Mr. Gooding has the charge. His widowed mother and unmarried 
sister reside with him. They are people of simple benevolence and spontaneous 
geniality. Mr. Gooding was educated at Lansingburgb and upholds Republican 
principles. His two married sisters are Mrs. Clarence Durfee of Buskirk Bridge, 
and Mrs. W. B. Aiken of Massachusetts. His grandfather, Cyrus Gooding, was 
born at Hartford, Conn., and was an early settler here. He was a personal friend 
of Martin I. Townsend. 

Brown, Adelbert, proprietor since 1879 of the Eagle Bridge hotel, was a member 
of the celebrated " Black Horse" cavalry, with whom he enhsted in 1861, in Co. A, 
serving till their disbandment. In 1862 he again enlisted with the 123d New York 
and shared their lot until the close of the war. He was born in 1842 at Pittstown, 
where his father, Sampson Brown, was a carpenter. Before the war he was em- 
ployed in various cotton mills, and in 1866 resumed the same occupation. His first 
hotel experience was at the " Exchange" of Pownal, Vt., which he ran for about 
two years. Mr. Brown is, of course, a "Grand Army" man and also a member of 
che order of K. of P. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 9 

Hurd, A. J., the highly esteemed miller and dealer in feed, oats and flour, at 
Eagle Bridge, is a native of Sandgate, Vt.. where he was born in 1849. His father, 
Chauncey J. Hurd, a farmer, was also a native of that place, to which his great- 
grandfather. Captain Lewis Hurd, a soldier of the Revolution, came as an early 
settler. A. J. Hurd's boyhood was spent at Sandgate, and his education completed 
at Cambridge, where he met Lydia Ray whom he married in 1874. At Manchester, 
Vt., he entered his first business engagement as manufacturer of gloves and mittens. 
After four 5fears he came to Eagle Bridge and built most of the mill himself. He 
has acquired a large and profitable business, employing at times twelve or fifteen 
men. He is a Republican and has served his town as highway commissioner, but 
prefers private life. His two daughters are Nellie and Jessie. 

Cottrell, Mrs. Sherman, representative of an old Hoosick family, was Phebe M. 
Case of Pittstown before her marriage in 1867 to the late Sherman Cottrell, who 
died in 1886 in the same house where he was born in 1844. He was the fifth son of 
Jonathan Cottrell, and one of the foremost farmers of his time. One may point 
with pride to his record as a man and a citizen. The county in which he resided, 
the community where he lived, will long have cause to regret his loss. Besides his 
widow he left five noble sons, and one daughter: Jay C. ; Nathan Cottrell, residing 
with his mother at the old homestead; Case; Hattie, the daughter; Walter S. ; and 
Ernest J. One daughter, Mary, died in 1877, aged six years. 

Allen, Amos, M. D., was born in Petersburgh, N. Y., Januaiy 28, 1815, a son of 
Bennajah and Zipporah (Scriven) Allen, he born in Rehoboth, Mass., and she in 
Great Barrmgton, Mass., and came to Petersburgh in an early day. The grand- 
father of our subject was Joseph Allen, who came to Petersburgh early and there 
lived and died. Bennajah Allen was a farmer. He was a member of assembly one 
term. He died June 18, 1858. Amos Allen was reared in Petersburgh and educated 
in the common and select schools, began studying with Dr. Hiram Moses of Peters- 
burgh, was graduated m 1846 from Pittsfield Medical College, and has practiced his 
profession in Rensselaer county. He was supervisor one term and superintendent 
of township schools three terms. He assisted in the organization of the Republican 
party in 1856 in Rensselaer county. Dr. Allen was married in 1839 to Betsey M. 
Avery, who was born in Berlin, N. Y., by whom he had four children: Harriet E., 
wife of Silas C. Peckham of Petersburgh ; Martha E., wife of George A. Sweet of 
Petersburgh; A. H., who married EmmaMaxon, daughter of Hon. David G. Maxon; 
and Agnes, who resides at home. The doctor was for many years a member of 
Mazeppa Lodge L O. O. F., of Petersburgh. Mrs. Allen died September 18, 1893. 

Waite, Reuben S. F., was born in Grafton, Rensselaer county, March 27, 1834, son 
of Rufus and Lois (Maxon) Waite, both born in Petersburgh ; he a son of Reuben 
Waite a native of Rhode Island, who came to Petersburgh about 1790 and there 
lived and died; he was in the war of 1812. The father of the subject was a physi- 
cian and came to Grafton when a young man and practiced his profession until his 
death, which occurred May 20, 1860, and that of his wife May 13. 1882. Reuben S. 
F. Waite was reared in Grafton and educated in the common schools, and early in 
life learned the blacksmith trade, which he followed about thirty-five years. He 
was married August 6, 1854. to Betsy Maria Hakes, daughter of Jabez Hakes, one 
b 



10 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

of the early residents of the town. To Reuben S. F. Waite and wife were born two 
sons: Chester F., born June 20, 1835 educated in the common schools, married Sylvia 
West of Grafton, December 25, 1876, is a Republican in politics, and was town clerk 
four years; and William C, born October 13, 1858. educated in the common schools, 
married, January 28, 1880, to Hattie Jones of Grafton, by whom he has one son, 
Millard R. Waite, is a Democrat in politics, and was town clerk three years. He 
and his brother are in partnership in farming and own eighty acres of land, and also 
engaged in mercantile business in Grafton, February 15, 1890. Our subject was a 
Republican and was town clerk eight 3'ears, justice sixteen years, and justice of ses- 
sions two years. He died March 8. 1896. The family attend and support the Bap- 
tist church. 

Richmond, P. W. , is one of the foremost men in the town of Hoosick, a leader in 
agricultural pursuits, politically prominent, financially successful, and respected by 
his fellow men. And this honored position is due to his own labor and genius, for 
Mr. Richmond is a selfmade man. He has been a resident here since 1823, at which 
time he came with his father, Josiah Richmond, who practiced wagonmaking and 
conducted a hotel here until his death in 1835. Mr. Richmond inherits the well-de- 
veloped physique of his family, noted for longevity, and bears his seventy-four years 
with an erect and agile form, and a vigor which carries him jauntily through life. 
He owns 400 acres devoted to general farming, the farm and buildings being models 
of their kind. He has served as postmaster at Potter Hill nearly half a century, 
having been appointed in 1849 under Buchanan's administration, which position he 
has held to the present time. He belongs to the Republican party and has officiated 
many years as town assessor; he is also president of the " Hoosick Co-operative 
Fire Insurance Co." In 1848 he married Sarah C, daughter of James Campbell of 
Pittstown. She bore him five children: Josiah, born 1849; Mary Agnes, born 1851; 
Edward Albert, born 1853; Emily Geer, born 1857; Ruth Warren, born 1860. 

Case, Nathan, is the owner of the 400 acre Case farm of Hoosick Falls, which has 
never been in the possession of other than the paternal ancestors of the Case family. 
His father, Jonathan Case, a native of this place, died in 1881, after having spent a 
life of eighty-one years in agricultural pursuits. His mother was Lydia Baker of an 
old family. She died twenty-one years ago, leaving two sons and six daughters. 
Nathan spent his boyhood on the old farm where he was born in 1844. He has an- 
other farm of 210 acres, thus making 640 acres under his direct supervision. Being 
possessed of an inborn love for horses, he deals largely in the Old Volunteer stock 
and other famous breeds. He married in 1866 Waity, daughter of Joseph Swan of 
Potter Hill. Three sons and three daughters are the issue of this marriage. Mr. 
Case is a Republican. 

Cottrell, Jay C, is the eldest of the Cottrell brothers, and conducts the well known 
Cottrell Valley Stock Farm, one and one-half miles west of Hoosick Falls. They 
made a specialty of thoroughbred short horn cattle, Shropshire and Merino .sheep. 
Mr. Cottrell was born in Hoosick in 1869, where he spent his boyhood and has since 
been engaged in farming. His father, the late Sherman Cottrell, was until his death 
a correspondent for agricultural papers. The correspondence has been continued 
by Jay on the same topics for the American Agriculturist. He is also correspondent 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 11 

for the local papers. Mr. Cottrell is a member of the First Baptist church, and of 
the Military Band, Thirty-second Separate Co. In 1890 he married Georgia Agan, 
daughter of Lyman B. Agan of Raymertown. 

Percey, Elon, is a representative of an old local family whose ancestors came from 
Rhode Island and from England. His father, James Percey, was a native of this 
town and a farmer. Elon was born in Hoosick in 1830, and has always lived here, 
being educated in the common school and at Ball's Seminary. He engaged in farm- 
ing until 1873. In 1881 he established a feed store and acted as a grain buyer and 
shipper; he also deals in coal and wood. He is a Republican and has been justice 
of the peace five years and police justice of the village three years, but does not seek 
political preferment. He married in 1855 Mary Walworth of Hoosick, daughter of 
Harper Walworth, by whom he has three children: Morgan F. Percey, clerk in the 
Wood Machine Co. ; Welton C. Percey, a lawyer educated at St. Lawrence Univers- 
ity who was admitted to the bar at twenty-one years of age after two years in the 
office of Attorney-General Russell at Albany; Blanch R., wife of Victor M. Allen of 
Albany. 

Riley, Hon. Francis, the present county clerk of Rensselaer county, enjoys a wide 
popularity in both social and political circles and is a man of much public spirit and 
liberality. He is a Democrat and has been prominently identified with the afl^airs 
of the town of Hoosick, filling with credit many of the principal offices, including 
that of school trustee, president of the village three years, over.seer of the poor 
three years, supervisor two years, and county clerk three j^ears; also treasurer of 
the Industrial Manufacturing Company. He is a prominent member of the R. C. 
church and tru.stee of the parochial school. Mr. Riley was born in Ireland in 1848, 
son of John Riley, who came to America and to Hoosick Falls in 1860, where for 
forty years he was an employee of Walter A. Wood. He is now a resident here, , 
eighty-six years old and universally respected and has twice been village trustee. 
Hon. Francis Riley acquired his education in Ireland, and first engaged in a grocery 
business at Trumanville and erected the Trumanville hotel while there. He estab- 
lished a livery business at his present location in 1875 which has become an exten- 
sive one. He also engaged in the coal business in 1890, and the agency for carriages. 
He married Margaret Bowen of Bennington, by whom he had ten children, of whom 
four are living. 

Akin, Byron S., born in Pittstown, N. Y., November 12, 1838, is a son of Benja- 
min, a son of William. Benjamin Akin was born in Pittstown on the farm where 
he now resides December 22, 1802. He was educated in the common schools. He 
is a farmer and owns about 250 acres of land, but he sold and divided among the 
children. His wife was Amy J. Stitt, a native of Pittstown, by whom he had seven 
children, of whom four are now living. She died in September, 1893. Mr. Akin, 
by a previous wife, Nancy P'alkner, of Pittstown, had two children, one of whom is 
living. Mr. Akin was reared on the farm where he now resides. He is engaged in 
farming and mercantile business, and except fifteen years in the flax business and 
hotel business at Minnequa Springs, has resided in Pittstown. He engaged in the 
mercantile business December 18, 1894, carrying a general line and agricultural im- 
plements. He has a farm of 140 acres. He was married in February, 1862, to 



12 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Sarah J. Darrovv, daughter of Josiah and Agnes (Hill) Darrow, both born at Cam- 
bridge, Washington county. To Mr. and Mrs. Akin was born one son, Harry B., 
November 13, 1871, educated in the common schools, Poultnej' Academy, Vermont, 
and Mount Herman, Mass., and graduated from Albany Business College in 1894. 
He is a member of Johnsonville Lodge No. 411, I. O. O. F., and Hoosick Falls En- 
campment No. 130. 

Akin, John, born in Pittstown, N.Y., November 5, 1811, is a son of William, a son 
of Benjamin Akin, who was a Quaker, born at Quaker Hill, Dutchess county, and 
came to Pittstown in 1776 and settled on Hoosick River and owned a large tract of 
land, which he gave to his son and spent his last days in Dutchess county. The 
father of John was a farmer and owned 1,000 acres of land adjoining and in Pitts- 
town. His wife was Rebecca Follett, daughter of William Follett, a native of Con- 
necticut, who came to Pittstown at an early day, and was a blacksmith ; his wife was 
Lois Burnham of Nova Scotia; he was the first Methodist coming to the town. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Akin were born four sons and six daughters. William A. was a Jack- 
son Democrat and afterwards a Republican. He died in January, 1860, and his wife 
in December, 1858. John was reared on a farm and educated in the common 
schools. When he was twenty-four years old his father gave him a farm of 140 
acres; he has owned 260 acres with personal property and paj^s the highest taxes in 
the town. Mr. Akin was appointed one of the enlisting committee and was sent to 
Canada to enlist men and remained there during the war. John Akin has been 
deputy sheriff for twenty-three years. He was married November 20, 1834, to Jane 
Button of Troy and has had four children: Dr. Washmgton Akin of Troy; Daniel 
S , died in 1879; John and Francis, at home. Mrs. John Akin died March 16, 1891, 
aged seventy-seven years and sixteen days. 

File, Hiram, was born in Brunswick, November 27, 1830, and is a son of Peter and 
Hannah (Hayner) File, both born in Brunswick. Peter was a son of Chri.stopher 
File, a native of Dutchess county and a son of Malchart File, a native of Germany, 
who came to Dutchess county and finally to Brunswick, where he lived and died. 
The father of Mr. File was a farmer, and at the age of sixty-five came to Pittstown 
with his father and here lived and died. His wife died May 6, 1840. Mr. File was 
reared on a farm and educated at the Albany Normal School, and taught for about 
fifteen years. Jie owned a farm in Brunswick, which he .sold in 1866. He then 
came to Raymertown and bought a farm of fifty acres. He bought a saw and grist 
mill, and also had a flax mill, which he ran on a large scale for fifteen years. He 
has been justice for fourteen years and resigned and has been supervisor for two 
years. In 1863 he married Margaret L. Wool of North Lansingburgh by whom he 
has had two children: B. W., who was educated at Lansingburgh Academy and 
Union College and read law with Gale, Alden & King and was admitted to the bar 
in May, 1889; and Sarah J., deceased. 

Herrington, Merritt C, was born on the farm he now owns, March 2, 1835. He 
was a son of Abraham W. and Sallie (Comstock) Herrington, natives of Pittstown; 
she was a daughter of John and Sarah (Stover) Comstock of Connecticut. The 
grandfather of Mr. Herrington was Silas Herrington. The father of Mr. Her- 
rington was a farmer and had 135 acres of land. He died 1839 and his wife March 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 13 

20, 1883. Mr. Herrington was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools 
and Cambridge Academy. He followed farming and has 157 acres of land. No- 
vember 17, 1869, he married Emily, daughter of Clark and Sallie B. (Cottrell) Shedd. 
She was a daughter of Nathaniel Cottrell. Clark Shedd lived and died in Pittstown, 
his death occurring in 1847. His father was Asa Shedd, born July 2, 1779, died April 
20, 1834; his wife was Hannah Joslin, born June 27, 1783, died April 30, 1863. Their 
children were Isaac, Clark, Anna and Sarah. Clark Shedd's children were Asa, 
Sarah, Priscilla, Charles and Emily (Mrs. M. C. Herrington). Mr. and Mrs. M. C. 
Herrington have one son, Clarence M., born September 27, 1872. He was educated 
in Troy Conference Academy and Lansingburgh Academy. 

Hutton, M B., M. D., was born in Washington county, N. Y., August 12, 1854. 
He was a son of William and Mary A. (Blair) Hutton, both natives of the town of 
Putnam, Washington county, where Mr. Hutton died in 1889. He was a farmer by 
occupation, and justice of the peace for about thirty years. The grandfather of Dr. 
Hutton was Peter Hutton, who was a native of Putnam, Washington county, his 
father being one of the first settlers. Dr. Hutton was reared on a farm and educated 
in the Albany Normal School, and then taught three years. After a while he studied 
medicine with Dr. J. Fenimore Niver and was graduated from the medical depart- 
ment of the University of Michigan in 1882, and in the fall of that year came to Val- 
ley Falls where he has had a very successful practice. October 10, 1883, he married 
Helen M. Wright of Cambridge, N. Y., by whom he had one daughter, Annie M. 
Dr. Hutton is a member of Victor Lodge No. 680, F. & A. M., and Montgomery 
Chai^ter No. 257, R. A. M., at Stillwater. He is a member of the Medical Society 
of Troy and Vicinity, New York State Medical Society, and also of the Rensselaer 
County Medical Society. 

Hunter, Judge Albert, was born in Pittstown, September 1, 1841. He is a son of 
John E. and Amy J. (Eycleshymer) Hunter. He was born in Pittstown and was a 
son of Jeremiah Hunter, who came to Pittstown at an early day and there lived and 
died. The mother of Mr. Hunter was born in Pittstown and was a daughter of Peter 
and granddaughter of John, who was one of the first settlers of the town where he 
died. Jeremiah Hunter was in the war of 1812. The father of Albert Hunter was 
a farmer and died in 1873; his widow still lives in Pittstown. Mr. Hunter was 
reared on a farm and educated in the common and high schools. He followed farm- 
ing summers and taught school winters for a time and afterwards learned the car- 
penter trade, and was contractor and builder for many years. In 1871 he was married 
to Hattie Martin of Monroe county, and has one daughter, Eva. He has been justice 
for ten years, still holding that position, and has been justice of sessions. Mr. 
Hunter has dealt in wagons and farm implements for several years, and represented 
the Walter A. Wood firm for about fifteen years. 

Herjington & Co. is composed of Silas and Henry Herrington ; Silas is a native of 
Pittstown, and was born November 2, 1842. He was a .son of Merret, a son of Silas 
Herrington, a native of Rhode Island and who was one of he earliest settlers of the 
town where he lived and died. His father was a farmer and was assessor nine years 
and justice for twelve years. He died April 3, 1886. His wife was Catherine A. 
Snyder, born in Pittstown and a daughter of Christopher, a son of one of the first 



14 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

settlers. Silas Herrington was reared on a farm and educated in the common 
schools. He followed farming until thirty-six years of age, also buying and selling 
produce. In 1879 he came to Valley Falls and engaged in the produce, coal and 
straw business, and in 1889 formed a partnership with Henry J. Herrington; their 
business now is coal, lumber, lime, cement, straw, hay, grain, feed, grass seed, farm- 
ing tools, etc. December 14, 1864, Silas Herrington was married to Rachel Ingra- 
ham of Pittstown, by whom he had one daughter, Georgianna. Mr. Herrington has 
been commissioner of highways for nine years in succession. He is a member of 
Victor Lodge No. 680, F. & A. M. Henry Herrington was born in Hoosick January 
10, 1846. He was a son of Ephraim, a son of Josiah, a native of Rhode Island, born 
June 24, 1780, and there lived and died, and Ephraim was born in Hoosick. The 
father of Mr. Herrington was a farmer and a manufacturer of mowers and reapers. 
His wife was Mary A. Hill, born in Hoosick, a daughter of Henry Hill, who owns a 
farm in Hoosick. He and his wife lived in West Hoosick. The Herrington family 
are of Elnglish descent and emigrated from Durham, England, to Rhode Island in 
1660 and settled at Smithfield with five children. Mr. Herrington was educated at 
West Hoosick common schools. He learned the trade of machinist at the age of 
eighteen years, followed it three years and then came to Valley Falls and engaged 
in the manufacturing and selling of agricultural implements for about eight years. 
He then was in the grist milling business for six years and in 1889 formed a partner- 
ship with Silas, as stated. December 7, 1869, he was married to Clara Ball of Pitts- 
town, daughter of John P. Ball, one of the early settlers. Mr. Ball was engaged in 
the manufacturing of linseed oil, and owned one of the first mills in this section. He 
was prominent in politics, and served as county clerk. Mr. Herrington is a member 
of Victor Lodge No. €80, F. & A. M. 

Hoag, Jonathan, was born in Pittstown March 21, 1880. He is a son of Thomas 
and Phoebe (Comstock) Hoag, both natives of Pittstown. Thomas Hoag was one of 
the leading farmers of the town ; he served his town as supervisor, assessor, and 
was captain of militia and was a Quaker in faith. The parents of Thomas were 
Abraham and Elizabeth (Thomas) Hoag, he a native of Easton and she of Rhode 
Island ; they were early settlers of Pitt.stown, where they lived and died. The great- 
grandfather of Mr. Hoag was Jonathan Hoag. who came from Dutchess county at 
a very early date to Whitehall where he was prospecting, but not finding the soil 
suitable went back to White Creek, where he married Sarah Hall and then went 
back to Beetal Hill, where he reared his family and died at Easton. Mr. Hoag has 
always followed farming and stock raising; he is now engaged in raising thorough- 
bred Devonshire cattle in connection with general farming. In 18i50 he married 
Eliza J., daughter of William and Abigail Akin, by whom he had ten children, three 
of whom .survive: Shandanette, who is engaged in the mercantile business at Tom- 
hannock. Jonathan, jr., a lawyer at Fort Myers, Fla. ; he graduated at the State 
Normal School at Albany and then taught in the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute; 
losing his health he went to Florida and studied law with Judge Bullock and was 
admitted to the bar in September, 1895. U. S. Grant, who is connected with his 
father in his farming operations. Mr. Hoag was road commissioner for twelve years 
and served for four successive years as supervisor; has been justice for two terms 
and served one term as associate justice, having been one of the last to hold that 



m\' 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 15 

position at the time the office was abolished by law. He was one of the first sur- 
veying agents of the Pittstown Fire Insurance Co., and for eleven years served as 
secretary when he was elected president, which position he still holds. 

Hoag, Alvin T., born on the farm he now owns in Pittstown, July 4, 1847, is a son 
of Thomas Hoag. Alvin T. was reared on a farm and educated in the common 
schools and at Fort Edward Institute. He follows farming and owns the homestead 
of his father containing 230 acres to which he has added 195 acres of land. He is 
making a specialty of dairying. He was asessor one year (appointed). He has also 
been highway commissioner, inspector of election about six years and trustee of his 
district for over twenty years. He is a member of Victor Lodge No. 680, F. & A. 
M., and has held most of the offices in the lodge. He was married September 8, 
1869, to Arzelia Akin, daughter of Humphrey Akin. Mr. and Mrs. Hoag have four 
sons: Thomas A., Howard W., MerrittC, George A. Howard W. married Nellie 
Francisco of Tomhannock, N. Y. They have one daughter, Mildred. Mr. Hoag has 
been agent for the Pittstown Fire Insurance Co., the largest insurance company of 
any one town in the State of New York. 

Lohnes, George W., was born in Scbaghticoke, August 18, 1845. He is a son of 
Adam and a grandson of Adam Lohnes, a native of Germany, who came to Bruns- 
wick, N. Y., in a very early day and was in the war of the Revolution and also of 
1812 under Major Lansing as an ensign ; he died in Pittstown. The mother of Mr. 
Lohnes was Jane Whalie, born in Hoosick. His father was born in Brunswick ; he 
was a manufacturer of powder and politically was a Democrat until 1862 and Repub- 
lican thereafter until his death, which occurred in 1886; his wife died in 1882. Mr. 
Lohnes worked for the Scbaghticoke Powder Co. until eighteen years of age, and 
then learned the carpenter trade at which he worked about nine years. He then 
engaged in the coal and lumber and general produce business which he followed at 
Valley Falls for fourteen years, and then disposed of it and engaged in manufactur- 
ing wood alcohol for three years, and also in fire insurance, and, finally, March, 
1895, began mercatile business. He was married September 22, 1871, to Mary E. 
Sproat of Valley Falls, by whom he has two sons, Harry and Willie (deceased). Mr. 
Lohnes is a Republican ; he was collector for two years and served as supervisor 
during the years 1888-90. He is a member of Victor Lodge No. 680, F. & A. M., 
and Columbia Lodge No. 689, I. O. O. F. He enlisted in the 96th N. Y. Vols., and 
was elected sergeant and promoted to second lieutenant, holding that office until the 
company was disbanded. Mr. Lohnes is a member of the M. E. church of Valley 
Falls, trustee and treasurer of Elmwood cemetery and treasurer of Union Free school 
at Valley Falls. He was postmaster during Harrison's administration, and the first 
year of Cleveland's administration. 

Bissell, James Harvey, M.D., was born in Beloit, Wis., in 1857. His father, Ben- 
jamin F. Bissell, was born in Cooperstown, N. Y. , in 1808 and removed to Beloit in 
1853 and entered the paper manufacturing business. Later he removed to Ballston, 
N. Y., where he at present resides. His mother is Harriet (Du Bois) Bissell, born 
in Rock City Falls, N. Y., in 1817 She was a student of Oberlin College. He at- 
tended the grammar school and graduated from the Albany Medical College in 1887, 
being historian of his class, and commenced the practice of medicine in Troy; later 



16 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

studied medicine in Berlin and Vienna for one year and returned in 1893 to his prac- 
tice in Troy. He belongs to the Rensselaer County Medical Society, the New York 
State Medical Association, and the Anglo-Austrian Medical Association. He was 
married to Miss Delia Leggett of Troy in 1895. He is a prominent member of the 
Masonic order, being a member of Apollo Commandery, K. T., Troy; he is also a 
Shriner. 

Waldo, Howard L., M.D., was born in Centreville, N. Y., September 13, 1852. 
His great-grandfather. Dr. Waldo, was a surgeon in the Revolutionary war. His 
father, Dr. Lyman B. Waldo, was born in Otsego county, and for a number of years he 
practiced in Adams, Lansingburgh and Oswego, N.Y., and died in West Troy in July, 
1879. His mother, Mary S. (McEntee), was born in Oneida county. She died in 1891. 
He attended the Hungerford Collegiate Institute and graduated from the High School 
in Oswego. He then went into the office of Dr. H. M. Payne in Albany, and at- 
tended lectures in Albany Medical College. In 1875 he passed the examination of 
the State Board of Medical Examiners and received the degree of Doctor of Medicine 
of the University of the State of New York. For thirteen years he practiced in West 
Troy and in 1887 he came to Troy and has since that time been in active practice 
there. He belongs to the Homeopathic Medical Society of Albany county and the 
New York State Homeopathic Medical Society, and has been president of the Al- 
bany County Medical Society, and secretary and treasurer of the State Medical So- 
ciety. He married Maria Elizabeth Hawley of Albany, in May, 1880. He has two 
daughters. In politics he is a Republican. 

Belding, Rufus Elisha, M.D., was born in Minerva, Ohio. His father is Warren 
A. Belding who was born in Randolph, Ohio, September 5. 1816. He practiced 
medicine for many years, and then changed his profession to that of a preacher of 
the gospel. He is now a very prominent divine and has baptized over 10,000 people 
with his own hands. His mother was Myra E. (Ward) Belding of Randolph, Ohio. 
She died in November, 1860. Dr. Belding received a common school and academic 
education, afterwards he attended Hiram College in Ohio, the Cleveland Homeo- 
pathic Medical College and the Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania, from 
which he was graduated in 1866. He commenced practice in Syracuse and in 1870 
came to Troy, where he has established a large and extensive practice. He belongs 
to the Central N.Y. Homeopathic Medical Society, the International-Hahnnemanian 
Association, also honorary member of the Albany County Homeopathic Medical So- 
ciety. He is a member of the Church of Christ and has been chorister of the same 
for many years. He is a member of the Troy V.ocal Society. He makes a specialty 
of diseases of the ej'e. He was married to Martha A. Seymour of Meridian, Cayuga 
county, N. Y., January 6, 1862. He has four sons. The oldest, Warren S., is an 
electrician in Buffalo. His second son, Paul W., is in the rubber manufacturing 
business. He has one son in New York city, and one attending school. 

Broderick, Edmund, was born in Troy, N. Y., July 12, 1839. His father, Edmund 
Broderick, came from Ireland about 1834 and worked on the Erie Canal at Amster 
dam, N. Y., and came to Troy where he died in 1843. His mother, Mary (Kelley) 
Broderick, was born in Ireland and died in Troy in 1870. Edmund received his 
education in the public schools and learned the mason's trade first with Burns & 



FAMILY SKETCHES. J7 

Lyons and completed it in Chicago. He then returned to Troy and started in busi- 
ness in 1861 forming the firm of Kelley cl- Broderick. which continued until 1875; he 
then carried the business on alone until 1890 when his son, Edmund D., was taken 
in and the firm name of Edmund Broderick & Son was assumed. Among the build- 
ings erected by them are several malt houses, Washington Steamer house, the Anna 
Plumb Memorial building, the new court house, the Hart Memorial, the St. Law- 
rence German Catholic church, the Presbyterian church on Green Island, and others. 
He served on the Board of Supervisors in 1873-1875 and is now president of the 
Master Masons Society. He was married in 1865 to Catherine Higgins of Troy. 
His children are Edmund D., Margaret U., and George J. He and his family are 
all members of the Catholic church and worship at St. Joseph's church. In politics 
he is a Democrat. 

Garrison, Henry, was born in the town of Schaghticoke, N. Y., November 26, 
1832. His education was obtained in the public schools, and he has been one of the 
town's best farmers. December 20, 1865, he married M. Emma Ralston, of his native 
town, and they had two children, a daughter and son; Stella E., and Clarence H. 
Stella E. was born March 18, 1871, and died December 25, 1879. Clarence H. was 
born October 17, 1872, and died March 18, 1880. Mr. Garrison's father, Hassil, was 
born in the town of Hoosick in the year 1800, was educated in the schools of that 
day and was a farmer. He married Mary Hunt of the town of Schaghticoke, and 
had six children, four daughters and two sons: Henry, Esther E., Kate M., Abbie, 
H. Jane, and John H. Hassil Garrison died in 1885, and his wife May 9, 1872. Mrs. 
Garrison's father, John Ralston, was born in this town February 9, 1801. He was 
educated in the schools of his day, and was a successful farmer. He married Caro- 
line Briggs of Schaghticoke. They were members of the Presbyterian church of 
that place. They had three children, two sons and a daughter: Warren E., John E. 
and M. Emma. John Ralston died July 23, 1872, and his wife March 7, 1776. Mr. 
and Mrs. Garrison are members of the Presbyterian church of Johnsonville. 

Gifford, Hiram, was born in Easton, Washington county, N. Y., September 19, 
1816. He was educated in the common schools, and at an academy at Rensselaer- 
ville, Schoharie county. He has been an intelligent farmer since he attained his 
majority. In 1841 he married Lois Hall of his native town and county; they have 
two daughters, Elizabeth and Europa. Elizabeth married William Gow, of John- 
sonville, N. Y. Europa at this date resides at home. Mr. Gifford's father, Allen, 
was born in Cambridge, Washington county, N. Y., in 1792. He too was a farmer. 
He married Anna Hoag of Easton: they had six children : Hiram, Haviland, Eliza- 
beth, Lydia, Cornelia, and Elisha. Mr. Gifford died in 1890, and his wife died in 
1886. Mrs. Gifford's father, Richard Hall, was born in Easton in 1783. He married 
Europa, daughter of Redford Dennis of his native town. They had five children: 
Hiram, Lucina, Anna, Emeline, and Lois. Mr. Hall died November 19, 1835, and 
his wife died in 1822. Mr. Gifford and family have resided in the town of Schaghti- 
coke since the year 1875. He is one of the solid men of the town, and has been the 
architect of his own succe.ss, ably seconded by his excellent wife. The ancestry of 
the family is of Norman origin, on the maternal side of New England stock of Eng- 
lish origin. Hiram Gifford has always been a staunch Republican. 
c 



18 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Hewitt, Clifford, M.D., has practiced his healing art at Hoosick Falls with em- 
inent success since February, 1884, and is no less popular and well esteemed as a 
physician than as a man and citizen. He is an active member of the Baptist 
church, also the Temple of Honor, and believes in the necessity of absolute prohibi- 
tion of the liquor traffic. He married in 1878, while a resident of Fort Edward, 
N. Y., Miss Mary E. Wood of that place. They have four children. Dr. Hewitt 
was born January 23, 1855, at Greenfield, N. Y., son of Clark Hewitt of a family 
descended from the Scotch people and whose first American ancestors settled at 
Stonington, Conn. His father died when he was thirteen, and having an 
elder brother already practicing medicine at Fort Edward, he went there, complet- 
ing his preparatory education at the seminary there and in 1872 beginning medical 
research in his brother's office. In 1878 he attended lectures at Burlington, Vt., 
and thence to the University of the City of New York, whence he was graduated 
in 1879. 

Bovie, Hewitt, was once engaged in farming, but for the last twenty years has 
lived retired from active business life. He is a native of Hoosick, born in 1817. He 
is of Holland ancestry, and son of Henry Bovie, who was born in Breese Hollow. The 
latter was a farmer also, and a deacon of the Baptist church. Hewitt Bovie married 
in 1841 Eunice Wylie of Wallingford, Vt. Their two children, Mary E. and Jennie, 
each died when about one year old. 

Rising, G. Frank, is one of the well known firm of Easton, Rising & Worden, of 
Hoosick Falls, and who was born in the town of Hoosick, January 14, 1859, son of 
George A. Rising, another lifelong resident. His business life began when at fifteen 
years of age he took a clerical situation with M. F. White & Co., with whom he re- 
mained six years, developing abilities of rare order. In 1880 he became associated 
with C. W. Easton in the large business now operated by that firm. Mr. Rising is 
highly esteemed for his many sterling qualities and we venture to predict for him a 
brilliant and prosperous future. He married in 1880 Miss Elnora Buck of Eagle 
Bridge, and they have one son, Harold. 

Thompson, George S., is a member of the firm of Stevens &• Thompson, paper 
manufacturers of North Hoosick, This has become a large and important industry, 
also controlling the output of the Bennington Falls Pulp Company. The mills at 
North Hoosick are devoted to mill paper specialties and produce at least ten tons 
per diem, and those at Walloomsac nearly twice as much of a similar product, also 
choice book and manilla papers. Mr. Thomp.son is of an old English family and 
was born at Troy in 1840. From 1861 to 1869 he was engaged at Troy as a whole- 
sale grocer, and still has large business interests there, his association with Mr. 
Stevens in the manufacturing business dating from 1870. 

Carpenter, J. M., is a central figure in the business and social life of Hoosick Falls. 
He is at the head of the extras, advertising, and shipping departments of the Walter 
A. Wood Mowing and Reaping Machine Company, a very responsible and important 
position to the onerous duties of which he is fully equal. Mr. Carpenter was born at 
Schenectady February 6. 1850, son of Cornelius and Anna Carpenter, now residents 
of Hoosick Falls, having removed here in 1869. Mr. Carpenter learned the trade of 
machinist at the Schenectady Locomotive Works during a four year.s' apprenticeship, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 19 

and in 1869 entered the employ of Mr. Wood as a machinist. Mr. Carpenter's ad- 
vancement to the position he now occupies has been due to personal ability and 
faithful service. The late Mr. Wood was a rare judge of character and was quick 
to recognize and reward genius and fidelity. Mr. Carpenter has been prominently 
identified with local affairs and is not only a ready supporter, but an organizer and 
inciter of measures for public good. He is president of the Permanent Savings and 
Loan Association, a concern whose financial operations are on a large scale. He is 
a most efficient and active president of the Health Board, and a trustee of the First 
Baptist church, towards whose building and maintenance he has been a liberal con- 
tributor. He is a past master of the Masonic lodge and has been identified with the 
fraternity for a quarter of a century. His marriage in 1872 was to Miss Sarah J. 
Leonard, daughter of the late Edgar Leonard, the pioneer expressman, and the chil- 
dren are two — Leila May and Frank M. 

Powell, George E., was born in Petersburgh in 183G. James Powell, his grand- 
father, was a native of New Jersey, and settled in Petersburgh in 1798 when a 
young man. He married Polly Wilkinson, born in Petersburgh and daughter of 
John Wilkinson who moved from Rhode Island and settled in Petersburgh in 1773; 
they reared one child, James. Mr. Powell died when quite a young man, and his 
wife lived to a very old age. James, the father, was born in Petersburgh in 1799 
and spent most of his life in this town as a farmer. His wife was Elizabeth Church 
of Charleston, R. I. ; they reared three sons and three daughters. He lived to be 
eighty years of age and his wife lived to be seventy. George E. was the second 
child born to this union. He received an ordinary school education, but by per- 
severance and hard study fitted himself for teaching, which he began when sixteen 
years of age, and has followed it for over forty years. He has served as justice of 
the peace for twenty-five years, and is an honored member of the Masonic fraternity 
of twenty-five years' standing. He is now principal of the Petersburgh school. In 
1882 he married Zipporah Scriven, daughter of Daniel E. and Lydia (Allen) Scriven. 
They have three children: Mary, Georgia and Rosaltha. 

Manchester, Edward B., was born in Petersburgh on the farm and in the house he 
now owns, November 8, 1849. Asel Manchester, his father, was born in Monroe 
county, N. Y., in 1801, and spent his whole life in agricultural pursuits, coming to 
Petersburgh about 1821 where he spent the balance of his life on the farm. His wife 
was Angeline, daughter of Solomon Brimmer, who was also born in the house now 
owned by Edward B., and she is a descendant of John George Brimmer, the pioneer 
settler in Petersburgh and founder of the Brimmer family in America. To them 
were born six sons and five daughters. He died in 1882 and his wife in 1855. Ed- 
ward B. attended the common schools and when twenty he went to Kalamazoo, 
Mich., where he was an attendant in an insane asylum for two years, when he re- 
turned home and engaged as clerk in a grocery store in North Adams, Mass., for a 
short time. He then went tu Cleveland, Ohio, where he was attendant in an asylum 
for four years, when he accepted a position in the House of Refuge at Randall's 
Island. After three months he was promoted to an instructorship, which position 
he held for ten years, when, on account of failing health, in 1891 he returned to 
Petersburgh and purchased the homestead farm, where he is making the breeding 
of poultry his specialty. From 1891 to 1895 he served as school trustee, and is now 



20 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

filling the office of assessor. He is a member of the Ma.sonic fraternit)'. In 1868 he 
married Eva Nichols, and to them were born two children: Myrtle, wife of Irving 
Howard of Petersburgh ; and Mabel, wife of Charles Piser, of Pittstown. Mrs. Man- 
chester died in 1890. In 1891 he married Mary Burgess, who was a graduate from the 
State Normal School and a teacher on Randall's Island in the same institution where 
Mr. Manchester taught. They have two children: Burgess and Ida. Mr. Manchester's 
brother Franklin when seventeen years of age enlisted m the 125th New York Regi- 
ment, was taken prisoner at the battle of Fair Oaks and died in Andersonville prison. 
His brothers and sisters were Martin, Louena, Paulina Moroa, Adeline, Frank, 
Adelbert, and Ambrose. 

Hakes, Albert C, was born in this town in June, 1840. Solomon Hakes, his great- 
great-grandfather, was born in the county of Durham, England, about 1680, and 
came to America in 1700 and settled in Stonington, Conn., in 1709. He married 
Anna Billings and they reared four children. His great-grandfather, Jonathan, was 
born in Stonington, Conn., in 1724. He was a farmer by occupation and a soldier 
in the Revolutionary war. His wife was Hannah F. Brown of Westerly, R. I. ; they 
reared seven sons and one daughter; he died in 1779. Weiden, his grandfather, was 
born in Stonington, Conn., in July, 1771, and came with his six brothers to Peters- 
burgh in 1780, where he pursued farming and lived to be seventy-four years of age. 
His wife was Sybil Smith, and to them were' born four sons and three daughters, 
three of whom grew to maturity: Weiden, Jeremiah S, and Seth E. Weiden, jr., 
the father of Albert C, was born in Petersburgh, March 7, 1798. He married 
Rebecca S., daughter of Joshua Peckham and granddaughter of Braddock Peckham, 
a Revolutionary soldier; they reared six sons; Ira D., Stephen S., Joshua W., Leon- 
ard S., Jeremiahs., and Albert C. Mr. Hakes was a farmer. He died in Peters- 
burgh in October, 1855. Albert C. remained with his parents until he was twenty- 
one, when he assumed charge of the homestead, which has been in the possession of 
the Hakes family one hundred years. His parents resided with him until they died. 
In 1884 he purchased the Union Hotel property in Petersburgh, which he conducted 
until 1895, when he retired and leased the hotel. He is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity. Star Lodge No. 670 of Petersburgh, in which he has held oflSce. In Sep- 
tember, 1862, he married Permelia F. Hakes, born in Petersburgh, and a daughter 
of Danforth Hakes. Their children were Alice, Hattie, wife of James Silsby of 
Lunenburg, Vt. ; Chauncey, a shoe merchant of Albany, and Minnie. 

Reynolds, William T., was born in Petersburgh on the farm he now owns in 1831. 
Squire William W. Reynolds, his grandfather, was a native of Westerly, R. I. He 
settled in Petersburgh in 1780 and became a prominent and successful farmer, and 
filled the office of supervisor of his town for several terms, and was magistrate for 
many years. He served in the Revolutionarj^ war as a volunteer for a .short 
time without pay, and participated in the battle of Bennington. He reared four 
sons and two daughters. Elijah, the father of William T. , was born in Petersburgh 
in 1782; he was an industrious and successful farmer and accumulated a large prop- 
erty; his wife was Betsey, a daughter of Thomas Crandall; they reared three sons 
and three daughters; he died in 1859 and his wife survived him many years and died 
in 1886. William T. was reared on a farm and received a common school education. 
He devoted his whole life successfully to agricultural pursuits, and in the mean time 



Family sketches, 21 

has added largely to his real estate possessions. For two years he was engaged in 
shoe manufacturing business in the village of Petersburgh. He lost his factory by 
fire and never rebuilt. He was supervisor of the town for five years. In 1857 he 
married Mary J. Wilcox. She was born in Petersburgh, the daughter of Currenton 
and Hannah (Hewitt) Wilco.\. She is the great-granddaughter of Sterry Hewitt, the 
Revolutionary soldier. To Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds were born four children : Minnie 
M. (deceased), Mrs. Fannie B. Rosenburg, Frank E. and Mvf. Cora A. Jones of 
Hoosick Falls. 

Parsons, Hon. J. Russell, was born at Hoosick Falls, October 14, 1830, and con- 
tinues to reside at the old homestead on High street in that village. Educated at 
the Ball Academy and at Brown University, he was graduated from the latter in- 
stitution as a civil engineer, and for many years practiced that profession on State 
canals and in construction of various railroads throughout the United States. Since 
1852 he has been associated with the Walter A. Wood Machine Co. as vice-president, 
and as a trusted adviser of the late Mr. Wood. For about twenty-five years he has 
had charge of the patent business of the firm, demonstrating legal and administrative 
ability of the highest order. Mr. Parsons is a Democrat of the old school, earnest, 
determined, and sincere, and is popular with all classes and parties. Of his personal 
benevolence little has become known outside those who have benefited by his noble 
and unostentatious charities. Always foremost in advancing educational interests, 
he has, during a long term of years as president of the local Board of Education, 
done much to elevate the standard of educational facilities, and in the county legis- 
lature left a clear and admirable record as its presiding ofhcer. 

Wilder, L. C, and one sister in the West are the only surviving children of the late 
Lyman "VYiLder, who was born at Brattleboro, Vt , in 1798. He was an architect, 
drawing his own plans, and came here in 1826 following that work. In 1830 he 
married Virtue Ball, the mother of Mr. Wilder, who died in 1850, and he married 
Catherine E. Haswell of this place who survives him. He went into business here 
with Mr. Parsons, a manufacturer, at whose death he carried on the work alone. 
He was a great lover of natural science and had a fine collection of geological and 
ornithological specimens. He was one of the organizers of the Presbyterian church 
and his death in 1885 at eighty-eight years of age was mourned by all who knew 
him. His son, L. C. Wilder, on whose shoulders his mantle fell, was born in 1833 at 
this place. He was educated at the Ball Seminary and the State Normal School, 
graduating in 1854; he taught school six years, then enlisted in Co. H, 30th N. V. 
Infantry, in 1861 for two years. Their brigade was known as the " Iron Brigade" 
and was in many battles — at Fredericksburg where he was knocked over by a shell 
and two of his comrades were killed, at Chancellorsville, second Battle of Bull 
Run, and Antietam. He was shipping clerk on the Troy and Boston Railroad three 
years, and after a course at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute w^as engineer on the 
Champlain Canal survey, 1874-1876, and under the investigating committee on canals 
under Gov. Tilden. In 1877 he came home to the help of his father in real estate and 
surveying, which is still his principal business. He has been a central figure in the 
local affairs of the town, holding positions of trust and honor. He is a Republican, 
commander of the G. A. R. Post, a member of the Hoosick Club, a member of the 
Masonic orders and the Raymond Chapter, the Board of Trade, and the Historical 



11 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Society of the Town of Hoosick; one of the principal originators in forming the 
Hoosick Building and Loan Association and one of the organizers of the Board of 
Sewer Commissioners. 

Getty, Addison, cashier of the First National Bank of Hoosick Falls, was born at 
East Greenwich, Washington county, in 1847, son of James McW. Getty of Scotch an- 
cestry and a farmer. Addison's boyhood until fourteen years of age was spent at 
Hebron, thence to Brockport for three years. He first began business life in a bank- 
ing establishment at Salem in 1872 as clerk where he remained eight yeais, coming 
here in 1880 to the First National Bank, with which institution he is still connected. 
Mr. Getty is a Republican and a man of real worth and sterling integrity. He has 
been twice married; in 1877 to Harriet J. Crane of Phoenix, N. Y., who left one son, 
Carl, seventeen years of age; and in 1895 to Martha L. Cottrell of Easton, N. Y. 
Mr. Getty is a worthy and efficient member of the the Presbyterian church of this 
place. 

Geer, Danforth, one of the leading citizens of Hoosick Falls, is the second son of 
A. C. Geer, a prominent business man of this locality, who for years was the central 
figure of the Walter A. Wood Mowing and Reaping Machine Co. He was a native 
of Glens Falls educated at Burr Seminary, Manchester, Vt. ; also a graduate of 
Union College in 1840. As a lawyer he became a partner of Judge Olin of Troy, 
which relations continued for ten j'ears. For five j'ears he was collector of internal 
revenue with office at Troy, thence here in 1867 as secretary of the Walter A. Wood 
Mowing and Reaping Machine Co., remaining until 1885 His wife was Helen 
Augusta Danforth, of an old and prominent family of Williamstown, Mass. She 
was a woman of high intellectual attainments, and was vice-president of the 
Daughters of the American Revolution. There are but two children living; Walter 
Geer of New York, the elder son, is now president of the New York Architectural 
Terra Cotta Co. and Danforth, who was born at Williamstown, in 1859, and was 
graduated at Williams College in the class of '79. He at once became a member of 
the firm, with which his father had been so long connected as assistant secretary; 
also one of the trustees of the institution. He was the organizer of the Hoosick 
Club, of which he has been president since its organization. In politics he is an 
ardent Republican ; trustee of the village and president of the Board of Trade. He 
was united in marriage in 1887 to Amy Gay, daughter of William Gay. Three chil- 
dren are the issue of this union. 

Putnam, William B., M.D., one of the leading physicians of Hoo-sick Falls, was 
born in Putnam, Ontario county, in 1855, a place named in honor of his father, 
Thomas Putnam, who was a magistrate of that county. His family is of English 
ancestry; his grandfather served as a lieutenant in a New Hampshire regiment at 
Bunker Hill ; his mother was Nancy Harris and granduiece of General Herkimer. 
He left his native place at si.xteen, and having decided on the medical profession as 
his life work, entered in 1872 the class of '76 at Toronto University, but entered 
Brantford Institute for two years before completing his course at the former school. 
In 1875 he went to Cleveland, O., and entered the homceopathic college there, grad- 
uating in 1878 and at once began practice here, where he has resided for seventeen 
years. He has enjoyed a successful practice from the first. Dr. Putnam, determined 
to profit by an opportunity presented to acquire such knowledge as he desired, went 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 23 

to Europe in 1885 and there pursued his investigations, making a specialty of pul- 
monary affections. 

Skinner, Dr. Smith Austin, was born in Thetford, Vt. He is the son of Smith 
Skinner and Rhoda Heaton, daughter of Dr. Solomon Heaton and Rhoda Whittier, 
an aunt of the poet, Whittier. The practice of medicine seems to have been hered- 
itary in both branches of the family, and he read medicine with his uncle, Jonathan 
Skinner, at Brownington, Vt, and graduated from the University of Vermont in 
1854. He practiced medicine in his native State until 1864, when he settled at 
Hoosick Falls, where he continues to reside. In 1863 Governor Holbrook of Ver- 
mont appointed him as one of the medical examiners of Vermont to examine men 
enrolled in the militia who applied for exemption from military duty in the Rebellion. 
He was also appointed assistant surgeon of the 7th Vt. Vols., but on account of poor 
health could not accept. Dr. Skinner is a member of the American Medical Asso- 
ciation, and has been appointed a delegate to its national conventions. He is a char- 
ter member of the New York State Medical Association, a member of the Rensselaer 
County Medical Society and was president for a number of years of the Union Med- 
ical Society. The doctor is an inventor of merit and has taken out many patents 
from surgical appliances and fountain pens to rifle implements. During the Re- 
bellion Governor Fairbanks of Vermont equipped a regiment with his hospital bed 
and stretcher, which was most highly recommended by some of the leading surgeons 
in the army. Dr. Skinner was vestryman of St. Mark's Episcopal church of Hoosick 
Falls for many years. He is a Mason, and a member of Apollo Commandery of 
Troy, N. Y. He was junior warden of the Grand Commandery of the State of Ver- 
mont when he left the State. He was associated with Judge Ball in forming the 
Board of Health of Hoosick Falls, was the first health officer and held the position 
for eight years; he was instrumental in first having the streets lighted, and was an 
agitator for a sewer system and pure water. He has written several papers on med-' 
ical and surgical subjects. On ballistics (rifles and their ammunition) he writes 
under the nom de-plume of Medicus. On November 19, 1850, Dr. Skinner married 
Catharine Hinman Blake of Salem, Vt. She is the daughter of Hon. Samuel Blake 
and granddaughter of Judge Timothy Hinman, who served in the Revolutionary- 
war, and was with Washington at Valley Forge during the winter of 1778. They 
have two daughters, Mabel Katrine, an amateur sculptor, and Katherine Annette, 
an artist in oils and china painting. 

Cahill, William A., began his successful law practice in Hoosick, his native town, 
after two years in a law office of Troy. He was born in 1866, son of John Cahill, 
and has always resided here. He entered Rock Hill College, Maryland, in 1881 
and after a three years' course was graduated. For one year he read law with 
Stroud & Green. He was admitted to the bar at Saratoga in 1890, after having en- 
gaged in the drug bu.siness for two years. His first public office was that of justice 
of the peace, and he was again elected in 1895 for another four years' term, as he 
proves a most efficient and popular official. 

Parsons, Warren G., one of the prominent merchants of Hoosick Falls, is a son of 
Andrew C. Parsons, who was born at Bennington, Vt., coming here when a boy of 
twelve to learn the tailor trade. He began the business at Richfield Springs, re- 



24 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

maining there until 1849, when he returned to this place and engaged in the hard- 
ware business, occupying the present store, where Warren has carried on such an 
extensive trade, having entered the store at twenty-five and succeeding his father to 
the entire management of the establishment. Under his supervision the store has 
been enlarged, and is now a department store filled with various lines of house- 
furnishing goods. A. C. Parsons was an old-time Whig until the formation of the 
Republican party, but not an office holder. He died in 188:? at an advanced age, 
honored and esteemed by all. Warren G. was six years old when he left Richfield, 
where he was born in 1843, and received employment in a dry goods store from the 
age of fourteen to nineteen, then entered Eastman College. He is also a Repub- 
lican, but not an aspirant for public office. 

Hannon,T. H. , M. D , a young and promising physician of Hoosick Falls, is a grad 
uate of Bellevue Medical College, one of the famous hospitals of the world, where 
he completed a three years' course in 1891. Prior to this he had been in the office of 
Dr. J. C. Hannon of this place as a student for two years. He was born at North 
Hoosick in 1864, and his father is Thomas Hannon of that place. Before he began 
the study of medicine he had been at Troy High School, and Troy Business College. 
Even in the short time he has won the confidence of a large circle of friends, and a 
brilliant career is before him. 

McWayne, L. D., M. D. , one of the prominent physicians of Hoosick Falls, is of 
Scotch descent, and the son of a blacksmith. He received a common school educa- 
tion at Pawlet, Vt., where he was born in 1836 and where he resided until nineteen 
years of age. He began medical study at Akrun, Ohio, with Dr. W. E. Chamber- 
lain with whom he remained for four years. In 1876 he entered Worcester Uni- 
versity at Cleveland, O., and was graduated in 1879. He then practiced seven years 
at Akron, and came here permanently in 1890. Dr. McWayne is a well known spe- 
cialist, and eminently successful in his practice. He claims the wonderful record of 
treating 2,000 cases of diphtheria without a loss. 

White, John B., is one of the oldest citizens of the town of Hoosick and a personal 
landmark. He has been a resident since 1818, when he came here with his father, 
George W. White, who conducted a blacksmith shop. The death of the latter 
occurred in 1867, after a long life of eighty-one years. John B. was born in Massa- 
chusetts in 1815 and labored on the farm and at the blacksmith business until he be- 
came a resident of Hoosick Falls, twenty-seven years ago. He is emphatically a 
selfmade man and acquired his wealth by speculation in cattle, sheep and wool, and 
now owns considerable real estate here. He was once commissioner of highways, 
but is not interested in politics now. Mr. White married in 1851 Almeda Wood of 
Hoosick. Of their five children none is living. 

Kelver, William, has been a lifelong resident of Hoosick, his native town. Born 
in 1830, he engaged in farming until thirty-six years old, then sold mowers and reap- 
ers in Rensselaer county one year. He acquired through his own efforts his education 
and his success in life is due to close application and shrewd business capacity devel- 
oped early m his career. He dealt largely in real estate and still continues in the 
business. He is one of the directors of the First National Bank, and a member of 
the Board of Trade. He has been a Mason twenty years, and his connections with 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 25 

the M. E. church began at a very early date, and almost from the beginning he has 
been called to various positions of responsibility, trustee twenty-five years, and class 
leader thirty years, and one of the building committee. He married Betsey Arvilla 
Reynolds, daughter of Lyman Reynolds, of Petersburgh. One son was born to them 
in 1855 but died in infancy. 

Stroud, Mrs. Harriet L. — Mrs. Stroud was born in Bennington, Vt., the daughter 
of Anthony Breese, who was born in Hoosick and most of his life was spent there on 
a farm. Her paternal grandfather came from Holland and settled at Greenbush, 
N. Y. Several descendants of his family are residents of the southern part of Hoosick. 
Charles E. Stroud, who died here in 1888, had been for a number of years one 
of the foremost men of the place. The law firm was Stroud & Whitcomb until 1884 
when George E. Green became Mr. Stroud's partner. Mr. Stroud was noted for 
legal ability and integrity and public spirit as well. He was one of the organizers 
of the First National Bank here and, while never seeking public office, was always 
interested in the public well being. He was of Stamford birth, and a graduate of 
Williams College. 

Reynolds, A. Olin, born in Floosick, April 20, 1868, is the younger son of the late 
Hon. Gideon Reynolds, an ex congressman, who died July 13, 1896, at eighty-three 
years of age, and whose pul>lic life with relation to Rensselaer county affairs will be 
found elsewhere detailed. The wife of Gideon Reynolds, now deceased, was Julia 
Richmond of landmark family. They were married in 1845 and she bore him seven 
children, of whom four are living now: Josiah Reynolds of Marquette, Mich. ; Anna 
R., Marcus T., a banker of North Adams, and A. Olin Reynolds. The handsome 
old homestead at Hoosick has been in the possession of the Reynolds family since 
1836, when Thomas Reynolds, the father of Gideon, settled here. 

Quackenbush, John B. V., is the elder son of Benjamin V. Ouackenbush, a well 
preserved landmark of Hoosick, born in 1811, who was a son of John Ouackenbush, 
a descendant of an old Holland family. They first settled in New York city, and 
the family spread to Albany, thence to Hoosick. The mother of John B. V., the late 
Helen Armitage Ouackenbush, died in 1895, aged seventy-three. She was a repre- 
sentative of a prominent family, her father, James Armitage, having married one of 
the daughters of Garrett Lake, who came from New Jersey about 1790 and settled 
at White Creek. Mr. Quackenbush has in his possession several silver souvenir 
spoons made from knee buckles worn in the Revolution by John Lake, an ancestor 
of the Armitages, and an old Dutch painting from Holland, 200 years old, represent- 
ing a Bible scene, also a land patent given by George the Third of England to James 
Lake and four others for 5,000 acres of land, dated December 24, 1761, and bearing 
the great seal of George IH. Mr. Quackenbush was born in 1850 at Hoosick and 
his boyhood was spent on the old homestead. He has always engaged in farming. 
He married in 1890 Marian R. Wilder of this place. They are members of the Pres- 
byterian church. Mr. Quackenbush is identified with the Republican party. 

Reynolds, A. E., a most prominent man of Hoosick, has been a resident here 
forty-two years. He came to this place in 1858 and purchased nearly 300 acres of 
land near Hoosick and has a wide acquaintance in the county, having taken an act- 
ive part in its political affairs. He is an ardent Republican and served as town asses- 
d 



26 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

sor many years. He was a colonel of militia before the war, and raised a company 
of fifty men, called the " Mountain Guard." He was born at Petersburgh in 1812, 
son of Elijah Reynolds, also a native of that place. The family came from Rhode 
Island. His grandfather, William, was one of the first coroners here Mr. Rey- 
nolds in e.aiiy life taught school, then was a merchant in his native town for eight 
years conducting a general store. Here he married in 1S42 Mary R. Knowlton, 
who died in 1892 leaving four children: Harriet Elizabeth, wife of Livingstone 
Quackenbush of Le Seaur, Minn. ; Harlan, a prominent man of Washington, Iowa; 
William H., who died in 1876; Jennie L., wife of Dyke Ouackc'nbush of Hoosick; 
Fremont A., born in 1856, who has never married but remained with his aged father 
to .support and cheer his declining years. 

Woolley, Marsden, though born at Edmeston, Otsego county, in 18l8, has spent 
most of his life in Hoosick. He was but a child when he came to Walloomsac to live 
with his grandfather, Nathaniel Barnet, a Scotchman and soldier of the Revolution. 
Mr. Woolley was reared in this home on the site of the battleground of Bennington, 
and educated at Poultney, Vt. He inherits the scholarly attainments for which his 
ancestors were distinguished, and is recognized as a man of superior intellectual 
attainments. His father, Fitzgerald Woolley, was of English and Quaker descent. 
He was a farmer and once a resident of Walloomsac, but later went West and died 
in Illinois. Marsden married in 1853 Lydia Milliman of vSalem, Washington county. 
He is politically a Republican. In the M. E. church lie is a faithful and consistent 
member. 

Gooding, Mrs. Seymour. — In 1894 Hoosick was called upon to mourn the death of 
one of her most prominent and influential men, Mr. Seymour Gooding. He was 
active in political life and identified with every interest of the town. He was well 
informed upon all legal questions, and a kind and safe counsellor to the many who 
sought his advice. Farming he followed extensively and was also a speculator in 
cattle, sheep and wool. This is not his native town as he was born at Hartford. 
Washington county, but he came here when a child. His wife, who survives him, 
was MarciaA. Milliman, daughter of Halsey Milliman of Salem, Washington county, 
whom he married in 1859. He served as postmaster eight years at North Hoosick. His 
son Elmer was also postmaster four years. The latter resided at home taking cluirge 
of the several farms since the death of his father. At the age of fifteen years he 
entered the Rutland R. R. station and remained fourteen years as agent. 

Parker, Joseph W., was born in Schaghticoke, April 14, 1853. He is a son of 
Joseph and Mary (Wren) Parker, both of whom were born in England, he August 
17, 1817, and she, February 22, 1819. They came to Waterford about 1845 and in a 
short time to Schaghticoke, where he was a manufacturer of shoe thread until a few 
years of his death, which was March 1, 1871. and his wife on September 20, 1882. 
They had a family of four children: Sarah, born November 17, 1841; Ann, born 
December 29, 1843; Mary E., born April 17, 1848; and Joseph W., who went to 
school until the age of seventeen years, and then learned the tinsmith trade, and 
came to Valley Falls in August of 1879, purchased the property he now owns and 
engaged in the hardware business, in which he has been very successful. December 
26, 1877, he married Elizabeth Cannon, of Schaghticoke, by whom he had three chil- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 27 

dren: Mary E., Nina J. (deceased), and Joseph W., jr. Mr. Parker has been collector 
for two years of the town of Pittstown, and was elected supervisor of said town in 
1896. He is a member of Victor Lodge No. 680, F. & A. M. 

Cottrell, Charles C. , was born in Hoosick, July o, 1827. He was a son of Nathaniel 
and Emma (Booth) Cottrell, he born in Rhode Island and she in Pittstown, N. Y. 
His grandfather was Samuel Cottrell, one of the pioneers of Hoosick, coming with an 
ox team from Rhode Island. He died in Hoosick January 7, 1813. His wife, Hul- 
dah (Southwick) was born in 1765 and died in Hoosick January 7, 1833. On the 
maternal side his grandfather was Samuel Booth, who for about thirty years was a 
schoolmaster in Pittstown and was known as Master Booth; his wife was Rebecca 
Gurney; he served in the Revolutionary war and for six months was a prisoner in 
the old Sugar House in New York, and so starved his parents did not recognize him. 
He died August 15, 1837, aged seventy- six, and his wife in 1836, at the same age. 
The father of Mr. Cottrell was a farmer and carpenter. He was commissioner of 
highways of the town of Hoosick for many years, and was one of the builders of 
the old fashioned bridges ; he removed to White Creek in 1835 and was assessor 
several terms; he died June 25, 1873, aged eighty years. His wife died April 25, 
1845, aged forty-five years. Charles C. Cottrell was reared on a farm and educated 
in Hoosick and White Creek and at Ball Seminary. He has always followed farm- 
ing and lived in White Creek from the time he was eight years old until 1883, when 
he came to Pittstown and bought the farm known as the Francis Ingraham place. 
He is the man who preserved the Delaine Merino fattening breed of sheep, which 
was originated by G. C. and E. C. Olin of White Creek. He has been a breeder of 
sheep for forty-eight years. Mr. Cottrell was for two years (1872, 1879) supervisor and 
one year town clerk of White Creek. October 13, 1852, he was married to Eunice F. 
Fisher, a native of White Creek and daughter of David and Juliet (Perry) Fisher, 
both of whom were born and died in White Creek. To Mr. and Mrs. Cottrell were 
born six children: H. Edgar, born August 23, 1853. died November 10, 1893; David 
F., born September 25, 1855, and died February 6, 1858; Agnes L. , born August 27, 
1858, died November 11, 1893; Evvie J., born September 19, 1862, and died September 
17, 1866; Clarence, born December 17, 1864, died September 20, 1866; Nathaniel, 
born June 7, 1868. The latter was educated in the common schools and Troy Busi- 
ness College, and is a farmer and has charge of his father's farm. December 27, 
1894, he was married to Ruth J. Eldred, b( rn in Hoosick, daughter of Francis 
and Eunice (Bulson) Eldred of Hoosick and Grafton. They have one son, Walter 
E., born November 7, 1895. Mr. Cottrell owns 175 acres in Pittstown; also two 
farms in White Creek, one of 200 and the other of 145 acres. These farms are stocked 
with over 200 head of Delaine Merino fattening sheep, each of which are owned by 
the occupants thereof, to-wit: Son, Nathaniel Cottrell, 2nd, Post-office, Johnsonville, 
N. Y. ; daughter-in-law, Lucina E. Cottrell, Post-ofifice, Eagle Bridge, N. Y. ; son-in- 
law, Henry R. Perry, Post-office, Eagle Bridge, N. Y. There are other flocks in the 
vicinity of Eagle Bridge. They had a good California sale but adverse legislation 
has spoiled it. These sheep compete well with any brought to the fair. 

Pinkham, James E., was born in Biddeford, in the State of Maine, in 1817. He 
finished his education at Thornton Academy, Saco, Maine, and became a cotton and 
afterward a woolen cloth manufacturer for many years. In 1839 he married Sarah C. 



28 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Brock of Strafford, N. H. ; they had four children, two sons and two daughters: Ed- 
ward E., Helen F., Nettie M. and Herbert B. The family resided in Maine and New 
Hampshire until 1866, when they came to the State of New York. Edward E. is 
located at Schaghticoke, doing a general insurance business as resident agent of a 
number of the leading insurance companies. Helen F. married George F. Mallard 
of Laconia, N. H. ; they have one daughter, S. Florence. Nettie M. married John T. 
Busiel of the same place ; they have one daughter, Helen J. Herbert B. married Alice 
G. Vandenburg of Schaghticoke; they had two children, a son and a daughter, J. 
Edwin and Sarah E. Herbert B. Pinkham died in the year 1881. Edward E. was 
a soldier of the late war, serving as adjutant of the 15th New Hampshire Vols, at 
Port Hudson and other places in Louisiana. He was honorably discharged in August, 
1863, and is a member of Hartshorn Post No. 487, G.A.R., of Schaghticoke, depart- 
ment of New York. He has been commander three terms, and is serving his fourth 
term as quartermaster. James E. Pinkham's father, Israel, was born in Madbury, 
near Dover, N. H. , in the year 1781. He married Hannah Gilpatrick of Biddeford, Me. 
They had four children, three sons and one daughter: James E. ; Albert, who died 
at the age of twenty-seven ; Prentice, who died at the age of twenty-six ; and 
Elizabeth, who died at the age of seventeen. Mr. Israel Pinkham died in 1847, and 
his wife in 1854. Mrs. James E. Pinkham died in 1880. James E. Pinkham has been 
president of the bo^rd of trustees of the Presbyterian church of Schaghticoke for 
twenty-three years, and is also church treasurer. The ancestry of the family is 
English and Scotch. 

Haynes, William, is a representative of an old historical family whose lineage is 
traced directly to the Boston family of that name. The origin of this family in 
America is due to three brothers; Aaron Haynes was the great-great-grandfather 
and John Haynes the grandfather of Aaron J. Haynes, the father of William ; the 
former was a farmer and blacksmith by occupation, and was an ordained Baptist 
minister; he could also lay claim to some talent for military skill, as he won some 
distinction at the battle of Bennington. John Haynes was a farmer and a great 
Baptist exhorter, and he also held the office of justice of the peace several terms. 
Aaron J. Haynes was a native of Hoosick and by occupation a farmer. William 
Haynes was born in 1829 at Hoosick. N. Y. He spent his boyhood on the old home- 
stead with his father, and after a year in the lumber business in New York city and 
four years in the gold mines of California, he returned in 185T and purchased the old 
homestead and began farming. His love for fancy stock led him to the breeding of 
Durham cattle and Merino sheep, in which he was successful, competing with such 
breeders as Vail of Troy and Fonda of Hoosick, and securing his share of prizes at 
the different fairs of the county. His flock of sheep at one time numbered 900. In 
1867 he sold his fancy cattle and sheep and engaged in making gilt edge creamery 
butter, in which he was also successful, having a large demand for his butter at fancy 
prices. His herd of cows numbered ninety-four. He utilized his sour milk in fatten- 
ing hogs, killing over 300 annually for market. He built the first and largest silo in 
his town, and among the first and largest in the county. He purchased from 15 to 20 
carloads of grain annually to feed his stock in connection with his ensilage. All corn 
fed swine was steamed in large vats made for that purpose, which made fine pork 
and brought extra prices and ready sales. On account of failing health caused by 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 29 

overwork he sold his herd in 1880 and ceased farming. He was elected supervisor 
of his town in 1859 and 1860 by the Democratic party, and in 1864 he cast his first 
vote as a Republican for General Grant, and has remained a Republican to date. He 
was sent as delegate to the Republican State convention at Utica in 1884, at Roch- 
ester in 1888 and at Saratoga in 1894. He has always been active in politics, and as 
one of the leaders of his party his influence waft of no minor importance. The year 
of his return from California to Hoosick he married Blendina Dudley Armstrong, a 
daughter of Prosper M. Armstrong, a prominent and resident physician. She died 
in 1895 after about forty years of wedded life, leaving five children: Frances, born 
in 1857; Aaron J., born in 1859; Sarah K., born in 1863; Hattie R., born in 1864; 
William P., born in 1866. His eldest son, Aaron J., has always resided at the old 
homestead with his parents, and for several years past has had full charge and con- 
trol of the farm and has been of invaluable service. His youngest son, William P., 
was engaged as clerk by Wallace, Jones & Ely, now Jones, Parsons & Co., merchants 
at Hoosick Falls, at the age of fourteen, and has remained in their employ as such 
ever since. His three daughters have each had a share in and faithfully performed 
their part of all household duties, thereby making the home pleasant and comfort- 
able. 

Bovie, Mrs. Jane, is the daughter of Jacob M. Stover, of Pittstown, whose ances- 
tors were from Dutchess county. She is a women of culture and refinement upon 
whose shoulders time steps lightly. It is a pleasure to be her guest and enjoy her 
generous hospitality. Her husband, Sanford Bovie, died in 1875. He was a native 
of this town, born in 1821, son of Henry Bovie, whose ancestors were descendants of 
the Holland Huguenots, who were compelled to leave France because of oppression. 
They were married in 1857. She has one son. Charles S. Bovie, born in 1861, now 
a resident of Hoosick. 

Eldred, Mrs. P. L., is the widow of the late P. L. Eldred, and the mother of four 
bright children: Gracie, Carrie Belle, May E. and Frankie. She was before her 
marriage in 1871, Frances I. Percy, daughter of the late Daniel W. Percy, a farmer 
and extensive sheep raiser of North Hoosick He was a well known and much hon- 
ored citizen, and his death in 1888 was deeply mourned. His widow who still sur- 
vives him was Caroline Burgess, daughter of Narion Burgess of Hoosick, whom he 
married in 1847. He left another daughter, Alice, wife of Edward Pratt of North 
Adams. Mr. Eldred conducted the hotel at North Hoosick six years, and was famous 
as a horse breaker and trainer. 

Frazier. James A., one of the most prominent men of the town of Hoosick, began 
life at the foot of the ladder. His father, James A. Frazier, a Scotchman, died when 
he was but a child, and he was thus early thrown upon his own resources. He was 
borne at Shelburne Falls, Vt., and came to White Creek, Washington county, in 
1861. Here he acquired his education by laboring as an employe on the farm 
through the summer and attending school winters, at last teaching during the winter 
seasons. After nine years of much labor he became store manager for R. Carpenter 
& Co.'s factory store, where he remained fifteen years, when they went out of busi- 
ness. He is now dealer in pressed hay, etc., and owns two large farms of 4(10 acres, 
and is also largely engaged in lumber business. Although an ardent Democrat, he 



30 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

will not accept any public service. Mr. Frazier has been twice married, first in 1874 
to Anna Dailey of White Creek, who died in AH^S. Of her si.K children four survive 
her. His second marriage was with Mrs. Nora McEnry of Cambridge, N. Y. He is 
a member of the R. C. church. 

Fo.K, William E., M. D., has been a practicing physician at North Hoosick since 
1892, where he began his life work after graduating from the Albany' Medical Col- 
lege. He has given untiring devotion to his calling and enjoys the imqualified con- 
fidence and esteem of the profession and the public. He has acted as town physician 
and health officer both one year. In politics he takes an active interest and belongs 
to the Republican party. Dr. Fox was born in Tomhannock, N. Y., in 1857, a 
descendant of a family noted for longevity. His father, a Methodist clergyman, was 
b)rn near Loudon. He came to America at eighteen years of age and at once 
studied for the ministry. He died in 1891 at the advanced age of eighty-nine years, 
having been forty five years in the ministry. Dr. Fox took a classical course at Fort 
Edward before entering the medical college in 1879. He married in 1894 Sylvia M. 
Niles, of White Creek, N. Y. They have one son, Walter R. 

Webster, A. H., a prominent and successful farmer of the town of Hoosick, had a 
tendency to follow that vocation by inheritance and taste, as his father, Alvah H. 
Webster, was also a farmer during the greater period of his business life. The latter 
was thrown on his own resources when nine years of age, and stood a conspicuous 
specimen of the selfmade man until his death in 1884. He conducted the North 
Hoosick hotel for a time and the old Pheonix hotel, and was afterward agent for the 
Walter A. Wood Co. He ably served his town in holding public offices, and was 
supervisor for five years. Mr. Webster was born here in 1849 and educated here 
and at Mills school, Williamstown, Mass. He was village trustee two years, and 
over.seer of the poor for two terms. He married Helen M. Wilcox of this town. Five 
children are the issue of this marriage. 

Hines, John, was born in Ireland, September 12, 18:59, and came to the L'^uited 
States when he was seven years old. His mother being dead, they first located in 
Easton, Washington county, N.Y., where the boy attended school two winters. He 
afterwards attended school in the town of Schaghticoke, and then again in Easton, 
where he resided for some time. August 11, 1862, he enlisted in Co. I, 123d N. Y. 
Vols. This regiment was assigned for duty to the Army of the Potomac. Mr. Hines 
took part in all the engagements with his regiment, including Chancellorsville and 
Gettysburg. After this battle they were transferred to the Army of the Cumljer- 
land, and were with General Sherman in his glorious march to the sea. In Atlanta 
Mr. Hines, in helping to take down a building, was injured severely by a timber 
falling on his head. He was in the field hospital afterwards in New Albany, Ind., 
and when convalescent obtained a thirty-day furlough, which was extended thirty 
days. He was honorably discharged June 26, 18G5. November 11, 1868, he married 
Mary A. Golding of Easton; they had four children: Mary E., Anna, John, jr., and 
Carrie E., deceased. Mary E. married Charles Rinehartof Washington county, N.Y. 
Anna married Garret Van Vrankin of Saratoga county, N. Y. ; they have one son, 
John Chester. Mr. Hines is a member of Hartshorn Post, G. A. R., department 
of New York. The anceshy of the family was Irish on both sides. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 3] 

Baker, Lorenzo, was born in the village of Schaghticoke, August 28, 1826. He 
was educated in the public schools, at Greenwich Seminary and at Manchester 
Seminary, Vermont. He was emjiloyed in Troy for six years, and afterwards was a 
merchant tailor and clothier in the village for forty-four years up to 189fi, and is still 
carrying on the business. October 20, 1859, he married Matilda H., daughter of the 
Rev. Hiram Dunn, then of Saratoga county. They had one son, Alfred C, who is 
a student at Mechanicville, Saratoga county, N.Y. Mr. Baker's father, Ezekiel, was 
born in the town of Pittstown in 1795, was educated in and graduated from Will- 
iams College, Massachusetts. He was an eminent physician by profession. He 
married Harriet Bryan of this place. The)' had six sons: David B., Charles, Rob- 
ert P., Lorenzo, William H., and John E. Ezekiel Baker organized the first Sunday 
school in connection with the First Presbyterian church in this place, and was elder 
and truustee of that church and clerk of the board of sessions until he died. He 
practiced medicine here for fifty-one years and died in 1866; his wife died in 1872. 
He was a thorough abolitionist, and his house was a station on the underground 
railway to Canada. Mr. Baker's mother's great-grandfather, Ezra Brj'an, had a 
brother, Alexander, who was a scout and spj^ under General Gates in the Revolu- 
tionary war. Ezra Bryan was born in 1740; his son David was born in 1767. Alex- 
ander, son of David, was born in 1791, by second wife, so we find that his mother. 
Harriet Bryan, was the daughter of the fifth generation of Ezra Bryan. Ezekiel 
Baker enlisted in the 1st New York Mounted Rifles, served during the war, and was 
honorably discharged. The ancestry of the family was New England stock on both 
sides. 

Wiley, Frederick (deceased), was born in the town of Pittstown, this countv, April 
24, 1833. He was educated in the common schools, Fort Edward Institute and Char- 
lotteville Seminary. He taught school four terms; in early life he devoted his time 
to farming. March 27, 1861, he married Hester M. Baucus of Schaghticoke; they 
had three children; William E., Clara M. and Frederick, who died when six years 
of age. William E. married Esther, adopted daughter of Dr. D. W. Tarbell of this 
town and village. Clara M. married Rev. John H. Colernan, who is now presiding 
elder of the Albany district. Mr. Wiley came to reside in this village in 1874 and 
became a paper manufacturer in company with James Baucus, under the firm name 
of James Baucus & Co., which continued until 1880, when a new company was 
formed under the firm name of Wiley & Button. Mr. Wiley's father, William, was 
born in the town of Pittstown in the year 1797; he was educated in the schools of 
that day and followed the honorable occupation of farming. He married Ann Her- 
rick of that town : they had five children: Elizabeth, Smith, John, Frederick and 
Jacob. INIr. Wiley died in December, 1857, and his wife died in 1842. Mrs. Wiley's 
father, James W. Baucus, was born in the town of Schaghticoke in the year 181 1, 
where he was educated, and was a farmer by occupation. He married Maria 
Swarthout of his native town; they had nine children; Eliza J., Hester M., Frances 
A., Catherine E., Sarah A., Ida L., J. Irving and Clara L. Both father and mother 
are living at this date, 1896. Mr. Wiley was town clerk for two years, and super- 
visor of this town three years and was serving his second term as justice of the 
peace; he was also a member of the Board of Education, a member of Victor Lodge 
No. 680, F. & A. M. The ancestry of the family was English and Dutch. Mr. 
Wiley died March 27. 1896. 



32 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Button, Theodore, was born on the Button homestead, February 24, 1859. He 
was educated in the common and graded schools and has always followed the occu- 
pation of farming. December 23, 1885, he married Minnie Smith of the town of 
Brunswick. They have three children: Olive J., Arthur P., and Hazel E. Merritt 
the oldest son of William Pitt Button by a second marriage, was born November 21, 
1853. He was educated in the common schools and Middletown Academy in the 
town of Half Moon, and has served his townspeople as supervisor two terms. He 
was highway commisr-ioner six years, and is an excellent farmer and is not married 
at this date, 1896 Mr. Button's father, William Pitt, was born in old Schaghticoke in 
that part which was set aside for the town of Pittstown, January 22, 1806. He was 
educated in the schools of that early day and was a farmer by occupation. In 1831 
he purchased his first real estate. He married twice, first on February 23, 1832, to 
Lois, daughter of Jabez Buckley of this town. They had six children: George W., 
David M., Edwin S., J. Warren, Sabra A., and Sarah J. George W., Edwin S. and 
J. Warren are dead. Mrs. Button died March 1, 1849. For his second wife, on June 
20, 1850. he married Susan Wing, born Lounsbury; they had four children: Emily 
F. , Merritt, Harriet A., and Theodore, William P. Button joined the M. E. church 
in 1835. He died January 9, 1887, one of the representative men of the town. Mrs. 
Theodore Button's father, Paul Smith, was born in the town of Brunswick about the 
year 1839; his education was obtained in the common schools. He is a business 
man, is a shirt manufacturer and has a saw and grist mill. He married twice, first 
to Emily J. Button. They had three children, Minnie, Mary and Reuben. Mrs. 
Smith died in 1868. For his second wife, he married Delia F. Dingman. They 
have four children; Paul, jr., Harriet, Charlotte and Theodate. Mr. Smith survives 
at this date, 1896. The ancestry of the Button family goes back to England in 1610. 
Sir Thomas Button made three voyages of discovery to this continent, viz. : in 1610, 
1611, and again in 1612. His son, Mathias, settled in Salem, Mass., in 1628. There 
was a Robert Button in Salem, also, in 1641, who went to Boston in 1645; next there 
was a John Button who was an early pioneer in Boston in 1633. Mathias Button 
came to America with Governor John Endicott and settled in Salem, Mass. He 
went to Boston as early as 1633, to Lspwich in 1641, to Haverhill in 1646, where he 
died in 1672. His son Mathias was born in 16)7; he moved to Plainfield, Conn., in 
1690 and died in 1725. The following are the descendants: Peter, son of Mathias. 
Joseph was the son of Mathias. Jesse was born in 1747. Richard, the son of Jesse, 
was born in 1770. Mathias Button third had five wives, and was a soldier in the 
Revolutionary war. He died in Rutland county, Vt.. in 1811, aged eighty-four 
years. John, son of Mathias and Phebe Button, was born in 1754; married twice, 
first to Mary Burch, whose children were Louis, Harmon, John, Mary, Ransom, Mil- 
ton, Sarah, Olive, Lucy, Ira, William P., and Eliza; children of second marriage, 
Horace, Hiram, and Harmon R. John Button died at Schaghticoke in 1832. Eliza- 
beth, daughter of Mathias, married her cousin, Daniel Button, son of Ebeue/.er But- 
ton ; their children were John, Hazard, and Daniel. John, son of Daniel and Eliza- 
beth, was born at Groton, Conn.; he married Cynthia Clark; their children were 
John H., Emily C, Charles B., Orpah M., Olive C, Elisha L., George W., Dency, 
Daniel A., and Zydia C. Their father John died in Michigan in 1859. Both Theo- 
dore and Merritt Button are staunch Republicans. The ancestry of this family in 
their several marriages is English, Dutch, and German. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 33 

Waldron, Peter, was born in Easton, Washington county, N. Y. , November 18, 
1837. His education was obtained in the common schools and he has always fol- 
lowed the honorable occupation of farming. June 8, 1870, he married M. Ehzabeth 
Van Veghten. Mr. Waldron's father, Peter W , was born here, January 5, 1809; he 
was educated in the schools of that day and was a farmer by occupation. He mar- 
ried Maria Hemstreet; seven children were born to them: Peter as above, Jacob, 
Catherine, Alida (deceased), Alida, Mary E., and Albert, of whom only three sur- 
vive, Peter, Alida and Catherine. Mr. Waldron died in 1875 and his wife in Octo- 
ber, 1892. Mrs. Waldron's father, Jacob Van Veghten, was born on this homestead 
in 1818. He married Elizabeth Green, formerly of Glens Falls; they had five chil- 
dren, M. Elizabeth, James, Alida, Castilla, and Elmer. Mr. Van Veghten died April 
9, 1895, and his wife March 25, 1896. The fa-nily attend the Reform church at Rey- 
nolds; Mr. Waldron in his political choice is a thorough Democrat. The ancestry of 
the family was Dutch on both sides. Both families have been identified with the 
growth and prosperity of the county and the town in which they reside. 

Baucus, Eli.sha S., was born on the old Baucus homestead in the town of Schaght- 
icoke, October 6, 1817. He was educated in the schools of that early date, and 
always followed the honorable occupation of farming. He was elected supervisor of 
the town three term. February 7, 1855, he married Caroline A. Diver of his native 
town ; they had two children, Elisha S. and Mari. Elisha S. was educated in the 
public schools, and is one of the town's intelligent farmers. He married Kate H. 
Haner of this town; they have three children: Florence, Marion and Helen M. 
Marion resides with her brother, as yet unmarried at this date, 1896. Mr. Baucus 
died August 6, 1888, and his wife died May 8, 1890. There were two brothers, John 
and William, who resided together many years on the farm southeast of this one. 
John and the father of Elisha S., sr., moved to this homestead where they, the 
present generation, reside. The family with their parents came here from Dutchess 
county, N.Y. The great-great-grandfather Baucus came from Germany to Dutchess 
county. The ancestry of this family is German on both sides. 

The late Wyatt R Swift was born in Monmouth, Me., in the year 1798. He re- 
ceived a good education, and when a young man he was sent to Schaghticoke to 
superintend the Joy Linen Mills, and had full charge of the business until the death 
of Mr. Joy. He then purchased a controlling interest in the Schaghticoke Powder 
Mills and became its general manager. Was instrumental in making it an incorpo- 
rated company in 1858, and was its president until in March, 1863. In 1850 he mar- 
ried Maria O. Morris of Schaghticoke, and they had one adopted daughter, Jeanette 
F. Russell, of Hoosick Falls. Mrs. Swift's father, Jedediah P. Morris, was born in 
the year 1800. He married Olive Congdon of Pomfret, Conn., in 1824, and came to 
Schaghticoke soon after their marriage. They had three children Maria O. , Francis 
A., and Frances B. 

Doremus, Thomas L., of Montclair, N. J., came to Schaghticoke when a young 
man and entered the employ of the Schaghticoke Powder company as bookkeeper 
which position he held until 1868, when he was made secretary and treasurer of the 
company and in February, 1896, was elected its president. He married Jeanette P. 
Swift (Russell), by whom he had eight children : Wyatt Swift, Thomas Edmund, Car- 



34 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

oline Harrison, Margaret Isabel, Edward B., and Janet G., and two who died in in- 
fancy. Mrs. Doremus died in April, 1893. Mr. Doremus has held several positions 
of trust in the village in which he lives, is quite prominent in Masonic circles, being 
a member of Victor Lodge F. & A. M., No. 6B<), and of Apollo Commandery of 
Troy, N. Y. 

Baucus, Hon. J. Irving. — His father, James W., was born on the Baucus home- 
stead December 19, 1812, was educated in the district schools, and has been a farmer, 
paper manufacturer and speculator in real estate. October 27, 1886, he married 
Maria A. Swartout of his native town; they had ten children, one died in infancy, 
Eliza J.. Hester M., Frances A., Sarah A., Catherine E., Ida L., J. Irving, Lucy E., 
and Elva L. ; one died in infancy, and Lucy E. died at the age of eleven years. E. 
Jane married David M. Button; they have three children, J. Warren, Minnie E., 
and Ernest D. Hester M. married Frederick Wiley. Sarah A. married Job Vial ; 
they had one daughter, Jennie E. Mrs. Vial died October 16, 1894. Catherine E. 
married Howland Baker. Ida L. married Abram Beers; they had three children, 
Iva L. , Julia M., and F. Leroy. J. Irving has married twice, first to Anna P. Beers; 
they had one daughter, Emma; the wife died December 5, 1884. He married sec- 
ond Cara A. Beers and they have one daughter, Ethel R. J. Irving Baucus has 
served as supervisor of his town two years. He was elected to the State Legislature 
for two years, 1887 and 1888; he served on the committee of commerce and naviga- 
tion, also on the committee on railroads and internal affairs with ability. Elva L. 
married John W. Fry; they have two daughters, Hester M. and Edith E. J. liv- 
ing's grandfather, John Baucus, was born in the year 1772. He married Maria 
Weitsel of this town ; they had eleven childien: William 1., Maria, Elizabeth, David, 
George W., John A., Joseph, James W., Julia A., Elisha S. , and H. Jane. Mr. Bau- 
cus died in 1832 and his wife in 1889. 

Hunt, Lewis, born in Cambridge, Washington county N. Y., September 25, 1846. 
His education was obtained in the public schools and his early life was devoted to 
farming. February 25, 1864, he enlisted in Co. A, 2d N. Y. Cav. ; while in the army 
of the Potomac he took part in all the general engagements, also while with Sheri- 
dan in the Shenandoah valley; he was honorably discharged from the general hos- 
pital at Washington, D. C, on surgeon's certificate of disability, August 9, 1865. 
He married three times: first, to Emily Terrill of Pittstown, September 22, 1868; 
she died in April, 1869. For his second wife, in January, 1870, he married Amy 
Terrell of the same place; they had two daughters: Emma, who married John AVill- 
iamson of Schaghticoke and has one child, Lewis; and Mayetta, married Frederick 
M. Askins; they have two children: Frederick, and Amj' J. Mrs. Hunt died Sep- 
tember 4, 1884. For his third wife, September 16, 1888, he married Mary Stevenson 
of Albany. Mr. Hunt's father died when he was three years old. He is a member 
of Hartshorn Post No. 487 of Schaghticoke, G. A. R. ; he has been its commander 
for one year, and is serving his third year as their chaplain. He is a member of Vic- 
tor Lodge No. 680, F. & A. M., and is tiler of the lodge. He is also a member of 
Schaghticoke Lodge No. 526, I. O. O. F., and has been through all the chairs. Mr. 
Hunt is superintendent of the Elmwood cemetery. 

Ackart, Edwin. — Jacob Ackart was born in Schaghticoke April 22, 1813. He was 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 35 

educated in the schools of that day and was a farmer. September 14, 1836, he mar- 
ried Christina Bratt of Schaghticoke ; they had four children: Melinda E., who died 
August 5, 1874; Edwin, Phebe E., and Chauncy. Jacob Ackart's father, Peter, was 
born in the same town, January 16, l'(84. Remarried Maria Benway of his native 
town; they had eight children; David, who died; John, Maria, Jemima, Eleanor, 
Peter B., Jacob, and David No. 2. Mr. Ackart died April 23, 1861. Jacob Ackart's 
grandfather and his brother Solomon were born in Dutchess county, and were 
soldiers in the war of the Revolution. Edwin, son of Jacob, was born in Schaght- 
icoke. He was educated in the public schools and is one of the town's most intelli- 
gent farmers. He married Jo.sephine Blewer of Easton ; they had six children: 
Mary C, Fannie E., George E., Charles L., Jacob N., and Forrest C. Mrs. Ackart 
died November 14, 1888. The ancestry of the family is Dutch. 

Stroble, August, was born in Bavaria, Germany, in the year 1830. He was edu- 
cated in their schools and has been a farmer from boyhood up. In the year 1852 he 
came to the United States and first located near Troy. He has resided in the town 
of Schaghticoke on the same farm for over twenty-two years. He has married twice, 
first, on March 28, 1855, to Caroline Rink, formerly of Wirtemburg, Germany; they 
had four children: Charles, Albert, Caroline and Henrietta; the latter died April 14, 
1875. Mrs. Stroble died May 3, 1872. For his second wife he married Catherine 
Slocum. Charles married Sophia Apton of Troy, N. Y. ; they have two children, 
Edna and Ida. Albert married Ida Belden. Caroline married Henry Melhuron of 
this town: they have two children, Augustus and Henrietta. Mr. Stroble is a thor- 
ough farmer and by honest industrious thrift has earned a competency. The an- 
cestry of the family is German, and his present wife of New England stock. 

Gage, William H., was born in the town of Farmington, Oakland county, Mich- 
igan, January 1, 1840. He was educated in the, schools of that place, and his early 
life was devoted to farming. December 22, 1864, he married Olive Beadle then of 
Michigan, formerly of this locality. They have two children, William A. and Mary 
S. William A. married Susan T. Lewis of Oyster Bay, Long Island. Mary S. 
married George S. Wright of Cambridge, Washington county; they have one 
daughter, Olive. Mr. Gage's father, Simeon F., was born in Johnstown, Fulton 
county, N. Y.. in the year 1802. He was educated in the schools of that day, and 
was a carpenter and joiner by trade. He married Hannah Waite of Cambridge, N. 
Y., and had four children: Mary, Eunice, Eliza Jane, and William H. Mr. Gage 
died in California in 1855, and his widow died at home in 1864. Mrs. Gage's father, 
John F. Beadle, was born in the town of Easton, Washington county, N. Y., in the 
year 1803. He was educated in the common schools, and was always a farmer. He 
married Mary Waite of Cambridge ; they had nine children: Elijah E. . Sarah A., 
Joseph R., Firra W., Marcus, Horace, Mary S., Philena, and Olive. Mr. Beadle 
died in 1875, and his wife in 1885. Mr. Gage is now engaged in the produce busi- 
ness here, in connection with an office in New York city, with his son as partner, who 
has charge of the New York office, under the firm name of W. H. Gage & Son. He 
is a member of Victor Lodge No. 680, F. & A. M., Raymond Chapter, Hoosick Falls, 
No. 248, and Bloss Council, Troy, No. 14, R. &• S. M. 

Purdy, Forrest A. — His father, Henry E. Purdy, was born at Millertown, this 



36 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

county, in the year 1827. He was educated in the public schools, and always followed 
the honorable occupation of farming, and was an upright citizen of the town and 
county. He married Caroline Weatherwaxof Lansingburgh, N. Y. They had six 
children, five sons and one daughter; Emma R., Edward J., William L., Clarence 
W., Forrest A. and Howard. Henry E. Purdy died in the year 1888, and his wife 
May 22, 1896. October 17, 1888, Emma R. married Dr. Andrew C. Crounse, for- 
merley of Albany county, N. Y., and a graduate of Albany Medical College. He is 
now a successful practicing physician at Melrose, N. Y. Edward J. was born in the 
town of Lansingburgh May 22, 1862. He was educated in the public schools and 
Lansingburgh Academy and is a farmer. December 9, 1883, he married Addella 
W., daughter of George Button. They have one son, George H., born December 
13, 1886. William L. was born at the old home, has a good liberal education and is 
a farmer by occupation. He married Carrie, daughter of George Button. Clarence 
W. was born in the town of Schaghticoke, January 25, 1864; he also has a liberal 
education and is a farmer by occupation. He is a member of Victor Lodge No. 680, 
F. & A M. He married Ida A., daughter of Isaac Mabb; they have one son, Le 
Roy C, born September 1, 1888. Forrest was born on the old home place near Mel- 
rose, N. Y. , in 1867. He was educated in the public schools and Troy Business 
College. The early years of his life were spent on the farm. He is now manager 
and superintendent of the American Axe and Tool Company at Johnsonville, N. Y. 
He is a member of Victor Lodge No. 680, F. & A. M., and of Apollo Commandery 
No. 15 of Troy and is also a member of the Mystic Shrine. Howard was born at the 
old home near Melrose in the year 1860. He was educated in the public schools and 
Troy Business College. He is a passenger conductor on the Fitchburg Railway 
from Troy to Boston, and is a member of Victor Lodge No. 680, F. & A. M., Apollo 
Commandery No. 15 of Troy, and of the Mystic Shrine. 

Gifford, David, was born in the town of Schaghticoke, N. Y., August 12, 1818. 
He was educated in the common schools and has always followed the occupation of 
farmmg. In the year 1841 he married Jane Tyler of the town of Pittstown. Mrs. 
Gifford died November 5, 1893. Mr. Gifford's father, Robert, was born in Schaghti- 
coke in 1790; he married Betsey Sherman of Essex county, N. Y. They had five 
children; David, Delilah, Darius, Sally and Benjamin. Mr. Gifford died in 1834 
and his wife in 1888. Mr. Gifford is a member of the M. E. church at South Cam- 
bridge, being one of its stewards. He has resided on the homestead forty-seven 
years. The Giffords are of Norman extraction. 

Gallagher, Andrew, was born in Hoosick, January 23, 1849. He was a son of 
John and Julia (Lebaron) Gallagher, he a native of Ireland, and she a native 
of Hoosick, and daughter of one of the early settlers who came from Rhode Island. 
The father of Mr. Gallagher was a farmer by occupation, and died in 1852; his 
widow lives in Hoosick. Mr. Ciallagher was reared on a farm and educated in the com- 
mon schools and followed farming for a short time, then went to New York city and 
engaged in the ice business for about six years, and m 1879 came to Johnsonville and 
engaged in the mercantile bu.siness near the axe factory, where he is still located, 
conducting a very successful business. Mr. Gallagher was married in 1877 to Mary 
A. Mittiug of Pittstown, N.Y., by whom he had four children: Frank N., Bessie M. 
Howard F. and Chester A. 



FAMILY SKETCHES, 37 

Mabb, Isaac, was born in the town of Schaghticoke, January 7, 1841. He was 
educated in the common schools and has always followed the honorable occupation 
of farming, and is the architect of his own success. February 13, 1867, he married 
Sabra A. Button, a member of one of the oldest families of the town; they had 
three children: Clarence E., George W., who died when he was three years old, and 
Ida A., who married Clarence W. Purdy of this town; they have one son, Le Roy 
C, born September 1, 1889. Clarence E. was educated in the schools of this town 
and Albany Business College and is a farmer at home with his father. Mr. Mabb's 
father, Robert, was born in this town. in 1811. He was educated in the schools of 
that early day and was a farmer by occupation. He married Henrietta Gatefield, 
formerly of England, who came over with her parents when a little girl. They had 
nine children: Alonzo, Harriet, Isaac, Elizabeth, Helen, Emily F., Mary, Edwin R., 
and Amelia J. Mr. Mabb died in his eighty-second year, and his wife died June 2, 
1884. The ancestry of the family was Dutch, German and English. 

Doty, Job, was born on the old homestead at Melrose, N. Y., April 21, 1857 He 
was educated in the public schools and at the Lansingburgh Academy. He taught 
school ten terms, has been a farmer and is now a produce and coal dealer. October 
3, 1889, he married Nellie Chapman of Schuylerville, N.Y. Mr. Doty's father, John 
L., was born here November 12, 1812. He was educated in Lansingburgh Academy; 
he taught school and was a farmer by occupation. He married Olive R. Brown of 
this town and she was born in the year 1823. They had seven children, four sons 
and three daughters: Augusta, who died in infancy; Ormon J., John D., Antoinette, 
Job, Ida and Charles, who died at the age of twenty-nine years. He was a member 
of the Masonic order. Orman J. married Jessie F. Eaton of Troy; they have two 
children : Ollie F. and Leonard. Mr. Doty died November 18, 1884, and his wife 
survives at this date, 1896. He was a captain in the State militia and in the home 
guards during the late war. Job Doty's grandfather was Orman Doty. This farm, 
has been owned in the family for over 100 years without mortgage. Mr. Doty is a 
member of Victoria Lodge No. 680, F. & A. M., Phoeni.K Chapter, Lansingburgh 
R. A. M., Bloss Council No. 13, R. & S. M., and Apollo Commandery No. lo. The 
ancestrj'^ of the family was Dutch and English. 

Gunner, Richard C, was born in Canterbury, England, December 24, 1826. He 
was educated in their schools, learned the baker's trade and came to the United 
States in 1851, landing in Schaghticoke the same year, and here he began business 
on his own account. He purchased the property in 1866, and his business has been 
a continued success since. In IS.IS he married Elizabeth Ablett of this village. 
They had six children: George C. who died in his third year; Mary F., William O., 
Richard C, who died at the age of three years; Lizzie F. and Daniel W. Mary F. 
married John B. Ackart of this town and they had two children: Herbert, died at five 
years of age, and Everett. Mr Ackart died in 1881. Lizzie F. married Lorenzo 
Streeter of this village, and they have two children: Lorenzo, jr., and Mary E. Mr. 
Gunner is a member of Victor Lodge No. 680 of Schaghticoke, F. & A. M. He is 
one of the tru.stees and treasurer of the M. E. church. His son William O. is in the 
same business with his father, and he is a member of Victor Lodge No. 680, F. & A. 
M. Mr. Gunner is treasurer of the lodge and is past master. Daniel W. was a grad- 
uate of Cornell University and died at the age of twenty-four. 



38 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Myers, A. Y., M. D. , the highly esteemed ph3'sician of Buskirks Bridge, is among 
the foremost of the medical profession of Rensselaer county and is a valued member 
of the Rensselaer County Medical Society. He is a representative of a family closely 
identified with the history of Schoharie county, where he was born in 1854, son of 
John Myers, a farmer. The first American family of Myers settled in that county. 
When eighteen years of age Mr. Myers left the farm to attend the Fort Edward 
Academy. After two years there he spent seven years in teaching chiefly in places 
in Albany county, one year being engaged as teacher in Albany Business College. 
While thus employed he fitted himself to enter Albany Medical College in 1871), grad- 
uating in 1882. He first practiced in Otsego county, coming to Buskirks Bridge in 
1883. Here he takes an active interest in local matters. He is a member of the M. 
E. church, and a zealous Prohibitionist. He married in 1875 Mary Defendorf, by 
whom he has two children, Victor C. and Ralph. 

Ball, L. Burke, born in 1838, is the son of L. Chandler Ball, whose death in 1875 
was so deeply mourned by the community in which he resided. He was born in 
Vermont of English ancestry and when a young men went to New Orleans and en. 
tered a store kept by an elder brother. Having little or no opportunity for attend- 
ing school he became his own instructor. The superior educational attainments he 
acquired are due wholly to his own efforts. When twenty one years of age he came 
to Hoosick and engaged in farming and became very successful in that vocation. 
He was a steadfast and lifelong Republican and became county judge in 1840, and 
in 1860 was a member of assembly. He served three 3'ears in the late war, organiz- 
ing a company of militia and filling all its offices to major. Judge Ball's character 
and abilities are revealed in his "Annals of Hoosick" as originally published in the 
"Standard" and recognized as a masterpiece of description and history. Mr. L. 
Burke Ball (the subject) was the first man to enlist in Hoosick Falls in Co. H, 30th 
N. Y. Vols , where he served until physically disabled. After the war he remained 
in Washington as government clerk in the quartermaster's department for a while; 
then, though a machinist by trade, he became shipping clerk for the world renowned 
Wood Company. He married in 1861 Mary V. Fisk of this place, by whom he has 
three children. 

Lamb, George M., M. D.. one of the practicing physicians of Hoosick Falls, is a 
native of Troj% born in 1857. His father was a prominent merchant there, and once 
supervisor of the Fifth ward. Dr. Lamb first graduated from the public school in 
1876, then spent one year at Albany Medical College; thence two years at Hahnne- 
man Medical College, Philadelphia, graduating in 1879. He then gave one year to 
post-graduate work in the lying-in hospital there and six months to general work. 
He began practice at Troy and came to Hoosick in 1882 wliere he has an extensive 
field of work. Since that time he was away two years at Townsend, Mass., for the 
recovery of his wife's health. She was Emma J. Dick of this place, whom he mar- 
riee in 1880. They have one son, Percival, aged twelve years. Dr. Lamb was 
health officer and has held many other positions. 

Haussler, Louis, sole living representative of the long established and prominent 
furniture house of Haussler & Son of Hoosick Falls, was born in this town and 
grew up into the business under the fostering care of his father, Joseph Haussler, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 39 

who came here from Schaghticoke nearly forty years ago, and soon after estabhshed 
the business which has grown into one of the most important retail houses of Hoosick 
Falls. Of the elder brother, Joseph, who died in November, 1896, a more extended 
sketch will be found elsewhere. The business will be ably managed by Louis 
Haussler, under the old firm style, with a fine line of modern furniture and under- 
taking facilities of the finest. 

Case, H. D., a prominent farmer of Eagle Bridge, is the owner of 118 acres of 
land, the old homestead of Pardon Moseley, father of Mrs. Case, born Carrie B. 
Moseley, whom he married in 1860. Their children are Leonora, Mrs. Henry Kipps, 
Estella J., wife of John B. Hill of Hoosick, and Fannie M. Mr. Case was born in 
Pittstown in 1837, son of David Case, who was born near Hoosick Falls, and en- 
gaged in farming. Mr. Case makes a specialty of Merino sheep. He is a Repub- 
lican, but not an aspirant for political preferment. He is an officer of the Hoosick 
Co-operative Fire Insurance Company, and a director in the First National Bank of 
Hoosick Falls. 

Pine, P. S., is of English ancestry. The first American of this family settled in 
Rhode Island, and the ancestors of Mr. Pine were closely identified with the early 
history of Hoosick and adjacent towns. He was born in Pittstown in 1844, son of 
James Pine, who was also a native of that town. Mr. Pine has been a resident of 
West Hoosick since 1868, and is engaged in farming. He is a man of integrity and 
highly esteemed. He is an ardent Republican, and has served two years as com 
missioner of highways. His wife was Hulda A. Guile, daughter of Roger Guile, by 
whom he has three sons and two daughters. 

Osborn, Amos, of Hoosick Falls, is the second son of David Osborn, a native of 
the adjacent town of Pittstown. The latter spent most of his life at Hoosick, being 
a large and successful farmer. His death occurred in 1881 at seventy-four years of 
age. Amos Osborn was born at West Hoosick and has always been engaged in 
farming here, owning about 200 acres. He is a descendant of an old local family; 
his grandfather, John Osborn, a very early settler, came here from Boston. He in- 
herits the sterling qualities of his forefathers and occupies an honored place among 
the citizens of his town. He married in 1861 Mary Rowland, daughter of William 
Rowland. Their .son, Frank, married Eveline Smith of Pittstown, and Estella, the 
daughter, is at home. 

Felter, Mahlon. M. D., was born in Eminence, Schoharie county, in 1831. His 
father, Mathew Felter, was a native of Rensselaerville, Albany county, N. Y. , and 
one of the leading church men of that place. He died in 1872. His mother, vSally 
Phelps, died in 1894 at the age ot ninety-four years. He attended the New York 
Conference Seminary and went from there to Union College from which he was 
graduated in 1879. In 1857 he became a student of Prof. James McNaughton, and 
at the same time entered the Albany Medical College from which he was graduated 
in 1859. August 1, 1859, he began the practice of medicine in Troy, since which 
time he has enjoyed an extensive practice. He received the degree of A. M. from 
Union in 1860. He is a member of the American Academy of Medicine and belongs 
to the New York State Medical Society and the Rensselaer County Medical Society. 
He was city physician of Troy in 1861-1862 and is a member of the American Medi- 



40 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

cal Association. He was married in 1857 to Sarah A. Bingham of Albany, who died 
in 1872. His son, Edgar M., is superintendent of the Maryland Steel Co. at Balti- 
more. The doctor for many years has been prominently identified with the Masonic 
fraternity, having attained the thirty second degree. In politics he has always been 
a staunch Republican. He is an associate member of Griswold Post No. 338, 
G. A. R. 

Bloss, Richard I)., M. I)., was born in Royalton, Vt., March 25, 1835. His father. 
Richard Bloss, M. \)., lived in Royalton and came to Troy in 1840 where he opened 
practice with Dr. Richard S. Bryan at 26 Fourth street; he was a member of all the 
medical societies and died in 1863. His mother. Gratia (Parkhurst) Bloss, also of 
Royalton, died in 1891 at the age of ninety-two. Richard D. Bloss received his edu- 
cation at the Vermont Medical College and the College of Physicians and Surgeons 
in New York. After graduating he practiced medicine in Racine, Wis., and after a 
short time came to Troy where he has since been engaged in the practice of medi- 
cine. He has always been a Democrat. He belongs to the National and State 
Homeopathic Societies. He was major in the 2d New York Vols., under Gen. Joseph 
B. Carr two years. He has one son who is now attending the Peekskill Military 
School. 

Stockwell, Mrs. Adelia S., is the widow of the late Godfrey E. Stockwell, who had 
been a resident of Hoosick Falls since he was twenty years old. He was born 
in Vermont, and married at Bennington in 1848 Adelia Sophia Dill who was born at 
Petersburgh, daughter of Thomas Dill. Four children were the issue of this mar- 
riage: Adele M. Clark of this place; George E. Stockwell pastor of the M. E. church 
at Fort Plain; Charles H. of Hoosick Falls, engaged in real estate business; and 
Albert M. now traveling for a shirt manufacturing company. Mr. Stockwell's death 
occurred in 1878, mourned by the whole community as an honored citizen and by his 
family as a loving father and a kind and indulgent husband. He was a faithful 
and consistent member of the M. E. church, with which his memory still linger as a 
benediction. 

Curtis, Montgomery G., was Iwrn in Durham, Greene county, N. Y., January 15, 
1843. His father, Gilbert Curtis, went when quite young with his parents from 
Cheshire, Conn., to Durham, where he started a cooper shop and saw mill, and for 
many years was the proprietor of a hotel at South Durham; he died in 1893; his 
wife, Minerva A. (Stevens) Curtis, died some years before her husband. When 
nineteen years of age Curtis G began clerking for Mr. Connolly in the carriage and 
saddlery hardware business, which relation.ship existed for three years; February 1, 
1869, he purchased an interest in the business, the firm becoming Connolly & Curtis; 
Mr. Connolly died and he purchased his late partner's interest, and in 1886 he took 
in partnership Seward Richardson, forming the firm of Curtis & Richardson which 
continued until January 1, 1892, when Charles A. Newell took Mr. Richardson's in- 
terest in the firm, changing the title of the firm to Montgomery G. Curtis & Co. The 
business was originally to supply harness-makers and carriage-makers with supplies 
for those trades; it has changed very much in thirty years; they now depend largely 
upon the country merchants for their trade, supplying them with blankets, robes, 
horse goods and carriage supplies of every description ; they mannfacture harness 
and many saddle specialties for the wholesale trade. Mr. Curtis is a director in the 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 41 

Mohawk and Hudson Valley Humane Society and a member of the Troy Good Gov- 
ernment Club; for four years he was a member of the city Common Council. He 
was married to Mattie Rickerson in 1868 ; she died in 1890. In 1893 he married Mrs. 
Helen L. Dunham of Troy, and has one son and a daughter. 

Brockett, Samuel S. (deceased), was born in Massachusetts, May 2, 1822. His 
parents (Ithra and Phoebe Brockett) lived in Massachusetts many years, but died at 
Burlington, Conn. Mr. Brockett came to Greenbush when a young man. He en- 
gaged in painting and paper-hanging and carried on that business until he died, 
January 15, 1896. He was twice married ; first to Elsie M. Winnie, by whom he had 
four children, of whom one is living: Fred S., born in Greenbush and educated in 
Greenbush, Cass's private, and Fulsom's Business College of Albany. He is a 
painter and paper-hanger. Mrs. Brockett died in 1881, and in 1884 he married Mary 
J. Wagner, daughter of George H. and Amanda Smith, born in Albany county and 
died in Greenbush. He died April 7, 1881, and she September 7, 1864. To Mr. and 
Mrs Brockett were born three children: Elsie M., Elmer B. and Ethel H. Mr. 
Brockett was at one time poormaster, and a member of the Farmers' and Mechanics' 
Lodge No. 157. 

Gray, James, was born in Greenbush, August 17, 1862. He is a son of John and 
Mary (Forester) Gray, both born in Scotland and came to Greenbush in about 1844 ; 
here Mrs. Gray died in 1895, and the father retired. He was a ship builder. Mr. 
Gray was educated in Greenbush and learned the tinner's and plumber's trade, and 
in 1883 engaged in the hardware business, in which he has been very successful. 
Mr. Gray has been inspector for the Board of Health for three years. He is a mem- 
ber of Greenbush Lodge No. 337, F. & A. M., Greenbush Chapter No. 274, R.A.M,, 
De Witt Clinton Council, Temple Commandery and the Cypress Shrine; the three 
latter orders are in Albany. June 5, 1889, he married Libbie Kemp of Schodack 
Center. In 1894 Mr. Gray took a trip through Ireland, England and Scotland on his 
wheel. He also visited Paris. 

Smith, C. J., was born in Saratoga county, N. Y., June 23, 1853. He is a son of 
Peter P. and Rachiel E. (Moul) Smith, he born in Brunswick and she in Dutchess 
county. The grandfather of Mr. Smith was also a native of Rensselaer county. 
His father was Peter Smith, an early settler of Brunswick. The wife of Peter P. , grand- 
father of Mr. Smith was Hannah Smith (no relation before marriage). The maternal 
grandfather of Mr. Smith was Frederick I. Moul. He was a son of Jacob Moul, born 
April 16, 1776, and one of the early settlers of Rensselaer county, where he died in the 
town of Poestenkill. His wife was Catharine Moul, born February 11, 1778. Jacob 
Moul died December 11, 1863, at the age of eighty-seven years, and his wife died March 
20, 1865, at the age of eighty-six. The father of Mr. Smith was a carpenter by trade. 
He spent thirty-three years in Saratoga county at carpenter work and the manufacture 
of lumber, but spent most of his life in Rensselaer county. He died February 24, 1895, 
and his wife June 24, 1877. Mr Smith was educated in the common and select 
-schools of Saratoga. He engaged in the manufacture of lumber and brush supplies 
and continued in business eight years, then came to Lansingburgh and manufac- 
tured doors, sash and blinds for one year and a half. In 1878 he came to Bath on 
the Hudson and was in the grocery busine.ss until 1888, and then engaged in the coal 



42 LANDMARKS OB^ RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

and wood business in Greenbush and Bath. He is collector of the United States 
Loan Accumulating Association of Albany. He owns three residences in Fifth 
street in Bath and vacant lands fifty by one hundred feet on Fourth street. Mr. 
Smith is now one of the trustees and chairman of the Fire Committee of Bath. He 
is chairman of the Water Committee and also a member of the Street Committee. 
He is a member of the Riverside Lodge No. 47, K. of P., and is also a member of 
the Bath Hook and Ladder Company', and is agent for the opera house. He is at 
present administrator of Julia A. Moul's estate of the town of Poestenkill. Febru- 
ary 21, 1872, he married Ella C. Rickerson of Providence, Saratoga county. They 
have had six children : Berton J., Charles W., Philura E., William, Harry E., and 
Cora. 

Unger, John C, was born in Greenbush, N. Y., August 31, 1865. He is a son of 
Henry and Anna (Adair) Unger, he born in Switzerland and she in Ireland. Mr. 
Unger came to the L^nited States when a young man and spent most of his days 
in Greenbush. He died July 21, 1895, and his wife died September 12, 1895. John 
C. Unger was reared and educated in East Greenbush and learned the trade of 
painting and paper-hanging. March 1, 1896, Mr. Unger removed his business to 108 
Broadway, where he keeps on hand a fine stock of wall paper and paints, and where 
he also manufactures floor oil; the building is a capacious three storied brick, with 
store office thirty-five by eighteen feet. This property is owned by Mr. LTnger ; he 
erected the building in the early part of 1896. 

Russell, George H., was born August 13, 1848, in Rochester, Windsor county, Vt., 
of New England stock, his ancestors having come from northern Massachusetts into 
New Hampshire and then into Vermont in the days when the State was first settled. 
George H. Russell, on the first day of the opening. May 7, 1859, commenced work as 
a cash boy in the branch store in Albany of Ubsdell, Pierson & Co. of New York (now 
W.M. Whitney & Co.), continuing until the spring of 1863 when his parents removed to 
Pittsfield, Mass. His time there was spent in part at the High School of the town, after- 
wards in a store connected with the woolen mills of L. Pomeroy's Sons, thence he went 
as superintendent of the mills run by Sarsfield & Whittlesey, and then was for a time 
in the employ of the American Express Co. In 1867 he returned to Greenbush with 
his parents. His father was for nearh' forty years in the employ of the Boston & 
Albany Railroad, and at the time of his death, in 1889, he was one of the oldest con- 
ductors connected with the road. This connection was the reason for various 
changes of residence, one of which was a two years' stay in Boston, Mass., in 1854- 
56. Returning from Pittsfield and having finished a course at the Albany Business 
College, George H. was for one year in the employ of Hinckley & Lewis, a worthy 
pair of ex-coaster captains from Cape Cod, who were for a long time in business in 
the city as shippers and forwarders in connection with the Eastern markets bj^ ves- 
sels, the shipment of lumber and other products of the West, being consigned to 
them and here transferred to the schooners which they chartered. This was in 1868 
in the last days of the Yankee coasters which formerly crowded the docks of the city. 
He was next employed in the office of the tobacco factory of Benjamin Payn, leav- 
ing this to go to Westfield, Mass. An illness caused him to give up his position, and 
returning to Greenbush in November, 1871, he entered the employ of Charles R. 
Knowles, who was then, as now, doing a very large fire insurance business as man- 



1 



FAMILY SKETCHES, 43 

ager of several companies of New York State, headquartei-s at Albany. In 1874, 
after eight months spent in travel in the Western and Southern States, he made a 
connection with Mr. E. J. Knowles who had been appointed manager for the State 
for the Western Assurance Company of Canada, which was continued to the present 
time. In 1878 the firm of Knowles & Russell was formed for the transaction of the 
fire insurance business locally, and this connection also continues in force. They 
have represented a large number of companies, and have built up a large and profit- 
able business as a result of persistent effort and intelligent methods. In addition 
to the main office in Albany, Mr. Russell has an office in this village, and he is con- 
nected with various enterprises in both places. Mr. Russell is a pastmaster of Green- 
bush Lodge No. 337, F. & A. M., past high priest Greenbush Chapter No. 274, R. A. 
M., member of De Witt Clinton Council No. 22, R. & S. M., Temple Commandery No. 
2, K. T. He is trustee of the Albany County Savings Bank, Albany Camera Club, 
and the Greenbush M. E. church. He has been trustee for the Fourth ward for two 
years, and was president of the village one term (renomination declined). He was 
married in 1875 to Miss Phebe A. Hermance, a descendant of the old Columbia county 
Dutch settlers. They have had two children: Mabel A., who was a graduate (and 
president) of the senior class of the Albany Female Academy in 1896; and Clarence 
H., who was a graduate of the fcaptain Co. A, Cadet Battalion, winners of the 
Guidon drill) Boys Academy in 1896. Mr. Russell has resided for twenty-one years 
at No. 14 Third street where he has a delightful home, and he has also a summer 
cottage at V^ischer's Ferrj' on the Mohawk. 

Lodewick. Charles C, was born in Schodack, N. Y., December 24, 1849. The 
father of Mr. Lodewick was a farmer and merchant; he built the Rensselaer House 
and owned the block known as the Lodewick block; he was treasurer of the village 
for many years, and was a member of Greenbush Lodge No. 337, F. & A. M. ; he 
died in Greenbush in 1874, but for the last ten years lived in Loudonville, Albany 
county. Charles C. Lodewick was reared and educated in Greenbush. He was 
graduated at the Classical Institute of Albany and also attended the boarding school 
at Geneseo, N. Y. Mr. Lodewick went to St. Louis at the age of twenty years and 
was in the office of Missouri Pacific Railroad for about four years. He then came to 
Greenbush and engaged in the grain business, which he has followed ever since, 
and is also proprietor of the Greenbush flouring mills. In 1869 Mr. Lodewick was 
married to Martha Ring, daughter of James N. Ring, one of the most prominent 
citizens of the place. He has been president of the village for many years. In 1885 
Mr. Lodewick was a member of assembly, and also represented his district in the 
State- Committee while Murphy was mayor of Troy from 1882 to 1886. Mr. Lodewick 
was superintendent of the LTnited States postal works during Cleveland's first ad- 
ministration. To Mr. and Mrs. Lodewick were born three children : Bertha, James, 
and Florence. 

Morris, James A., one of the firm of Morris & Smith, dealers in coal and wood, 
was born in Greenbush, April 8, 1843. He is a son of Alexander and Julia Ett (Ring) 
Morris, he born in Dutchess county, a son of John Morris, who came from Columbia 
county to Greenbush in a very early day, where he lived and died. The father of 
Mr. Morris was a rope-maker until about' 1840, and then engaged in the coal business, 
being the second dealer in Cireenbush. He died September 26, 1888, at the age of 



44 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

eighty years, and his wife died August 10, 1888, at the age of eighty-years. Mr. 
Morris was reared in Greenbush and educated there and in the select schools of Al- 
bany, Charlotteville, and Warnerville, Schoharie county. He began in the coal 
business in April, 1865, with Captain William Smith, an old resident of Greenbush. 
In 1864 Mr. Morris married Julia R. Craig, daughter of Captain S. W. Craig of Green- 
bush. To Mr. and Mrs. Morris were born two children : Alexander, clerk for the 
firm ; and Daisy. Mr. Morris is a member of Greenbush Lodge No. 337, F. & A. M. 
He has been supervisor of East (Jreenbush for two years, and chairman of the board 
in 1877. Mrs. Morris died April 18, 1875. November 13, 1879, Mr. Morris married 
L. Cornelia Cornell of Greenbush, by whom he has one daughter, Julia Ett. 

Melius & Hemstreet, the firm of, is composed of Charles Melius and Eugene Hem- 
street. Mr. Melius was born at Saratoga Springs, October 1, 1834. He was a son 
of Jeremiah and Catherine (Mink) Melius, he born in Hudson, N. Y., and she in 
Canada. The grandfather of Mr. Melius was Jacob Melius; he was born in Hudson 
and spent most of his days there; he came to Greenbush about 1843 and there lived 
and died. The father of Mr. Melius was a blacksmith; he died in Rochester, N. Y., 
in 1871 and his wife died about 1880. Charles Melius was educated in the common 
schools. He was an engineer for the Hudson River Railroad for about twenty years, 
and in 1871 engaged in the mercantile business and has been very successful. He 
has been assessor and trustee of the town and was supervisor in 1868, 1869, and 1870, 
and has been school trustee for about ten years. He is a member of Greenbush 
Lodge No. 337, F. & A. M., and Greenbush Chapter No. 274. R. A. M. December 
24, 1857. Mr. Melius was married to Anna Hyler, by whom he has had four children: 
Hattie, ot Yonkers, N. Y. ; Cornelia, at home ; Carrie, of Camp Clark, Neb. ; and 
Charles, deceased. 

Carr, Fred, & Son. — Fred Carr was born in New Hampshire, April 14, 1825. He 
is a son of Benjamin, born November 26, 1779, and Sarah (Wilcox), born December 
5, 1782, she born in Newport, and he in Hillsborough, N. H. The Carr family trace 
their ancestry to seven bi'others coming in the Mayflower and four of them settled 
in New Hampshire. The father of Fred Carr lived and died in New Hampshire. 
He was colonel in the State militia, and died October 31, 1859. Mr. Carr was 
reared and edu'cated in Newport. He went to Boston when of age and began life as 
a bundle boy in a dry goods store where he remained for five years, then went to 
Wisconsin where he engaged in the lumber and saw mill business, also general store, 
grain and commission business; he was postmaster under Lincoln, and also express 
and steamboat agent at De Sota, Wis. May 11, 1866, he came to Greenbush and 
engaged in the cracker and biscuit business with J. Whitney on the corner of Second 
avenue and Washmgton street and continued in partnership with him until his death 
in 1881 ; after this Mr. Carr continued alone until 1892 when his son George W. be- 
came a partner; the firm is now Fred Carr & Son. They have done an extensive 
business. He was married in 1861 to Mary Whiting, daughter of Jonas Whiting, by 
whom he has had two children: George W. and Hattie E. B. George W. was born 
November 16, 1864, in De Sota, Wis. ; he was educated in Greenbush and the Boys" 
Academy at Albany, N. Y. ; May 22, 1891, he was married to Mildred Lansing of 
Greenbush, by whom he has had two children: Frederick L., and Charles W. Mr. 
F. Carr was treasurer of the vSewer Commission ; he is now president of the Board of 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 45 

Health and president of the Greenbush Cemetery. He is a member of Greenbush 
Lodge No. 337, F. & A. M., of Greenbush Chapter No. 274, R. A. M., and of Green- 
bush Lodge, No. 133, I. O. O. F. Mrs. Carr died in 1876 and in 1877 he married 
Fannie Rifenburgh of Sandy Hill, Washington county, N. Y. 

Cullen, John, was born in Ireland, April 19, 1826. He is a son of Lawrence and 
Mary (Maddan) Cullen, who were born and died in Ireland. Mr. Cullen came to 
America in 1847 and worked in Mount Hope and various other places. He was in 
the employ of the Hudson River Railroad for fourteen years, and about 1865 came 
to Greenbush and engaged in the mercantile business. He was a poor boy when he 
started out and is now one of the wealthiest men in Greenbush. In 1859 he married 
Mary Sellery, born in Ireland. They have no children. 

Cole, John P., was born in Troy January 5, 1850. He is a son of John L., a son of 
Lewis, whose father came from Dutchess county in 1796 and settled in North Green- 
bush on the farm now owned by Thomas Cole, where he lived and died. Lewis Cole 
was a farmer and spent most of his days in North Greenbush; he died in Brunswick 
in 1878. John L. Cole was a farmer, hotel keeper and merchant in Albia, N. Y., 
where he spent most of his days; he was alderman and supervisor for several years 
and held other minor offices; his wife was Elizabeth Phillips, of North Greenbush, 
a daughter of Davis Phillips, who spent most of his days in that town, but died in 
Albany county at the age of ninety-three; to Mr. and Mrs. Cole were born four 
daughters and two sons, of whom five are now living; Mr Cole died in 1861 and his 
wife April 14, 1891. John P. Cole lost his father when twelve years old, and worked 
for his uncle for four years; he spent one year in Illinois and then returned to New 
York and worked on a farm in Albany county for two years, after which he came to 
Rensselaer county and worked on a farm for tAvo years. In 1870 he married Jennie 
M. Dings, daughter of Henry Dings, an early settler of East Greenbush. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Cole were born three sons and o.ne daughter: Edmond, educated in the common 
schools and the Albany Business College, and is now engaged in the mayor's office in 
New York; Gracie, educated in the Albany Female Academy and Albany Normal 
School; C. Frank L. was graduated from the Albany Business College; and David, 
deceased. Mr. Cole was a member of assembly in the years 1895 and 1896. He is a 
member of Greenbush Lodge No. 337, F. & A. M., Greenbush Chapter No. 274. R. 
A. M., and Albany Lodge, B. P. O. E., No. 49, and is also a member of the A. O. L^ 
W. of Greenbush. He was a farmer until 1885, when he came to Greenbush and was 
in the restaurant business for si.x years. He then bought the Rensselaer House, now 
known as the Cole's Hotel, of Greenbush. 

Ryan, Cornelius A., was born in Greenbush, February 1, 1856. He is the son of 
Cornelius and Mary (Gorman), both born in Ireland, and came to Quebec in 1845, 
then came to Albany, and finally to Greenbush where they both lived and died ; Mr. 
Ryan died in May, 1895, and Mrs. Rj'an in October, 1883. Cornelius Ryan was 
reared in Greenbush, where he also received his education in the Brothers' school. 
He then went to work as a brakeman with the Boston & Albany Railroad, where he 
remained for about si.xteen years. He was then elected receiver of taxes and village 
clerk of Greenbush, which position he now holds. Mr. Ryan was elected police com- 
missioner for two years and supervisor for three years; he was also elected trustee 
of the village, which position he resigned to take the one which he now holds. 



46 LANDMARKS OP RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Dean, Peter, one of the most thrifty farmers of Stephentown, a native of Ger- 
many, was born April 18, 1824. His parents were Peter and Christina Dean ; they 
were farmers of Germany where they lived and died. Peter received his education 
in Germany and in 1852 emigrated to America, settling first in Grafton, thence came 
to Stephentown where he still resides on a farm of 258 acres which he purchased in 
1875. He keeps a dairy of about seventeen cows. In 1850 Mr. Dean married 
Phoebe, daughter of Daniel and Mary Youngs, of Germany, by whom he has had six 
children: Christina, died at the age nineteen; Jacob, a farmer of Stephentown; 
Charles B., of Cane's Mill, Sand Lake; Mary, wife of Andrew Wise, of Stephen- 
town ; Carrie P., wife of Andrew J. Lapp, who farms the homestead; Peter, engaged 
with Hugh & Simpson, manufacturers of boxes, Troy. 

Pomeroy, Harmon, was born in Stephentown, December 23, 1827. He is a son of 
Quartus Pomeroy and Sally (Tifft) Pomeroy. The grandfather, Titus Pomeroy, came 
from the East and settled in Rensselaer county where he engaged in farming; he died 
at Sand Lake. The father of Mr. Pomeroy was born July 20, 1794. He was four- 
teen years old when he came to Rensselaer count}'; he settled in Stephentown on 
the farm now owned by his son Harmon Pomeroy in 1834, and died February 12, in 
1870. Mrs. Pomeroy was born June 10, 1794, and died August 10, 1869. Harmon 
Pomeroy has spent the greater part of his life on the farm which he now owns. In 
1856 he married Ellen M., daughter of Clark Vary, of Stephentown. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Pomeroy have been born three children: Ida J., Silas H. and Charles V. 

Weatherby, George W., was born in Stephentown, February 13, 1808, and died in 
December, 1885. He was a son of Uriah and Betsey (Coleman) Weatherby. Mr. 
Weatherby carrie from the North of England when a young man and settled in 
Stephentown where he married Betsey Coleman. He engaged in farming and here 
lived and died. George Weatherby was reared on a farm. He learned the carpen- 
ter trade and engaged in and ran the turning business for about forty-five years at 
Stephentown Center. He was for years deacon of the Baptist church at Stephen- 
town Center. August 29, 1880, Mr. Weatherby married Zillah U. Town ; she was 
born in Nassau December 17, 1810, and still resides at the Center. Her parents, 
John and Lois (Willard) Town, were natives of Rhode Island, whence they emigrated 
to Nassau about ISOO. He died at Glenville December 17, 1844, and she died at 
Dunham Hollow, November 20, 1842. Mr. Town was a shoemaker by trade. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Weatherby were born two children- Nancy, who died in 1848 at the 
age of five years and six months; Martha, married William H. Brown, who was a 
turner at the Center. Mr. Brown died January 1, 1885. Mrs. Brown, with her 
adopted daughter, Addie U. Brown, reside with Mrs. Weatherby. 

Russell, William F. , was born in Stephentown, and is the fourth generation of the 
Russell family on the farm he now owns. The farm was first settled by his great- 
grandparents, William and Mary Russell, at a very early date; became from France, 
and died September 28, 1812, at the age of eighty-two, and .she September 23, 1816, 
at the age of seventy. The farm was next occupied by a son, John, whose wife was 
Sarah Humphrey; he was born on the farm, and she was born near Garfield; they 
died on the homestead, he November 4, 1859. at the age of seventy-nine, and she in 
1857, at the age of seventy-seven. He was succeeded by Frederick Russell, father 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 47 

of William F. ; he married Eliza Kittle, and they spent their lives at farming on the 
home farm. Frederick Russell and his wife Eliza both died at the age of eighty- 
three. William F. married in 1854 Harriet E., daughter of Alonzo and Matilda 
(Chapman) Rogers, he a native of Stephentown and she of Connecticut. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Russell have been born seven children: William E., born June 13, 
1855; he married and has four children: Mary L., Laura V., Ida M. and Lillian P. ; 
they live in Iowa. Virginia is at home. Joseph F. was born October 8, 1859, and 
is a farmer of Stephentown; he married and they have four daughters: Elizabeth, 
Marguerite, Louise R. and Dorothy G. Antoinett E. C. is a graduate from the New 
York Medical College and Hospital for Women in New York city, and is now resi- 
dent superintendent of the Women's Homoeopathic College of Philadelphia. Harriet 
R. is the widow of Byron Greene and is a graduate of Waltham Training School, 
Mass., and is a professional nurse John died in infancy. Mary W. married 
Horace W. Provost. Mr. Russell has the old home farm of eighty acres and bought 
120 acres, of which he gave to his son a part. Mr. Russell has made a specialty of 
sheep husbandry. 

Tooley, Hiel J., was born in Rutland, Vt, January 1, 1833. He is a son of Ben- 
jamin F. and Manda (Carr) Tooley, he a native of Rutland and she of Stephentown. 
The grandfather, Joshua Carr, came to Stephentown in pioneer times and engaged in 
carpenter work and farming; he was one of the founders of the Baptist church at the 
Center. Benjamin F. Tooley came to Stephentown in 1833 and engaged in farming 
and lumbering; he died in 1895, at the age of ninety-five years; Mrs. Tooley died in 
1840. Hiel J. Tooley has given his principal attention to the coal and lumber business. 
He bought the farm of 107 acres near Stephentown Center in 1878, where he still 
resides. In 186 i Mr. Tooley married Delia, daughter of Sylvester and Betsev 
Craver of Sand Lake, by whom he has two children : John F., a farmer of Stephen - 
town, and Harry, in an electric shop in New York city. August 11, 1862, Mr# 
Tooley enlisted in Co. E, 125th N. Y. Vols., and was honorably discharged at the 
close of the war. He participated in the battles of the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, 
Gettysburgh, and in all eighteen battles and skirmishes. At Gettysburg he was 
wounded, and also in the thigh at the first charge of Petersburgh. 

Chase, Lorenzo D., was born at Stephentown Center, December 18, 1840. He is 
a son of Lorenzo and Permelia (Casey) Chase, both natives of Rensselaer county, he 
of Stephentown. The grandfather, Benjamin, was a pioneer of Stephentown from 
Connecticut; he married Margaret Sweet ; he was a farmer and lumberman. The 
father of Mr. Chase spent his life at the Center; he was a carpenter and mason, and 
ran a turning mill at the Center. Lorenzo D. Chase was reared and educated at 
Stephentown Center. He ran a saw and turning mill and in 1865 he bought the 
farm where he has since resided, carrying on general farming. In 1862 Mr. Chase 
married Mary A., daughter of Samuel arid Eliza Cole of Stephentown. 

Fellows, Lorenzo D , was born in Stephentown, December 2, 1822. He is a son 
of David and Chloe (Turner) Fellows, he a native of Stonington and she of Nassau. 
The grandparents were William and Susana (Rathbun) Fellows, natives of Connec- 
ticut; he was a ship carpenter by trade and came to Stephentown, where he spent 
the latter part of his life, and died at the age of eighty-four. The maternal grand- 



48 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

father, John Turner, was an early settler of Nassau, and was a minister of the Bap- 
tist church. David Fellows was three years old when his parents came up the 
Hudson River and settled in Stephentown. He was reared on the farm and always 
followed farming; Mr. Fellows died in 1857 at the age of seventy. L. D. Fellows 
has always been a farmer. 

Knapen, John J , born in Herkimer county, N. Y., May 15, 1841, is the son of Jo- 
siah and Phebe (Smith) Knapen, he a native of Stephentown, born April 7, 1801, 
she of Chatham, born January 21, 1805. The grandparents were Asa and Sally 
(Fuller) Knapen ; he was born in Columbia county. The great-grandfather of John 
J.. Samuel Knapen, was a cooper at Chatham where he died. The Knapen family 
are of Welsh extraction. The maternal grandparents were Seth and Eunice 
(Aldrich) Smith, who were married in 1795; he died 1858 and she in 1846; he was a 
farmer and butcher. Asa Knapen was an early settler of Stephentown and a shoe- 
maker by trade. The father of John J. was reared m Stephentown, married and 
removed to Herkimer county, thence in 1852 to Chatham and finally settled on the 
farm now owned by John J., where he died in 1863. Mrs. Knapen died in 1889. 
John J. was reared on the farm and was fourteen years in the butcher bu.siness in 
Stephentown ; then he went on the farm in South Stephentown where he carries 
on general farming and buying and selling butter, eggs, and poultry. He has 128 
acres. In 1871 Mr. Knapen was married to Maggie, daughter of Dyer and Marga- 
ret (Chatman) Arnold of Berlin, by whom he has one daughter, Alice M., wife of 
William G. Costine; they have one son, Harold E. 

Eldridge, Nathaniel A., was born in Hancock, Mas.s., m 1820. He is a son of 
Thomas and Rachel (Hall) Eldredge, he a native of Hancock and she of Stephen- 
town. The grandfather of Mr. Eldredge was Thomas Eldredge, a pioneer settler 
of Hancock, coming thither from Rhode Island. George Hall was a blacksmith by 
trade and died in 1812 at the age of seventy-eight. The father of Mr. Eldridge was 
born in Hancock in 1778 and came to Stephentown in 1849 and died in 1859. Mrs. 
Eldridge was born April 11, 1780 and died in 1860. Mr. Eldridge has always fol- 
lowed farming, at which he has been remarkably successful. In 1844 he married 
Nancy M. Gorton of Hancock by whom have been born three children: Dorr, who 
died at the age of three; E. Dora, who married Lewis Brown, and after his death 
she married C. H. Brown, brother of Lewis, who is the leading criminal lawyer in 
^the city of Omaha; Eldorus, formerly traveling salesman in the West, but now a 
farmer on the home farm of 250 acres; he is also a dealer in hor.ses; he married 
Lelia, daughter of E. R. Potter of Stephentown ; he was supervisor of Stephentown 
in 1888, 1889, and 1890, and was also clerk. He is a member of the Mt. Whitney 
Lodge No. 647, I. O. O. F. Mrs. Eldridge died in 1881 and in 1884 Mr. Eldridge 
married Mrs. Thomas J. Hazard. 

Moftitt, John Jay, was born in Stephentown, January 7, 1831. He is the son of 
Jay and Amy (Clark) Moftitt, he a native of Stephentown, and she of New Lebanon. 
The father of Jay, General Hosea, was also born in Stephentown where he lived 
and died. He was high sheriff of this county and for two terms was member of 
congress from his district. He was one of the leading men of this section of the 
country, both in farming and politically; he owned a large tract of land in Stephen- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 49 

town, and his father, Dr. Thomas Moffitt, was one of the first settlers of the town. 
Jay Moffitt was reared on the farm, and followed farming; he died in 1841 aged 
forty years. John J. Moffitt was reared on the farm and farming is his occupation. 
In 1853 he married Miss Lucy E., daughter of Sylvester and Alma (Russell) Gardner, 
she a native of Stephentown, but her grandparents came from France. Mr. Gardner 
had a large farm in Stephentown; his father, Benjamin Gardner, emigrated from 
England and was a pioneer at Stephentown Depot, and at one time owned all the 
land around where the village now stands. The wife of Mr. Gardner was Eunice 
Northope, daughter of Captain Northope, who married a Miss Needham, daughter 
of an English gentleman. The brother of Eunice, Elder Nicholas Northope, was 
the founder of the first Free Baptist church of Stephentown Centre about 1790. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Moffitt have been born one son, Charles, who died in 1892, and Ora 
E., who died in 1882; she married Charles Ford, and leaves one son, C. Moffitt 
Ford, who has been reared by John Jay Moffitt. Mr. Moffitt's children were both 
of exemplary habits, and their loss will always be deeply mourned. 

Moffit, Henry, was born in Stephentown, August 7, 1828. He was a son of Guy 
and EHzabeth (Bennett) Moffit, both natives of Stephentown and both died on the 
farm now owned by Henry. He died in 1859 and she in 1880. Henry is a grandson 
of Hosea Moffit and great-grandsou of Thomas Moffit of Scotland. Henry Moffit 
has always followed farming on the Moffit homestead. He owns 140 acres and keeps 
a dairy of fifteen cows. In 1851 he married Nancy, daughter of Elisha and Betsey 
(Chapman) Bennett, natives of Stephentown. The grandparents of Mrs. Moffit, 
Willard and Abigail (Eggleston) Bennett, were pioneers of Stephentown. The 
father of Mrs. Moffit died in 1858 and her mother died in 1836. Mrs. Moffit is a 
member of the Presbyterian church. They are the parents of one child : Mary Jane, 
wife of Sylvanus Pratt. 

Piatt, Theodore D., was born in Stephentown March 15, 1818. He is a son of 
Henry and Martha (Chatman) Piatt, both natives of Stephentown. The grandparents, 
Henry and Susan (Delaverne) Piatt, were natives of Dutchess county, N. Y., who 
came to Stephentown about 1780 and here lived and died. He was a merchant and 
miller. He was nine or ten years supervisor of the town, and for about ten j^ears 
member of assembly. He died in August, 1842 ; Mrs. Piatt died in January, 1848. 
The father of Theodore D. was also a merchant and miller; he died April 17, 1876, 
and Mrs. Piatt died February 18, 1864. Theodore D. Piatt has been a farmer and 
merchant, and for many years was engaged in the manufacture of wadding at Gar- 
field which business he established in 1849 and retired from it in 1873. In 1840 Mr. 
Piatt married Ann Drozilla, daughter of Alexander and Polly Gardner, both natives 
of Stephentown. To Mr. and Mrs. Piatt were born three children: Emiline, wife of 
Freling H. Smith, lawyer of New York city; Theodore died May 4, 1893, at the age 
of forty-nine, and William H. is a farmer on the homestead farm. Mr. Piatt has 
been justice, clerk and supervisor of the town. 

Potter, E. R., was born in West Greenwich, R. I., June 22, 1835. He is a son of 
Allen and Waity (Arnold) Potter, both natives of Rhode Island, where they lived 
and died. The grandfather, George Arnold, was a pioneer of Stephentown, and 
was aid-de-camp to George Washington during the Revolutionary war. E. R. Potter 



50 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

was left an orphan when a small boy and his first work for himself was at forty dol- 
lars a year. He then worked by the month in Rhode Island till he was of age, when 
he came to Stephentown and worked four years by the month, then at farming and 
speculating for seven years. In 1872 he engaged in the sale of lumber, lime, coal, 
feed, cement, and in shipping all kinds of produce, in which he has been very suc- 
cessful. In 1855 Mr. Potter married Phoebe, daughter of George Taylor, a farmer 
of Stephentown; she died March 12, 1882, and September 4, 1885. he married Anna 
McMahon. He had five children: Lelia Z., wife of Eldorus Eldridge; Minnie, who 
died aged twenty-one; George A., Agnes M. and Gertrude A. 

Brown, Spencer C, was born in Stephentown, March 26, 1833. He is a son of 
Joseph R. and Amanda M. (Carr) Brown, he a native of Connecticut, and she of 
Columbia county, N. Y. The parents of Joseph were Adam and Susana (Morey) 
Brown, who came from Stonington, Conn., in 1802, Joseph being then two years old, 
and settled in Stephentown where they lived and died. He was a captain in the 
war of 1812. The maternal grandparents were Spencer and Zelpha (Goodrich) Carr; 
he was born in Stephentown, and his father, Edward Carr, was a very early settler 
of the town ; he came from Rhode Island, being in Stephentown during the Revolu- 
tionary war; he helped to establish the Baptist church in Stephentown, and was a 
deacon many years; he died at the age of ninety years. Joseph R. Brown was a 
farmer of Stephentown throughout his whole life; he died in 1850 at the age of fifty 
years. Spencer C. was reared on the farm and at the death of his father took charge 
of the home farm. In 1871 he married Annie, daughter of John H. and Mary Ann 
(Goodrich) Conklin of Hancock, Mass. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born three 
children: J. Willis, at school at Suffield, Conn. ; Edith E., also at school; and Mary, 
died at the age of three years. In 1871 Mr. Brown engaged in general mercantile 
business in Stephentown, which business he is still carrying on in connection with 
farming. Mr. Brown has been road commissioner, justice, supervisor, and for fifteen 
years auditing superintendent of the poor of the county, and is al-so postmaster at 
Stephentown. He is a member of the New Lebanon Springs Lodge No. 9, F". & A. M. 

Barnes, W. D., born in Columbia county, N. Y., April 4, 1856, is a son of Walter 
and Mary (Dillon) Barnes, both natives of Columbia county, and there Mr. Barnes 
died and his wife died in Canada. He was a land architect which he followed for 
years. Mr. Barnes was reared in Hudson and educated in the public schools of that 
place. He began the manufacture of cotton cloth in 1879 in Brainard which he fol- 
lowed for four years and was burned out; he then built a paper mill and has since 
been engaged in the manufacture of paper except six years in New York city, where 
he built a paper mill and followed the same business. He manufactures manilla 
paper, box paper, and light wood boards, manilla tissue, and white and colored tissue 
a specialty. The capacity of the mills is 10,000 pounds per day ; Mr. Barnes is also 
engaged in the manufacture of shirts. He was married in February, 1891, to Miss 
Katharine F. Hart, daughter of John Hart of Albany, to whom two children have 
been born: William Harold and Annette Marion. 

Goodell, George W. E., M.D., was born in Mexico, Oswego county, N. Y., Janu- 
ary 21, 1863. He is a son of William S. and Martha (Hamilton) Goodell of Mexico. 
George W. E. was reared on a farm and educated in Mexico Academy. He studied 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 51 

medicine with Dr. George P. Johnson of Mexico, and wa.s graduated from the Al- 
bany Medical C'->llege in 1894. He practiced medicine at Green Island and in 1895 
came to Brainard Station, where he has a successful practice. He is a member of 
the Tsatsawassa Lodge No. 356, I.O.O.F. 

Bonacker, Adam, was born in Germany in 1843. He was a son of Conradt and 
Catharine (Boider) Bonacker, both born, lived and died in Germany. Adam Bon- 
acker came to New York city in 1859 and was educated in the common schools; he 
remained there two years, then went to Greenbush, where he found a brother, 
August Bonacker, who had been in the United States about six years. August, one 
of the well-to-do business men of the place spent his life in Greenbush. Adam 
Bonacker had eighty-seven cents when he came to the United States. He enlisted 
in 1861 in a New York State regiment and served three years and two months; he 
was a prisoner twice, was in seven battles and eight skirmishes, and was wounded 
at Sulphlir Springs, Va. The regiment numbered 1,100 and had eighty-eight men 
when discharged. Mr. Bonacker was first lieutenant before twenty-one years of 
age. After his discharge he came to Greenbush and after a short time went to New 
York city and started a meat market; being defrauded out of this business and 
losing his money, he again returned to Greenbush, settling on a back street, and be- 
gan work in a coal yard but soon hired out to Mr. Bret in a slaughter house ; he re- 
mained with him nine winters; during the summer he bought calves and slatightered 
them and peddled them in baskets. He butchered them in his wood-shed, back of 
East street, then owned by Bryan Smith. He soon bought a horse, wagon and 
harness for seven dollars and traded until he had a better horse. He continued in 
the stock business until 1890, having a meat market from 1875. He also worked a 
piece of land. He now owns the Van Rensselaer Island ice business whose capacity' 
is about 20,000 tons, a building on Broadway where he lives, two near the viaduct, 
one in East Greenbush, and several others in Greenbush. Mr. Bonacker now lives 
a retired life. He was married in 1864 to Mary Bodesine, by whom he has had ten 
children, four of whom are living. His second wife was Mary O'Neil, by whom he 
had seven children, three of whom are living. Two sons of Mr. Bonacker, Philip 
and Adam, are engaged in the ice business; the youngest son by the first wife, John, 
is now engaged in the grocery business. Mr. Bonacker worked two months for his 
board when he came to this county and now he is the second largest taxpayer in the 
village of Greenbush. He was lieutenant in the 25th Regiment of Home Guards, 
serving for twelve years under Captain Health, he being the senior captain. 

Leggett, Joseph A., was born in Marmora, Canada, January 3, 1860. He came 
with his parents to Troy in 1864, attended the public schools and the business col- 
lege and entered the employ of his father in the manufacture of paper boxes, in 
which business he became a partner in 1882. He is a member of all the Masonic 
bodies, and was master of King Solomon Lodge, F. & A. M., and upon retiring 
from office was presented with an elegant past master's jewel. He is also a member 
of the Elks, a trustee of the Fifth Avenue M. E. church, a director in the National 
Bank of Troy, treasurer of the Troj' File Company and a director of the Troy and 
Cohoes Shirt Company. Mr. Leggett is a staunch Republican and is at this date, 
1896, chairman of the county committee ; he is also a member of the Pafraets Dael 
and the Riverside Clubs. In July, 1896, he was elected president of the Empire 



52 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

State Paper Box Manufacturers' Association. In 1880 he married Mary Belle Davis 
of Troy, by whom he has two daughters. 

Wilkinson, jr., Joseph B., was born in Troy, N.Y., September 8, 1847. His father, 
Joseph B. Wiikinson, was born in Scituate, R. L, October 17, 1817. He took an 
active part in what is known as Dorr's Rebellion in 1840. He came to Troy in 1842 
and opened a clothing store at 169 River street, taking his brother as a partner. 
Eight years afterwards he opened an establishment in New York and remained there 
until the death of his brother, when he returned to Troy and again took charge of 
the business. He died January 22, 1890. Joseph B., jr., received a common school 
and academic education. He was admitted to the bar in Albany in 1870 and prac- 
ticed about a year in Troy. He was elected alderman in 1872, and was in the cham- 
berlain's office two years. Since 1879 he has been in the fire insurance business, 
and is connected with the State Board of Underwriters. He has been a member of 
the fire department since 1865, and also of the Troy Citizens Corps. He is a member 
of Apollo Lodge, Chapter and Commandery, and of the Oriental Temple, Mystic 
Shrine. He was married in 1874 to Ella S. Crane. He has four children. 

Ingalls, H. H. G., was born in the town of Milton, Saratoga county, N. Y., May 
18, 1850, and is a son of Daniel T. and Sally M. (Dake) Ingalls, he born at Bellows 
Falls, Vt., and she in Greenfield, Saratoga county. Daniel T. was a journeyman 
papermaker from the time he was fourteen years of age until 1860, when he began 
leasing and operating mills on his own account and superintending for others until 
1873, when he and H. H. G. Ingalls (his son) bought a mill in South Manchester, 
Conn., and were in business until 1888 ; Daniel T. then sold out his interest and lived 
retired in Castleton, where he died in 1892, and where his widow still resides. H. 
H. G. Ingalls entered a paper mill at the age of twelve years and continued as a 
journeyman papermaker and superintendent for others up to 1873. when he formed 
a partnership with his father, as above stated. Upon the retirement of his father 
from the firm, H. H. G. formed a partnership with his successors, and afterwards 
formed a stock company in Castleton and built the Oak Grove Paper Mills, of which 
company Mr. Ingalls is secretary, treasurer and general manager. In 1872 Mr. 
Ingalls was married to Jane E. Reese of Fonda, N. Y., who died August 30, 1881. 
April 16, 1885. he was married to Hattie R. Tracy of South Manchester, Conn., who 
has borne him four children: Luella E., Maud H., Florence L. and Edmond Harvey. 
For the past twenty years he has been a member of the Methodist church and has 
been superintendent of the Methodist Sunday school of Castleton for two years, and 
for fifteen years has occupied an official capacity in the church. He was a member 
ot the Board of Trustees of Castleton for two years, and in politics is a staunch 
Republican. 

Knickerbocker, Milton I., was born in Schodack on the farm he now owns, Jan- 
uary 29, 1852. He is a son of Milton, born in Columbia county. January 10, 1815, 
who was a son of James Knickerbocker, who lived and died in Columbia county. 
The father came to Schodack about sixty years ago and bought the farm Milton I. 
now owns, where he lived and died; his death occurred September 8, 1894; he was 
supervisor for three years and was justice for twelve years; his wife, Sally A. Pock- 
man, died April 2, 1878. Mr. Knickerbocker was reared on a farm and educated in 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 53 

the public schools. He is a farmer and has 121 acres of land. In 1888, he married 
Ora E. Link of Columbia county, by whom four children have been born: Beula L., 
Claud M., Harry P., and A. Irving. 

Knowlton, F. M., was born in Castleton and educated in the schools of the village. 
He started the business of life for himself as a clerk with Joel D. bmith and became 
a partner in the business in 1888 with W. P. Smith under the firm name of Smith & 
Knowlton. Mr. Knowlton is a representative young business man and is universally 
popular; he is a member of the fire department of which he is treasurer, a member 
of the steamer company, foreman of the fire company and a member of the Masonic 
order. He is one of the Owl Club and is president of the organization. 

Larkin, Egbert, was born in Nassau, October 12, 1828, and is a son of Caleb K. 
and Lmda A. Smith, both born in Nassau. He is a son of William Larkin, a native 
of Rhode Island, and one of the early settlers of Nassau, where he died at the age of 
ninety-two; he was in the Revolutionary war. The father of Mr. Larkin lived and 
died in Nassau, and had two brothers, who were in the war of 1812. Mr. Larkin 
was educated in the common schools, and for some time bought and sold cows. In 
1870 he came on the farm he now owns of sixty-eight acres; he was commissioner 
for nme years, and was assessor for one year. In 1854 he was first married to Mal- 
vina Williams of Nassau, who died March 22, 1887, and in 1801 he was again mar 
ried mari-ied to Louisa Becker of Schodack, and has two children: Jessie and 
Hazel L. 

Masten, W. J. & C. P., of South Schodack, N. Y., dealers in general merchandise, 
dry goods, groceries, hardware, &c., are the sons of James H.and Sarah M. (Ostran- 
der) Masten; she born in Schodack, N. Y. , December 12, 1814, he born in Columbia 
county September 9, 1812, and was a son of William Masten, who was born in Can- 
ada and came to Columbia county when a young man at the age of twenty-one years 
and settled there for a few years, after which he came to Schodack and bought the 
farm near South Schodack, and now owned by his grandsons, where he spent the 
remainder of his days and where he died July 15, 1856, at the age of seventy-two 
years. His wife, Sallie (Wiltse) Masten, died August 4, 1868, aged eighty years. 
The wife of James H. Masten was born in Schodack and was a daughter of Peter 
Ostrander and Margaret (Welch) Ostrander, who were among the early settlers of 
Schodack, where they spent all their lives and both died in their ninety-fourth year. 
The father of W. J. and C. P. Masten was a farmer and spent most of his days at 
that occupation, but lived a retired life the last twenty years, and died August 22, 
1882, aged seventy years. W. J. and C. P. were reared upon the farm and educated 
in common schools. W. J. also attended school at Carlisle, Schoharie county, and 
Fairfield Seminary, Herkimer county. C. P. attended school at Claverack, Columbia 
county, and Fairfield Seminary. In the year 1865, May 1, W. J. engaged in the 
mercantile business at Schodack Landing, N. Y. , where he remained for two years 
and in 1S67 he, with his brother C. P., commenced in the same business at South 
Schodack, N. Y., and have continued in business there ever since. W. J. was assist- 
ant postmaster at Schodack Landing for one year, and postmaster at South Schodack 
for twenty-five years and six months in succession. On December 15, 1880, W. J. 
married Phebe S. Decker, of Schodack, bj' whom he has one daughter, Sarah D. 



54 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

The only daughter of James H. Hasten and his wife was Rosalind E., wife of John 
S. Budd, a prominent farmer of Schodack, and they have four children: Charles L, 
William H., Mary E. and Sarah B., all of whom are still living. 

Miller, Capt. George R., was born in Schodack on the farm he now owns, July G, 
1839. He is a son of Garrett and Martha (Seaman) Miller, both born in Schodack. 
Garrett was a son of John 1., a son of one of the earliest settlers of the town. 
The grandfather of Mr. Miller purchased the farm where he lived and died. The 
father of Mr. Miller was a farmer; he died in 1861 and his wife died January 20. 
1898, at the age of eighty-four Mr. Miller was reared on a farm and educated \n 
the common schools; he is a farmer and has 172 acres of land, following general 
farming; he was supervisor of the town in 1880 and 1881, and was also collector. 
In 1869 Mr. Miller was married to Theresa De Forest, a daughter of David and 
granddaughter of Jacob De Forest, an early settler of North Greenbush. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Miller were born four daughters: Martha (deceased), Maria J., Helena and 
Sarah A. Mr. Miller is a member of Schodack Lodge No. 87, F. & A. M., and is 
past master. He was captain of Co. B, 72d Regiment, State militia. 

Morey, F. R., was born in Nassau, Julj^ 1, 1869, and was educated in the public 
schools and Cornell University. His people are farmers and his life was passed 
on the farm and at school until the spring of 1895, when he entered into partner- 
ship with William E. N. Van Hoesen in the coal and freighting business, and in 
January. 1896, purchased his interest and has since conducted the business alone. 
He handles 1,500 tons of coal annually and over 4 000 tons of freight. Mr. Morey's 
parents were Gardner and Lydia (Robinson) Morey; the latter is deceased. His 
grandfather, Robert Morey, came from Connecticut. Mr. Morey is a member of 
the Masonic fraternity and is a young business man of prominence and more than 
ordinary ability. 

Parks, Alonzo H., was born in Sand Lake, January 26, 1827, and is a son of Jon- 
athan and Elmira (Hunt) Parks, he born in Sand Lake and she in Columbia count}-. 
Jonathan was a son of Whiting Parks, a native of Dutchess county, who came to 
Sand Lake, where he married, lived and died. Jonathan, father of Alonzo H., was 
a wheelwright and a farmer and was in business in Sand Lake; he died in Stephen- 
town, and his wife in Sand Lake in 1842. Alonzo H. was reared on a farm and 
educated at Sand Lake Academy and has always followed farming. About 1854 he 
came to Schodack and worked at the carpenter's trade at North Chatham two years, 
and was engaged in the manufacture of wagons at Muitzes Kill for about five years, 
and then came to the farm of seventy-five acres, to which he added seventy-five. In 
1858 he was married to Mary Miller, daughter of Christopher Miller, who owned 
about 250 acres of land in Schodack, where he lived and died. Mr. Parks was at 
one time a member of the I. (). O. F. at Sand Lake, and was also a member of the 
Sons of Temperance. Philip S. Parks, son of Alonzo H. Parks, was born in Schodack, 
August 80, 1860, and was educated in the Albany Business College. He is one of the 
progressive farmers and owns about 108 acres of land. He follows general farming 
and makes a specialty of apples. May 16, 1879, he was married to Mary J. Keefer, 
of Greene county, by whom two sons have been born: Alonzo S. and Elba K. Mr. 
Parks is a Republican and has been inspector of elections. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 55 

Peaslee, J. S. , M.D., was born in Montgomery county, March 15, 1849. He was ed- 
ucated in the Cazenovia Academy, at Cherry Valley, Fort Plain, N.Y., and in Albany 
Medical College, from which he graduated in December, 1874. In the spring of 
1875 he began practice at Schodack Landing and has been there ever since, except 
one year, 1878. In 1879 Dr. Peaslee married Josie Springsteen ; they have two 
children: Zebeth S. and Ruth. Dr. Peaslee's parents were Joseph B. and Lany 
(Seeber) Peaslee. He is the present postmaster at Schodack Landing and held the 
same office during Cleveland's first administration. Politically the doctor is a 
staunch Democrat. 

Phibbs, William H., was born in Sligo, in the North of Ireland, May 25, 1842, and 
came to this country in 1857 in company with his two brothers who are now in the ice 
business in Albany. He started in the retail ice business in Albany in 1869 and con- 
tinued it until 1879, when he came to Castleton and purchased part of the Collins 
farm and erected building for the wholesale ice business. In 1885 he was instru- 
mental in forming the Montauk Ice Company of Brooklyn, being a director and 
managing superintendent as well as one of the heaviest stockholders. In 1891 he 
bought the village ice house which he ran in connection with his other business. In 
1893 he started in the lumber business in Castleton, which business he is in at present. 
He withdrew from active work in the ice business in 1894, although he still remains a 
stockholder. In the year 1872 he married Jennie Smith of Albany; they have had six 
boys, five of whom are living, as follows: William H. , Howard T., Joseph R., Ed- 
ward P., and Robert M., all of whom with the exception of the youngest, were born 
in Albany. Mr. Phibbs owns con.siderable village property including the handsome 
house in which he now lives. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, and has never 
taken any active part in politics or held any office, although he has always worked 
for the success of the party to which he belongs. He is a member of the Water 
Commission of Castleton. 

Randerson, John, was born in Yorkshire, England, December 30, 1812. He is the 
son of Thomas and Nancy Randerson, both of whom died in England. About 1832 
Mr. Randerson came to Schodack and worked for $12 a month ; afterwards he began 
the manufacture of the " Randerson plow," which he followed for about forty years ; 
he also invented and manufactured the "Scotch drag." He finally in 1850 bought 
140 acres of land, to which he has since added 400 acres, put up new buildings and 
otherwise improved it. He was married first to Sally A. Schermerhorn, who bore 
him three children, all deceased. For his second wife he married Catharine Cham- 
plm, by whom he had thirteen children, ten of whom are living: Antoinette, wife 
of Mr. Van Dacarr, who is on a government boat at New York city ; Mariette, wife 
of Mr. Stanley, overseer of the Sweeney farm near Maiden Bridge ; Elizabeth, wife 
of Stephen F. Miller of Kinderhook ; John, a prosperous dredger at New York city ; 
George, at home in charge of the farm ; Martha, wife of Frank Rossman of Kinder- 
hook; Kittie, wife of Pierson Lobdell of Troy; Lavina, wife of Remus Lasher, agent 
for the Homer Wagon Co. ; Julia, wife of Edward Brousseau of Burns's Dock; Ida, 
wife of Irving Johnson, a farmer of Schodack. Mrs. Randerson is a daughter of 
William and Elizabeth Champlin, he born in Vermont and she in Coxsackie, N. \ . ; 
they came to Rensselaer county about 1826 and resided on a farm until their deaths. 
Mr. and Mrs. Randerson have twenty grandchildren and one great-grandchild, 



56 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Rhoda, William H., was born in Schodack, N. Y., June 12, 1826. He is a son of 
Charles and Christina (Hulsapple) Rhoda, she born in Schodack, N. Y., and he in 
Columbia county, she a daughter of William Hulsapple, a native of Dutchess county, 
who when a young man came to Schodack, and there lived and died. The father of 
Mr. Rhoda was a carpenter by trade; he died June 1, 1877, and his wife died Novem- 
ber 2i, 1885. William H. Rhoda was reared on a farm and educated in the common 
schools. He is now a farmer and has forty-two acres of land, his father's homestead, 
he being the only son. He had two sisters of whom one is living. He was married 
.September 21, 1.S55, to Elizabeth Link, a native of East Greenbush and a daughter 
of William Link. To Mr. and Mrs. Rhoda were born four daughters: Hattie, Mary, 
Annie, and Alice. The wife of William Hulsapple was Susannah Link who died 
November 7, 18519. They were married March 1, 1795. 

Smith, William P. was born in Castleton, May 23, 1846, and was educated at 
Mechanicville and Fort Edward. He was engaged in the coal business for three 
years when he went into the manufacture of brick for five years and embarked in 
mercantile business in ^'hich he is still engaged as senior partner of the firm of 
Smith & Knowlton. Mr. Smith has long been an active Democrat and is highly ap- 
preciated by his party. He has served as delegate to the county and State conven- 
tions as well as judicial conventions; has been clerk of the village of Castleton for 
ten years; was postmaster under Cleveland's administration and has been again 
throughout the present presidential term. Mr. Smith is president of the Commercial 
Union Co-operative Association and is also trustee and treasurer of the Cemetery 
Association. He married Anna Knowlton, who died December 10, 1S93, leaving 
two children, William K. and Lucy. Mr. Smith's parent's were Joel D. and Hannah 
E. (Stearns) Smith. Joel D. Smith was the founder of the Castleton National Bank 
and was its president from its organization till his death in 1886. 

Smith, Joel D., was born in Castleton, October 28, 1866, and was educated in 
Castleton and at the Albany Institute. He engaged in milling in connection with 
George T. Callanan and afterwards became connected with the freighting firm of 
Charles H. Smith & Co., of which his father was formerly a member and whose 
place he took when his father died. The firm is one of the largest, strongest and 
best known freighting concerns on the Hudson River and does a vast amount of 
carrying. In 1889 Mr. Smith married Mary W. Golder. His parents were John 
D. and Magdahne (Hudson) Smith. His grandfather was Joel D. Smith, the head 
of the Smith family of Castleton which has for upwards of a century played an 
important part in the business and public life of the town and village. Joel D. 
Smith, although quite a young man, has already achieved the reputation of being 
one of the ablest business men in the count}'. 

Seaman, Jacob, was born in Castleton, Rensselaer county, July 28, 1849. His 
father was a merchant in Castleton, and after his school days he went into the store 
with which he has ever since been connected, and of which he is now sole proprie- 
tor. The business was founded by N. N. Seaman & Sons in 1883, followed by J. & 
C. Seaman, and in the spring of 1895 the business passed into the hands of J. Sea- 
man. In 1868 Mr. Seaman married vSarah Allendorph; they have one daughter, 
Delia A., now Mrs. Arthur Kackman. Mr. Seaman is a prominent and active Re- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 57 

publican, is chairman of the town committee and has been delegate to many county 
and State conventions, and has also been trustee of the village of Castleton. Mr. 
Seaman's parents were Nathan N. and Rachel (Ostrander) Seaman, both of whom 
are Hollanders by descent. His father was a prominent man in his day and was 
justice of the peace for sixteen consecutive years. His brother, C. Seaman, who 
died in the spring of 1895, was twice president of the village. He was a prominent 
Mason and was treasurer of the lodge at his death. He was also secretary of the 
Castleton Cemetery Association, which was organized by N. N. Seaman, which 
office fell to Jacob upon the death of his father. Jacob Seaman owns one of 
the most historical landmarks of Rensselaer county. Castle Hill, a tract of twelve 
acres which has been in the family for over thirty years. 

Schlemmer, George, was born in Germany November 23, 1834, and came to America 
in the .spring of 1852, with his mother and one brother. He settled in East Schodack 
but came to Castleton in 1854 and has resided in the village ever since and has done 
a great deal towards building up the village. He has erected the great majority of 
the buildings in the place and has a high reputation for good work and honesty in 
all his dealings. In 1859 Mr. Schlemmer married Martha Primmer and they have 
a family of three children : Fred G. Schlemmer, Mrs. Dr. Waldradt and Olive Schlem- 
mer. Mr. Schlemmer's parents were Frederick and Salome Schlemmer. Mr. Schlem- 
mer is a large owner of real estate and houses m Ca.stleton and is a selfmade man. 
He had two brothers killed in the Civil war, William being killed in Gettj'sburg 
and Jacob at Cold Harbor. 

Smith, Zacariah Z., was born on the farm he now owns, December 22, 1805. He 
is the son of Zacariah and Susanna (Lown) Smith, both of whom were born in 
Dutchess county, he the son of Philip also born in Dutchess county, who was a cap- 
tain in the Revolutionary war; he lived and died in Columbia county. Mr. Smith's 
father came to Schodack, N. Y.. in 1794 and took up ninety- four acres of land and 
there lived and died; he cleared his farm from a wilderness; he died in April, 1827, 
and his wife in June, 1848, aged seventy-nine years. Mr. Smith was reared on a 
farm and educated in the common schools. He has followed farming and now has 
1,050 acres in Nassau and Schodack. Mr. Smith has rented his land since 1862. 

Seaburgh, Joseph M., was born in Germany, November 30, 1840. He is the son of 
Charles and Mary (Passo) Seaburgh, both of whom were born in Germany and there 
lived and died. Mr. Seaburgh came to America in 1869 and worked for his brother, 
John Seaburgh, for one j'ear, and then worked by the month for some time; he then 
rented farms for six years and in 1883 bought the farm of fifty-two acres upon which 
he has lived ever since. He was married in 1869 to Wilhelmina Schultz, daughter 
of Christian and Carolina Schultz; she died in Germany and Mr. Schultz in Scho- 
dack, N. Y. Mr. Seaburgh had $150 when he came to New York city; he has made 
his own property and owns a good farm. 

Smith, Isaac N., was born in Schodack, in 1835. a son of John N. and Anna 
(Hendricks) Smith, both of whom were born in Rensselaer county, he a son of Nich- 
olas Smith, and she a daughter of William Hendricks. Mr. Smith was reared on a 
farm and educated in the common schools. He is a farmer and owns a farm of 100 
acres. He is a member of Sunnyside Lodge, No. 731, F. & A. M. He was married 
u 



58 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

in December, 1860, to Catharine E. Carpenter, a daughter of Walter and Christina 
(Miller) Carpenter of Schodack. To Mr. Smith and wife were born four children: 
Elva C, Georgina, Hattie, and John N. 

Sliter, Edgar and John W., were born in Greenbush, John W. October 12, 1851, 
and Edgar, March 22, 1854. The}' are the sons of Christopher and Catherine (Sliter) 
Sliter. The father was born on the farm now owned by his sons and the mother in 
Poestenkill. The grandfather, George Sliter. was a carpenter and farmer, bought 
the farm and there died when Christopher was only six years of age. He was then 
reared by his uncle, John C. Carner, a farmer of East Greenbush. He came to 
North Greenbush in 1844 and bought the old homestead, where he died April 28, 
1894. Mrs. Carner died in August, 1889. In 1881 Edgar Sliter married Margaret 
Sliter of Poestenkill and has one daughter, Mary A. In 1890 John W. married Liz- 
zie M. Lash of East Greenbush, by whom he has two children: Arthur J. and Edith 
M. The two brothers Sliter, Edgar and John W., purchased and took charge of the 
homestead farm after their father's death in 1S94. It consists of 156 acres; they 
make a specialty of milk and keep about thirty-seven cows. They are members of 
Silver Brook Lodge No. 722, I. O. O. F., and J. W. is a member of Greenbush Lodge 
No. 327, F. & A. M. ; both are members of the order of the Patrons of Industry. 

Van Buren, Charles, was born in Castleton, N. Y., September 14, 1843, and is a 
son of Abram and Martha (Finkle) Van Buren, he born in Schoharie and she in Cas- 
tleton. He was a son of Cornelius P., born in Schodack, a son of Henry Van Buren, 
who came from Holland and died in Schodack, previous to the Revolutionary war. 
The father of Mr. Van Buren had been a boatman for about sixty years, and now 
lives a retired life. He is a Democrat and has been collector and road commissioner. 
He was a member of Hudson River Lodge, I. O. O. F., now out of existence. 
Charles Van Buren was reared in Castleton and was also educated in that place. 
He started as sloop boatman and was in the freighting and commission business. 
In 1881 he bought a farm in Schodack where he lived for seven years; he then re- 
turned to Castleton and engaged in the meat and grocery business. He is a Demo- 
crat and has been collector of taxes, and is a member of the Sunnyside Lodge No. 
731, F. & A. M., of which he is now master. In 1870 he was married to Frances II. 
Wiltse of Greenbush, by whom three children have been born: Lillian, William, and 
Martha. 

Van Buren, Abram W., was born on the farm where he now lives, August 8, 1854. 
He is the son of Abram B., born on the same farm, a son of Barent VanBuren, also 
born on the same farm, and his father Abram was either born on this farm or came 
here when a mere child with his parents, Johannes Van Buren and wife. Abram 
Van Buren was a captain in the Revolutionary war and was afterward appointed 
captain in the militia. The grandfather of Mr. Van Buren served in the war of 1812. 
The father of Mr. Van Buren was commissioner of highways, asse.ssor, overseer of 
the poor, and collector; he died March 15, 1893; his wnfe was Katharine Van Buren, 
daughter of Andrew Van Buren, formerly of Columbia county and of German de- 
scent; his wife is now living on the old homestead. Mr. Van Buren was reared and 
educated in Schodack. He has always followed farming and owns 110 acres of land. 
He was married in 1886 to Anna Ostrander, a native of Schodack and a daughter of 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 59 

Hiram Ostrander of Castleton, N. Y. To them were born one son, Andrew, who is 
the sixth generation living on the same farm. 

Welch, C. D. , M. D., was born in Albany, June 14, 1848, and was educated in the 
public schools and by Dr. William Arthur, father of President Arthur. He took a 
medical course in Albany Medical College and finished at the New York Homeopathic 
Medical College from which he was graduated in 1877. He practiced medicine in 
Schoharie county for nine years when he moved to Albany and practiced for three 
years and then settled in Castleton where he has built up a large practice. Dr. 
Welch is a prominent Mason of the Blue Lodge and Chapter, and is also a member 
of the American Institute of Homeopathy. He was health officer of Cobleskill, 
Schoharie county, and also of Castleton village. In 1881 Dr. Welch was dele- 
gate from the American Institute of Homeopathy to the International Home- 
opathic Medical Convention in London. In 1884 he married Mary Harwood. They 
have an adopted daughter, Mercedes Hulett. Dr. Welch's father was Rev. B. T. 
Welch, D. D., a Baptist clergyman who long officiated in the North Pearl Street 
Baptist church, now the Emanuel Baptist church on State street, Albany, and who 
died in 1870. He was the founder of the Albany Rural Cemetery, and the church 
and his friends have erected a magnificent Ouincy granite monument to his memory, 
the inscription upon which records the fact. Dr. Welch's mother was Mary Law- 
rence, daughter of Dr. Lawrence of Baltimore; she died in 1893, aged eighty-five. 
On his mother's side he is a direct descendant of Commodore Lawrence. 

Wood, W. W., was born in Goshen, Orange county, November 18, 183:}. He lived 
on a farm until he was sixteen years of age, when he went to New York and engaged 
in the milk business. In 1851 he began to learn the trade of tinner, and in October, 
1852, he came to Castleton and embarked in business for himself. He has been a 
very successful business man, and his long record is as honorable as it has been suc- 
cessful. Mr. Wood's parents were Horace S. and Martha (Drake) Wood. In 1871 
Mr. Wood married Maria Knowlton. 

Roberts, Abram E., was born in Schoharie, July 9, 1833. He was a son of Abram 
and Catherine (Bost) Roberts, he born in Rensselaer and she in Schoharie county. 
His grandfather was Abner Roberts, who spent most of his days in Brunswick, N.Y. 
His father came from England and settled on the farm now occupied by Merritt 
Roberts and Isaac Roberts. The great-grandfather of Abram Roberts was killed 
by the Indians on his own farm during the Revolutionary War. Mr. Roberts was 
educated in the town of Wright, Schoharie county, and was a farmer until nineteen 
years of age and has since been a carpenter. He came to Albany from Brunswick, 
and in 1868 came to Bath where he now lives. He owns a large building on the 
corner of Second and Fowler streets, and also a three story brick building at the 
corner of First and Fowler streets, and a residence on Broadway. In 1857 Mr. Rob- 
erts was married to Elizabeth File, daughter of Peter File. To them have been 
born four children : Dr. A. O., Emma, deceased; Minnie L., wife of Ira Hayner, of 
Brunswick; and Everet H., of Washington, D. C. , in the employ of the government. 
Mr. Roberts is a member of Wadsworth No. 417, F. & A. M., also Rensselaer Lodge 
No. 240. A. O. U. W., Fort Cralo Legion No. 58, Select Knights, and Fort Cralo 
Auxiliary No. 3, Select Knights. Mr. Roberts has been justice for twenty years and 



60 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

is now holding that^ office. He was elected assessor and has been trustee for six 
years, and also has been trustee of the school district for three terms, which position 
he now holds and has been president of the Board of Education. 

Whitman, Peter D., was born in Canaan, Columbia county, N. Y., January 27, 
1833. He was the .son of John and Mary (Deyo) Whitman, he born in Chatham, and 
she in Schodack, N. Y. His grandfather was Samuel Whitman ; he lived in Wayne 
county and spent his last days there. His father was a farmer, and died in 1877 ; 
his widow is now living. Peter D. Whitman was reared on a farm and educated in 
the common schools. He is a farmer and in 1866 he came to Schodack and in 1873 
bought a farm of 160 acres. In December, 1860, he married Rosamond Shofelt of 
Schodack, by whom he has had five children: Sarah, Cordon, deceased, Catharine, 
WiUiam and Clarence. 

Reynolds, RoUin C, was born in Steuben county, October 22, 1863. He is the son 
of Nathaniel Reynolds who came to Troy in 1874, and entered the furniture business 
at 446 River street. In 1886 his father retired from business and he has taken 
charge of the business since. In 1892 he leased the store in the McCarthy building, 
Monument Square, formerly occupied by the I. Keith Furniture Co., and has since 
acquired nearly the entire building. The sales have increased from !ii20,000, annu- 
ally to .S175,0()0in 1895. Mr. Reynolds has over 40, 000 feet of floor room in his estab- 
lishment and has the largest stock of furniture and carpets in Northern New York. 
He has also established branch stores in Cohoes and Greenwich. He belongs to 
Apollo Lodge, F. & A. M., Read Steamer Co., and the Trojan Wheelmen. 

Riley, C. W., was born in Greenbush, January 13, 1851. He is a son of Edward 
and Mary (Vaughn) Riley, both born in Ireland. In 1841 his father, when a young 
man, came to Greenbush and in 1850 married Mary Vaughn who had come with her 
parents to Greenbush in 1847. They soon removed to East Greenbush and settled 
on a farm, and are now residents of that town, practically retired. C. W. Riley was 
reared on a farm and educated in the common schools and in Fulsom's Business Col- 
lege from which he graduated in 1869 and returned to the homestead, where he en- 
gaged in the milk business with his father and brothers and continued therein until 
April, 1886. He then engaged in the boot and shoe business at 367 Broadway, East 
Albany, and has been very successful. He was collector and highway commissioner 
of East Greenbush for six years continuously from 1876 to 1882, and was elected cor- 
oner in 1879 and again in 1882. He was married June 27, 1883, to Mary J. McDer- 
mott of Albany, at that time the organist in St. John's church of Greenbush. To 
Mr. Riley and wife were born six children: Edward, Mary and Lottie (twins), who 
both died at the age of one year and five days, Florence, Paul and Eugene. Mr. 
Riley was elected treasurer [of the village of Greenbush in 1893, and re-elected in 
1895. He is a member of Branch 57, C. M. B. A., and also of the United Friends of 
Greenbush. Mary Vaughn, mother of Mr. Riley, was a daughter of Dennis Vaughn, 
mentioned in another part of this work. 

Scriven, William H., born in Grafton, N. Y., April 20, 1852, is the son of Joseph 
and Nancy M. Scriven, daughter of Joshua M. Scriven, a native of Grafton, and 
son of Joseph Scriven, a native of England, and one of the vefy first settlers of 
Grafton and who served in the Revolutionary war. The great-grandfather and 



FAMILY SKETCHES. • 61 

grandfather of William H. both died in Grafton. The father of William H. was a 
stonemason by trade and lived in Grafton and Petersburgh ; he died in Petersburgh 
in 1891 ; his wife died in 1895. The paternal grandfather of William H. was Joseph C. 
Scriven, who was born in England and came to Grafton in an early day and there 
lived and died. William H. Scriven was reared on a farm, educated in the common 
school and learned the carpenter's trade with Clark Scriven in Troy and followed 
that trade until 1889, when he fell from St. John's church and has since been a 
cripple. He is now in the real estate business. He came to Bath-on-the Hudson in 
1870, where he has lived since excepting three years in Washington, D. C. Mr. 
Scriven was married in 1873 to Mary A. Finkle and has had five children: Ines F., 
born in Bath; Lily M., born in Washington, D. C. ; Anthony T., Wesley H. and 
William H., deceased. Mr. Scriven has always been a Republican, to which party 
he is devoted, and has been trustee of the village one term and town assessor one 
term, and is now serving first term as justice. He is a member of Greenbush Lodge 
No. 337, F. & A. M., and also of Central Lodge No. 1, I. O. O. F. Washington, D. C, 
and is also a member of the A. O. U. W. of East Albany. 

Sharpe, Buddington, was born in North Greenbush, July 27, 1874, on the farm he 
now owns and which was settled by Nicholas Sharpe at a very early day. The place 
has since been occupied by George and Rachel (Douglass) Sharpe, John G. and 
Hannah D. (Hosford) Sharpe. He was born on the farm and there died in 1896 at 
the age of seventy eight j'ears; she died August 13, 1888. Marshall H. and Mary L. 
(Van Hosen) Sharpe, parents of Buddington, spent their lives on the Sharpe home- 
stead, where he was born in 1846 and died May 19, 1894; Mrs Sharpe died in August, 
1876. In politics Marshall H. was a Democrat; he was an insurance agent, justice 
of the peace, and a member of Lodge No. 47, K. of P. Buddington Sharpe is the 
fifth generation on the same farm. The farm was left to Buddington and his sister, 
AnneC, who married, June 5, 1895, Anthony Herrington, a milk dealer of Tro\\, 
Buddington bought his sister's interest in the farm in 1895 and now owns 107 acres; 
he keeps a dairy of fifteen cows. In politics he is a Republican, has been inspector 
of elections, and adheres to the church of his parents, the Reformed church. 

Snyder, William J., was born in North Greenbush, June 13, 1821. He was the 
son of John H. and Agnes (Martin) Snyder, both of Greenbush. His grandfather, 
Harmon Snyder, came from Dutchess county to Greenbush on ihe Hudson River by 
a sail boat, being a week on the voyage ; he settled on the farm now owned by Will- 
iam J. Snyder, near Snyder Lake; he owned 300 acres of land and died in 1860; 
Mrs. Snyder died in 1847. William J. Snyder was reared on the farm and farming 
has been his main occupation, though being a natural mechanic, he was engaged for 
a time in bridge building in the West. In 1856 he married Catherine, daughter of 
Samuel and Elmira Lape of Sand Lake, by whom he has had three daughters and 
two sons: William, a farmer of North Greenbush, who runs the home farm; Jesse, 
farmer; Martha, Grace and Ada. Mr. Snyder has seventy acres and does general 
farming. 

Tierney, Michael A., was born in Troy, N. Y., May 25, 1853. His father, Patrick 
Tierney, came from Ireland in 1846 and settled in Vermont, and then came to Troy 
and for many years was in the grocery bu.siness. His mother was Anna (O'Connor) 



G2 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Tierney of Troy, who is still living. Michael A. Tierney attended Christian Broth- 
ers' School. He left school at the age of thirteen and learned the cigar-making trade ' 
and started in the business himself in 1873, which he still continues; his business 
has increased to large proportions, employing on an average twenty-five men ; the 
business is located at 1 11 Congress street. He is also proprietor of the Hotel DeEcho, 
situated at the corner of Third and State streets. For five years he was a member 
of the Donahue, Tierney &• Isengart Brewing Co. of Troy. He was elected alder- 
man in 1877, was president of the Common Council in 1878, and afterwards served 
four successive terms. He was elected general assessor in 1886, which office he still 
holds. He has been identified with and has been a leader in the Democratic party 
since casting his first vote. He was a member of the Young Men's Catholic Literary 
Association, the Robert Emmet Association, the B. P. O. E., and ex-member of the 
Osgood Steamer Co. He was married in 1876 to Eleanor J. Cox of Troy, who died 
May 18, 1S96. She was the sister of William D. Cox who was aldermen many years. 
In 1892 he married Julia A. Hart of Troy. He has one daughter. 

Vaughn, Judge Michael, was born in Ireland. He is the son of Dennis and Maiden 
Maloney, both born in Ireland and who came to Canada in March, 1847, where he 
died the same year. Michael Vaughn was reared in East Albany and educated in 
the same place. He began his business life in the employ of the Vermont Central 
railroad, then for a time he was a clerk in Albany. When sixteen years of age he 
began work for the Boston & Albany railroad and continued with that company for 
about fifteen years; he then engaged in the grocery business for himself in East 
Albany for about twelve years, and since that time he has been practicing law. He 
was elected justice of the peace for sixteen years, and crier of the Court of Record 
of Rensselaer for about fourteen years. He has also been poormaster in Greenbush 
for six years. He was married November 23, 1855, to Margaret Collins of East 
Albany, by whom he has had fifteen children, five of whom are living: Margaret, 
May A., Edmund, Elizabeth, and Allen. Mr. Vaughn began life for himself at the 
age of ten years. 

Mcintosh, Francis T. , M. D. , was born in Troy, N. Y. , November 10, 1857. His father, 
Edward Mcintosh, came from County Armagh, Ireland, about 1836 and settled in 
New York city. He was a traveling dry goods merchant and came to Troy in the 
early forties, and opened a hostelry on River street where he remained until 1862 
when his place was destroyed by the big fire; at various times later he was in the 
brewing and ice business until 1867. On account of ill health in 1H67 he retired from 
active business and died in February, 1888. His mother, Eleanor (Walsh) Mcintosh, 
was born in County Kildare. Ireland, June 19, 1819, and died in Troy, January 23, 
1872. He was educated at the La Salle Institute and later studied architecture for 
one year, then deciding to study medicine he entered the Albany Medical College 
from which he was graduated in 1886. He was elected essayist of his class. He be- 
gan practice in Troy at 2654 Fifth avenue where he has met with continued success 
since. He has been city physician since 1890. He belongs to the Medical Associa- 
tion of Troy and Vicinity, the Medical Society of Rensselaer county, the Alumni of 
the Albany Medical College, Alumni of La Salle Institute, and the Ancient Order of 
Hibernians. He has always been a strict party Democrat. 

Mallet, Ovila, M. D., was born in Montreal, Canada, February 10, 1858. His 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 63 

father, Victor Mallet, was born in Pointe Claire, Canada; he carried on an extensive 
meat business in Montreal for many years and died in 1893. His mother was 
Onezime (Hurtubise) Mallet of Montreal and is still living. He entered St. Mary's 
College and afterwards studied medicine in Victoria and Laval University m Mon- 
treal, opened practice in Montreal and has also practiced in Fall River, Mass., and 
West Troy. He came to Troy in 1885. where he has since been in active practice. 
He belongs to the Medical Society of Troy and Vicinity, and the C. B. L., the Colum- 
bus German Association, and is one of the physicians of the Troy Hospital, physician 
of St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum and St. Joseph's Hospital. In 1881 he married Diana 
Goyette of West Troy, by whom he has two sons. 

Leonard, Rev. Joseph F. , was born in Albany m 1846. His father, Thomas Leon- 
ard, came to the United States in 1834 and settled in Troy. Four years later he 
moved to Albany, where for many years he was an official in the post-office and was 
alderman in the old First ward in 1854. He died in 1875. His mother, Mary (Dowd) 
Leonard, was born in Ireland, and died in 1886. He received his philosophical and 
theological education in St. Joseph's Provincial Seminary in Troy and was ordained 
to the priesthood June 3, 18T1, by Bishop McQuaid of Rochester, N. Y., and located 
in Albany, and for thirteen years was pastor of St. Mary's church in Sandy Hill, 
Washington county, N. Y., and was appointed to St. Francis church, Troy, March 
1, 1887, to succeed Father Charles Reilly, who died January, 1887. Father Leonard 
has been active and energetic in the work to which he dedicated his life. By bis 
genial and pleasing manners he has won the esteem and respect of all classes, 
whether within or outside of the church. He is a graceful and pleasing speaker and 
one who carries conviction to his hearers. 

Grant, Peter, was born in Scotland in 1834 and came with his parents to this 
country in 1832, and settled in Newark, N. J. In 1844 he went to New York to com 
plete his trade (which was that of a marble worker) with Fisher & Bird. He re- 
mained with that firm fifteen years, the last five years being a partner in the con- 
cern, and came to Troy in 1859. In 1867 he located his business on the corner of 
Fifth and Federal streets, and has since done business at that location. He married 
Anna Pratt, daughter of Andrew Pratt of Paris, Oxford county, Maine; she died in 
1890. He has three sons and three daughters. 

Gravatt, Edwin J., M.D., was born in Clarksburgh, N. J., January 30, 1870. He is 
the son of Henry C. and Ann Amelia (Mount) Gravatt, of Clarksburgh. His father 
is a civil engineer. Dr. Gravatt came to Troy when a boy twelve years of age and 
was educated at the public and high schools, and was graduated from the University 
of the Cit}' of New York in 1891. He has been in practice in Troy since. He is a 
member of the Medical Association of Troy and Vicinity and the New York State 
Medical Association. He is medical examiner for the Metropolitan Life Insurance 
Company. October 21, 1895, he married Margaret Jackson of Troy. 

Carpenter, John, was born in Schodack, on the old homestead, August 15, 1786. 
He was a son of Walter and Mary (Huyck) Carpenter, he born November 4, 1753, 
and died November 4, 1800, who came from Long Island to Schodack previous to 
the Revolutionary War, and bought the farm now owned by two grandsons, Isaac 
and Lucas S. Carpenter. The grandfather furnished a substitute for the Revolu- 



64 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

tionary war. He was born in 1740 and died February 25, 1816 John Carpenter 
was a farmer and was justice for a number of years. He was a Mason and a mem- 
ber of Schodack Union Lodge No. 87. In 1^06 he was married, and died in 1849. 
He was a lieutenant in the State militia, appointed by Daniel Tompkins, April 10, 
1811, and was appomted ensign, April 26, 1807. To Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter were 
born seven children: Walter, born November 26, 1807, and died April 4, 1888; Mary 
A., born May 26, 1809, and died January 20, 1813; Joel, born June 5, 1812, and died 
December 17, 1870; Mary A., born March 11. 1814, and died September 9, 1870; 
Elizabeth B., born August 6, 1817, and died March 2, 1836; Isaac, born February 
17, 1821. He was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools, is a 
farmer by occupation, and with his brother Lucas owns the homestead of 160 acres 
of land. He was justice for a number of years, and was at one time a mem.ber of 
the I. O. O. F. In 1858 he was married to Caroline Van Dyke of Schodack, by whom 
three children have been born: Mary L., died at the age of six years; De Witt, born 
October 25, 1866, and is a farmer on the homestead; and Mary, born September 12, 
1869, and also resides on the homestead. Mr. Carpenter was a member of the Board 
of Supervisors in 1875 and 1883 Lucas S. was born November 10, 1822, and was 
educated in the common schools. He is a farmer by occupation. November 15, 
1854, he was first married to Eizabeth Kittle, of Schodack, by whom three children 
have been born: Chester, born August 28, 1855, and is now on the farm; Anna M., 
born October 7, 1862, and died April 17, 1863; and Jennie B., a twin sister, died May 
26, 1863. The family is of English descent. The house on the farm was partly 
built previous to the Revolutionary war. There have been a number of arrow 
heads and other relics found on the farm. 

Cargon, Silas, was born in Castleton, February 2, 1838, and after receiving a lib- 
eral common school education he engaged in boating on the Hudson river until 1859, 
when he enlisted in the United States navy on the war ship Mohigan, which was 
sent to the west coast of Africa to stop the slave trade It was this vessel which 
captured the sailing vessel Erie, commanded by Captain Gordon, with a cargo of 
slaves for the south. Gordon was transferred to New York and afterwards hanged 
for his crime, the only one who ever suffered the extreme penalty in this country for 
engaging in the slave trade, and the Erie was the first vessel captured on that 
.station. In 1862, having been hcnorablj- di.scharged from the navy, Mr. Cargon en- 
listed in the Duryea Zouaves, 5th N. Y. Regiment, but was subsequently transferred 
to the 146th New York Regiment. He lost his right arm in the first day's fight in 
the Wilderness and was also taken prisoner and held for six months in Libby and 
other prisons. In 1865 he was discharged and returned to Castleton. In 1866 Mr. 
Cargon was elected justice of the peace and served for eight consecutive years in the 
same office. He was also coroner for three years, was excise commissioner of the 
town, trustee of the village of Castleton and president of the village. His father 
was Silas Cargon, his mother, Christina Rose. Her grandfather was a soldier in 
the war of 1812. Mr. Cargon has been twice married, but has no children. His first 
wife was Adelaide L. Burnside, who died March 4, 1880; his present wife was Sarah 
Peacock. 

Ilorton, Captain George W., was born in Esopus, Ulster county, N. Y., March 18, 
1836. His grandparents were Quakers. His father, David Horton, a native of 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 65 

Orange county, was a (Juaker and held the highest office in the Quaker church, and 
died in 1856. His mother, Deborah Walters, was a native of Washington, Dutchess 
county, N. Y. ; she died in 1857. He received his education in the district school, 
going to school three months in a year and working on a farm. In 1854 he went to 
New York, where he entered a wholesale jobbing house. One year later he went in 
business in Ulster county. His brother died and he returned to his home. His 
mother died shortly after and he sold the homestead and went in the steamboat busi- 
ness, " Cornell's Line," at Rondout, N. Y. In 1861 he was appointed freight agent 
of the line and held that position for four years and formed the firm of Cornell, 
Horton & Co., and bought out the Catskill Steamboat line. He came to Troy in 
1872 and was one of the organizers of the Citizens' Line of steamers and has held 
the position of general agent since. He is a member of the State street M. E. church 
and one of the governors of Marshall Infirmary. He was married to Catherine A. 
Fulton of Columbia county, who died. His present wife was Catherine E. Stickle 
of Dutchess county. 

Kelley, James, was born in Cornwall Bridge, Litchfield county, in 1841. He is of 
Scotch and Irish descent. His father. Perry Kelley, was born in Ireland, and came 
to this country in 1833; at one time he owned the land where the city of Rome now 
stands; he died in 1892; his wife, Mary (Gibson) Kelley, was born in Scotland, and 
died in 1893. James received his education at the common school in Pittsfield, Mass., 
and went to work in a factory in that place when he was very young; in 1857 he 
entered a shop to learn the machinist's trade. At the time of the Civil war he went 
south as an engineer, and after the war came north and went to work at his trade in 
the Boston & Albany Railroad shops in Greenbush. In 1869 a copartnership was 
formed with John Knowlson, jr., the firm name being Knowlson & Kelley, which has 
since existed. They have an extensive machine repairing business and manufacture 
all kinds of stationery engines, which are second to none in the market. He is a 
prominent Mason of Troy, being a member of King Solomon's Lodge, F. & A. M., 
Bloss Council, Apollo Commandery and the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and also 
a member of Green Island Lodge of Odd Fellows. In 1866 he married Miss Annie 
Blaco of Columbia county, by whom he has two sons. 

Hartwell, Frank C, was born in Saratoga Springs, N. Y., February 4, 1852. His 
father, Austin Hartwell, was born in Northumberland, N. Y. and when young 
moved to Saratoga Spring where for many years he conducted a harness store and 
died in 1890. His mother, Sarah (Brotz) Hartwell, was born in Saratoga Springs 
and died in 1885. Frank received his education in the public schools and the Fort 
Edward Collegiate Institute and came to Troy in 1870 and worked for Keith. Ensign 
& Nelson in the furniture business until 1877 when he was taken in as a partner, and 
in 1879 took a position with A. L. Hotchkin in the same business and wherein he 
remained until February. 1888, when he with Louis S. Crandall bought out Hotch- 
kin and the furniture firm of Crandall & Hartwell was formed which continued until 
1892, when a stock company was formed called the Hartwell, Bainbridge & Co. He 
belongs to all the Masonic bodies, the I. O. O. F. and the Royal Arcanum. He was 
married May 8, 1878, to Miss Jennie Adams of Brunswick, N. Y.. by whom he has 
one son and one daughter. 



66 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Bainbridge, Edgar R., was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1866. His father, Robert 
Bainbridge, came to this country from England in 1851, landing in New York city, 
and settled in New Orleans, La., but later returned to New York city and for a num- 
ber of years was in the wholesale stationery business, where he remained until he 
came to Troy, which was in 1865, and entered the employ of the Corning &• Winslow 
Iron Company, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1886. His 
mother, Martha A. (Smith) Bainbridge, lives in Brooklyn, N. Y. Edgar received 
his education in the public schools of Troy and engaged with the Troy Steel and 
Iron Company, where he learned the trade of machinist and later was a machinist 
in the Watervliet Arsenal. He then came to Troy and started in the felt business 
under the firm name of Orr & Bainbridge, and in 1892 entered the wholesale and 
retail furniture business, buying out Mr. Crandall's interest in the firm of Crandall 
& Hartwell and changing the firm name to Hartwell «& Bainbridge. He represents 
the Third ward in the Board of Aldermen and is now serving his second term. He 
belongs to King Solomon's Lodge, F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter and Bloss Council. 
He is also a member of the Trojan Hook and Ladder Company, the East Side Club, 
and the Troy Yacht Club. In 1893 he married Alice P. Woodruff, by whom he has 
one son and one daughter. 

Kimball, James E., was born in Albany, N.Y., May 5, 1828. His father, Edmund 
Kimball, was born in Newton. Mass., June 29, 1803, and came to Troy in 1830 and 
was engaged in the brick business and later removed to Massachusetts, where he 
died in 1890. His mother, Betsey M. (Warner) Kimball, was born in Springfield, 
Mass., and died in 1867. James E. Kimball received his education in the public 
schools and the Madison University at Hamilton, N. Y., and was emplo\ed as clerk 
with the firm of Bates & Griffin until 1858, when he entered in the fiour, grain and 
feed business with J. M. Bradley, the firm being Kimball & Bradley until 1868, when 
John P. Wight was taken in as a partner, the firm taking the name of James E. 
Kimball & Co. Mr. Wight went out of the firm in 1876 and James R. Kimball and 
his son, Charles P. Kimball (who had previously become a partner in the concern), 
continued the business under the firm name of James E. Kimball &• Son without in- 
terruption to the present time. He is a director of the National Bank of Troy and 
was one of its organizers. He married in 1850 Susan Frances Wheeler of Troy. 
His son, Charles P. Kimball, was born in Troy and received a high school education 
and was taken into the firm as partner in 1875. He is a member of the Trojan Hook 
and Ladder Company. He married, October 6, 1875, Mathilda Tracy Everingham 
of Troy, by whom he has one son and one daughter: James E. and Jessaminp. 

McCrossen, Caroline. — Her father, Samuel Gould, was born in the northeastern 
part of Schaghticoke about the year 1793. He was educated in the schools of that 
early day, and was a brick manufacturer by occupation. He married Cyntliia 
Fowler of the same town ; ten children were born to them, two of whom died in in- 
fancy: Eliza.Caroline, Edward S. and Edwin N. (twins), Lucy, Cassie, Miranda, and 
Ardelia ; all are now dead except Caroline. Mrs. McCrossen has married twice ; first 
to Philip Kane; they had si.\ children; Annie, Philip, George, Edward, Carrie, and 
F"rank. They are all dead except Philip and Edward. Philip married Sarah (iood- 
rich ; they have two children: Robert and Ruth. Edward married Nora F'itzpatrick 
of Troy; he is employed at the station of the N. Y. C. ik H. R. R. R. The oldest 



FAMILY SKETCHES. (;7 

son is a merchant at Des Moines, Iowa. Mr: Kane died April 22, 1867. Mr. Gould 
was a soldier in the war of 1812, and he died at a ripe old age. Mrs. Kane married 
for her second husband, James McCrossen, formerly of near Paisley, Scotland. Mr. 
McCrossen was born in 1831 ; he came to the United States in 1844 and located in 
Troy, and afterwards in Schaghticoke. He was a carpenter by occupation. The 
ancestry of the family is Scotch. 

Jones, E. M., has been prominently as.sociated with the leading business men of 
Hoosick Falls since his residence here in 1856. He was born in 1832 at Wardsboi-o, 
N. Y. His father was Thomas Jones and his great-grandfather was a Welshman. 
He was educated in the common schools and began his mercantile life here as clerk 
for Wallace & Co., of which firm he afterward became a member. He is now a mem- 
ber of Jones, Parsons & Co., organized in 1895. This establishment consists of a 
large department store, with a full line of fancy and staple dry goods, boots and 
shoes, groceries and provisions, carpets and oil cloths, clothing, crockery and wall 
paper. Mr. Jones has been a life long Republican, and as town clerk proved an 
efficient official; he is also an attendant of the Presbyterian church. 

Devoy, James H., was born m Ireland in 1841. He is a son of Mathew and Ellen 
Grady, both natives of Ireland, the Devoys being of Spanish descent; the father of 
Mr. Devoy came to New York city in 1847, then went to Canada, and from there to 
Connecticut, from there to Schaghticoke where he now lives, aged eighty-five. His 
wife died in 1847 in Quebec. Mr. Devoy was educated in Colchester, Conn., and 
first worked in a rubber factory in Connecticut and farmed in Canada. He came to 
Pittstown, July 4, 1862, and has lived here since. He first worked in an axe factory 
for several years, and then for five years was in the grocery business in Troy, and in 
1878 returned to Johnsonville and engaged in the produce business and hotel busi- 
ness, and built the Devoy house in 1873. October 29, 1865, he married Margaret 
Campfield of Troy, N. Y. She died December 29, 1893. 

Gerhaensser, Charles, was born in Augsburg, kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, July 
4, 1856. His parents came to the United States in the year 1864, locating in Brook- 
lyn. Charles was partly educated in Germany, and also in Brooklyn, N. Y. In 
process of time he began to learn the barber's trade. The family came to Troy in 
1871, and returned to Brooklyn for their permanent residence in 1877. Charles 
came to Schaghticoke the same year (1877) where he owns and conducts a first-class 
barber shop. September 11, 1877, he married Orcelia Bedell of Sand Lake. They 
have had six children, three sons and three daughters, Ella, Harry, who died in his 
sixth year; Alice L., who died in her third year; Grace B., Foster H.,and Ralph A. 
Mr. Gerhaensser" s father, Anton, was born at the old home in Germany. January 6, 
1829 He was educated in their schools. He had married twice, second time to 
Josephine Sindel of Bavaria; they had thirteen children; he died in 1876, and his 
widow survives. Mrs. Gerhaensser's father, John Bedell, was born in Saratoga, 
Saratoga county, N. Y., in 1829. He married Sarah Strope of Sand Lake; they had 
four children, three daughters and one son: Orcelia, Alice, Carrie and Joseph. Mr. 
Bedell died in 1882, and his wife in 1895. Mr. Gerhaensser is a member of Schagh- 
ticoke Lodge No. 526 I. O. O. F. and was its chaplain one term. He has held the 
position of steward for the past thirteen years, collector for nine years and is now 



68 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

recording steward. Commodore Perry was related to the family. His uncle has 
been secretary of state in Germany. The ancestry of the family is German and 
English. 

Reynolds, Thomas J., the well known musician and orchestra leader of Hoosick 
Falls, was born at Dundee, Scotland, in 1870, of a family distinguished for their 
musical ability. He came to America in 1881. Mr. Reynolds began the study of 
music at the age of nine years ; the violin being naturelly his favorite instrument. 
He was placed under the instruction of the late Prof. Andrews ; later he studied 
with some of the best teachers in Troy and afterwards with Felix Winternitz, the 
celebrated Austrian violin soloist. In 1890 he commenced the study of clarinet un- 
der E. S. Thornton of Troy, and afterward studied banjo, mandolin and guitar with 
V. W. Smith of Troy. He has at present a class of nearly one hundred performers. 
In 1895 he was married to Miss Antoinette Cahill of Hoosick Falls, who is also a 
musician. Prof. Reynolds is a very successful and popular teacher and his fine 
orchestra of twenty pieces is in freqnent demand. 

Sproat, William H., was born in Lansingburg, N. Y., May 25, 1855. He was a 
son of Henry Sproat. William H. was reared as a carpenter at Lambertville, N. J., 
and educated at Valley Falls. He followed his trade about ten years and in 1877 
engaged in the meat business for about four years, and then again worked at his 
trade, and November 1, 1885, he again engaged in the meat business and was very 
successful. March 12, 1879. he was married to Mary G. Andrew of Pittstown, by 
whom has been born two children, George W. Sproat and Hattie Irene Sproat. Mr. 
Sproat was collector for one year and is a member of Columbian Lodge No. 689, 
I. O. O. F. 

Willis, Wilbur F., was born in Coeymans, Albany county, September 24, 1851. He 
was educated in Coeymans Academy and Fort Edward Institute. He began his life as 
a clerk in a grocery store and at the same time opened a telegraph office. After 
five years he came to Castleton as assistant to J. W. Van Hoesen and took charge 
of the post-office and also the railroad office as assistant agent. AVhen J. W. Van 
Hoesen died in the spring of 1895 Mr. Willis became agent for the New York Cen- 
tral Railroad, American Express Company and manager of the Western Union 
Telegraph Company at Castleton. Mr. Willis is a member of the Masonic fraternity 
in which he has passed to the Royal Arch degree. His parents were Alexander E. 
and Harriet (Blaisdell) Willis. His father was born at Ballston, Saratoga county, in 
1812 and died in 1895. He began business in Troy as a dry goods merchant along 
with his brother, Uriah B. Willis, and from there he went to Coeymans where he 
engaged in the freighting business, and finally went into the grocery business. He 
also owned the Cedar Point grist mills. He was an active and successful business 
man and lived a long and honorable life. Mrs. Harriet Willis is still living at Coey- 
mans. Their children were eleven: David, Benedict, Alexander Blaisdell, Wilbur 
F., Charles Clilford and Sarell Wood, growing to manhood. Charles Clifford was a 
dentist and Alexander Blaisdell was a physician, both now deceased. The Blais- 
dells were a Scotch family and influential in the old country, and a lineage of second 
cousinship existed between N. P. Willis (the poet) and Mr. Willis. 

McCormick, John J., son of John and Mary Ann McCormick, natives of Ireland, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 69 

was born in Brunswick, Rensselaer county, November 23, 1849. His parents came 
to America about 1845, were married in Troy, and settled on a farm in Brunswick, 
but later removed to Troy, where they died — the father in 1871 and the mother in 
1889. Mr. McCormick was educated in the public and high schools of Troy, was for 
two years a clerk for W. W. Whitmen, dealer in wall paper, and then learned the 
carpenter's trade with W J. Howes, which he followed as a journeyman under sev- 
eral contractors. In 1878 he accepted a clerkship in the County Clerk's office under 
James Keenan, and two years later became bookkeeper and cashier for Kennedy & 
Murphy, now the Kennedy & Murphy Brewing and Malting Company, which posi- 
tions he has since held. He has been secretary of the Democratic General Commit- 
tee of the city of Troy for twenty years, has been delegate to various county, dis- 
trict, State and other political conventions, and has been the city clerk since 1886, 
being first appointed by Mayor Whelan. He is a member of the C. B. L. and has 
been treasurer of St. Francis's church about ten years. 

Winslow Bros. — William James Winslow was born in Argyle, Washington county, 
in 1825. His education was obtained in the public schools; in his early life he was a 
carpenter and in 1851 he came to Schaghticoke village and carried on the clothing 
trade and also the grocery business in connection with it. March 23, 1852, he mar- 
ried Mary J. Thompson of this village; seven children were born to them: Estella, 
Margaret J., Ella A., Edward M., Charlotte, Albert and Mabel. The four children 
who survive reside at home. Mrs. Winslow's father, Robert Thompson, was born 
in the North of Ireland about the year 1803. He was educated there and came to 
the United States when a young man, and located in this village. He married Sarah 
Irvin of Schaghticoke. They had six children; John, James, Mary J., Ruth A., 
Robert and Sarah C. Mr. Thompson died January 7, 1851, and Mr. William James 
Winslow died February 26, 1894, and his wife survives at this date, 1890. The sons, 
Edward M. and Albert, succeeded him in the grocery business. Mr. Winslow was 
a member of the Victor lodge No. 680, F and A. M. , and was a village officer when 
he died. He was also overseer of the poor of the town of Schaghticoke for fourteen 
years. Edward M. is treasurer and assistant secretary of the Presbyterian Sunday 
school. 

Van Schaack, Mrs. Alice A. — William W. Van Schaack was born in Stillwater, 
Saratoga county, N. Y., January 31, 1822. He was educated in the public schools, 
and was a house, carriage sign, and ornamental painter by trade. December 2, 
1846, he married Alice A. Thayer of Bennington, Vt. They had three children: 
Theodore, Chauncey T. and Nettie O. Chauncey T. married Ida Clocum of Troy, 
N. Y. Nettie married George Bancroft; they had five children, Thomas E., Alice 
O., Marcia R. and Gratia L. (twins) who died at the age of six months, and William 
W. Mr. Van Schaack in 1861 enlisted in Company K, 125th N. Y. Vols., and was 
wounded in the battle of Gettysburg and was honorably discharged at the close of 
the war as duty .sergeant. He was a member of Hartshorn Post No. 487, G. A. R., 
Schaghticoke. He died October 8, 1882. Mrs. Beecroft died July 25, 1885. Mrs. 
Van Schaack's grandfather was Simeon Thayer, who was a soldier in the Revolu- 
tionary war. The family on the paternal side were of Dutch origin and on the ma- 
ternal side of New England stock. 

Kenyon, Elizabeth J. — The late Benoni Kenyon was born in the town of Schaghti- 



70 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

coke, Rensselaer county, N. Y., December 4, 1789. He was educated in the Nine 
Partners Friends school in Dutchess county, N. Y. He was a fanner by occupation. 
He married Hannah Ketcham who was born in the town of Easton, Washington 
county, N. Y. They had ten children- William, Dorcas, Lydia, Benjamin, Sarah, 
Elizabeth J., Calista, John, Hannah Ann and David Adams. Benoni Kenyon died 
May 18, 1864, and his wife died April 10, 1887, in her ninety-second year. Miss Ken- 
yon's grandfather, Benjamin Kenyon, was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., Novem- 
ber 13, 1746, and married Lydia Hawkins. They had twelve children. The family 
came to the town of Schaghticoke in the year 1783, and four of the children were 
born here This locality was then a wilderness and bears and other wild animals 
were numerous. Miss Kenyon's great-great-grandfalher, James Kenyon, came from 
England at a very early date He brought a Bible with him which bears the date 
of 1715. 

Banker, Christopher A., born in Pittstown, June 15, 1824, is a son of Timothy and 
Mary A. (Snyder) Banker, she born in Pittstown March 11, 1803, and he a native of 
Lansingburgh, born January 24, 1797. He was a son of Adolphus Banker who came 
to Pittstown very early and here lived and died. The maternal grandfather was 
Christopher Sn)der who was one of the first settlers of Pittstown. T. Adolphus 
Banker and wife have four sons and one daughter. The father of Christopher A. 
was a farmer; he was justice of the peace and assessor and held other offices; he 
and his wife were members of the M. E. church ; he died January 12, 1878, and his 
wife died April 14, 1878. George W. Banker, the oldest brother of Christopher, was 
born in 1820 in Pittstown and was a farmer and owned a grist mill, saw mill and 
flax mill, employing at one time seventy-five men ; he was supervisor three terms 
and a member of Assembly one year, elected by 1,500 majority ; his wife was Harriet 
J., daughter of John and Sarah (Stove) Comstock, he of Connecticut and she of Pitts- 
town. To Washington Banker and wife were born three children: Sarah S., George 
S. and Timothy S. George W. Banker died in 1882 and his widow lives in the vil- 
lage. Christopher A. was reared on a farm and educated in Lansingburgh and 
Hoosick Falls. He was a farmer until 1866, and then went into the mercantile busi- 
ness and followed it three years and then manufactured twine for one year, and has 
since followed various occupations. His wife was Cornelia Miller of Albany county, 
daughter of Anthony Miller and Nancy Dorman, early settlers of Pittstown and 
Millertown, named in honor of his father. Anthony Miller. To Mr. and Mrs. Banker 
were born eight children, four sons and four daughters of whom one is living, M. 
Louisa, wife of Edward Hutchinson who has one daughter and one son, Agnes B. 
and H. Willis. Mr. Banker has been assessor for three years; he is a Free Ma.son. 
He and his wife are members of M. E. church. The oldest daughter of Mr. Banker 
was Nancy D., wife of Frank Viall; she had one daughter, Cora M., a student of 
Oswego Normal school. 

Hoyt, Alden S., was born in Lansingburgh August 25, 1855. He is a son of Joseph 
and Eliza (Lockrow) Hoyt, he a native of Vermont, and she of Brunswick, Rensse- 
laer county. The grandparents, Joseph and Betsey (Quimby) Hoyt, were farmers of 
Vermont Joseph Hoyt came to Lansingburgh about 1830 where he engaged in the 
manufacturing of brushes aqd there died December 28, 1891. Mrs. Hoyt died No- 
vember 8, 1891. Alden S. was reared and educated in Lansingburgh and graduated 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 71 

from Lansingburgh public school in 1871 and Troy Business College in 1878. He was 
for a while engaged in the brush business with his father, but in 1878 located on the 
farm of 120 acres in Pittstown near Valley Falls, where he has since been engaged 
in general farming. December 18, 1878, he married Ettie L., daughter of Edmund 
J. and Lavinia Gilbert of Green Island by whom he has four children: Bertram A., 
Grace M., Donald G., and Lotta R. 

Satterlee, John H., was born in the town of Berlin, January 1, 1862, and is the son 
of David G., who is also a native of Berlin, born December 11, 1833. He is a son of 
Hawley Satterlee. Hawley was the son of Rev. William Satterlee, who was one of 
the organizers of the Seventh Day Baptist church of Berlin, and also one of the 
organizers of Alfred S. D. B. church of Alfred, N. Y. David G. in early life fol- 
lowed carpentry, but most of his life has been given to agricultural pursuits, in 
which he has been fairly successful; he now owns and operates the Satterlee home- 
stead and is a breeder of Southdown sheep ; he has been elected poormaster, as- 
sessor, etc.; his wife was Nancy Uretta Davis; she was born in Berlin and is a 
daughter of John Davis, son of Robert Davis of Rhode Island; their children were 
John H., Mrs. Uretta 'M. Tift of Berhn, Henry R., Mrs. Sarah E. Vars of Berlin, 
William D., who died when nine, and Nancy who died when five years of age; his 
wife died April 16, 1893; she was a member of the Seventh Day Baptist church, as is 
also Mr. Satterlee. John H. was reared on a farm, and attended the Free Union 
school in Berlin village. When twenty-one he began farming for himself which he 
followed three years; from that time until 1889 he followed carpentry. He then en- 
gaged in the manufacturing of cheese, which business he still follows during the 
summer seasons. He was elected inspector of elections in 1885-86-87, and in 1888 
he was elected town clerk. In April, 1894, he was appointed postmaster of the Berlin 
post-office. He is a member of the Masonic order, Star Lodge No. 670 of Peters- 
burgh, N. Y., in which he has passed several of the chairs and has also been elected 
to Raymond Chapter in Hoosick Falls. N. Y. He is a member of the Sheldon Cor- 
net Band of Berlin in which he has played for five years. In 1884 he was married 
to Mrs. Eliza J. (Breer) Martin ; she was born in Berlin and is a daughter of Alonzo 
and Jane (Smith) Breer. They are both members of the Seventh Day Baptist 
church. Mrs. Satterlee is a member of the Eastern Star Delta Chapter. No. 3 N. Y. 
city. 

Brown, Henry F., was born in Atkinson, Me., May 7, 1838. He was the son of 
Daniel C, who was a native of New Hampshire, born in 1801. He was one of four 
sons and three daughters born to Jacob Brown, who for many years was a keeper of 
a temperance hotel in Atkinson, Me. Daniel, the father, was a farmer and a pio- 
neer in the town of Atkinson, Piscataquis countv, Me., settled in the forest and here 
cleared him a farm ; he was prosperous and acquired over 300 acres of land ; he was 
prominent in political affairs of his town and county; he filled various town and 
county offices, and represented his district in the Legislature several terms. His 
wife was Betsey Frost, who was born in Lincoln, Me. Their children were Nelson, 
Payson. Melinda, Henry, Amanda, Aurelia, Lyman, Daniel C, Thaddeus, Daniel and 
Emma. Payson died at the age of seventeen ; Daniel C. died at the age of nine 
months; Thaddeus at the age of one year; Melinda died in 1892; Daniel died in 
1891, and Amanda in 1862. He died in ISC;") and his wife in 1878, They were both 



T2. LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

members of the Christian church. Henry F. received a limited district school edu- 
cation ; when sixteen he was the main instrument in forming a Christian church in 
the town of Atiiinson, Me. ; when nineteen he went to Staten Island where he plied 
his trade, and remained until 1857; during this time he purchased property and 
erected a house; he then bought out a dining business in New York city which he 
conducted until 1867, when he sold out his business and removed to Scarsdale, West- 
chester county, N. Y., where he lived two years; in the meantime his wife, who was 
Angeline Decker a native of Staten Island, died, leaving a daughter. He then re- 
turned to New York city and engaged in the dining business; in 1872 he married 
Mrs. Emily R. (Hewitt) Jones, and three years later removed to Berlin, where he 
built him a home and several tenement houses. He .soon became interested in 
church work, when he with a few other citizens hired a hall and engaged a pastor to 
preach, and later was instrumental in forming a class of thirty and started a Sab- 
bath school of which he was superintendent. Through him in 1878 an M. E. church 
was formed. He solicited subscriptions and raised money to build a church, he 
doing nearly the entire carpenter work himself. A portion of his time he was in- 
terested in tlie meat business and later added furniture, which business so increased 
that he erected his present stoie and put in a full line of furniture, carpets, bedding, 
etc., and in connection with this he conducts an undertaking business. He later 
added to his line blacksmith and wheelwright supplies. Mr. Brown is an enterpris- 
ing business man and carries the largest stock and most complete assortment of 
goods that can be found outside of a large city. 

Still, Charles. — The late George Still was born in Brandon, Vt., in 1820; he was 
educated in the schools of his day, and was a manufacturer of bedsteads and carried 
on the painting business. In 1844 he marred Elizabeth Spotten of Lansingburgh, 
and a daughter of one of the old settlers, by whom six children have been born: 
Anna, George, Charles, Edward, Josiah and William. Mr. Still died in 1894 and his 
widow survives at this date. His father, Pember Still, was born in Hinsdale, N. H. 
He married Eliza Pratt, by whom he had eight children. He died in 1856 and his 
wife died in 1869. Mrs. Still's father, William Spotten, was born in Lansingburgh 
about 1782, and August 6, 1814, he married Betsey GiUiespie of this place, who bore 
him six children: Andrew, Sally, Josiah, Thomas, Elizabeth and Charles, all of whom 
are now dead with the exception of Elizabeth. Mr. Spotten died about 1836 and his 
widow died about 1876. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and Andrew GiUiespie 
was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. George is a member of the Masonic order. 
The ancestry of the family is English, Scotch and Dutch. 

Bovie, William H., was born in Pownal, Vt., June 4, 1842. He was the son of 
Parker R. and Caroline (Palmer) Bovie, he a native of Vermont and she of Troy. 
The grandfather of Mr. Bovie was a native of New Jersey, but settled in Vermont 
where he engaged in farming. He \\a.s a soldier in the Mexican war and drew a 
pension for services. Parker Bovie was a carpenter by trade. He died in 1843 at 
the age of twenty-seven. Mr. William Bovie lived on a farm in his boyhood days, 
and for a few years at a hotel, then he learned the blacksmith trade which has been 
his life work. In 1861 Mr. Bovie married Annie, daughter of John and Annie Whit- 
beck, of Albany, by whom he has had two children: George P., a blacksmith of 
Chicago, and John E., who is with his father in the blacksmith business in Defrees- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 73 

ville, where Mr. Bovie located in 1871. They make a specialty of shoeing horses. 
John E. Bovie is a dealer in bicycles in addition to his business connection with his 
father; he married Fannie L., daughter of David Philips (see elsewhere). She died 
Februarj' 6, 1890, leaving one daughter, Ella. 

Fortier, John F., was born in Lansingburgh, December 23, 1865. His father, 
George N., was born in Canada, where he was a merchant for a number of years 
and came to Troy in 1859 and was identified with the stove industry; he died in 1886. 
His mother, Louisa (La Croix) Fortier is still living in Troy. John F. was educated 
in the Christian Brothers' Academy and entered the store of J. M. Warren & Co., 
where he is still engaged as salesman. He is a member of the Iroquois Club, of 
which he is financial secretary; of the Snow Shoe Club, and is treasurer of the 
Franco Republican Club, and is also a member of the Troy Yacht Club. He is a 
Republican in politics and has been prominent in the Eleventh ward and has been 
delegate to several different State conventions. 

Shroder, James D., was born in Troy, N. Y., November 9, 1858. He is the son of 
Charles J. Shroder, who came to Troy when but a young man and worked for many 
years at his trade of carriage making and died in 1893. His mother was Louisiana 
(West) Shroder, and she died in 1875. He left school when but thirteen years of 
age, and learned photography, and in 1883 opened a studio on River street, where he 
is in business at the present time. 

McCrea, Fred A., was born in Williamsburgh, Mass., in 1851. His father, Chris- 
topher M. McCrea, was born in Scotland and when young came to the United States 
and settled in Williamsburgh; he died in Troy in 1881. His mother, Jane (Mason) 
McCrea, was born in Troy and is now living in Massachusetts. Fred was educated 
in the public schools and went in 1885 into the fruit and oyster business in Troy, N. Y. 
His business is mostly with the jobbing trade. He belongs to the Diamond Rock 
Lodge, I. O. O. F. In 1871 he married Ella F. Hicks, of Troy. 

Myers, John L., was born in North Greenbush and is a son of John S. Myers. John 
L. was educated in the common school and in the Troy Business College, from which 
he graduated in 1875. In 1880 he married Anna A., daughter of Prof. Henry Izard 
and Pamelia (Reynolds) Izard of Woodstock, Ont., Canada, who were natives of 
Brighton, England, and who now reside in Troy, N. Y. To Mr. and Mrs. Myers 
have been born five children; Alice, John, Minnie, George and Warren. Mr. Myers 
has a farm near Troy, upon which he resides. In 1889 he received the appointment 
of letter carrier in Troy which jjosition he still holds. He is a member of Apollo 
Lodge No. 13, F. and A. M. 

Heinzer, Peter, was born in Germany, October 26, 1854, and came to America in 
1871, settling in Albany, where he pursued the occupation of baker for several years ; 
he also worked at his trade for a year and one-half in Greenbush. He came to Cas- 
tleton in May, 1879, and in February, 1880, began business for himself in which he 
has been very successful, and is a man of moderate means and controls a large 
trade. He is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge in Castleton and was one of its 
organizers. He is trustee of the village, to which position he was elected without 
any effort or desire on his part. Mr. Heinzer married Catherine Brickner and they 
J 



74 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

have a family of two children: Frederick and Jennie. Mrs. Heinzer's parents were 
also German. 

Ostrander, Louis F., was born in Columbia count}', December 19, 1823. He was 
a son of Simeon and Hannah (Fellows) Ostrander, he born in Schodack and she in 
Troy. He was a son of Hubbard Ostrander, born in Schodack, and son of Abram 
Ostrander, a native of Holland. He, with two brothers, came to this country, of 
whom two settled in Rensselaer county and one in Dutchess county. The great- 
grandfather, grandfather and father were all farmers and lived and died in Scho- 
dack. The father died in March, 1876, and his wife died in 1874. Mr. L. F. Os- 
trander was reared on a farm and educated in public schools, and also attended the 
Canaan Center Academy for three years. He is a farmer by occupation and was 
superintendent of a large plantation in Virginia previous to the time of the war. He 
owns twenty-four acres of land where he resides and raises small fruit. March 20, 
1854, he married Cornelia M. Lansing of Schodack, daughter of Garrett Lansing, 
one of the prominent men of Schodack. To Mr. and Mrs. L. F. Ostrander were 
born seven children: Harriet, Magdaline, Louis L , Jacob L., Frances M., Cassie 
L. and Rachel K. Harriet married Abram C. Ostrander of Schodack. She was 
graduated from the East Greenbush Academy and the LTtica Female Academy and 
followed teaching until she married. Magdaline was educated at East Greenbush 
Academy. Louis L. was educated at Pontiac High School. He is in Duluth and 
December 4, 1890, married Harriet G. Cook. Jacob L. was educated at Castleton 
and is with the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company Railroad at Albany. Octo- 
ber 8, 1895, Jacob L. married Frances Prentice. Frances M. Ostrander was edu- 
cated at home and the Castleton Academy and is now teaching at Tonawanda, N. 
Y. Cassie L. was educated at home and also attended the Albany Normal School 
and is now teaching at Freeport, N. Y. Rachel K. is at hoiue. 

Moses, Miss Elizabeth— There is not a name in the vicinity of Hoosick Falls held 
in more loving veneration than that of the late Dr. Salmon Mo.ses. Here he spent 
his life in self-sacrifice as a physician in administering to the sick and ailing, still- 
ing the fevered brain and allaying the pangs of disease with his skillful hand, and 
as a devout follower of his Saviour in keeping alive with two or three faithful per- 
sons the spiritual life of a church for twenty years, of whom St. Mark's Episcopal 
church holds in loving memory. Amid all the labor and exhaustion of his profes- 
sional life for fifteen years he was lay reader, sustaining the services of the church 
with often but one hearer in the little red schoolhouse on the hill. The beautiful 
memorial window, showing Moses, the law giver, before the burning bush on Mount 
Horeb, is truly a very fitting design. He was born at Norfolk, Conn., in 1792, son 
of a farmer, and first practiced medicine in Petersburgh. He came here in 1821 
and continued in practice for fifty years, or until his death in 1874, caused by a 
gradual breaking down from the weight of his many years. His wife was Sarah 
Haswell of this place. Seven children survived him, three daughters, of whom 
Elizabeth is the oldest residing here. 

Markham, E. P., one of the most prominent men engaged in mercantile business 
in Hoosick Falls, is a representative of an old English family, and born at Granby, 
Mass. in 1839. His father, G. K. Markham, wassuperintendent of the woolen mills^ 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 75 

at Conway, Mass. until his death in 1844 Mr. Markham was graduated from the 
academy thare in 1853 and married in 1859 Mary J. Phillips of that place When 
but seventeen years old he kept books for a factory there, and at twenty went to 
North Pownal, Vt., as bookkeeper of a woolen manufacturing firm, where he re- 
mained until 1884. He then spent two years bookkeeping for the State on Hoosac 
Tunnel. At the same w^ork he remained two years with the North American Life 
Insurance Co. at Albany and then came to North Hoosick in 1869 and engaged in 
mercantile business. In 1874 he established a grocery at the corner of River and 
Church streets, where he still carries on an active trade. He occupies a prominent 
place in the social life here, and enjoys a wide popularity. He is a worthy member 
of the M. E. church and a Mason, member of both Van Rensselaer Lodge and of the 
Ra.ymond Chapter; he is a Republican, and has been trustee of the village and is at 
present chairman of the board of sewer commissioners and president of the First 
National Bank. He has two sons and one daughter: George P. Markham, E. P., 
jr., and Hattie D., wife of B. Frank Agan of Johnson ville. 

Peters, Mrs. S. S., widow of the late Charles Edward Peters, was Sarah S. Ester- 
brook of Hoosick Falls. She was married in 1848 and has three children : Eugene 
Merrill; Fanny Amy, wnfe of Edward McLean, a well-known resident here; and 
Dora, wife of J. H. McEachron, a jeweler of this place. Mr. Charles Edward Peters 
was born in 1826, and occupied the position of foreman of the iron working depart- 
ment of the Wood Machine Co. His death occurred in 1877, but his memory will 
long be revered in the hearts of his fellow men as a man possessing great nobility of 
character. The son, Eugene Merrill, born in 1849, is a machinist by trade and prom- 
inent in the town. He is an earnest advocate of temperance and a member of the 
Presbyterian church, in which the whole family have been associated for years. 

Wilcox, Charles G., hatter, furnisher, and clothier at No. 43 Church street, is the 
younger son of the late John E. Wilcox, a lifelong resident of the town of Hoosick, 
who was among the first employees of Walter A. Wooil. He held prominent posi- 
tions with this firm many years, and was also a central figure in the local affairs of 
Hoosick Falls at the time of its incorporation, being one of its most valued citizens 
in both political and business circles. His sudden death in 1894 was a severe blow 
to his family and to his fellow citizens, by whom he was held in the highest esteem. 
Charles was educated here, where he was born in 1868, and first engaged in journal- 
ism, corresponding for the "Observer," "Press" and other papers. He engaged 
in his present business in 1891, with M. D Kincaid under the firm name of Kincaid 
& Wilcox. He succeeded Mr. Kincaid in the business in February, 1896. He is a 
member of the Hoosick Club, and an honorary member of the Citizens Corps, and 
has served a term as trustee of the village. He married Mary L., daughter of Thomas 
A. Hutchins, of Bennington. Mrs. Wilcox is a noted contralto singer and has sung 
in the churches of Albany, Troy, and North Adams, as well as her birthplace, Ben- 
nington, and has by her talent added to the popularity of her husband. 

Surdam. Burke, representing a family of local pioneers, and the son of Walter Sur- , 
dam, still resident at Hoosick Falls, was born here June 14, 1851, and has always 
lived here. His mother is a Hawthorn, of another family whose name adorns the 
early annals of the town of Hoosick and whose ancestry is English, while that of the 



76 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Surdams is Holland Dutch. Burke was two years employed by the mower shop here, 
but later, having learned the harness making trade of his father and of his father's 
preceptor, has made it the business of his life, also dealing in kindred goods apper- 
taining to the comfort and well-being of the horse. The business is one of the old 
establishments, not less than seventy-five years at least. In 18T2 Burke married 
Miss Anna A. Phillips of this place. Of unblemished personal character and strong 
convictions, he is a valued member of the Methodist church and an active exponent 
of the cause of prohibition. 

Lawrence, P. E., now retired from the activities of business life, a well known 
and esteemed resident of Hoosick Falls, was born at Schuylerville, Saratoga county, 
N. Y., August 13, 1826, son of a woolen manufacturer, Ira Lawrence, who engaged 
in business at Schuylerville as early as 1810. Mr. Lawrence learned the mason's 
trade at Troy and soon became a master of the business, taking extensive contracts 
for erection of brick and stone structures here and elsewhere. He built in 1871 the 
Malleable Iron Works here and later the high school on Main street and several 
blocks. The late James Esterbrooks of this place was at one time his partner. Mr. 
Lawrence has permanently resided here since 1870. He has no children, an only 
daughter, Luta May, having died in 1858. Mrs. Lawrence is a daughter of the late 
Samuel Crosby of Hoosick Falls. Mr. Lawrence is an amateur musician of some 
note, especially as a singer, and Mrs. Lawrence an artist in oils, decorating her home 
with charming landscapes. 

Ely, William H., a merchant and estimable citizen of Hoosick Falls, is one of the 
company of Wallace, Jones & Ely, a firm organized since 1867. This general store 
with its immense stock is one of the most enterprising houses of the place. Mr. Ely 
came here at twenty-one years of age in 1865. He was born at Littleton, N. H., in 
1844, son of George W. Ely who moved to St. Johnsbury, Vt. in 1847 and established 
the Ely Hoe & Fork Co., which is still operated with Henry G. Ely, brother of Will- 
iam, as its president. The principal business of the father, who died in Philadelphia 
in 1876, was the manufacture of agricultural implements. Mr. Ely at seventeen 
entered the retail department of the store of E. & T. Fairbanks, the great scale 
manufacturers, where he remained three years. He married in 1869 Amanda R. 
Royce, of Waterbury, Vt., by whom he has eight children. Two sons are associated 
with him in business. He attends the Presbyterian church and is a member of the 
Hoosick Club. In politics he is a Republican and has officiated on the Board of 
Health many years. 

Horsley, Benjamin, the able editor and proprietor of the "Rensselaer County 
Standard," has been a valued member of society in the community of his adoption 
since his residence in Hoosick Falls, where he located in 1880. The paper was es- 
tablished in 1872, the files of which contain valuable material of local interest, and 
is conducted conscientiously and for the best interests of the town, where the editor 
is esteemed as a man and a citizen. Mr. Horsley was born at Soham, Cambridge- 
shire, England, in February, 1848, a very ancient town, and a great religious seat 
in the days of the ancient Saxons. He was educated at this place in the King Ed- 
ward school also at Ely Cathedral chorister school. After completing his education 
he learned the printing business, and at the age of twenty-one he went to Leeds; 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 77 

from there he went to Cambridge and London successively, holding positions in each 
place. From London he went to Ottawa, Canada, filling an engagement m the 
government printing office in that city. Later, he became connected with the Orange 
County Press at Middletown, N. Y. , and remained there nearly nine years. He is 
what is known as a self-made man, and although of English birth actually came of 
the same original Puritan stock that emigrated to this continent and colonized that 
portion of the United States generally known as New England. 

Johnson, Henry A., practicing lawyer at Eagle Bridge, originated in Shaftsbury, 
Vt., son of Freeborn Johnson, a physician of prominence and long standing in 
Shaftsbury. Henry was educated at the LTnion Seminary of Danville, 111., and at 
Oberlin College, Ohio, and he followed teaching several years; he was principal of 
the union schools at Sandwich, 111., and Newark, 111. He married his present wife, 
Margaret Gooding, daughter of Mathew Gooding of White Creek in 1870. Two chil- 
dren were born to them: Weslej^ B. Johnson, aged twentv-two, and Guy, aged fif- 
teen. Mr. Johnson settled at Eagle Bridge in 1872. He was assistant district at- 
torney under Samuel Foster, term expiring 1880. He is an Odd Fellow ; a member 
of Van Rensselaer Lodge No. 400, F. & A. M., of Hoosick Falls; of Sandwich 
Chapter No. 107, of Sandwich, Ills.; of Apollo Commandery No. 15, of Troy; and 
Albany Sovereign Consistory. He is a supporter of the M. E. church, of which his 
wife is a member. His first wife was Emily George, daughter of Judge Dennis 
George, of Shaftsbury, Vt. She died in 1866, leaving one daughter, Anna, now 
Mrs. Lynn Cornell, of Jamestown, N. Y. 

Joslin, E. A., is the fourth descendan*-. in a direct line to become owner of the 
Joslin homestead. His great-grandfather, Potter Joslin, was the first ancestor that 
settled at Eagle Bridge. He is the grandson of Thomas Joslin, and son of Arnold 
Joshn, whose whole life was spent here where he died in 1887, aged si.xty-eight. 
The latter was a very influential citizen whose advice was sought by young and old ; 
he was much engaged in the settlement of estates and was nine years in .succession 
commissioner of highways. The present estate consists of I'iS acres, but the pa- 
ternal ancestors originally owned a large tract of land here. Mr. Joslin makes a 
specialty of fine merino sheep. In 1878 he married Minerva A. Kipp of Pittstown. 
They have two children: Clarence W., aged seventeen, andSyWia, aged sixteen. In 
politics Mr. Joslin is a Republican ; he attends the Baptist church. 

Sheridan, William, is the son of Thomas Francis Sheridan whose death was 
deeply mourned by the residents of Hoosick Falls in 1885. He lived to .seven ty-f'nir 
years of age, and was a wagonmaker and carpenter by trade; in 1850 he built the 
first Catholic church in the town of Hoosick on Church street ; it was destroyed by 
fire years ago. William was born in Ireland in 1840 and came to America in 1850. 
He was educated at Ball Seminary and first learned the iron moulder's trade, enter- 
tering the employ of the Wood Machine Company in 1855, remaining in the foundry 
thirteen years. In 1868 he went into the liquor business and conducted a hotel 
twenty-five years. He is now retired from active life, after having also served his 
town officially as overseer of the poor several terms; he has also been village trustee 
four terms, being a Republican politically. He is a prominent official of the R. C. 
church and eminently respected wherever he is known. He married in 186;^ Sarah 
Keenan, daughter of a pioneer settler of Manchester, Vt. 



78 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Hawthorn, Harris S.. is a native of Salem, N. Y., and first son of William Haw- 
thorn, also a native of that place, born in 1796. He was a blacksmith, and died in 
1845 after only one year's residence in Hoosick Falls. Harris S. was born in 1832, 
and educated at Hoosick Falls. He acquired the carpenter's trade and was twenty- 
five years in the mower shops. He is a prominent official in the M. E. church, and 
a devout and faithful member; also chaplain of the G. A. K. Post. Mr. Hawthorn 
has a worthy war record. Enlisting in 1860 in Co. F, 121st N. Y. Vols., he served 
three years and rose from a private soldier to a .sergeant. Perhaps the most striking 
event of his life was his capture of General Curtis Lee, son of Major-General Robert 
E. Lee, an act of personal prowess and gallantry duly established and recorded in 
the official annals of the war, and for which he but recently received a commemora 
tive medal, a just but tardy recognition of his bravery. He is a member of Van 
Rensselaer Lodge No. 400, F. & A. M., of Raymer Chapter No. 248, R. A. M., and 
a meinber and medallist of Honor Legion, Washington, D. C. He is a thorough 
Republican, and is proud in asserting it. 

Barnes Horace H., is a son of Sardius B. Barnes, a wagonmaker, of English 
ancestry. The former was educated at the famous old academy of Mexico, N. Y. , 
where he was born in 1835, and first learned the trade of carriage painting, engaging 
in busmess for himself at Salem, N. Y. He has since 1868 been a resident of Hoosick 
Falls and was for eighteen years foreman of the paint shop at the Wood works. In 
1H65 he married Delia A. Andrus of Montclair, N. J. Their one son, Louis H., born 
in 1870, is a mechanic in the Colt Armory at Hartford, Conn. Mr. Barnes is a po- 
tent factor in both social and political life of the place. He has been a Mason for 
thirty years; is vestryman of St. Mark's Epi-scopal church, and has .served his town 
in many of its offices, as town collector, auditor, and was once village trustee. He 
is a member of Post Wood No. 294, G. A. R. 

Bradley, John C, is a representative of a family closely identified with the history 
of Vermont vState, and that of the nation. He is of English ancestry, and his great- 
great-grandfather. Lieutenant Joseph Bradley, was one of the first settlers of Sund- 
erland, Vt. , where John was born in 1858. Here this paternal ancestor participated 
in many an exciting conflict as a "Green Mountain Boy" to assert the right to the 
estates which have been in the family name more than a century. Captain Lemuel 
Bradley, great-grandfather of John C, was conspicuous in the battle of Bennington 
and other encounters throughout the Revolution. Mr. Bradley is a .son of Gilbert 
liradley, whose father was Ethan Bradley, and was educated at Burton Seminary, 
Manchester, Vt., and in New York city. In 1875 he went to Colorado, and after 
serving as sale'sman for a time he engaged in a confectionery business for himself 
After one year he came home to care for his aged father, who died in 1881. The 
same year he came lo Hoosick Falls and entered the employ of the Hoosick Mallea- 
ble Iron Co. as an apprentice to the moulder's trade. Before serving full term at 
that trade he was made foreman of the annealing department, where he remained 
nine years. Upon the resignation of M. D. Greenwood, the superintendent of the 
Malleable Iron Works, he was promoted to that position which he still holds. He is 
a member of the Baptist church and an enthusiastic worker, being sui)erintendent 
of t'.ie Bible class of that church seven years. For the last three years he has been 
volunteer pastor of a small church at West Hoosick. He is much interested in the 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 79 

Y. M. C. A. and has lectured in its behalf in various cities in the State; and also 
responded to calls from Vermont, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. In 1877 he 
married Fannie M. Baker of Fort Edward, N. Y., by whom he has three children: 
Helen M., born in 1878; Edith S., born in 1879; John H., born in 1883. 

Cowan, Andrew J., was born in the town of Oshkosh, Wis., in 1858; he is the son 
of James and Jean Cowan. James Cowan was born in Catrine, Ayrshire, Scotland ;' 
his wife was also born in Scotland; she was the daughter of Adam and Margaret 
Bell, mentioned in this work. James Cowan came to New York with his father and 
mother in 1851, and shortly after came to Bath-on-the-Hudson ; he was married there 
and afterwards went to Wisconsin and resided about two years, where Andrew was 
born, and then returned to Bath-on-the-Hudson and has lived there ever since. 
James Cowan worked for the firm of Clemenshire & Bruice; this firm did the first 
carpenter work on the new capitol. A. J. Cowan was reared and educated in Bath 
and at Folsom's Business College at Albany. He learned his trade with John 
Osborn as roofer and sheet iron worker, beginning at the age of fourteen years, and 
was in New York city with William Orr, plumber, for about a year. At this time 
he attended the Plumbing Trade School in that city; he then came back to the old 
firm in Albany, and m 1887 bought out Delbert Wagers tin shop in Bath-on-the- 
Hudson and occupied the building for one year; he then bought the building he now 
owns and occupies, corner of First street and Tracy avenue. He is a plumber, tin 
and slate roofer, sheet iron worker and dealer in hardware, stoves, house furnishing 
goods and drain tile. He was married May 10, 1886, to Helen Miller of Bath-on-the- 
Hudson, by whom he has three children: James, Sarah and Andrew. Mr. Cowan 
is a member of the K. of P. of Bath; also a deacon of Bath Baptist church, and has 
been a trustee of the village. 

Coutts, Peter, the long established jeweler at No. 75 Church street, Hoosick Falls, 
has been a resident of the village twenty two years. He was born in Dundee, Scot- 
land, in 1838. His father was John Coutts, an engineer. Six years in the large 
jewelry establishment of Whytock & Sons of Dundee sufficed to make him master of 
his trade, after which he met with some adventure m.his travels, which were exten- 
sive. He went to London in 1856, then to India in 1857, but his business arrange- 
ments there were upset by the great Sepoy rebellion, and he became an English 
soldier, enlisting in the Seventh Dragoon Guards. After the mutmy was over he 
went to work again in his old place in Calcutta, and in 1866 returned to London. In 
1867 he went back to Scotland, where he was married. While he was serving in the 
army he worked more or less at his trade, being the only watchmaker m the brigade 
who had his tools with him. In 1870 he came to America, remaining two years in 
New York, thence to Troy where he worked for Mr. Timpane. L. Champany, and 
Thomas Goldsmith; in 1874 he settled in Hoosick Falls. Mr. Coutts carries a hand- 
some stock of staple goods in his line and gives his personal attention to repairs. 
He was married in Dundee in 1868 to Elizabeth Gardyne of that place, and has two 
children: Edwin and Vesta. 

Kincaid, George H., of Hoosick Falls, a man tf wide popularity, came herein 1889, 
employed as painter in the Wood Mower Works. He was born at Hartford, N. Y., 
in 1838, son of John Hamilton Kincaid a farmer. His grandfather, James Kincaid, 



80 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

came to America from Scotland in 1786 and settled in Lansing-burgh as a merchant. 
Mr. Kincaid began business by farming, but in 1859, went into the drug business at 
Granville. While there he married Phebe M. Brayton of Hartford, N. Y. , in 1860; 
after thirteen years there he went to Richmond, Va., and engaged in agricultural 
pursuits three years. He is a Democrat and his first office was that of justice of 
peace; he is now police justice ; also a member of the order of Odd Fellows. He 
has five children: William, at Portland, Oregon, in the interest of the W. A. Wood 
Co. ; Manfred, senior member of the firm of Kincaid & Wilcox; Lulu, wife of Dewitt 
Johnston of this place; Edith, recently united in marriage to John Liddle, a com- 
mercial traveler; and George who resides at home. 

Peters, J. Fred, associated with Charles W. Brown in the publication of the Hoo- 
sick Valley Democrat, was born November 9, 1855, in Hoosick Falls, a son of John 
G. Peters, who was an architect and builder of considerable prominence for nearly 
forty years in Hoosick Falls, and who died December 22, 1885. Fred J. Peters re- 
ceived a high school education, and was employed for a number of years in the 
Walter A. Wood Mowing and Reaping Machine Works as a machinist. He has held 
the office of village asset^sor. He entered the employ of the Hoosick Valley Demo- 
crat in 1895, and January 20, 1896, formed a partnership with C. W. Brown and pur- 
chased the Democrat, Mr. Peters being the editor and Mr. Brown the business man- 
ager. He was married October 1, 1885, to Maria L. Moses, daughter of T. S. Moses 
of Hoosick. Three daughters have been born to them. He is an ardent Democrat, 
and a lover of music, being a musician of considerable ability. 

Sherman, Levi, born in Pittstown, N. Y., August 5, 1849, is a son of Sanford T. 
and Roxinie (Gifford) Sherman, born in Pittstown, he a son of Stephen Sherman, one 
of the early settlers of this town. Mr. Sherman was a farmer and lived and died in 
Pittstown, his death occurring November 22, 1889, and that of his wife April 1, 1886. 
Levi was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools; he is a farmer 
and owns a hundred acres of land ; he was married in December, 1873, to Lizzie 
Hall, born in Pittstown, a daughter of Dennis and Pnscilla (Brownell) Hall; he is a 
native of Rensselaer county and she of Pittstown; she died 1890. Mr. and Mrs. 
Sherman have had one daughter, Minnie J. Mrs. Sherman died in May, 1879; and 
March 2, 1881, he married Lida Perkins Mason, born August 6, 1851, in Porter 
county, Ind. , daughter of Edwin and Mary (Davidson) Mason ; her mother was born 
in Sodus, Wayne county, and her father in Marion, same count}', and removed to 
Indiana and she died in Sodus, July 4, 1856, and he died in Indiana, April 29, 1864. 
Mr. and Mrs. Sherman have one son, Arthur W. 

White, Salem H., is the fourth son of Salem White who is a well known and hon- 
ored resident of Bennington, Vt. Salem, inheriting the sterling qualities of his 
English ancestry, is an enterprising, energetic yovmg business man as his establish- 
ment at the corner of First and Center .streets will attest. This store was at first a 
meat market only, where he began business in 1887 It has grown steadily and in 
1894 was added a grocery filled with provisions of all kinds which commands a large 
patronage. He was born at Bennington, Vt., in 1863, and at fourteen years of age 
moved here. He attended Troy Business College and afterwards was in the employ 
of Gardner & White's meat market ten years. He is a Democrat and was village 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 81 

treasurer three years, proving a worthy official, He has been supervisor of Hoosick 
for two years and is the present incumbent; he is one of the largest real estate 
owners in the village of Hoosick Falls. 

Jones, E. C, of Gibson & Jones, leading grocers of Hoosick Falls. This business 
establishment has its commodious departments at 39 Church street which was pur- 
chased of John Gibson, the painter and wall paper dealer, in 1889. The firm is 
composed of young and energetic men, fully up to date and in accord with modern 
methods, and handle a choice line of goods. Ernest C. Jones was born at Berlin in 
1865, where his boyhood was spent until 1882. When seventeen years old he en- 
gaged as foreman of a department for the Miller, Hall & Hartwell Shirt Factory. 
After one year he entered a grocery here, remaining three years and acquiring a 
knowledge of the retail grocery business. He afterward spent another three years 
in the grocery of John Gibson. He is a Republican, but seeking no political pref- 
erment. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and of the Board of Trade. 
He married in 1886 Alice Tuttle of this place, daughter of Charles J. Tuttle. They 
have one son, Willis, born November 14, 1895. 

Greene, Dascom, was born in Richmond, Ontario county, N. Y., June 15, 1825. 
He is of New England descent, his ancestors for five generations having been resi- 
dents of Worcester county, Mass. His preliminary education was received in the 
schools of Western New York, and he entered the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 
in the autumn of 1851, graduating two years later. He served two years as assist- 
ant in mathematics, and thirty-eight years as professor of mathematics and astron- 
omy in the institute. He resigned his chair in the summer of 1893, and was made 
professor emeritus. He also acted as librarian of the institute from 1864 until he re- 
signed his professorship. In November, 1874, Professor Greene was elected pro- 
fessor of mathematics and astronomy in Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa., but de- 
clined to accept the appointment, and the following year he was informally offered 
and declined a professorship of mathematics at Cornell University. At the time of 
the erection of the Williams Proudfit Memorial Observatory in 1877, Professor 
Greene was charged with the duty of preparing plans and superintending the con- 
struction of the building, and in this connection he devised the improved method of 
constructing domes for astronomical observatories by covering them with paper. A 
dome of this kind was placed on the Proudfit Observatory, and others have since 
been built for the observatory of the United States Military Academy at West Point, 
that of Columbia College, New York, and of other institutions. Professor Greene 
has published text-books on Spherical and Practical Astronomy, and on the Integral 
Calculus, besides occasional papers in various scientific and educational journals. In 
1859 he married Sara Irene Parsons of Utica, N. Y., who died in 1861, leaving a son. 
William, who died in 1864. In 1866 he married Elvira, daughter of the late Jairus 
Dickerman of Troy. 

Armsby, Clark L., was born in Petersburgh, March 8, 1837. He is a son of Chris- 
topher and Polly (Sanders) Armsby, she a native of Grafton and he of Petersburgh. 
The grandfather of John Armsby was born in 1753 in Rhode Island and emigrated to 
Petersburgh in pioneer times when they had to go by marked trees; he was a 
farmer by occupation, and died in Petersburgh in 1845; he was a soldier of the 
k 



82 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Revolutionary war. His wife, Priscilla, was born in new Bedford, Mass., in 1756 
and died in 1849. Christopher Armsby was a harnessmaker in Petcrsburgh and was 
successful in business. He was born in 1793. He died in 1853, and Mrs. Armsby 
(born in 1796) died in 1884. Clark L. commenced his business career as teacher in 
winter and farming in summer, which he followed for about ten years; he gave up 
teaching and has since devoted his time to agricultural pursuits, at which he has 
been very successful. In 1878 he bought the Greene farm of 146 acres at North 
Stephentown, where he has since resided and made a specialty of dairy farming. 
In 1865 Mr. Armsby married Mary M. Tilly of Grafton, by whom he has three chil- 
dren : John D., who is manager of the home farm; Frank N., who attended the Al- 
bany Business College and prepared for telegraph operator; and Charles E , also in 
Albany Business College. 

Ostrander, John, an early settler of the town of Schodack, took up a large tract of 
land and there lived;. he died in 1841; his wife was Sarah Carpenter ; she died in 
1848. Walter Ostrander, a son of John and Sarah Ostrander, was born in Schodack; 
his wife was Eliza Wilbur, born in Johnstown, N. Y. ; he died in 1880; she died in 
1887. Walter Carpenter Ostrander is a son of Walter and Eliza (Wilbur) Ostrander, 
was born in Schodack and reared and educated in Schodack and Albany ; was m 
Cohoes, N. Y. , for a while in the market business and with E. J. Weeks of Albany in 
pork packing business for twelve years; since then has been a farmer in Schodack 
and running a milk route with an average of fifteen cows. He was married in 1877 
to Phila J. Starkey of Mansfield, Pa., who was born in Swansey, N. H. One child 
blesses their union, Archie Wilbur Ostrander, born in Schodack. 

Stevens, William N., special superintendent of the Walloomsac Paper Co., was 
born at Warwick, Mass., 1856. In 1860 he moved with his parents to Walpole, N. 
H., where his boyhood was spent and his education acquired. There his father, 
Gilbert T. Stevens, and his mother, Elizabeth Arnold, engaged in farming. In De- 
cember of 1879 he came to North Hoosick, where he was engaged as machinist for 
seven months, after which he spent two years at Winchester, N. H., in the tanning 
business. At this place he became a member of Philesian Lodge No. 40 F. & A. M. ; 
then returning to Walloomsac, N. Y. , permanently in 1883, occupying a position as 
bookkeeper, then as assistant superintendent for this company. He is a Republican, 
and has served as notary public for six years. He is a member of the Presbyterian 
church of Hoosick Falls, N. Y., of which he is an elder and a zealous worker. He 
has been a member of the church since he was eighteen years of age, and was su- 
perintendent of the Presbyterian Sunday school for three years, and also superinten- 
dent of the Sunday school at Walloomsac for four years. In October, 1886, he mar- 
ried Katherine, a granddaughter of Dr. Solomon Moses of Hoosick Falls, and 
daughter of Solomon Moses of Pownal, Wt. They had four children : Mary and 
Nathaniel E. died of scarlet fever six years ago, and John, aged four and a half 
years, and Katherine aged three years, died last March, with the same disease as the 
first two. Mr. Stevens is now a member in good standing in Van Rensselaer Lodge 
No. 400, and Raymond Chapter No. 248, of Hoosick Falls. He has served as trustee 
in his school district for three years past, and is now serving his fourth year. 

Edmans, George D., was born at Deal, county of Kent, England, in 1851. He 



FAMILY" SKETCHES. 83 

came to America with his father, John Edmans, a cabinet maker and located at 
Troy when fifteen years old. He has had to work his own way in the world and the 
positions he has occupied have been due to his own efforts. He learned the trade of 
cabinet making, and came here in 1873, entering the employ of Walter A. Wood. 
He rapidly rose in his calling, and was only twenty- five when he accepted the re- 
sponsibilities of foremanship. In politics he is a Republican. He has been twice 
married, first in 1875 to Margaret Gillen Bain of Elgin, Scotland, who died in 1890, 
leaving four children. He again married in 1892 Julia Leonie Pratt of Cambridge, 
by whom he has one son. He is a member of St. Mark's Episcopal church, a mem- 
ber of Van Rensselaer Lodge No. 400 F. & A. M., and has filled all the offices at var- 
ious times, being master in 1889-90. 

Smith, Charles H., is the junior partner of the firm of J. D. Smith & Co. ; he was 
born in Castleton November 2, 1848, and was educated in the public schools of that 
village. He spent one year in a law office, and then engaged in the grocery trade 
which he followed eight years; then for four years manufactured brick, and was 
a year in New York in the hay business, when he returned to Castleton and engaged 
in the milling trade for five years, and finally embarked in the freighting business, in 
which he is still actively engaged. Mr. Smith has always taken a lively interest in 
his native town ; he has twice been supervisor and three times trustee of the village 
of Castleton. In 1869 he married Hester J. Callanan; they have two children, 
Grace and Emma; the former is now Mrs. Fred Coleman of Albany. He lost his 
wife in September, 1892, and married in March, 1895, Ella M. Clifford. Mr. Smith's 
parents are Joel D. and Hannah E. (Stearns) Smith. The firm of J. D. Smith & Co. 
have a large freighting business, and a storehouse 45 by 125 feet in dimensions for 
storing goods. 

Miller, Andrew J., was born in Albany county, town of Berne, July 3, 1857. He 
is the son of Albert and Sophia (Bogardus) Miller, both of whom were born in Al- 
bany county, he the son of John Miller, a native of Connecticut and one of the early 
settlers of Albany county, whereTTe~iived and died ; the father of Andrew Miller has 
always been a farmer and came to Greenbush in 1873 and here resides, living a re- 
tired life. Andrew Miller was reared and educated in AlbanyX In 1886 he estab- 
lished a milk route and has been very successful; he has always followed farming 
and owns about twenty acres on the river and a residence on the river bank ; he has 
at present twenty-five cows and five horses. Mr. Miller was at one time one of the 
assessors of East Greenbush. He married Maggie A. Smith of New Baltimore, 
Greene county, N. Y., December 23, 1879, by whom he has had two children- Addi- 
son R. and Libbie E. 

McKearin, Patrick, a prominent man and much esteemed citizen of Hoosick Falls, 
has been a resident here since 1872, when he took charge of the Western Union 
Telegraph business. He now conducts a large business in life and fire insurance, 
his elder son. George, being in the office with him. He is a member of the Demo- 
cratic party and has served the people of this town in an official capacity as super- 
visor and county clerk. He was born at Brandon, Vt., in 1853, and educated in the 
common schools. He learned telegraphy at Pittsford and Rutland, Vt. , and worked 
as night operator, attending school through the day. He is past master and past 
high priest in the Masonic fraternity, of which order he is a valued member. 



84 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Hayner, Henry C, born in Pittstown, May 4, 1842. is a son of Sylvester and 
Betsey Freiot Hayner. The grandfather of Henry C. was Jacob Hayner, who 
spent most of his life in Pittstown, N. Y., but died in Brunswick ; his wife was Jane 
Van Dercook of Pittstown. Sylvester, father of Henry, was a farmer by occupa- 
pation and spent most of his life in Lansingburgh ; he was a commissioner of high- 
ways for a number of years; he was a Universalist and she an Episcopal or Meth- 
odist; he died February 17, 1883, and his wife died October 8, 1852. Henry C. was 
reared on a farm and educated in common schools; he follows farming and owns 
124 acres, where he has lived for thirty-two years, and has improved most of it. 
Mr. Hayner was once an assessor. He was married March 19, 1862, to Mary J. 
Hayner, daughter of Abner Hayner whose wife, Cornelia Vandercook, was a daugh- 
ter of Peter Vandercook, one of the early settlers of Pittstown. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Hayner were born two children: Cora, wife of Charles E. Ryan of Pittstown, and 
have one child by marriage, Burnice G., and one by adoption, Edna F. ; and Fred 
H., of Mechanicville; he married Minnie Sharrock and has one son, Henry C. 
Politically Henry C. Hayner was until the year 1885 a Republican ; since then he 
has been a Prohibitionist. He cast his first vote for Lincoln's second term as 
president. 

Stevenson, George H., was born in Albany, N. Y., May 11, 1847. When he was 
three years of age his parents moved to Green Island, near Troy, where he was edu- 
cated in the district school and Troy Busine.ss College ; in his early life he was en- 
gaged in various occupations, among others as painter and moulder. In 1S()8 he 
married Sarah L. Jones of North Albany; they have six children living, four sons 
and two daughters: Hugh T. , Charles H., George E. T., Mary, Edwin A. H., and 
Elenor J. Hugh T. married Etta Van Vallen ; they have one living son, Perry J. 
Charles H. married Rosalie Whitney. In 1865 Mr. Stevenson enlisted in the 192d 
N. Y. Vols., and was honorably discharged at the close of the war; he is a member 
of Hartshorn Post No. 487, G. A. R. of Schaghticoke, department of New York; he 
has been commander three terms, quartermaster one term and is now adjutant; he 
is also a member of Schaghticoke Lodge No. 526, I. O. O. F., and is past grand of 
that order; he was the first deputy district grand master, Rensselaer and Washing- 
ton district, I. O. O. F., serving two terms. In 1878 he entered tlie employ of the 
Cable Flax Mills of Troy as bookkeeper, and when the company moved its office to 
Schaghticoke in 1883, he came also ; in 1880 he was promoted to the position of sec- 
retary, which he still holds, Mr. Stevenson's father's name was Hugh; he was born 
in Londonderry, Ireland, in 1825 and came to the United States with a brother when 
he was twelve years old; he married Jane Roderic; they had only one son, Geoige 
H. Both father and mother are dead. The oldest and third sons of Mr. Stevenson 
are ministers of the Gospel in the Baptist church. 

Ingraham, Nehemiah, born in Pittstown, February 26, 1801, was a son of Henry 
and Mary (Denton) Ingraham, both natives of Pittstown. The grandfather of Nehe- 
miah, Humphrey Ingraham, was a pioneer of Pittstown and cleared the forest from 
the farm now owned by C. C. Cottrell. The grandfather of Mrs. Ingraham on the 
mother's side was also a pioneer of Pittstown and settled on the farm now occupied 
by Norman Carpenter near Newcomb's Pond. Such was the fear of the Indians at 
that time the families covered up their property first with dirt and then with leaves 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 85 

and fled for their lives to a place of safety. April 16, 1835, Nehemiah married Phebe, 
daughter of Jonathan and Hannah Pnrdy. To Mr. and Mrs. Ingraham were born 
six children, to wit: Jonathan, Caroline, Hannah Jane, Calista Ann, George W. and 
Alice, all born in the residence where she now resides. Jonathan was born in 1836, 
always lived with his mother, was a bachelor, and died in 1882. Caroline was born 
in 1838, married in 1864 to Potter J. Prior, a farmer of Saratoga county ; they have 
two daughters, May and Gertrude. Hannah Jane was born in 1841 and married 
James Haviland in 1863; they had two children, Merritt and Minnie; their mother 
died in 1868 and the children were brought up by their grandmother; Merritt mar- 
ried Minnie Rose, has two children and resides in the town; Minnie married Milton 
Johnson has one child, and resides in a Western State. Calista Ann was born in 
1845, became Mrs. Cubertson and died in 1893. George W. was born in 1848, married 
Fanny Shell in 1874 and have one living child, Walter G. George W. died in 1880 
in his twenty-second year. Alice was born in 1851, was married to Charles M. 
Holmes in 1873, and has two children, Kittie and Neddy; Mr. Holmes is a farmer in 
Colorado. Nehemiah Ingraham died in 1858; then Jonathan managed the farm till 
1882, when he died, since which Mrs. Ingraham has carried on the farm successfully. 
She is now in her ninetieth year. 

Gibson, John, the well known dealer in wall paper and paint on Church street, en- 
tered business life at thirteen years of age in the paint shop of the Eaton & Gilbert 
car works of Troy where he began as an apprentice. In 1856 he became employed 
in the Walter A. Wood Mower and Reaper Co's. shops at Hoosick Falls. From 1872 
to 1883 he had full charge of the painting and packing departments of the William 
Anson Wood M. & R. Co.'s shops, both in Albany, N.Y., and Youngstown, O. After 
the termination of this association he came here and engaged in his present business 
and has accumulated a fine property, He was in the 7th Cavalry m the war and is 
now a member of the G. A. R. and has been junior vice-commander. He was born 
in 1840 at Toronto, Canada, son of John Gibson ; is a Republican and has been 
prominent in local affairs. 

Viets, M. H., is the genial and popular official in charge of the Fitchburg depot at 
Eagle Bridge, and where he has come to be considered a personal landmark by 
reason of long tenure of position. He was born at West Pawlet, Vt., May 27, 1849, 
son of Captain H. R. Viets. While yet a boy he mastered the mysteries of teleg- 
raphy, and his first engagement was at the town of his birth. In 1869 he was ap- 
pointed station agent at Eagle Bridge for the Tro)' and Boston Railroad. In June, 
1887, when the Fitchburg Railroad bought the Troy and Hudson, and the Boston 
Hoosac Tunnel and Western road, he took charge of both stations. In December, 
1890, he was made joint agent for the Fitchburg and Delaware and Hudson Canal 
Company's road. In 1875 Mr. Viets married Miss Elsie Slade of Saratoga, and has 
one son, Harry, now seventeen. He holds high rank among the Masonic fraternity, 
and in the esteem of a wide circle of friends. 

Eldredge, J. William, the enterprising and popular manager of the Holmes Furni- 
ture stores, came to Hoosick Falls in 1883, being then about twenty years of age, as 
an assistant to his paternal uncle, Charles O. Eldredge, who was m the lumber busi- 
ness. Mr. Eldredge possesses in a marked degree the qualities that make up a 



86 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

modern man of business, and made himself so indispensable that when the business 
was purchased by E. B. Hurd, he was retained as business manager. This position 
he held for five years, until Mr. Hurd sold out the business to Easton, Rising & 
Worden. In 1891 he became assoociated with Mr. Holmes and has for several years 
handled the large trade enjoyed by that house. Mr. Eldredge was born at Mystic, 
Conn., in 1863. In 1884 he graduated from the Troy Business College and has more 
recently taken a course in the United States College of Embalming, at New York, 
thoroughly fitting himself for the rather arduous duties of the modern, scientific em- 
balmer and director. Mr. Eldredge is not only a business man in every sense of the 
word, but an exemplary and estimable member of society, and an enthusiastic 
worker for the cause of temperance. He is a member of the Temple of Honor, the 
Young Men's Christian Association and of the Baptist church, secretary of the Sun- 
day school and president of the Young People's society. In 1887 he married Miss 
Jennie Harder of Hoosick Falls, and they have two daughters: Bessie T. and 
Elfreda. In November, 1895, Mr. Eldredge resigned his position as manager of Mr. 
Holmes's furniture and undertaking business, to accept a position with Dodd, Mead 
& Co., publishers of New York city. Mr. Eldredge entered upon his duties in Janu- 
ary, 1896, and at present he is a special representative of that firm for the sale of the 
International Cyclopaedia. iMr. Eldredge still makes Hoosick Falls his home. 

Corcilius, Louis D., was born in Germany, November 28, 1849, and came to Amer- 
ica in 1869. He settled in Easton, Pa., for a short time, and then came to Nassau, 
Rensselaer county, where he remained one year, when he went to Syracuse for a 
while and then to Clyde, N. Y. After one year in Clyde he returned to Nassau in 
1873 and remained there until 1878 when he removed to Schodack Center where he 
resided for ten years. He came to Castleton in 1888 and opened his excellent meat 
market which has proved a great success. This establishment is the only one of any 
kind in Castleton lighted by electric light by his own plant, a fact which indicates 
the enterprise exhibited by Mr. Corcilius in his business. In 1874 Mr Corcilius mar- 
ried Catherine Kurtzennacker, by whom he has one son, William Corcilius. 

Button, Elihu L., was born in Pittstown, N. Y. , September 6, 1872, a son of Lyman 
L. and Sarah (Lansing) Button, he a native of Pittstown and she of Watervliet, 
Albany county, N. Y. The maternal grandparents. Garret I. and Margaret (Has- 
well) Lansing, were farmers of Albany county, and died June 4, 1873, and July 
16, 1848, respectively. The parents of Garret, Jacob and Jane (Vanscoyk) Lansing, 
were pioneers of Albany county, settling near Cohoes. The parents of Lyman L. 
were Lyman and Mercy Downing. He was born in Pittstown in 1792 and died in 
October, 1869; she was born in 1794 and died May 8, 1866. The great-grandparents 
of Elihu L., Simeon and Ruth (Eddy) Button, settled on the farm now owned by 
Elihu L. at a very early date. He was born April 5, 1757, and died August 22, 1836 ; 
she was born at Swanzy, Conn., July 12, 1759, and died June 17, 1854. April 6, 1871, 
Lyman D. married Sarah Lansing. Elihu L. was reared on the farm and has chosen 
farming as his occupation ; he was educated at the Lansingburgh Academy. In 1895 
he married Minnie, daughter of John and Jane (McChesney) Gibbs, of Pittstown. 
In 1892 Mr. Button took charge of the home farm of 100 acres. 

Nelson, Dr. HoraceG., was born in Troy, January7, 1847. His father. Dr. Thomas 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 87 

Nelson, was born in the North of Ireland and practiced dentistry in Troy, N. Y., for 
many years and died in 1871. His mother, Louisa M. (Stone) Nelson, was born in 
Potsdam, N. Y., and died in 1867. Dr. Nelson received his education in the public 
and private schools of Troy, and studied dentistry with Dr. C. H. Jenkins three 
years, and in July, 1873, succeeded Dr. S. J. Andres, who had been in practice six- 
teen years. In 1875 he went to Stillwater, N. Y., where he practiced until 1877, 
when he returned to Troj' and for about two years was with Dr. E. J. Young and 
then resumed practice on Grand street. For the past twelve years he has been 
located on Fifth avenue, where he is still practicing. He is a member of the Third 
District Dental Society and has been a delegate from that Society to the State 
Society for many years. He has a summer home at Melrose. He is a member of 
Trojan Council No. 86, Royal Arcanum, and is a past regent of that organization. 
He married in 1872 Martha M. Valance, daughter of Isaac W. Valance, an old resi- 
dent of Troy, N.Y. 

Lynam, H. D., was born in the State of Delaware in 1855. He is a son of Thomas 
P. and Mary T. (Stidham) Lynam of Christiana, New Castle county, Del. H. D., 
after leaving the Wilmington Academy, entered the Philadelphia Dental College, 
from which he was graduated in 1879, and in the fall of the same year came to Troy 
and practiced in the office of O. R. Young for two years, and in 1881 opened an 
office on Third street with Mr. Knauff, under the firm name of Lynam & Knauft". 
Mr. Knauff retired from the firm in 1891 and Mr. Lynam has since carried on a very 
successful practice. He is a member of the Third District Dental Association, and 
is also a member of the Mt. Zion Lodge, F. & A. M., and the Rensselaer County 
Wheelmen. He is a director in the Pioneer Building and Loan Association. In 
1884 he married Lelia M. Lukens of New Castle county, Del., a daughter of the 
late Dr. Lukens, a prominent physician of Delaware. 

Payne, Capt. Martin, was born in Waterbury, Conn., in 1827. His father, Thomas 
J. Payne, also born in Waterbury, Conn., was a farmer and died in 1874. His 
mother was Nancy Frost, who died in 1880. He received his education in Waterbury 
and learned the trade of millwright and for a number of years was engaged at 
bridge building; in 1862 he had charge of placing the armor plate on the gunboat 
Galena in Mystic, Conn., and afterwards came to Troy and ""about 1876 started a 
carriagemaking establishment on First street, where he is still located. He makes a 
specialty of the sulky manufacture, on which he has a number of patents. He was 
engineer on the staff of Colonel Babcock with rank of captain. He belongs lo all 
the Masonic bodies and was captain of the Osgood Steamer Company. He was 
married in 1865 to Jane E. Brown of Troy, N. Y. He has one son, John E. B. 
Payne, who assists in the business. 

Stiles, Franklin O., was born in Wardsboro, Vt. He is a son of Orriu and Lucj' 
(Wakefield) Stiles, His father was born in Massachusetts, and moved to Vermont 
when twenty-one years of age and bought a farm, where he lived until his death in 
1^72. His mother died in 1880. He received a common school education and at the 
age of nineteen left Vermont and traveled through Jefferson county. N. Y., selling 
his ware from a wagon, which occupation he followed until 1859 when he came to 
Troy and entered the concern of E. G. Akin & Co., and after five years took a quar 



88 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

ter interest in the concern, and twelve years later bought them out and has con- 
tinued in the business as sole propeietor since, which is house furnishing, plumbing, 
tinning, etc., having a large establishment and an extensive stock of goods. He 
has not been out of employment since he was eighteen. He belongs to all the Ma- 
sonic bodies of Troy being a thirty-second degree Mason. His wife is Elizabeth 
(Morton) vStiles of Brunswick, to whom he was married in 1876, and has one son and 
one daughter, Franklin O., jr., and Helen H. 

Smith, Robert G., wholesale grocer, came from Ottowa, Ont., to Montreal in the 
year 1844, at the age of fourteen, and engaged as clerk with the dry goods firm of 
Howard & Co. He remained with that firm until 1848, then came to Troy and en- 
gaged with William B. Fry in the retail dry goods business until 1851. In the fall 
of that year he removed to Cohoes, N. Y , and went into the dry goods and clothmg 
business, and continued in that business until 1860. He then formed a copartner- 
ship with the late G. M. Cropsey for the manufacture of flour, and in that year built 
the Hudson Valley Flour Mill. In 1864 he sold his interest to the firm of Mills & 
McMartin of Albany and after the close of the war, in 1866, assumed the duty of 
superintendent of the mill for that firm until 1877, when he engaged in the produce 
business on River street. In 1880 he bought the interest of the late Robert C. Col- 
lison in the wholesale grocery business and formed the firm of Stevenson, Smith & 
Co., afterwards Smith Sz Stevenson, and in 1894 Mr. Smith assumed control and still 
continues the business at No. 327 River street. He was alderman of the Fourth 
ward in 1887-1888, and is a member of Mt. Zion Lodge, F. & A. M., and Apollo Com- 
mandery of K. T. Mr. Smith served in the office of the Watervliet Arsenal during 
the Civil war. He was married in 1854 to Sarah A. Cropsey of Waterford, N. V., 
who died in 1873. His present wife was Sarah A. Smith of Northampton, N. Y , to 
whom he was married in 1876. His children are Mrs. Dr. A. Ives, of Grand Ridge, 
111. ; Clarence, who is salesman in the store, and R. George Smith, who is chief cleik 
in the medical department of the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York. Mr. 
Smith is a Republican in politics and joined the party at its formation in 1854; 
voted for John C. Fremont for president m 1856 and for William McKinley, jr., in 
1896. 

Thomas, Henry H., was born in Middleboro, Ma.ss., April 15, 1844, the son of 
Oliver and Johanna (Stewart) Thomas, who came to Troy in 1854. His father died 
in 1860 and his mother in 1890. After attending the public schools and the Albany 
Business College he started in the manufacture of kegs in which he is at present en- 
gaged. His factory has a capacity of making 700,000 kegs per year. He is a park 
commissioner and was candidate for mayor on the Republican ticket in 1891 but was 
defeated. He belongs to the Troy, East Side, and Pafraets Dael Clubs, and is pres- 
ident of the East Side Club, a past commander of Apollo Commandery, No. 15 of 
Troy, trustee of the Troy Orphan Asylum and tru.stee of the First Presbyterian 
church. In 1864 he was married to Charlotte E. Bainbridge, who was born in Lon- 
don, England, and by whom he has three sons and one daughter. 

Wight, Arthur M., was born in Troy, April 20, 1860. His father, William W. 
Wight, was one of the pioneer collar manufacturers and came to Troy about 1832 
and was at one time clerk of the Board of Canal Commissioners; he died in 1868; his 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 89 

mother, Lydia P. (Van Auken) Wight, died in 1895. Arthur received his education 
in the public schools and for several years was bookkeeper in the office of a knitting 
mill on Ida Hill, and in 1884 became one of the proprietors of the Trojan Button 
Fastener Company, of which he is secretary and treasurer. He became member of 
the Trojan Hook & Ladder Co. in January, 1880, and has held the office of presi- 
dent, vice-president, and in 1864 was elected captain of that company, which office 
he fills at present. He married in 1886 Miss Hattie Slocum of Schaghticoke. She 
was the daughter of the late Chauncey B. Slocum who was at one time a member 
of assembly. 

Westervelt, E. W., was born in Grafton, Rensselaer county, in 1850. He is of 
Holland Dutch ancestry. His great uncle was supreme court judge and his grand- 
father was a Dutch Reform minister. His father, Ralph Westervelt, was born in 
Brunswick, N. Y., and was by trade a blacksmith and was also justice of the peace 
at Ouackenkill where he was also postmaster for thirty years; he died in 1892. His 
mother, Judith M. Ives Westervelt, lives in Brunswick. Mr. Westervelt received 
his education in the academy at Poestenkill and came to Troy and was in the carpet 
department of the Quackenbush store for eleven years. He started in the steam 
carpet cleaning business in 1878 at Spring avenue and later at 102 Congress street. 
He now has a fine plant at 120 Ferry street where carpets are cleaned by machinery 
and he has built up a large and profitable business. He was married to Sarah E. 
Simpson of Jersey City, N. J., in 1871. He has four sons, Vincent R., Clarence E., 
Eugene S. and Nelson H. 

Crosby, Clement S. , M.D., born in San Bernardino, Cal., November 1, 1867, is the 
son of Benjamin S. and Caroline (Jaggard) Crosby, he a native of Columbia county, 
N.Y., and she of New Jersey. The grandfather of Clement S. was Thomas Crosby, 
a soldier in the war of 1813 and who spent most of his life in Illinois. The father 
of Clement S. was a Presbyterian minister who in 1858 went to California, where he 
lived some years and returned to the State of New York and afterward went to 
Kansas, remaining about ten years, when he returned to New York State and died 
at Malden-on-the Hudson in July, 1889. Clement S. was reared in various places 
and was educated in the University of Lawrence, Kan., and studied medicine with 
Dr. Larkins of Albany, and was graduated from Albany Medical College in March, 
1890. He practiced medicine in Columbia county and in 1891 went to East Nassau, 
where he has a successful practice. He was married October 31, 1894, to Eliza 
Shaver of East Nassau, N. Y. Dr. Crosby is a member of Tsatsawassa Lodge No. 
356, I. O. O. F., and Rensselaer Encampment No. 96 at Sand Lake. He has been 
a member of the town Board of Health. 

Fellows, John T., was born in Stephentown, July 19, 1820. He was the son of 
David and Chloe (Turner) Fellows; he died in 1870, and she died in 1878. John T.'s 
grandfather was William Fellows of Stonington, Conn., a ship carpenter by trade. 
John T. was reared on a farm and educated in the common and select schools; he 
learned the carpenter's trade at the age of seventeen and has since been a con- 
tractor and builder. He came to Brainard in 1848 and has lived where he now re- 
sides for twenty-eight years. February 1, 1848, he married Diana Rhodes, daughter 
of Case and Hanna (Kenyon) Rhodes, who spent part of their lives m Nassau and 
1 



90 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Lebanon and finally came toSchodack, where he spent his last days. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Fellows were born seven children: Frank. Edgar, Ella D., Charles, George 
Leland (deceased) and Hattie M. Mr. Fellows has been highway commissioner for 
three years. Mrs. Fellows died December 7, 1888. 

Thomson, James, born in Nassau November 1, 1841, is the son of Oliver and 
Jerusha (Wheeler) Thomson, both born in Columbia county, N.Y. The grandfather 
of James was Edward Thomson, who spent his life in Columbia county. The ma- 
ternal grandfather was Henry Wheeler, who lived and died in the same county. 
The father of James was a merchant at Hoag's Corners, a member of assembly and 
justice of the peace about twenty years and also supervisor of the town for several 
terms. He died March 11, 1861, and his wife in March, 1885. James was reared at 
Hoag's Corners and at the age of sixteen went to Troy to clerk in a store, and in 
August, 1862, enlisted in Co. D, 125th N. Y. Vols., and served until the close of the 
war. He was at Harper's Ferry, Gettysburg, Auburn Ford, Bnstoe Station, Mine 
Run, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, front of Petersburg, and there wounded. After 
his discharge he came to Nassau and has since been engaged in the meat business. 
Mr. Thompson was married October 12, 1869, to Mary Shillinger of New Lebanon, 
daughter of Andrew and Rhoda (Wilson) Shillinger, he born in Germany and she in 
Kinderhook ; he came to Pittsfield about 1845 and is now living at West Lebanon ; 
his wife died in August, 1869. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomson were born four children : 
Wilson C, Charles F. A. (deceased), Robert M. and Austin A. (deceased). Mr. 
Thomson is a Republican and has been justice six years. He is a member of Grati- 
tude Lodge No. 674, F. & A. M. The family attend and support the M. E. church 
at Brainard. 

Thomson, Lester B., was born in Hoag's Corners, April 6, 1849, a son of Oliver 
C. Thomson. Lester B. was raised at Hoag's Corners and there educated. He went 
to Valatie at the age of sixteen years, and engaged as shipping clerk for John 
Snyder and was with him for six years. In 1867 he married Catherine Ayrault of 
Valatie, by whom five children have been born: Daniel E., Ernest C, Jamie 
(deceased), Kittie and Bessie C. He then went to Hudson and engaged in the man- 
ufacture of tinware for four years. He afterwards bought out a shop in West Troy 
and continued business for six years and in 1886 he came to Brainard Station and 
engaged m the mercantile business. He has been excise commissioner and school 
trustee for six terms. He is a member of T.satsawassa Lodge No. 356, I. O. O. F., 
and the Rensselaer Encampment No. 96 of Sand Lake. 

Webster, Nelson, born in Stephentown, N. Y., September 8, 1835, is the son of 
Aurelius and Elsie (Brockway) Webster, both born in Stephentown, he January, 
1804, and she June 14, 1814. The grandfather of Nelson, Constant Webster, settled 
in Stephentown when a young man and lived and died there. The maternal grand- 
father was George Brockway, a native of Stephentown where he lived and died. 
His father was one of the earliest settlers of that town. The paternal great-grand- 
father of Nelson lived and died in Massachusetts. The family trace their ancestry 
to Governor John Webster of Connecticut. The father of Nelson spent most of the 
latter part of his life in New Lebanon. He was a teacher about ten years and town 
school superintendent and was justice of the peace in New Lebanon for many years. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 91 

His principal occupation however was farming. Nelson was reared on a farm and 
educated in the Transylvania Institute of Nassau, Wilbraham Academy, near Spring- 
field, Mass., at Fort Plain Seminary, and at the Fort Edward Collegiate Institute. 
He first taught school six years and in 1859 began the study of law at East Nas.sau 
under Judge E. Smith Strait and has since practiced his profession at that place. 
He was married July 24, 1866, to Theressa M. Warden of East Nassau and has three 
children: Mattie E., wife of Charles R. Fort of Pittsfield, N. Y. ; A. Frank, who 
married Evaline Donnely and is patrolman in New York city; Nellie B. at home. 
Mr. Webster is a Republican and has been town clerk, town auditor and' justice of 
the peace. He is a member of Gratitude Lodge No. 674, F. & A. M., of which he is 
now past master and is also a member of Tsatsawassa Lodge No. 356, I. O. O. F. 

Millius, Melvin R., was born in East Nassau, July 16, 1858. He was a son of Adam 
and Mary L. (Harris) Mellius; he was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., and she in 
Nassau. She was a daughter of Robert and Lurena (Sliter) Harris, who settled in 
the town at a very early date. The father of Melvin was a carpenter by trade and 
came to Nassau about 1855 and enlisted in Company E, 125th N. Y. Vols. His widow 
lives in East Nassau. Melvin R. was reared on a farm and was educated in the 
common schools. He followed farming and then clerked in East Nassau for H. J. 
Hayes for about four years and in 1885 bought out Mr. Hayes and has had a success- 
ful business. In politics he is a Republican and is now serving his second] term as 
supervisor. 

Van Wie, Charles H., Rev., was born in the town of Ira, Cayuga county, N. Y. 
October 22, 1851. He was educated in the public schools, Monroe Collegiate Insti- 
tute, Hamilton College, and was graduated from Auburn Theological Seminary 
with the degree of B. D. in 1877. Shortly after leaving the Seminary he received a 
call to Forest church at Lyons Falls, N. Y., where he was ordained to the Gospel 
ministry and installed by the Presbytery of Utica. After three years he resigned 
this pastorate and accepted a call to the churches at Williamstown and West Cam- 
den, N. Y., where he labored seven years. In December, 1889, he accepted an invi- 
tation to supply the Presbyterian church at Melrose, and was installed as pastor in 
May, 1890, taking charge also of the Presbyterian church at Tomhamock. Septem- 
ber 21, 1886, he married Fannie E. Becker of Mexico, Oswego county, N. Y. Mr. 
Van Wie's father, Henry, was born in the town of Guilderland, Albany county, 
November 17, 1797. He was well educated, an industrious and successful farmer. 
He was twice married, first to Lydia Conger. Seven children were born to them: 
Rosina E., Blendon M., Isadore, Mary C, Lionel E., Vrooman W., and Benedict G. 
Mrs. Van Wie died April 1, 1848. November 21, 1850, he married Mary D. Taylor, 
of Cato, Cayuga county. They had three children: Charles H., Jessie and Jennie. 
Henry Van Wie died April 2, 1876, and his widow, Mary D., October 12, 1895. The 
ancestry of the family was Dutch, English and Scotch. 

Macardle, George W. E., Rev., was born in Newburg, Orange county, N. Y., 
March 20, 1842. He was educated in Union College, Schenectady, and Shurtliff's 
College at Alton. 111., graduating as an engineer. July 4, 1861, he entered the vol- 
unteer army of the North as first lieutenant of the 48th N. Y. Vols. He was trans- 
ferred to the engineer corps, and became chief engineer. He was brevetted captain 



92 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

in 1864, and honorably discharged in 186G. In October, 1871, he was ordained as a 
Congregationalist in the ministry and located at Reynolds as pastor of the Dutch 
Reform Church in 1893. In 1868 he married Anna M. McKelsey of Lansingburg, 
N. Y. They had one son, David C, who died at the age of two years. Mr. Mac- 
ardle's father, George W., was born in Wethers field, Vt., in 1808. He was educated 
there and married Lenora J. Eddy of his native place ; they had six children : George 
W. E., Franklin G., William P., Eustice W., Lucy A., and Anna E. E. The family 
came to this State at an early day. Mr. Macardle died in 1872, and his wife in 1859. 
Mr. Macardle has many relics, among which was a pair of gloves that Colonel Ells- 
worth were when he tore down the rebel flag, at Alexandria, Va. He is an inventor 
of no mean merit. His ancestor? were in the early wars. He is a member of the 
A. O. U W. at Pecatonica, 111. The ancestry of the family ivas of New England 
stock and of Scotch origin. 

Halstead, De Witt C, was born in the town of Pittstown, November 19, 1824. He 
obtained his education in the public schools, taught twelve winters, and has always 
been one of the county's thrifty farmers. He married twice, first, on March 14, 1849, 
to Eliza McChesney of the town of Brunswick; they had one daughter, Eliza M., 
who married Arthur Cady of North Adams, Mass., and had one daughter, Marion, 
who is a student in North Adams Academy; Mrs. Cady died January 29, 1883. Mrs. 
Halstead died December 16, 1855, and for his second wife, on September 9, 1857, he 
married Harriet Stover of the town of Pittstown ; they have- had three children : 
Harriet J., Francis E., who died in infancy, and Francis De Witt. Harriet J. mar- 
ried Leonard Morrison now of Lansingburg, N. Y., of the firm of Morrison & West- 
fall Co., of Troy, agricultural implements and seed store. Mr. Halstead's father, 
Jonas, was born at the old home in Pittstown, April 24, 1783, and educated in the 
schools of that early day. He married Anna McCoon, who was born January 20, 
1784; they had nine children: Alexander G., Charlotte C, Lydia M., AnnaC, Joseph 
J., Charles M., Emily E., De Witt C, and Ambrose L. Mr. Halstead died July 16, 
1861, and his wife August 13, 1860. Mr. Halstead's grandfather, Joseph Halstead, 
was born in Dutchess county, N. Y. His great-grandfather, was Samuel Halstead. 
Mrs. Halstead's father, Jacob M. Stover, was born in Pittstown, November 9, 1784, 
and educated in the schools of his day; he was a farmer; November 14, 1805, 
he married Christine Wetsel of the town of Schaghticoke ; they had ten children: 
Martin J., Maria, George, Elizabeth. John, Harriet, who died in 1821; Jacob, Mar- 
garet A., Jane C, and Harriet A. Mr. Stover died September 5, 1849. and his wife 
August 28, 1858. Mrs. Halstead's grandfather, Martin Stover, was born in Dutchess 
county, N. Y. De Witt C. Halstead began life without capital, and through indus- 
try, integrity, and sobriety has secured a fine competency. He has been elder of 
the Presbyterian church for many years. The ancestry of the family was English. 
German, and Dutch. 

Dater, Jacob, was born in the town of Brunswick, Rensselaer county, October 12, 
1825. He was educated in the district schools and has always followed the honora- 
ble occupation of farming. December 26, 1852, he married Catharine E. Wetsel of 
Schaghticoke; thev had five children, four sons and one daughter: Clarence W., H. 
Newton, Alta, Irving C, and Charles L. Clarence W. was married to Julia Mc- 
Chesney and they have a son, Henry. H. Newton married Minnie M. Daniels of 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 93 

Schaghticoke, and they have one living daughter, Clara E. Alta married Rev. Will- 
iam F. Barnett, who is the pastor of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church at Mel- 
rose, N. Y. ; they have two children, Nelson D., and Dorothy. Irving C. married 
Catherine Schemerhorn of Troy; they have three children, I. Clinton. Ruth and 
Margaret. Charles L. is the farmer at home with his father, not married at this 
date. The eldest son is in the coal business, in Cambridge, Washington county, 
N. Y. Mrs. Dater died April 29, 1890, mourned by a bereaved husband and chil- 
dren. Mr. Dater's father was born at the old home in Brunswick, February 12, 1801. 
He married Catherine Snyder of his native town, born December 29, 1803; nine chil- 
dren were born to them; Lena Maria, Mary Christina, Harriet, Jacob, Elizabeth, 
John, Mary, Calvin and Henry. Lena M. died in her seventieth year. Elizabeth 
died at the age of twenty-six. John died in 1894. Mr. Dater's father, Henry, died 
December 31, 1883, and his wife March 27, 1854. Mr. Dater is a member of St. 
John's Evangelical Lutheran church at Melrose, N. Y. He has been one of the 
elders many years. Mr. Dater's great-grandfather was born in Claverack, N. Y. 
The ancestry of the family was German and W^elch. 

Denison, Henry E., was born in Stephentown in 1828. He is a son of George T. 
Denison, born in Stephentown in 1795, one of two children (George T. and Rebecca, 
wife of Dr. Emerson Hull of Berlin), born to Griswold Denison, who was a success- 
ful farmer, and acquired a large property; he died in 1826 from the effects of a 
wound received by burglars who entered his house at night, and were later impris- 
oned for life; he always lived in North Stephentown. George T. was a farmer in 
Stephentown, but moved to Berlin in 1838 where he owned a large tract of land and 
was very prominent ; he was colonel of a company of State militia in which he took 
great pride and interest ; he served as justice for many years and was member of 
assembly, and was loved and respected by all who knew him ; his wife was Nancy 
Niles, born in Berlin and daughter of Deacon Eliphalet Niles. Their children werg 
Parley N., Porter G., and Henry E. He died in 1874 and his wife in 1853. When 
fourteen years of age Henry E, began to clerk in a store, and when twenty-three 
purchased the stock of his employer and conducted the business for five years, when 
he retired to attend to other business. He now owns the homestead of five acres 
which belonged to his grandmother, Rhoda Tifft, the wife of Griswold Denison, 
who was a remarkable business woman. Mr. Denison has officiated as justice of the 
peace, inspector, and justice of sessions. He is a member of Troy Lodge No. 13, F. 
& A. M , and a member of the Berlin Che.ss Club, and has been a musician from 
boyhood. December 8, 1850, he married Hannah M. Godfrey, born in Berlin, 
daughter of Josiah and Sarah (Burnell) Godfrey; they have one son, Frederick P., 
a well known and successful musician of Albany. 

Rogers, William Franklin, the subject of this sketch, was born in Grafton, Rens- 
selaer county, April 29, 1829. His education was obtained in the district schools of 
Berlin, to which place the family moved in 1831, and have since resided there. At 
an early age he began to learn the jeweler's trade in hisfather's shop. He manifested 
a taient for music when quite young, and, having advantages soon developed into 
an excellent musician, the violin being his favorite instrument. He, as an orches- 
tra leader, has a wide reputation, Mr. Rogers was one of three gentlemen to or- 
ganize and incorporate the Berlin Water Supply Company, which has proven an 



94 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

enterprise of much importance. The water, which comes from a reservoir on the 
hillside, being used to run motors in shirt factories, and for general town supply. 
In 185G Mr. Rogers purchased the mill known as the "Bentley mill" which he con- 
ducted for ten years, when he purchased a woolen factory which he converted into 
a larger mill; this he conducted until 1876 when he purchased the Hammond mill 
and converted into a cider and grist mill; this he still owns and conducts. In 1855 
he was married to Louise Dimond, who was born in Stephentown, daughter of Cap- 
tain William and Malvinnia A. (Johnson) Dimond. To them were born two children: 
Wallace, who died young, and Van Vechton, whose ability as a musician is acknowl- 
edged in the leading musical circles of America. Mrs. Rogers' father was born in 
Grafton, December 11, 1790, and was a preacher, and jeweler; his mother was born 
in Petersburgh, Rensselaer county; their children were; Joseph, Carey, Amos, Dor- 
othy, Deborah, Samuel, Sullivan, Justin, William, Dorsey, and an infant who died 
without being named. Of these but three are living. Mr. Rogers' father was a Re- 
stricted Communion Baptist and for nine years was pastor of the Berhn Baptist 
church. He died July 27, 1860, aged sixty-nine, and his wife in 1843, aged forty- 
five. Rev. Carey Rogers, the grandfather of William, was born in the town of 
Hoosick. He was a farmer as well as preacher, and his father was one of three 
brothers who were pioneers in that town. 

Rogers, Edwin D. , was born in the town of Berlin, January 13, 1856. He is a son 
of Joseph Davis Rogers, who was born in the town of Grafton, September, 1810, and 
he a son of Rev. Joseph Rogers. Joseph D., the father of Edwin D., was a carpen- 
ter and painter, which trades he followed for many years; he was a first-class me- 
chanic, active and energetic, and in his later years he ran a grist mill; his wife was 
Minerva Godfrey, who was born in Berlin in 1822, daughter of Captain Robert and 
Hannah (Lewis) Godfrey. Their children are Mrs. Saturna Wrenn and Edwin D. 
He died in February, 1885, and his wife survives him and resides with her children. 
Her father. Captain Robert Godfrey, was born in Rhode Island, in October, 1779, 
and died in July, 1830; he came with his parents to Berlin in 1791, and reared three 
.sons and four daughters, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. Edwin D. Rogers 
received his education in the common schools of Berlin ; he followed carpentering with 
his father and worked at his father's mill until 1884, when he embarked in the meat bus- 
iness in Berlin. This business be carried on for nine years, when he sold out and en- 
gaged in the baking business which he now conducts. It is the first and only bakery, 
with the exception of one conducted here for two years, ever established in Berlin. He 
has been three times elected commissioner of the highways and is at present filling 
that office, and is a member of the Berlin Chess Club. In 1888 he married Miss 
Carrie A. Bonesteel of Troy, daughter of Frank and Eliza M. Bonesteel. Their 
children are Frank D., born September 27, 1884, and Fred B., born August 3, 1886. 

Greene, Edgar R., was born in Berlin in 1830, a son of Ray Greene, born in Berlin 
in 1802, son of Amos Greene, whose father. Squire John, was the pioneer settler in 
Berlin in 1772; he was justice for forty years, and also served his town as supervisor. 
The father of Edgar R. was a farmer by occupation, prominent and successful; he 
spent his whole life in the town of Berlin ; he was never an aspirant to public office, 
but always interested in the welfare of his townspeople; his wife was Lucy Maxon, 
born in Berlin and daughter of Jairus Maxon: their children were Meli-ssa, Eliza 



I 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 95 

Edgar R., William D , Halsey B., Eglon L., John T., Castello. Helen D., Nancy E., 
and Denio; he died when eighty eight years old, and his wife in 1892, aged eightj-- 
eight. Edgar R. was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. When 
'seventeen years of age he engaged in mercantile business in the village of Berlin as 
clerk, and with the exception of two years spent on the farm has followed the mer- 
cantile business since nineteen years of years. He engaged in business for himself 
with a partner, and in 1859 erected his present store. Mr. Greene is a thorough 
business man in every way and owes his success to his integrity and perseverance. 
He was one of the pioneers in the white shirt manufacturing business in Berlin, be- 
ginning about 1851, which he continued successfully until 1893. In 1850 he married 
Eliza O. daughter of Schuyler and Phoebe (Whitford) Greenman. To them were 
born Mrs. Ida A. Denison, Mrs. Hattie Cowee, Lucy, and Arthur, who is in busine.ss 
with his father. Mrs. Greene is a member of the Ladies' Aid Society. 

Greenman, George N., was born in Berlin, September 24, 1854, and is a son of 
George Nicholas, who was born in Stephentown in 1805; he was one of three sons, 
William, George M. and Schuyler, born to Silas, who was a farmer and native of 
Rhode Island. George N., father of the subject, was a farmer nearly all his life; 
he removed to Berlm in 1826, and in 1850, with his brother vSchuyler, engaged in the 
shirt manufacturing business, which he continued until his death in 1859; he was 
thrice married, his first wife being Elizabeth Saunders, by whom five children were 
born: James P., Mary L., Joel A., Thomas E. and one who died young; his second 
wife was Annis Saunders, a sister of his first wife; his third wife was Phoebe 
Saunders, a cousin of his former wives; to the latter marriage were born two chil- 
dren, Rosetta P. and George N. ; he was a member of the Seventh Day Baptist 
church, with which he was prominently identified. George N., jr., was educated in 
the common schools. He remained for a while on the farm with his mother, but 
began to care for himself at an early age by doing farm work, and for seven years 
was a clerk in a general store in Berlin. In 1890 he leased the grist mill and saw 
mill in Berlin which he has since conducted; he is also a dealer in grain and feed 
and manufactures a large amount of lumber, In politics Mr. Greenman is a Repub- 
lican. In 1877 he married Mary J., daughter of Philanda and Jennie (Bills) Man- 
chester, and they have one son, Oscar C. They are both members of the Seventh 
Day Baptist church. 

Hull, Alson J., was born in Berlin in 1856, and is the son of Schuyler Hull, born in 
Berlin in 1825, one of eight children, four sons and four daughters, born to Elisha 
Hull, a native of Rhode Island, born December, 1795. He was a son of Thomas 
Hull, a native of Rhode Island, who removed to and settled in Berlin in 1797. He 
was a blacksmith and farmer. Schuyler Hull was a carpenter and first-class me- 
chanic and made it a life business, erecting many bridges, etc. He was elected to 
and served in all the town offices, and was active and energetic in all affairs. His 
wife was Mary Burdick, born in Berlin and a daughter of Smith and Levina Burdick; 
their children were Alson J. and Dr. John B. , of Williamstown, Mass. He died in 
1890 and his wife survives him and resides in South Berlin. Alson J. attended the 
village school in Berlin and worked at carpentry with his father from 1875 to 1880. 
He engaged in the ice business in New York city, but returned to Berlin and engaged 
in farming on a rented farm, and in 1890 he purchased his present farm of 175 acres 



9G LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

on which he has erected a fine modern house and commodious barns and other 
buildings. He conducts a dairy and furnishes milk to many of the villagers, and is 
also interested in the breeding of high grade sheep and horses. He has served his^ 
town as collector, poormaster and school trustee ; in the spring of 1895 he was elected 
excise commissioner and made a strong contest for no license. In 1879 he married 
Lillie Allen, born in Vermont and reared in Berlin; she is the daughter of Alexander 
and Celia (Clark) Allen. Their children are Thurman, Schuyler, Perry, Eugene 
and Mildred. Mr. and Mrs. Hull are members of the Baptist church, of which he is 
a trustee. Mr. Hull's farm is known as the Sunny Bank Farm. He has proved 
himself a model and successful farmer. 

Whyland, Willis W., was born in Rochester, N. Y., in 1866. He is a very popular 
and enterprising young man, a son of Calvin Whyland, who was born in Poesten- 
kill, Rensselaer county, January 1, 1824. He was one of thirteen children, ten sons 
and three daughters, born to Leonard Whyland, of Holland descent, and grandson 
of the original Whyland who came to America, and was a farmer by occupation. 
Calvin, the father of Willis W., was reared on a farm and when young was engaged 
at different times in the nursery, grocery and laundry businesses, the latter of which 
he followed successfully for thirty years, beginning in Troy in 1809. He made his 
home for a number of years at Saratoga. In 1876 he went to New York city and 
engaged in the laundry business, where he remained for two years, then he removed 
to Berlin and erected the present laundry. Under his supervision the business 
steadily increased, and he increased the building proportionately until the present 
large structure was erected ; the business gives employment to about sixty people. 
He was a Mason and an energetic and enterprising man and had the good will of the 
community. His wife was Mary Rhodes, born in Sand Lake and daughter of Daniel 
(an agriculturalist in Orleans county, N. Y.) and Kmeline (King) Rhodes. Their 
children were Mrs. Emma Sharp of Michigan, Herbert, Mrs. Cora Greene of Berlin, 
and Willis W. Mr. Whyland died March 22, 1891, and his wife survives him and 
resides in the village of Berlin. Herbert is a traveling salesman and is a member of 
the Berlin Chess Club and of the Royal Arcanum Lodge. Willis W. , since his fathers 
demise, has carried on the laundry business very successfully, the work being mostly 
on new shirts. He is a member of the Berlin Chess Club. Mrs. Whyland, his 
mother, is one of five children, two sons and three daughters. Her father, Danie 
Rhodes was born in Berlin, April 4, 1805. He was one of seven children born to 
Walter, who was also a native of Berlin, born about 1775, and was probably the 
second or third generation from the first Rhodes who came from England to America 
in 1744. 

Grant, Richard Edward, was born in the county of Kilkenny, Ireland, May 22, 
1843. He is a son of James Grant, a native of Ireland, son of Walter of Scotland, 
who removed to Ireland, where he reared a family of three sons and one daughter. 
He was a general agent for English landlord.s. James, the father of Richard E., 
was a prosperous farmer and land owner, and also a general agent for English land- 
lords. He was recognized as a leader in his district and was one of the promoters 
of fairs where stock was exhibited. He gave his children a liberal education. His 
wife was Alice Ryan; their children were Mary, Ellen, Catherine, Anastatia, Mar- 
garget, Walter, Richard E., Alice, Hannah, Lawrence, Lizzie and Anna. They also 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 97 

adopted and reared an orphan boy. In 1859, when a lad of sixteen, Richard E. 
emigrated to America with his foster brother, unknown to his parents, coming direct 
to Troy, he being the only one of his family who came to America; he went to 
Poestenkill, where he did chores for his board the first winter. In 1859 he came to 
Berlin and engaged in farm work, where he has since resided, devoting most of his 
time to superintending farms. He is now superintendent of Mr. Wyckoff's farm in 
Berlin. In 1862 he answered his adopted country's call and enlisted in Co. E, 113th 
New York Infantry, and served until the close of the war, when he was honorably 
discharged. He participated in the battles of the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, North 
Anna River, Petersburg, Reams Station and Appomattox. At Reams Station he 
was wounded by a musket shot; the ball passed through his hip and he was disabled 
for several months. He is a member of Silas Tappan G. A. R. Post of Berlin, 
which he organized and was its first commander, which office he filled for five years. 
He is a member of Little Hoosick Lodge I. O. O. F. of Berlin, of which he is now 
vice-grand master, having passed through all chairs to that office ; is also a member 
of the Protective Order of Elks of Hoosick Falls, the Berlin Chess Club, and the 
Encampment I. O. O. F. of Hoosick Falls. He has served three years each as tax 
collector, commissioner of highways and excise commissioner. In November, 1865, 
he married Hannah M. Ervin, born in Berlin and daughter of Patrick and Margaret 
(Nelson) Ervin; their children are Mary, wife of John T. Kelley, of Millford, Mass., 
assistant chief of the fire department; Margaret A. of Troy, Lizzie A., Hannah M., 
and Walter E. Mr. Grant served as deputy sheriff" under Sheriff Tappan. 

Jones, Halbert H., was born in Stephentown, August 17, 1835. He is a son of 
William Jones, a native of the .same place, born August 26, 1789. William was the 
third of eight children born to Major James Jones, a native of Connecticut, a soldier 
in the Revolutionary war. who came to Stephentown about 1772 and devoted his life 
to farming; his wife was Catherine Denison and they lived to good old age. Will- 
iam, the father of Halbert H., was a prosperous farmer and prominent and actively 
interested in the political welfare of his town and county. His wife was Phoebe 
Green, born in Stephentown and daughter of Lanctford Green ; their children were 
Oscar, Laura, Catherine, Phoebe, William L., Griswold D., Abigail and H. H. He 
died in May, 1861. Halbert H. received his education in the common schools and 
Fort Edward Institute. He began farming for himself when about twenty-three 
years of age, was interested in a woolen mill in Massachusetts for a short time, and 
for many years had dealt in agricultural implements and phosphate. In 1875 he re- 
moved to South Berlin, where he has since resided on his farm. He served two 
years as justice in Stephentown, and is now serving his third term in Berlin in the 
same office. He is a member of Little Hoosick Lodge No. 578, I. O. O. F., in Ber- 
lin. In 1858 he married Mary A. Kerlin, daughter of Patrick Kerlin ; they had one 
child, Allison. Mrs. Jones died in April, 1861. His second wife was Mary J. 
Jerome of Berlin, daughter of Hilton R. and Mary A. (Colver) Jerome, whom he 
married in November, 1862; their children are Arthur M. and Mary A. Mrs Jones 
died in 1890, and his daughter, Mary A., is now keeping house for him. 

Mattison, Edwin D., was born in Berlin, November 28, 1855. He is the son of 
Job Mattison, whose sketch follows this. Mr. Mattison remained with his father 
until after he attained his majority; when twenty-six years of age he rented a farm 



98 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

and engaged in agricultural pursuits; four years later he purchased his present farm 
of 240 acres, on which he does general farming. Mr. Mattison has been successful 
in everything he has undertaken. He is a member of Little Hoosick Ledge, LO.O.F., 
and of the Berlin Chess Club. In 188:5 he was married to Miss Alma E. Shaw, who 
was born in Berlin on the farm now owned by Edwin D. She is the daughter of 
Rinaldo and Loretta R. Shaw. Mr. and Mrs. Mattison are both members of the 
Christian church at South Berlin, of which Mrs. Mattison has been organist since 
she was fourteen N'ears of age. 

Mattison, Job ()., was born in the town of Berlin in 1821. Allen Mattison, his grand- 
father, was a native of Rhode Island and was a soldier in the Revolutionary army. 
He emigrated to Berlin about 1788, where he settled in the forest, made a home for 
himself and family and there spent his remaining days. His children were David, 
Job, Ebenezer and Allen David. His father was born in Rhode Island in 1781, came 
to Berlin with his father in 1788. He was a farmer and blacksmith, having his shop 
on his farm ; he was moderately successful. His wife was Anna Fuller, daughter of 
Daniel Fuller of Berlin. Their children were Stephen, David C, Emeline, Louisa 
and Job O. They were both members of the Baptist church. He died in 1854, and 
his wife survived him about ten years. David O. is the only surviving son ; he is a 
wealth}^ farmer in South Berlin and owns a portion of the original homestead ; he has 
two children, Martha and Amanda, the latter the wife of Albert O. Mattison. Job O. 
was a shoemaker by trade, which he followed during his early life. He later en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits of which he made a success. He was a member of 
the order of Odd Fellows. His wife was Hannah Nichols, who was born in Ber- 
lin, a daughter of George Nichols. Their children are Edwin D., Albert O., and 
Eunice A. They were both members of the Christian church. He died in June, 
1895, and his wife died in 1874. 

Mattison, Albert O., was born in Berlin in 1861. He is a son of Job Matti.son. 
He was reared on a farm and received a common school education and remained 
with his father until the latter's death. Since 1890 he has had the supervision of the 
farm of 700 acres belonging to his father-in-law and aunt. He is interested in dai- 
rying, milking from thirty to forty cows. He is also a surveyor and does consider- 
able work in that line. Mr. Mattison has officiated in his time as collector and com- 
missioner of highways and is now filling his second term in the latter capacity. He 
is a member of Little Hoosick Lodge, I. O. O. F. In 1889 he married Miss Amanda 
Mattison, daughter of David O. and Helen M. (Rose) Mattison. They have two chil- 
dren: Allen, born in 1893, and Harold, born in 1895. 

Lewis, William IL, was born in Erie county. Pa., in 1841, and is the son of Zuriel 
Lewis, jr., born in Poultney, Vt.. who was one of eight children born to Zuriel, sr. 
When a young man he went to Wills Pond, Vt. , where he engaged at his trade of 
millwright; in 1853 while in Virginia he was taken sick and died. His wife was 
Rebecca Austin of Granville, N. Y. His children were Jonathan A., Henry H., 
William H., Frank G., who was killed in the late war, Armina, Mary Ann, Adaline, 
Eliza and RoUin C. His wife survived him many years and died in Berlin in 1885. 
William H. when twelve years of age went to live with an uncle, and when eighteen 
began an apprenticeship as a tinner, which trade he followed for three years. When 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 99 

the late war broke out he enlisted and served three months and after his return worked 
at his trade for a time, then spent about one year on a farm, thence to St. Thomas, 
Canada, where he engaged in lumbering and farming with his brother in-law. He 
then removed to Sioux City, Iowa, remained a short time and returned to Erie, Pa., 
his native place. In 1867 he came to Berlin and purchased his present business 
which he has conducted successfully. He later added to his tinware a hardware 
business. He has served as town clerk and also in other offices. In 1866 he mar- 
ried Theodocia Adams, born in Michigan and daughter of I. B. Adams; their chil- 
dren are Mrs. Ida R. Green of Berlin ; R. Frank, who is in business with his father; 
William E. and Charles H. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are both members of the M. E. 
church, of which he is trustee and steward. 

Niles, George D., is a son of John B. Niles, who was born in Berlin in 1797, one 
of eight children born to Eliphalet, born in Berlin and a prominent man, served as 
deacon of his church and supervisor of his town. He was the son of Nathaniel Niles 
of Connecticut who was a pioneer in Berlin. John B. was a prosperous farmer and 
spent his whole life jn the town of Berlin ; he was captain of a company of State 
militia, receiving his appointment from Gov. De Witt Clinton. He served his town 
as assessor and supervisor in 1849, and was a merchant for two years in the village 
of Berlin. His wife was Rosanna (born in 1800), daughter of Henry Brimmer, son 
of Godfrey. Their children were Alanson B., Martin B., Henry E., and George D. 
He lived to be eighty-four, and his wife fiftj'-.seven years. They were both mem- 
bers of the Baptist church. George D. , born in 1836, received his education in the com- 
mon schools, and from the age of nineteen was for two years in the canal collector's 
office in West Troy, N. Y. ; the following year he taught school, and in 1857 he engaged 
in a union store in Berlin ; he then spent one year on the farm, when he again returned 
to the store in Berlin, in connection with which he manufactured white shirts by con- 
tract. From 1861 to 1871 he was on his father's farm, when he bought his present 
store where he has since remained. He has held the offices of collector, assessor, 
justice and supervisor in 1891 and 1893, and has been prominently identified with 
the school board for the past twelve years, having been treasurer of the board six 
years and three years chairman. When very young Mr. Niles manifested great 
ability as a musician, and when fifteen years of age became leader of the Berlin 
band, which he led for thirty years and is still a member. In 1856 he married 
Emeline Maxon, born in Petersburgh and daughter of Gideon P. Maxon. Their 
children are Mrs. Florence Denison of Petersburgh, Fannie, who died when twenty, 
and Arthur. His wife died in 1885. She was a member of the Baptist church and 
president of the Ladies' Aid Society. His second wife is Carrie Sireing of Berlin, a 
daughter of George Sireing. Mr. Niles is trustee and for six years was Sunday school 
superintendent of the Baptist church. 

Stillman, Harry N., was born in Berlin in 1850. He is a son of William N., born 
in Berlin in 1832, who was one of seven children born to Paul, a native of Rhode 
Island. He was a carpenter by trade and came to Berlin about 1816. William N., 
the father of Harry N., was a farmer, filled several town offices and was very 
prominent in politics, and a member of the Masonic fraternity. His wife was 
Sarepta Main, daughter of Isaac and Sally (Buddington) Main, who were natives of 
Rhode Island; Mr. Main was a blacksmith by trade, and was a soldier in the war of 



loo Landmarks of rensselaer county. 

1812; he died when sixty-five years of age, and his wife in June, 1896, at ninety-five. 
To Mr. and Mrs. William N. Stillman were born six children: Harry N., Eben W., 
Luann, Frank, George and Charles. Mr. Stillman died in 1893, and his wife sur- 
vives him and resides in Berlin. Harry N. received a common school education. 
His first enterprise was that of a confectioner, and he later engaged in the shirt 
business which he followed until 1888, and then removed to Middletown, N.Y., where 
he was engaged for two years as superintendent in the shirt factory of E. Miller & 
Co. He returned to Berlin in 1890 and started the branch Manhattan Shirt Mills for 
Levi Wechsler & Co. ; beginning with one stitcher and foot power, in one year he 
occupied a factory previously occupied by one of his competitors and increased his 
business one-half. Under Mr. Stillman's excellent management this business has 
steadily increased until he now employs seventy stitchers, in all furnishing employ- 
ment to about 125 people and running in full time the year round, and manufactures 
strictly first-class articles. Mr. Stillman is a member of Little Hoosick Lodge, I. O. 
O. F., in Berlin. In 1876 he married EvaM., daughter of John A. and Rebecca 
(Sheldon) Rasico of Berlin. Their children are Louise, who died when three years 
of age, Marks and Arthur. Mrs. Stillman is a member of the W. C. T. U. 

Satterlee, Russell Hawley, was born in Berlin, July 31, 1836. He is the son of 
Hawley Satterlee, who was born in Berlin in 1803, one of seven children born to 
William, who was a native of Hopkinton, R. I., born September, 1766, and he was 
the oldest of nme children born to William and Eunice (Clark) Satterlee; William, 
jr. was the grandson of Nicholas, the first of the family to emigrate to America 
from England at a very early date. William, the grandfather of Russell Hawley, 
was in early life a farmer. He came to Berlin with his father in 1780, became a 
farmer and was prominent in political affairs; he was elected to a number of the 
town offices and served on the Board of Supervisors ; he was active in church mat- 
ters and later became a Sabbatarian minister and preached until he was eighty-five 
years of age ; he lived to be ninety-six. He became a power in the church. When 
he was ordained his church numbered 125 members; during the first four years of 
his ministry the membership of his church had increased to 425. He was one of the 
principal founders of the Alfred Seven Day Baptist church at Alfred, N. Y., making 
the journey there and back on horseback. His wife was Mehitable Moon ; she lived 
to be eighty-seven. Hawley, the father of Russell Hawley, was a farmer in early 
life ; when about thirty-five he was taken with asthma, which compelled him to re- 
main quiet and what little work he was able to do from that time on was shoe- 
making. His wife was Esther Randall of Petersburgh, daughter of Benjamin and 
Sally (Babcock) Randall. Their children were William F., Sarah U., Waity E., 
David G. and Russell H. They were both members of the Seven Day Baptist 
church. Mrs, Satterlee was a sister to Capt. Henry Randall, who was the first man 
to raise the second deck on lake or ocean boats. Russell was educated in the com- 
mon schools, remained at home and took charge of the farm work until he was 
twenty-one, when he began for himself as farmer in 1877 ; in addition to his farming 
he engaged in manufacturing cheese. He later spent four years manufacturing but- 
ter, but finally returned to the cheese business. Mr. Satterlee has a wide reputation, 
his goods always .selling at the highest market price. He is also a dealer in hay and 
and harvesting machinery. He has served on the Board of Supervisors and filled 



FAMILY SKETCHES. lOi 

many other minor offices. In 1863 he was married to Nancy M. Peckham, who was 
born in Petersburgh, and daughter of Johnson Peckham. They are both members 
of the Seven Day Baptist church. 

Packard, Chauncey D., was born in Troy, N. Y., January 4, 1822. His father, 
Davis Packard, came from Brockton, Mass., about 1812, and started in the shoe 
business on Congress street, Troy ; his father, Timothy, also was engaged in the 
same line many years before, in fact, the Packard family have been in the shoe 
business for seventy-five years. Davis Packard died in 1876; his wife, Hannah 
Sherman, was born in Troy and died in 1859. Chauncey D. was educated in the 
public and private schools and went into the shoe store with his father when nine 
years old. At the age of twenty- one (in 1843) he went into business for himself and 
has continued up to the present time. About 1852 he formed a partnership with his 
father under the firm name of Davis Packard & Son. Later his brother Warren 
took his father's interest and the firm became C. D. Packard & Co., which continued 
until the death of Warren in 1868. Mr. Packard then took his son into the concern 
and the name of the firm became C. D. Packard & Son. He joined Trojan Lodge 
No. 27, L O. O. F., in 1848, also the Troy Citizens Corps the same year. He is the 
oldest shoe dealer in Troy. He married, January 31, 1843, Harriet E. Palmer of 
Nassau, N. Y. ; she died in 1879. He has three sons: Eugene C. of Boston; Augus- 
tus, in business with his father; and Angelo in the employ of C. D. Packard & Son. 

Melius, Harry E., born in (ireenbush, N. Y., November 6, 1865, is a son of Reuben 
and Harriet E. (Crane) Melius, his mother born in Middlebury, Vt., and his father 
in Columbia county, N. Y. Reuben J. came to Rensselaer county when a boy four 
years old with his parents, Harry C. and Martha (Decker) Melius, both of whom died 
in East Greenbush. The grandfather of Reuben was Conradt Melius, a native of 
Columbia county, who there lived and died. The father of Martha Decker was 
Samuel, who lived and died in Columbia county; both he and Conradt Melius were 
in the same company in the war of 1812. The father of Harry E. was a farmer for 
a number of years, and in 1864 came to Bath; previous to this he was in mercantile 
business, also boating on the barge Geraldine, he having built that boat. He started 
first a coal yard in Bath in 1864 and continued in it for two years, since which time 
he has been engaged in contracting and building. He is a Democrat and has been 
overseer of the poor for three years. The family attend the M. E. church. Harry 
E. was educated in Bath and first worked for F. M. Tousley in the grocery business, 
he then started a general store on his own account, which he carried on for eight 
years; at present he is in the coal business. He is a member of Greenbush Lodge 
No. 337, F. & A. M., and Greenbush Chapter No. 274, R. A. M. ; he is also a mem- 
ber of the C. A. Bailey Hook and Ladder Co No. 1, Bath on the Hudson. 

Allen, Frederick P., was born in Keeseville, Essex county, N. Y. , January 13, 1832. 
His father, Anson H. Allen, was an old resident of that section and was for many 
years editor of the Keeseville Herald. He died at the age of fifty-two. His mother, 
Mary (Morehouse) Allen, died in her eighty seventh year. Frederick received his 
education at Keeseville Academy and studied law in the office of George A. Simmons 
in that village. In 1849 he accepted a position as clerk in the Canal Collector's office 
at West Troy. In December, 1851, he entered the Commercial Bank of Troy as as 



102 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

sistant bookkeeper. Two years later he entered the old Bank of Troy as teller, 
where he remained ten years, and when the First National Bank was organized he 
took the position of teller. In August, 1858, he became interested in the firm of 
Buckley, Allen &Co., which carried on a crockery and glass business at 235 River 
street where he is still doing business as one of the firm of of Starkweather & Allen. 
He was elected several terms as school commissioner and was for seven years super- 
visor, from 1878 to 1885, representing the Third ward of Troy, several terms of 
which he was unanimously elected by both parties. He was for many years presi- 
dent and treasurer of the Young Men's Association, of the Young Men's Christian 
Association, first as secretary and president, and is now one of the directors of the 
Railroad Christian Association and secretary and treasurer of the Oakwood Ceme- 
tery Association ; he is a member of the Second Presbyterian church on Fifth avenue, 
and for over thirty years a ruling elder in that church. He was married to Char- 
lotte A. Baker of Racine, Wis., October 14, 1858, by whom he had one son, Frank 
L., who died in 1889 when thirty years of age. He is a member of Mount Zion 
Lodge, F. & A. M., of Troy. 

Ackert, Dr. William S.,was born m Dutchess county, N. Y., December 18, 1865. 
He is the son of Virgil A. and Louisa A. (Frost) Ackert, both natives of Dutchess 
county, where Mrs. Ackert died in 1868 and where V. A. Ackert now lives. He was 
a farmer by occupation. The grandfather of Mr. Ackert was William H. Ackert; 
he was born in Dutchess county and died May 1, 1896, in the eighty seventh year of 
his age. His wife (Maria Pultz) is now living in Dutchess county, aged eighty two. 
The maternal grandparents of Dr. Ackert were Samuel S. and Barbara E. (Traver) 
Frost, natives of Dutchess county ; the former died there in 1885, aged seventy-five 
years; the latter still resides on the old homestead. Dr. W. S. Ackert was educated 
in the common schools and the De Garmo Institute of Rhinebeck, N. Y. He is a 
graduate of the Albany Medical College, having graduated in 1891. He practiced 
in the Albany City Hospital for about one and a half years. In December, 1892, he 
located at No. 382 Broadway, East Albany, where he has since continued in practice 
of his profession very successfully- Dr. Ackert was married November 30, 1892, to 
Margaret Parker of Schenectady; she was a nurse in the Albany Hospital. They 
had one child wliich died in infancy. 

Allen, Charles Sanford, M. D., was born in Greenport, Columbia county, N. Y. , 
June 8, 1824. He is the son of Peter and Hannah (Coval) Allen. Peter Allen was a 
successful farmer, and he and his wife died in Columbia county. Dr. Allen was 
educated in the common schools, and at the age of twenty-two studied medicine at 
the Concord Columbia College under Dr. Coffin and also with Dr. Elbridge Simpson 
of Hudson, N. Y. He graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at 
Woodstock, a branch of the Crosby Street Institute of New York, June 9, 1849. He 
came to East Greenbush in 1849 where he remained for one year. In 1851 he came 
to Greenbush where he has been very successful. He is a member of the New York 
Medical Society, a member of the New York Medical Association and was one of the 
founders and an original charter member of both. He is a member of the Rensselaer 
County Medical Society, and a non-resident member of a like society in Albany, 
and an ex-member of the American Medical Association. He was elected coroner of 
the county in 1859 for three years and served a second term, and in 1862 he was com- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 103 

missioned by Governor Morgan an assistant surgeon of the 125th Regt. of N. Y. 
Vols., commanded by Colonel Willard of Troy; he withdrew from the position on 
account of ill-health. On September 14, 1857, he was commissioned by Gov. Reuben 
E. Fenton, surgeon of the 72d Regt. Infantry of National Guards of the State of 
New York. He was largely instrumental in the liquidation of the village debt, in 
the securing and erection of the engine house and in the purchase of two handsome 
fire engines. November 26, 1851, he married Sarah, daughter of Edwin Willis of 
Greenbush but formerly of London, England. To them were born three daughters 
and three sons; two of the sons are dead, the other, Dr. W. L. Allen, is now living. 
Mr. Allen was trustee of school No. 1, for eighteen years. He has been superin- 
tendent of the Sunday school for two years, and still connected with the Sabbath 
school as teacher. He was elected president of the village in 1895, which position he 
is still holding. He is a commissioner in lunacy, appointed by the State, and is a 
staunch Republican and a member of the G. A. R., and was appointed health officer 
of the village by the Board of Health. Dr. W. L. Allen was born November 7, 1860, 
in Greenbush. He was educated in the Albany Boys' Academy and graduated in 
1881 from the Albany Medical College; he also spent one year abroad under Jona- 
than Hutchinson and Dr. Sutton in England in the London Hospital and Dr. 
Allchin of Westminster. He practiced one year in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1883 he was 
married to Abbie J. Dewey by whom he has had two children : Charles S. and 
William D., eleven and seven years of age. He is an ex-member of the American 
Medical Association, and is a strong temperance man respected by all who knew 
him. 

Baker, William V., was born in Troy, N. Y., June 16, 1836. His father, Lorenzo 
D. Baker, was born in the town of Schaghticoke, N. Y., in 1806, and came to Troy 
in 1824 and was for many years engaged in the forwarding, lumber and crockery 
business. He was a trustee of the Second Presbyterian church for many j-ears and 
was also a prominent member of the Young Men's Association ; he died in 1869. 
His mother, Charlotte A. (Van Buskirk) Baker, was of Dutch descent ; some of her 
ancestors were in the Revolutionary war, and she died in 1844. William V. received 
his education at the Troy Academy and at the Graylock Institute, Williamstown, 
Mass. He then removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained for two years, went 
thence to Racine, Wis., and took a position in the Racine County Bank and was 
afterwards engaged in the commission business. He removed to Madison, Wis., 
and took a position in the State Treasurer's office and later returned to Racine, and 
was made secretary and treasurer of what is now the Western Division of the St. 
Paul Railroad. For a number of years he held this position, and in 1869 came to 
Troy, and engaged in the crockery business, forming the firm of W. V. Bakers Co., 
afterwards Starkweather, Allen & Baker, and in 1880 retired from the business and 
was appointed general agent of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. for 
Eastern New York, which position he still holds. He has been greatly interested 
in Sunday school work and was superintendent of the Memorial and Second Pres- 
byterian churches Sunday schools, and is now one of the elders of the Second Pres- 
byterian church. He is a member of Apollo Commandery of Troy. He was mar- 
ried June 8, 1859, to Sarah F. Terry of Chicago, 111. His children are John T. , 
Louis H., Charles V., Charlotte A., and Anna T, 



104 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Betts, Clarence E., was born in Brunswick, N. Y., September 13, 1846. His grand- 
father came to Brunswick in 1789 and died in 1860. His father, Joseph B. Betts, 
resides in a hoi:se in the vicinity of that which his grandfather went to live in when he 
came to Troy in 1789. His mother, Sarah E. Betts, is a daughter of Henry A. Clum. 
who has been county clerk for several terms. Clarence E. received his education at 
the ward and high schools. He was clerk of the Surrogate's Court from 1884 to 1890, 
clerk for the Board of Supervisors 1894 and 1895, afterwards again clerk of Surro- 
gate's Court, which position he occupies at present. He belongs to Apollo Lodge, 
Chapter, and Commandery, and also is a member of the Nobles of the Mystic 
Shrine. He married Emily S. Van Arnum of Brunswick, N. Y., by whom he has 
one son. 

Clapp & Hines, is composed of Alexander H. Clapp and Arthur W. Hines. Mr. 
Clapp is a native of Kinderhook, Columbia county, born February 20, 1858. He is a 
son of Alexander Clapp, who was born in Stuyvesant, Columbia county. His wife 
was Leah Van Housen, born in Greene county, N. Y. The grandfather of Mr. 
Clapp was Alexander Clapp of Massachusetts. Mr. Clapp was educated in the com- 
mon schools and came to Troy in 1878 and was special officer for the Burden Iron 
Company for eleven years. In 1892 he came to Greenbush and went in partnership 
with A. W. Hines in the grocery and meat business. In 1889 Mr. Clapp married 
Margaret Hines, daughter of Andrew Hines, who was born in Ireland and came to 
Greenbush at an early day, where he lived and died. His wife was Eliza Macleese. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Clapp was born one son: Alexander. Mr. Hines was born in 
Greenbush, August 18, 1863, and was educated in the common schools. He was 
engineer in Burden's Iron Works of Troy for two years, and was fireman for the B. 
& A. railroad for six years previous. In 1892 he joined Mr. Clapp in the grocery and 
meat business. He is now inspector of election in the Seventh district. He is a 
member of Greenbush Lodge No. 337, F. & A. M., of Greenbush Chapter No. 274, 
R. A. M., De Witt Clinton Council No. 22, R. & S. M., the Templar Commandery 
No. 3, K. T., and is also a member of the B. L. F. No. 215, of Greenbush. 

Bowling, Thomas P., was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1854. He is the son of Edward 
Dowling who was born in Ireland and was a moulder by trade. He was killed in 
the battle of Gettysburg, July 4, 1863. His mother, Ann (Cassidy) Dowling, died 
in 1869. Thomas received his education in the public schools of Troy and went into 
the news business; afterwards learned the monumental trade. In 1876 he entered 
the employ of E. F. Rogers in the laundry business and in 1879 was taken as a part- 
ner, the firm name being Rogers & Dowling. In 1889 he bought Mr. Rogers's inter- 
est in the custom laundry and has carried on the business. He was appointed civil 
service commissioner for five years, also trustee of the Trojan H. & L. Co. Decem- 
ber 29, 1885, he married Mary Keenan, daughter of James Keenan the contractor. 

Donnelly, Annie. — Peter Donnelly was born in County Roscommon, Ireland. He 
came to Greenbush with a brother. After a time his father, who now lies in St. 
John's Cemetery of Albany, also came to Greenbush. His mother died in Ireland. 
Mr. Donnelly was for several years in the grocery business in Greenbush, but finally 
engaged m the drug business and remained in that trade for about thirty years. He 
was married in 1874 to Annie Shields of Ireland. He was elected trustee of the vil- 
lage for several years and was also tax receiver. He died January 38, 1894. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 105 

Draper, Frederick E..was born in Rochdale, Worcester county, Mass., October 12, 
1843, and came to this State with his parents when he was three years of age ; he 
was educated in the public schools of Troy; he was clerk for Levi Willard for four 
years; in October, 1861, he enlisted in the Eleventh Independent Battery^ Light 
Artillery, New York Volunteers, and was honorably discharged at the close of the 
war. September 8, 1869, he entered into partnership with Philip Fitzpatrick, under 
firm name of Fitzpatrick & Draper, in the manufacture of cigars, and wholesale 
dealers in leaf and manufactured tobacco, which has continued successfully until this 
date, 1896. Mr. Draper is a director in the Mutual National Bank of Troy, and is 
also director of the Troy Gas Co., of the Wilbur Shirt and Collar Co. of Troy, and 
of the Boutwell Milling and Grain Co. of Troy; he is a member of Apollo Lodge No. 
13, F. & A. M., and also of the Apollo Chapter No. 48, R. A. M. December 26, 1871, 
he was married to Ann J. Woodcock, of Boston, Mass., formerly of Troy, by whom 
three children have been born: Frederick E., jr., Philip H. and Louis Le Grand. 
Mr. Draper is a member of Griswold Post of Troy No. 338, G. A. R. The ance.stry 
of the family is English and Dutch. 

Dodds, Archibald, was born in the North of Ireland, and is a son of Robert and 
Sarah (Porte) Dodds; Robert was a native of Scotland and his wife a native of Eng- 
land. The father of Robert emigrated from Scotland to the North of Ireland, where 
he spent his life in the linen business. Archibald came to America in 1857, and in 
1861 he married Nancy, daughter of Joseph Davenport of Lansingbnrgh. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Dodds have been born six children: Sarah, Joseph, who died in infancy; 
Thomas IS a farmer; Mary is a milliner in Troy; Nellie, wife of Henry White, of 
North Greenbush; and Bessie M. Mr. Dodds commenced farming in Brunswick 
and in 1872 bought the Barringer farm, where he has since carried on a successful 
business in general farming. For a good many years he made a specialty of milk. 
Mr. Dodds has made many improvements on the farm. He has been and is at pres- 
ent assessor, and is not an office seeker. They attend and support the Lutheran 
church, of North Greenbush. 

Glenn Bros. — This firm is composed of Robert and James D., sons of Robert and 
Catherine (Daly) sr., both of Albany, N. Y., and except three years spent in New 
York and a short time in Low Point, N. Y. , they have lived in Albany and Green- 
bush. Robert Glenn spent his life in the restaurant and oyster business, and for 
four years, in connection kept the Boston House hotel. He retired in 1892 and his 
sons purchased and took charge of the business, located at 355 Broadway, Green- 
bush. Robert was born August 15, 1867, and James, October 21, 1868. They were 
both educated in the district school, finishing in the Folsom Business College. 

Hoyt, Thomas S., was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1860. His father, Stephen F. Hoyt, 
was born in New York city, and came to Troy in 1851 and since then and up to the 
time of his death which occurred December 23,|1895, he was manager of the Northern 
News Company. He was foreman of the Neptune Hose Co. His mother, Linda F. 
(Newman) Hoyt, was born in New York city ; she at present resides at Round Lake. 
Thomas S. received his education in the public schools of Troy and entered the 
Northern News Co.'s store and at his father's death succeeded him as manager of 
the same. He belongs to King Solomon Lodge, F. &- A. M., Apollo Chapter, Bloss 



106 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Council, Apollo Commandery and the Oriental Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is 
also a corporal in Senior Co. Troy Citizens Corps. He belongs to the Pafraetsdael, 
Riverside, and Laureate Boat Clubs. He married Carrie S. Pike, of Bennington, 
Vt. , July 7, 1886, a daughter of Dr. S. B. Pike, a prominent dentist of Bennington. 

Halla, Julius F., was born in Germany in 1855 and came to the United States and 
settled in Cohoes in 1871, where he was employed in a factory until 1877, when he 
entered the concern of C. F. Lucas, confectioner and caterer, and remained with 
him until his death, which occurred in 1887, and then Mr. Halla and George S., the 
son of the late Mr. Lucas, carried on the business until 1895, when Mr. Halla pur- 
chased the business and he is now sole proprietor. He gives his whole attention to 
catering. The concern was established by Mr. Lucas in 1863 and since that time 
has established a reputation second to none in that line of business. He has fur- 
nished all the entertainments for the Executive Mansion in Albany for many years, 
also the banquet for President Cleveland's farewell reception given at Albany upon 
his first election to the presidency in 1884. He also had charge of the dinner at the 
Centennial Celebration at Williamstown where 1,000 people were seated at one time ; 
also the majority of wedding entertainments for Albany, Troy and the surrounding 
country. They have catered for the commencement at Williamstown for twenty- 
five years. He married in 1885, Emma Lucas, daughter of C. F. Lucas. They have 
one son and a daughter. 

Knowlson, Alexander M., was born in Sand Lake, Rensselaer county, in 1842. His 
father, Richard J. Knowlson, came from England in 1804, and settled in Albany, 
N. Y., and engaged in the dry goods business, afterwards moved to Sand Lake and 
went into the manufacture of glass. In 1824 he went into the lumber business at 
Sand Lake and erected the first steam saw mill in Rensselaer county. He died in 
1857. A. M. Knowlson attended educational institutions in Sand Lake and Stam- 
ford, Conn., and came to Troy in 1858. He went into the employ of W. E. Hagan, 
and on February 16, 1864, purchased Mr. Hagan' s interest and has carried on the 
business himself since. Finding that his business required more room, he built the 
store on Broadway and on January 16, 1871, moved into it. Mr. Knowlson has one 
of the most complete drug stores in the country, and his motto has always been ac- 
curacy, promptness, and cleanliness. He carries the largest stock of photographic 
materials in Northern New York both for amateurs and professionals. He is a 
member of Mt. Zion Lodge No. 311, F. & A. M. He married Mary R. Peters of New 
York, February 20, 1868. 

Krauss, George, was born in Germany, June 20, 1868. He is a son of George and 
Mary (Emery) Krauss, both born in Germany, where he died in 1883; the mother is 
still living there. Mr. Krauss was educated in Germany and came to America in 
1888. He had learned the trade of shoemaker and after working in Greenbush at 
his business for three years, m 1890 he started a shoe store in East Albany where 
he has been very .successful. January 17, 1893, Mr. Krauss married Katie Kurtz 
of Albany, by whom one child has been born: George. Mrs. Krauss died Febru- 
ary 6, 1896. 

Lape, John F., was born in Troy, February 2, 1851. He is the son of William and 
Martha Matilda (Clickner) Lape; William was a son of one Mr. Lape, a son of A. M. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 107 

Lape who settled in East Greenbush and there died. The family came from Holland 
about 1660. The Clickners were of Scotch descent and came to the United States 
about 1650; for a time they lived in Connecticut, then removed to Dutchess county, 
N. Y., where the family settled, but finally came to Rensselaer county, N.Y. William 
Lape, the father of John, is a carpenter and has built some of the largest buildings 
in this section. He now resides at 15 Riverside avenue. John F. Lape was reared in 
Troy until about fifteen years of age and was there educated. In 1866 he came to 
Albany and engaged with Rathbone & Co., manufacturers of stoves. He removed 
to Brooklyn in 1871 and returned to Albany where he began to study architecture, 
which pursuit he has followed since 1884. He was also a correspondent for the Troy 
Times. He is the original projector of the scheme to deepen the Hudson River 
from Troy to Coxsackie in 188t); and through the efforts of Congressman Tracy and 
Hon. John A. Quackenbush, Congress appropriated §2,470,000 and the work is now 
progressing. In 1876 Mr. Lape came to Greenbush and in 1886 purchased a tract of 
the Van Rensselaer garden, on which he has built sixteen houses. He was married to 
Miss Mary E. Smith, daughter of Philip H and Mary A. (Miller) Smith, in 1893, by whom 
he has had one daughter, Ruth M. Mr. Smith now lives at Pine Plains, Dutchess 
county. Mrs. Smith died in 1895; she was the daughter of Martin Miller, of Sand 
Lake, and the granddaughter of one of the early settlers of Sand Lake. 

Lape, John E., was born in North Greenbush in 1862. He is the son of Christo- 
pher and Hannah (Hidley) Lape, both natives of North Greenbush; he was born in 
1830. The grandparents were Andrew and Catherine (Carnes) Lape, he of Sand 
Lake, and she of Greenbush. William Lape, the great-grandfather of John Lape, 
lived and died in Sand Lake; Christopher Carnes, the maternal great-grandfather, 
was a pioneer of Greenbush. John E. Lape was educated at Hartwick Seminary, 
Oswego county ; he was married to Wilhelmina Fisher of Troy, by whom he had 
one daughter, Mildred. Mr. Lape commenced business as a milk dealer in Troy, 
b\it after four and one-half years he sold his route and purchased the Jacob Hart 
homestead near De Freestville and carries on general farming. He is also a dealer 
in Cleveland phosphates. 

Miller, Abraham, was born in Sand Lake, March 6, 1834. He is the son of Jacob 
and Regina (Cipperley) Miller, both natives of Sand Lake, where they follow farm- 
ing. Mr. Miller died in 1876 and Mrs. Miller in 1875. The grandfather of Abram 
Miller, Silas, came from Columbia county, and settled in Sand Lake. The maternal 
grandfather was George Cipperley of Sand Lake. Mr. Miller was reared on the 
Miller farm and educated in the common schools. In 1854 he married the daughter 
of Nicholas and Mary (Crane) Sharp of North Greenbush, by whom he has had five 
children: Nicholas, a farmer of Sand Lake; Sydney, works on the farm; George, 
died at the age of fifteen; Lena, who died at the age of two and a half years; and 
Ida, now at home. Mr. Miller commenced his business career as a farmer, then was 
a painter for nine years, and in 1880 again settled on the farm of 164 acres, beauti- 
fully located on Snyder's Lake, North Greenbush, where he has carried on general 
farming and dairying. In politics he is independent. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are 
members of the First Lutheran church of West Sand Lake. 

Norton Frank E., was born in Troy, N. Y., September 19, 1855. He is of English 



108 LANDMARKS OP RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

descent, his early ance'iters having settled in Connecticut about 1626. His great- 
grandfather, John Norton, was a captain in the Colonial army in the Revolutionary 
war. His father was born in Bennington, Vt., January 6, 1818, and for a number of 
years was a dry goods merchant of that place ; he lived for a time in Troy and later 
in Milwaukee, Wis., and returned to Bennington and was teller in the Bennington 
County National Bank; he died March 9, 1885. The mother of our subject, Clarissa 
B. Norton, was born in Bennington, October 20, 1820, and died May 4, 1888. Frank 
E. received his education in the public schools of Bennington and came to Troy in 
1873 and entered the Troy City Bank as assistant bookkeeper and later was discount 
clerk and bookkeeper, and on January 1, 1893, was elected cashier, which office he 
holds at present. He belongs to the Troy Citizens Corps, Pafraets Dael Club, and 
is trustee of the Laureate Boat Club. He married, June 7, 1887, Jane Y. Drake, 
daughter of Francis Drake of Troy; she died December 3, 1891. He has one 
daughter, Gertrude S. His present wife was Clara P. French, daughter of Dr. S. D. 
French of Troy, married October 9, 1895. In politics he has always been a Repub- 
lican. 

Phillips, David, was born in Greenbush, August 15, 1838. He is the son of John 
and Frances (Vandenburgh) Phillips, he of North Greenbush, born in 1799, and she 
of North Greenbush. The grandparents, David and Martha (Morehouse) Phillips, 
were old settlers of Greenbush. John Phillips was a farmer by occupation ; he set- 
tled on the farm now owned by David Phillips and there died in 1867. Mrs. Phillips 
died in 1849. David Phillips was reared on the farm of 142 acres which he now owns, 
and has always resided there. He makes a specialty of dairying, keeping from 
twenty-five to thirty cows, producing milk for the market. In 1860 Mr. PhilHps mar- 
ried Emeline, daughter of Nicholas and Eliza (Hilton) De Freest, by whom he has 
had six children: Fannie, who married John E. Bovie, mentioned elsewhere; she 
died, aged twenty-eight years, leaving one daughter, Ella M. ; Ella; John, employed 
in Albany; Melvin, milk dealer m Troy; Cyrus C, at home; Adaline, wife of Albert 
A. House, farmer of Eagle Mills. 

Palmer, Mrs. Eliza D., is a native of Wayne county, N. Y. ; she has been a resi- 
dent of Greenbush for a number of years and is one of the largest property owners 
in Greenbush and Bath. She is a very pleasant business woman, and has but little 
trouble with her tenants. Mrs. Palmer comes from one of the early and prominent 
families of Rensselaer county ; her father, Jacob Van Der Karr, was born in Sand 
Lake, N. Y. ; he was a son of Aaron and Irene (Tucker) Van Der Karr, he a native 
of Holland; he and a brother Samuel came from Holland in an early day and were 
among the first settlers of Sand Lake, but Aaron died in Wayne county, N. Y. He 
was in the Revolutionary war, and wore silver knee buckles which were appropriated 
by the tories, but were redeemed and are now in the possession of the family. Jacob 
went to Wayne county with his parents, and finally to Illinois, where he died. 
Aaron was the owner of 500 acres of land and was the first justice in Rensselaer 
county. Mrs. E. D. Palmer's father was a physician ; his wife was Irene Tucker, 
born in Rensselaer county and died in Illinois. They had eight children, three of 
whom are now living: Christina, widow of John McChesney of Brunswick; Aaron, 
who resides in Los Angeles, Cal. ; and Eliza D., wife of Joel H. Palmer, a native of 
Ithaca but who has lived in East Albany for forty-two years. Mrs. Palmer was 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 109 

previously married to Thomas Goewey, born in Rensselaer county, and son of David 
Goewey, and one of the early settlers of Rensselaer where he lived and died. Mr. 
Goewey was in the transportation business. To Mr. and Mrs. Goewey were born 
two children: George V. D., who married Jennie Garrison of Greenbu.sh, and John 
T., at the Boy's Academy, Albany. Mr. Joel H. Palmer was seven years conductor 
and seven years assistant superintendent of the Greenbush division of the B. & A. 
railroad. His mother was an Ingersol of Stockbridge, Conn., and died in East 
Albany at the age of ninety-one years. Mr. Palmer's aunt married a brother of 
David Dudley Field. 

Pfeiffer, Henry J., was born in North Greenbush, May 29, 1839. He is the son of 
Henry and Mary C. (Gabriel) Pfeiffer, both natives of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, 
whence they emigrated to North Greenbush in 1837, where they lived and died ; his 
death occurred January 14 1894, aged eighty-four, and she died June 20, 1893, aged 
eightj^-one. H. J. Pfeiffer was reared on a farm, and has been successful in the 
business. He has a farm of 186 acres, and carries on mixed husbandry. In 1861 
he married Miss Mahala M., daughter of Frederick and Charity Shaver of Sand 
Lake. Mr. and Mrs. Pfeiffer have three children : Mary C, wife of Arthur Sharp of 
East Greenbush; Frederick H., a farmer of North Greenbush; and Charity A. 

Purcell, John, was born in Troy in 1863. His father, James P. Purcell, was born 
in Ireland and came to this country in 1860 and settled in Troy; he died in 1884. 
His mother, Nora (Myers) Purcell, died in 1880. John attended the Brother-s' School, 
now the La Salle Institute; he then learned the moulder's trade, and in 1885 started 
a fancy grocery store at the corner of Third and Munro streets where he remained 
until January, 1896, when he started in businees at his present stand on Third street. 
He was elected alderman in 1885 and held the ofhce for three terms, representing 
the Ninth ward, and has been an assessor since 1892. He married Annie Foley of 
Troy in 1894. 

Roberts, Addison O., M. D., was born in Brunswick, N. Y., August 7, 1856. He 
is a son of Abram E. and Elizabeth (File) Roberts, she a daughter of Peter File. 
Mr. Roberts was educated in Albany and Bath and finished in Albany State Normal 
and taught for six years. He read medicine with Dr. Swinburne of Albany and was 
graduated from the Albany Medical College in 1882. He began the practice of med- 
icine at East Greenbush where he remained a year and a half, and then went to 
West Sand Lake where he remained for seven years. In 1890 he came to Balh 
where he now resides. November 14, 1882, he married Maggie J. Cowan, who was 
born in Bath and is a daughter of James and Jean (Bell) Cowan, both born in Scot- 
land. James Cowan came to Albany when twenty-one years of age and resided in 
Bath. His wife came to Bath when nine years of age, with her parents, Adam and 
Margaret (Brodie) Bell. Adam Bell died at the age of ninety-one, and his wife is 
now living at the age of ninety-four. Mrs. Roberts was educated in Albany Normal 
school. To Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have been born two children; Elizabeth J., and 
Jenette M. Mr. Roberts has been health offier of the town and village for six years. 
He is a member of Riverside Lodge No. 47, K. of P. at Bath. 

Reynolds, F. A., was born in Greene county, N. Y. He isa son of John Reynolds, 
who was born in Columbia county, and there lived and died; his mother was a 



no LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

daughter of John Salisbury of English descent, born in Greene county, and there 
lived and died. The father of Mr. Reynolds was a blacksmith by trade. He was 
sheriff of Columbia county and also deputy sheriff during the anti-rent troubles. He 
died in 1870, and his wife died in 1891. They were married in 1833. Mr. F. A. 
Reynolds was reared and educated in Hudson. At the age of seventeen he started 
to learn the blacksmith trade, but soon gave it up, and at the age of nineteen went 
to work for the Hudson River Railroad as brakeman and worked himself up to con- 
ductor and soliciting agent for the Troy, Boston & Fitchburg Railroad, and was also 
with the Boston & Albany Railroad for fifteen years, known as the head or livestock 
conductor. In 1888 he retired from the railroad service and purchased the residence 
he now lives in ; in addition he owns fourteen houses in Bath. From 18(51 to 1882 
Mr. Reynolds lived in Albany and East Albany; previously from 1855 to 18(il 
his residence was in Troy. In 1855 he married Mary Clinton of England who came 
over with an uncle when a mere child. To Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds were born si.x 
children: John; Annie, wife of William Daniels of Bath, who have three children; 
Jennie, Clara and Frederick, deceased; and William -T. at home. John married 
Catherine HoUenbeck of Albany, and has five children. He is a machinist at West 
Albany. Mr. Reynolds has been receiver of taxes in Greenbush and for eight years 
was a member of the Board of Education. Mr. Reynolds at present lives a retired 
life, and is a member of the old Reliable Conductor's Insurance Company. 

Anderson, Hon. George, was born in Albany county, December 11, 1839, andafter 
learning the carpenter's trade and pursuing it for a few years he embarked in the 
manufacture of rakes for three years. He then returned to farming for two years 
when he went into the meat business under the firm name of Anderson & Co. This 
firm did a large trade and continued for eighteen years, when Mr. Anderson pur- 
chased the fine farm he now owns and to which he gives his entire attention outside 
of his political duties. He is a prominent Republican and was three times president 
of the village of Ca.stleton and has been supervisor of Schodack for four years. In 
the fall of 1895 he was elected to the Assembly where a still wider field of usefulness 
awaits him. His popularitj' and the confidence of the people in his executive abili- 
ties are well illustrated by the fact that he was the first Republican supervisor in 
Schodack in nineteen years. Mr. Anderson married Elizabeth Requa. They have 
three children ; Frank Anderson, William Anderson, and Etta, now Mrs. Thomas 
Timmons of Peekskill. Mr. Anderson's parents were Gilbert and Julia (Lawrence) 
Anderson. 

Burton, Charles W., w'as born in Nassau, August 22, 1837. He is a son of Isaac 
and Ruby (Taylor) Burton, he born in Chatham and she in Nassau. Isaac was a son 
of Ruben Burton, who lived in Columbia county and finally went to Sand Lake where 
he died in 1810. The maternal grandfather was William Tabor, who lived and died 
in Nassau. The father of Mr Burton was a blacksmith by trade, but died a farmer; 
he came from Nassau to Schodack in 1839 and died September 20, 1884, and his wife 
died in 1852. Mr. Burton was reared and educated in Schodack. He is a farmer 
and owns ninety-two acres of land. In October, 1860, he was married to Maggie 
Palmateer, of Greenbush, by whom one son has been born: Peter P., born in Scho- 
dack April 1, 1862. He was educated in Claverack College and followed farming 
at home. His wife was A. Catherine Pockman, by whom one son has been born: 
Charles R., born April 25, 1895. The Burton family is of high English descent. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. Ill 

Bame, William H., was born in Clavarack, Columbia county, October 9, 1817. 
He was a son of John and Jane (Mull) Bame, both born in Schodack, he a son of 
William Bame, born in Dutchess county, a son of Mr. Bame, born in Germany, who 
settled in Dutchess county, where he died. The grandfather of Mr. Bame died in 
Claverack and the father died in Schodack. Mr. Bame was reared and educated in 
Schodack and has always followed farming. He has a farm of 104^ acres of land 
and has lived there for forty years. He was first married to Ann Traver, by whom 
three children were born : Jane H., wife of Otis Bates of Massachusetts; Mary, now 
Mrs. Golder of Greenbush; Eugene, a farmer of Schodack; and Anna, died Novem- 
ber 8, 1842. For his second wife he married Catherine Barner, by whom have been 
born seven children: John H., Eva,' Ida E., Catherine A., Hanna C, Emma L. and 
Abram. Mrs. Bame died November 10, 1888. Hanna, a daughter of Mr. Bame, 
died November 10, 1885, and Ida A, died September 28, 1889. 

Callanan, Stephen, was born m Albany county in 1821, and is a son of James and 
Mary (Williams) Callanan. He was born, lived and died in Albany county. His 
father was Patrick Callanan, who came from Ireland at the age of eight with a 
brother, and spent his days at Callanan's Corners, Albany county. He died in 1824 
at the age of eighty-four. Stephen was reared on a farm and educated in the com- 
mon schools. He lived in Albany county until 1866, when he came to Castleton and 
bought the Downers mills, of which he has since been proprietor. He was first 
married to Emma Coonley of Albany, by whom four children were born; Henry 
(deceased), Esther (deceased), James and George. James is superintendent of the 
Barber Asphalt Company of Omaha, Neb., and George has charge of the mill. 
Mrs. Emma Callanan died July 16, 1876. George T. Callanan was born in Castle- 
ton and educated in the common school. Home Lawn, N. Y., and the Albany public 
schools. -He followed railroading and was doorman and conductor for the Long 
Island Railroad Company, and took charge of the mill in 1889. He is a member, of 
the M. E. church at Castleton June 13, 1878, Mr. Callanan was married to Mary J. 
Hunter. She died May 21, 1896. 

Boyce, Josiah W., was born in Schodack, N. Y., Octobei 14, 1824. He is a son of 
Ananias Boyce. Mr. Boyce was reared on a farm and educated in common schools, 
Albany Normal School and the Nassau Academy. He followed Jteaching for about 
twenty years and was superintendent and commissioner for two terms, and was also 
first commissioner for the Second district of Rensselaer. He then bought the farm he 
now owns of 109 acres and followed farming for several years, now making a specialty 
of dairying. He was justice of the peace for four years. He is a member of Schodack 
Union Lodge No. 87, F. &• A. M. March 1, 1851, he was married to Martha E. Shaver 
of Sand Lake, by whom four children have been born: Alice C, wife of James W. 
Yosburgh of East Schodack; Ella M., who married Myron W. Devereaux, died in 
1891; Carrie L., wife of Henry Legal of Schodack; Mary L., deceased. 

Boyce, Frank M., M. I)., was born in Schodack, August 3, 1851. He is the son of 
Anson M. and Carolina (Stewart) Boyce, both of whom were born in Schodack. Anson 
M. was the son of Ananias Boyce, mentioned elsewhere ; and she a daughter of George 
W. Stewart, a farmer and teacher, and came to Schodack early. He finally went to 
Wayne county, where he died. Anson M. Boyce was educated in the common 



112 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

schools and the Nassau Academy. He was a teacher at Saratoga Springs for seven- 
teen yeans. He was also school commissioner of Saratoga county and supervisor of 
Saratoga Springs. He died in September, 1878, and his wife in 1889. Frank Boyce 
was reared in Castleton until three years of age, when he went to Wilton, Saratoga 
county, and at the age of eight years he went to Saratoga Springs, where he was 
educated. He graduated from the Albany Medical College in 1872, and practiced 
medicine at Saratoga Springs for seventeen j-ears. In 1891 he came to Schodack 
and settled on a farm, where he also practiced medicine. He owns 168 acres. He 
was married February 5, 1874, to Catherine Payne, daughter of Harmon Payne, 
who spent his life in Schodack. To Dr. Boyce and wife were born three children: 
Cora A., Frank M. and Edwin A. Mrs. Boyce died April 20, 1889. August 9, 1896, 
he was married to Emma Van Buren of East Greenbush. Dr. Boyce was 
supervisor of Saratoga Springs in 1889 and represented the second district of Sara- 
toga county in the Assembly of 1890. He was also trustee of the Second ward of 
the village for four years. He was coroner of Saratoga county for three years. In 
the spring of 1896 Dr. Boyce was elected supervsior of Schodack. 

Bedell, Alcandar, was born in Schodack, May 18, 1823. He is a son of Daniel and 
Ellen (Perry) Bedell, he born in Schodack, and son of Joseph Bedell, of Dutchess 
county, who settled in Schodack at a very early date; his wife was Phoebe More- 
house, of Dutchess county. The father of Mr. Bedell was a farmer and spent his 
days in Schodack. Mr. Bedell was reared on a farm and educated in the common 
schools. He owned two farms in Sand Lake, which he sold in 1873. He then came 
on the farm he now owns of 108 acres and followed general farming. In 1851 he 
was married to Emaline Backus of Saratoga, by whom four children have been born, 
but one of whom is living — Willard H. He is a farmer and is oiarried to Emma 
Francis and has three children: Effie, Ada, and Horace. The great-grandfather of 
Mr. Bedell came from England and settled in Dutchess county. 

Downer, James R., was born in the village of Castleton, February 1, 1840. He 
was educated in the public schools and Fort Fdward Institute. He was engaged in 
the forwarding and freight business for many years between Castleton and New 
York; Mr. Downer was associated with Joel D. Smith and Capt. J. V. D. Witbeck 
in the building of the steam propeller, Andrew Harder, which was chartered and 
used by the government as a transport during the Civil war. He became cashier of 
the National Bank of Castleton in 1874, which position he has since filled with marked 
ability and success. In 1864 Mr. Downer married Margaret N. Herrick and they 
have a family of three sons and one daughter: Frank H., Edgar J., Mary L., and 
Charles R. Mr. Downer's parents were John R. and Mary (Smith) Downer. John 
R. Downer came to this country in 1823 and purchased a mill property near Castle- 
ton. He was the inventor of the first revolving hay rake. Mr. Downer's grand- 
father, John Smith, kept the old Tammany Hall in New York city and had Aaron 
Burr as one of his boarders at the time Burr and Hamilton fought a duel. Mr. 
Downer has been interested at various times in property tending to the commercial 
welfare of Castleton, and is one of the leading citizens of the town Schodack. He 
has been identified with the Republican party and has been prominent in its counsels 
many years. His father, John R. Downer, is ninety-three years old and hale and 
heartv. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 113 

Fuller, W. K., was born in Castleton, October 12, 1844, and followed boating for 
some years prior to the war. He enlisted in 1864 in Co. I, 91st New York Volunteers, 
and served with his regiment till the close of the war, participating in the battles of 
Gravelly Run, Five Forks and other engagements and was present at the surrender 
of Lee. After the war he engaged in boating for some time, but finally went into 
the meat business in 1887, which he has since that time conducted most successfully. 
Mr. Fuller has as partner Mr. G. J. Davenport, and the business is now conducted 
under the firm name of Fuller & Davenport. In 1867 Mr. Fuller married Josephine 
Follansbee. His parents were John S. Fuller and Betsey (Rose) Fuller. Mr. Fuller's 
family originally came from the vicinity of Danbury, Conn. Some of his ancestors 
on his mother's side were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. 

Wilcox, George E., is a native of Hoosick Falls, and was first associated with the 
Wood Machine Co. in 1880 as clerk, but now has charge of a warehouse and incom- 
ing freight, and is also connected with the main office. He was born in 1848, son of 
the late John E. and Eleanor J. Wilcox, daughter of Jacob and Nancy Odekirk, who 
were the earlier residents of the town of Hoosick. She died in 1870 and the father 
in 1894. The death of the latter removed a most influential and honorable citizen 
of his native town. He was the eldest son of Oliver and Sophia Wilcox, and en- 
gaged in mercantile business with J. P. Armstrong at Hoosick, the firm afterwards 
becoming Wilcox & Richmond. Later he became associated with the firm of Thayer, 
Hawks & Wilcox here. Selling out in this firm, he took a position with Walter Wood 
Co., where he remained twenty-five years, being one of the stockholders. He was 
also interested in the Gas Light Co. and the New York Architectural Terra Cotta 
Co., and one of the organizers of the First National Bank here. For four years 
George was druggist in Washington county, and was one year with Morey Brothers. 
Eight years he was correspondent for the Budget, Telegram, and Press. He is a 
member of the Masonic order, and was town clerk in 1870 and tax collector one year. 
He married in 1885 Emma F. Clement of Janesville, Wis., at that time a resident of 
Troy. They have two children, Edmond Clement, aged ten years; George Skinner, 
aged eight years. 

Hitchcock, William C, was born in Hoosick, May 19, 1847, and is the son of George 
W. and E. G. (Carpenter) Hitchcock, he a native of Pittstown and she of Hoosick. 
George W. Hitchcock was a carpenter by trade but spent his life at farming. He 
was a Republican in politics, twenty years overseer of the poor and assessor a num- 
ber of years. He was a very active member of the Reformed church. The parents 
of George W. were Lewis and Nancy (Springer) Hitchcock. Lewis H. was born at 
Deerfield, Mass. He was a carpenter and cabinetmaker by trade at East Pittstown 
and owned a large tract of land. The father of Lewis was Oliver Hitchcock, whose 
father, Arthur, graduated from Harvard in 1769. Oliver was a member of the Ma- 
sonic Lodge with General Washington when the meetings were held under trees. 
Oliver was at the battles of Lexington, Concord, Bunker Hill, and helped to throw 
up entrencements at Dorchester Heights. Edward H. was president of Amherst 
College from 184") to 1854 and professor of natural theology and geology from then 
till his death. The family of Hitchcock have always been educational people. Will- 
iam was educated at select schools under the auspices of the Reformed church at 
Buskirk Bridge, taught by a student of Middlebury College. He has taught school 



114 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

thirty years. He married, in 1870, Fannie, daughter of Peter and Harriett (Parker) 
Link, of Saratoga county. To Mr. and Mrs. Hitchcock have been born four chil- 
dren: Charles Roscoe, Bessie A., George B., and Henry Gordon. In politics Mr. 
Hitchcock is a staunch Republican and is contributor to several newspapers. He is 
also a recognized authority on entomology and a member of the Reformed church of 
Buskirk Bridge. Oliver Hitchcock was, while a native of Massachusetts, a member 
of the Congregational church, but united with the Dutch Reformed church at Bus- 
kirk Bridge. He, his son Lewis and grandson George, have served as elders in that 
church. 

Guy, Thomas H., was born in Troy, N. Y., March 31, 1867. He is the son of Dr. 
Thomas J. Guy, president of the Board of Education. He attended the Troy High 
School, and from September, 1886, to January, 1887, was at Georgetown College. He 
entered Yale in September, 1887, and graduated with the class of 1891, afterwards 
graduating from Albany Law School, and was admitted to the bar in February, 
1893. In 1894 he was appointed private secretary to Mayor Molloy, which position 
he still holds. 

Gibson, George H., was born in Troy. N. Y., in February, 1874. His father, 
James W. Gibson, was born in Schenectady county, and came to Troy early in life; 
at present he is a foreman in the Troy File Works. His mother, Laura A. (Sherman) 
Gibson, was born in Troy and is a daughter of William C. Sherman. George H., 
after leaving the Troy Business College, entered the insurance oflfice of Neher & 
Carpenter, where he remained six years, and was afterwards in the law office of 
King & Speck, where he remained one year. Mr. Gibson is a member of the Royal 
Arcanum. He was married in February, l89o, to Miss Bessie C. Green, a daughter 
of Fred C. Green of Troy. 

Eagle, Herman J., was born in Troy, N.Y., in 1867. He is the son of Jacob Eagle, 
who came from Germany in 1857 and settled in Troy. His mother, Louisa (Falken- 
hagen) Eagle, was also born in Germany. Mr. Eagle was educated in the common 
schools and at the Christian Brothers' Academy, and entered the drug store of his 
father as a clerk. On July 21, 1890, he started in the drug business for himself at 
527 Fourth street, where he remained until 1894, when he moved to his present site 
at 539 Fourth street. He does a general drug business and also deals in paints, oils, 
and varnishes, and hardware. Mr. Eagle also manufactures Eagle's impervious oil 
for floors, which allows no dust to rise, and requires sweeping only to insure per- 
fect cleanliness. Mr. Eagle pays particular attention to his prescription department, 
which is second to none in the city. 

Burdick, W. R., was born at Afton, Wis., in 1858. His father, M. W. Burdick, 
now a resident of Hoosick Falls, is a citizen of considerable prominence, the first to 
hold the office of police magistrate. For thirty years he has been a deacon of the 
First Baptist church. During his residence in Wisconsin he was justice of the peace 
for a long term of years. In 1875 W. R. Burdick was first employed by the Walter 
A. Wood Co., and in 1877 he married Miss Hattie, daughter of George W. Wilson, 
representing a family of local pioneers. Mr. Burdick is an active and enthu.siastic 
element in the Republican party here, having filled ably several official positions in 
its organization. He was a charter member of the local Temple of Honor, and is 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 115 

an active and faithful member of the Presbyterian church ; assisted in the organiza- 
tion of the Thirty-second Separate Company, and has served as its Heutenant and 
otherwise. He is a musician of much ability and a forcible and dramatic public 
speaker, having been at one time a pupil of Prof. Frank Bradford, the noted elocu- 
tionist. He has served for a term of years as captain of L. E. Worden Division 
No. 30, 4th Regiment, Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias, a finely drilled organiza- 
tion. Mr. Burdick has served for several years as president of the Board of Health 
and is an active member of the Board of Trade. 

Beckett, James A., though born in Ireland in 1854 is of English ancestry, and son 
of William Beckett, late of Hoosick Falls. They came to America in 1860 when 
James was but six years of age, yet a storm at sea between Westport and Liverpool 
is visibly impressed upon his mind. They located at Cohoes, where James was ed- 
ucated at St. John's school. He came to Hoosick in 1871, beginning work for Mr. 
Wood in learning the molding trade. He became an enthusiast on the subject, and 
in 1887 was made superintendent of the foundry, where instituted reforms and im- 
proved methods are due to his genius. Mr. Beckett is a Republican, and was chair- 
man of the assembly and of the county convention in 1895, and was twice commis- 
sioner of police, and conspicuous in local reforms of government. He is a member 
of St. Mark's Episcopal church and prominent in Masonic circles. He is the author 
of "One Hundred Years of Free Masonry in Hoosick," issued in 1893 and recognized 
as a masterly and exhaustive work. In 1876 he married Annie Acton of Albany. 

Johnston, C. A., whose position as postmaster attests the popularity in which he 
is held, is a son of Alonzo L. Johnston, the well known manufacturer. He assumed 
control of the post-oflfice immediately after his appointment in 1892. He was ed- 
ucated in the high school of Hoosick Falls, where he was born in 1860 and went in- 
to his father's store at the age of nineteen, where he still remains. He has practi- 
cally managed the establishment, his father being occupied with other enterprises. 
He is an attendant at the Presbyterian church and a member of the Hoosac Club, 
was married in 1882 to Mary L., daughter of Henry C. Thayer. Their two children 
are as follows: Mary T. aged twelve, and Bessie L. aged seven. 

Agan, Willard J., an energetic, progressive young man, is the owner of the gen- 
eral store at Potter Hill which he established in 1880. He is a Republican and 
acting postmaster since 1881. He is also interested in farming, and one of the di- 
rectors of the Hoosick Fire Insurance Co. In 1882he married Alice M. Clint of Troy, 
by whom he has one son, Ralph W. , aged eleven years. Both are members of the 
M. E. church. In 1872 he attended the Htldson Vale Institute, Lansingburgh, N. 
Y. In the winter of 1874 he attended the Troy Business College, and the following 
spring accepted a position as clerk with R. T. Brock, druggist and retail grocer, 
Troy. In the spring of 1877 he enlisted as private in the Troy City Artillery, N. G. 
S. N. Y. ; in July, 1878, was elected corporal and in 1879 was elected sergeant of 
the company, which office he held until he left the city in the spring of 1880. His 
father, Richmond Agan, is a farmer in Hoosick, where he was born in 1866. His 
grandfather, the late James P. Agan, was a farmer and blacksmith in Potter Hill. 

Percy, G. N.. the well-known horse dealer, has an elegant place in North Hoosick 
where he breeds and drives his fancy stock, training trotters and pacers and like 



IIG LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

work connected with the business. He was born at White Creek, Washington county, 
in 1845, of English ancestry, where his father, Benjamin A. Percy, who now resides 
in Cambridge, was also born. At eleven years of age he came to live with his grand- 
father and began business life as a farmer. Later he left farming and went to New 
York city engaging in the ice business where he remained eighteen years. He then 
returned to Hoosick at the present location. He married in 1871 Rebecca Sweet of 
Walloomsac, daughter of Truman T. Sweet, a retired resident of this place. They 
have one son, Burton, born in 1877 who has not completed his education. 

Tyler, Amos H., was born in Boonville, Oneida county, N. Y., November 12, 1833. 
He was a son of Amos and Elizabeth Tyler, he born in Woodstock, Vt. , and she in 
Fairfield, Herkimer county, N. Y. The family is of English descent, and his ances- 
tors came on the Mayflower. Mr. Tyler was reared in Boonville, and attended select 
schools under Harvey P. Willard and Holland Patent Academy and Watertown 
Academy. He began teaching school and followed farming until about eighteen 
years old ; he then began as clerk at Forestport, Oneida county, and clerked about 
three years for Jackson & Blake, formerly of New York city. He was afterwards in 
company with Jackson & Co. ; dissolving partnership, he purchased another store 
and had a successful business. For about five years he assisted in filling the quotas. 
He was nearly killed two or three times by men who wished to prevent drafting. 
He then formed a copartnership with N. B. Foot of Rome, N. Y., and followed the 
wholesale and retail business at Lyons Falls, Lewis county, N. Y., under the firm 
name of A. H. Tyler & Co. ; he was also postmaster at Lyons Falls. After four 
years he dissolved partnership and came to Troy, N. Y., and engaged in the shoe 
business on River street for a few years. He lived in Troy for about three years, 
then sold out and came to Bath-on-the Hudson, where he engaged in the grocery 
business for about two years, and was then a traveling salesman for Wolf & Co. of 
Philadelphia, and has since engaged in real estate business. He married about 1866 
Laura E. Hale, of North Granville, Washington county, N. Y., and has had five 
children: Arthur (deceased), Mary B., Hattie Blinn, Bessie L. and Edith H. 

Youlen, P. M., dealer in watches, clocks, jewelry, etc., at Hoosick Falls; he has 
been a citizen of this place only since 1883, but has in those few years gained much 
personal popularity as well as success in business. He was born in Saxville, Wis., 
January 6, 1856, the son of Philip E. Youlen, late of Utica. His boyhood years were 
passed mainly at the farm home at Rupert, Vt., and at Ilion, N. Y. He learned at 
Utica the technical and mechanical details of the watchmaker's trade, and in 1883 
after several years experience engaged in business at the present location on Main 
street. Mr. Youlen is an expert adjuster of time keepers and makes a specialty of fine 
and accurate watch work. He married in 1892 Miss LilaM. Wark, of Hoosick Falls. 
Mr. Youlen is of English and Welsh descent. Mrs. Youlen's father is of Scotch de- 
scent, though he was born in the North of Ireland ; her mother is of English descent. 
Mrs. Youlen is one of eleven children. Her people are all devoted church members, 
mainly Methodists; she has one brother — Rev. William Orr Wark — who is pastor of 
the Congregational church at Saratoga. Mr. and Mrs. Youlen belong to the Protest- 
ant Episcopal church. 

Boland, Charles P., was burn in Troy, N. Y., in 1869. His father, Lawre nc 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 117 

Boland, was born in Ireland and came to this country when young and settled in 
Troy; he was later in the coal business under the name of Buckley & Boland; he 
has since retired. His mother, Margaret (Buckley) Boland, was born in Troy, a 
daughter of Lawrence Buckley, a prominent mason and builder of that city ; he died 
in 1879. Charles P. Boland received his education in the public schools and was 
graduated from the La Salle Institute; he learned the mason's trade with Button 8c 
Buckley, afterwards Peter H. Buckley, with whom he was associated ten years, after 
which he formed a partnership with John McGowan as McGowan & Boland, in the 
contracting and building busmess Among the buildings they have erected are the 
city hall, court house and jail buildings at Cohoes, N. Y. , the Stanton ale brewerv, 
refrigerator and storage building, and many residences in Troy and vicinity. In 
September, 1896, the firm of McGowan & Boland dissolved and he continued in bu.si- 
ness alone. He is vice-president of the Master Masons' Association, a member of 
the Robert Emmett Association, the C. M. B. A, and the C. B. L. He married in 
November, 1894, Elizabeth M. Hunt of Syracuse, N. Y. ; she is the daughter of 
Frank Hunt, a prominent contractor of Syracuse. They have one son. 

Faulkner, T. H., was born in Johnsonville, N. Y., June 5, 1870. He was a son of 
Albert and Mary J. (Miller) Faulkner, he a native of Pittstown, N, Y., and she of 
Pellstown, N. Y. He is a son of Jacob Faulkner, who lived and died in Middletown 
The maternal grandfather was Reuben W. Miller, a native of Pittstown, a son of 
one of the early settlers of the town of Pittstown. Millertown was named in honor 
of the family. The father of Mr. Faulkner was a butcher by trade and spent his life 
in Pittstown. Mr. Faulkner died July 24, 1890, and his widow still lives at Miller- 
town. T. H. was reared on a farm and educated in common schools, and graduated 
from Troy Business College in 1892, and worked as clerk for John Robinson & Co., 
wholesale druggists of Troy, for two years, and in 1894 came to Johnsonville and 
engaged in the mercantile biisiness, where he has been very successful. 

Fry, John W., was born at Clifton Park, February 26, 1857, and is a son of Will 
iam and Hetty M. (Doty) Fry, both born in Saratoga county. He is a son of Michael 
Fry, a native of Waterford, N. Y., and spent most of his days at Clifton Park. She 
is a daughter of Michael Doty, of Schaghticoke and went to Clifton Park, where he 
lived and died ; he was in the war of 1812. The father of Mr. Fry was a farmer and 
came to Schodack in 1885, and died July 5, 1891, and his widow lived in Schodack. 
Mr. Fry was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools and Lansingburgh 
Academy and is a farmer by occupation. In 1883 he came to Schodack and bought 
a farm of 100 acres, making a specialty of fruit and is a dealer in carriages, wagons, 
and harness. He was married in 1879 to Elva Baucus of Schaghticoke, daughter of 
James W. Baucus. To Mr. and Mrs. Fry were born two children: Hettie M. and 
Edith E. 

Johnson, Seymour, was born in Chenango county, N. Y., March 7, 1833. He is 
the son of Peter and Abigail (Ver Plank) Johnson, both born in Albany county, 
N. Y. His grandfather was Isaac I. Johnson, born in Ghent, Columbia county, 
N. Y. ; married and settled in Albany county, there spending his last days. He 
furnished a substitute for War of 1812. Peter Johnson was a farmer in Albany 
county. The few last days of his life were spent at Schodack Landing, Rensselaer 



118 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

county; he died February 21, 1881 ; his wife, Abigail, died in Albany, December 28, 
1860. Mr. Seymour John. son was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools; 
by trade he is a carpenter, but at present a farmer; he owns and lives on a farm con- 
taining 135 acres of land and follows general farming. He was married January 12, 
1860, to Sarah K. Knowlton, a daughter of William Knowlton, a merchant of Albany. 
To Mr. John.son and wife was born one son, Irving S., who was married April 27, 
1887, to Ida S., daughter of John Randerson, by whom he has three children: Will- 
iam Knowlton, Katharine Willard and Seymour Ackroyd. 

Hewitt, Rensselaer W., was born in Petersburgh, Rennselaer county, N. Y. , in 
1829. He was educated in the district schools of that place and commenced teaching 
in January, 1846, and continued teaching during the winter term in that and adjoin- 
ing towns until March 1, 1858, when he came to Troy and was engaged as principal 
of the old First Ward school, and taught continuously in the schools of Troy until 
March 1, 1896, when he declined a re election, feeling that the work shoiild be com- 
mitted to younger and abler hands. 

Hutton, jr., William, was born in Troy, N. Y., September 1, 1863. His father, 
William Hutton, came to this country from Belfast, Ireland, in 1849 and settled in 
Troy. He was in the grocery business of Ida Hill for a number of years and started 
in the livery business in 1865. William, jr., graduated from the La Salle Institute 
in 1881 and was later employed by John McBride, the contractor, as bookkeeper and 
estimating clerk from 1882 to 1886. He entered into the livery business as partner 
with his father May 1, 1S89, under the firm name of William Hutton & Son. No- 
vember 28, 188<S, he married Miss Carrie Kennedy, by whom he has had two sons, 
one of whom died in 1889. At the present time he is president of the Alumni of La 
Salle Institute;" esteemed loyal knight of Troy Lodge No. 141, B. & P. order of 
Elks; and is a nominee (1896) for member of assembly, Second district, on the 
Democratic ticket. 

Don, John, was born in Scotland in 1841, of Scotch parentage; he is the youngest 
of a family of ten, six of whom died in infancy; he was named after his father, 
John Don; his mother's name was Janet Bailile; he came to America when about 
fifteen years of age, and since then has resided in Troy. He was engaged in the 
cut-stone business until about 1888, when he became interested in the manufacture 
of wrought iron pipe in Cohoes, N. Y., under the name of the Cohoes Tube Works, 
which employs about 250 hands. He is also president of the Syracuse Tube Com- 
pany of Syracuse, N. Y., whose specialty is the manufacture of high grade boiler 
tubes A Republican, he has taken an active interest in political affairs, and was 
alderman of the Seventh and Fourth wards two years each, being first elected in 
1S70. He was a member of the Public Improvements Committee during its exist- 
ence. He has been a trustee of the Masonic Hall Association since the erection of 
the temple and is now president of its board of trustees. He is first vice-president 
of the Republican Clnb of Troy, has long been a director of the Troy City National 
Bank, is a member of the Troy Club, was one of the Committee of Public Safety, 
and for about fourteen years served on General Carr's staff. On October 3, 18J)6, 
he was appointed by Governor Morton treasurer of Rensselaer county, vice George 
H. Morrison resigned. He received the nomination of county treasurer October 8, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 119 

1896, by the Republican convention. Mr. Don is an energetic, public-spirited and 
enterprising citizen, and a business man of unquestioned ability and integrity. 

Lewis, Frank M., was born in Almond, N. Y., in 1843, and is a descendant of the 
Lewis family who settled in Rhode Island in the early part of the seventeenth cen- 
tury. His father, Lester Lewis, was born in Petersburgh, Rensselaer county, and 
removed to Allegany county in 1888 and was a prominent farmer of that county, 
holding several political offices in his town. He died in 1892, at the age of eighty- 
six. His mother, Anna (Jones) Lewis, of Petersburgh, died in 1870. Frank M. was 
educated in the public schools and came to Troy in 18()3 and was employed by Mrs. 
Emma Willard, of the Seminary, and later was employed byjohn Bogardus in the hay 
pressing business. In 1873 he bought out the express and general teaming business 
of George Hill and has continued in that business since. He represented the 
Thirteenth ward in the Board of Supervisors fron 1887 to 1890 and was re-elected in 
1892. He is a member of King Solomon Lodge No. 91, F. & A. M., and of 
Athenian Lodge No. 96, I. O. O. F., and has represented that lodge in the Grand 
Lodge for three years. He also belongs to John W. Nesbott Encampment No. 10, 
In 1865 he married Sarah Hyde, who died in 1876. They had one daughter, who is 
now Mrs. Kate Jordan. He was married again in 1878 to Ida Stillman, who died in 
1886. He had three sons by his second marriage; Frank B., Lester L , and Ray- 
mond A. His present wife was Mrs. Elijah H. Coonradt of Troy, to whom he was 
married in November, 1893. 

Evans, John N., was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., December 25, 1842. He is a 
son of Nelson and Cornelia M. (Ostrander) and grandson of John Evans, farmer of 
New York, but died in Pennsylvania. The maternal grandfather was David 
Ostrander. Nelson Evans was forty-two years engaged in farming in Stephentown, 
and died in 1890. John N. married Nancy, daughter of Hiram and Frelove (Finch) 
Belknap of Stephentown. Mr. Belknap was a farmer and died June 4, 1868. Mt*;. 
Belknap now resides with John N. Isaac Finch, father of Mrs. Belknap, was born 
at Chatham, N. Y. ; he married Lucy Beers of Stephentown. The father of Isaac, 
James Finch, was a pioneer of Chatham. Isaac Finch was a Revolutionary soldier 
under Capt. Simeon Tift. To Mr. and Mrs. Evans have been born two sons: Will- 
iam E., farmer on the old homestead of 137 acres, which John N. bought for him in 
1892; Edward M. is at home. John N. has always been a farmer and has abo; t 125 
acres, the farm where he resides. On September 14, 1864, Mr. Evans enlisted in Co. 
M, 13th Heavy Artillery, and was honorably discharged June 28, 1865. He is a 
member of the P. Coleman Post No. 545, G. A. R. of West Stephentown, 

Abbott, Henry J., was born in Stillwater, N. Y., November 4, 1819, and is a son 
of Ira and Elizabeth (Terry) Abbott, Ira a son of Judd who came from Connecticut 
and settled near Cropseyville ; his children were Henry, Walter, Jonas, Judd, John 
Urich, Sallie, Jerusha, Ira. Ira's earl)' life was spent on a farm ; when young he 
learned the blacksmith trade with his brother Judd. Afterwards he married Eliza- 
beth Terry and moved to Stillwater, and one year later moved to Albany county, 
where he stayed ten years, when he moved to Brunswick. His children were Henry 
J., Mary, Joseph, Elmira, Sara A., Jane, Elizabeth, Mathias and Alonzo. Henry J. 
was associated with his father until twenty-six years of age, and on December 17, 



120 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

1845, he married Martha Jane, daughter of Richard C. Derrick, and has eight chil- 
dren: Maria, wifeof Eugene A. Van Pelt, Richard Henry, Ira Willard, Franklin Eugene, 
Emma Betts, wife of Eugene Van Pelt, Carrie Derrick, wife of Clarence Van Zandt, 
Jessie Belle, wife of J. W. Whitbeck, Edwin Lincoln. Franklin Eugene is a gradu- 
ate of Union College and follows civil engineering; he married Grace Millard. Rich- 
ard Henry graduated from the Troy Business College and married Anna Riddle. 
Ira married Charlotte Lohnes. Carrie and Jennie are graduates of Albany Normal 
School. Henry J. is active in education, .school and church and religious work ; also 
in town and county affairs. 

Crehan, Henry A., was born in East Greenbush, May 1, 1838, and is a son of 
Charles A. and Delila (Chandler) Crehan, he a native of Canada and she of Massa- 
chusetts. Mrs. Crehan was a sister of Zach Chandler. Charles A , the grandfather 
of Mr. Crehan, came from France to Canada as interpreter; he came to Troy and 
finally settled on a farm now owned by Mr. Crehan; he was a miller by trade and 
ran a mill in East Greenbush ; he died on the farm in November, 1870, and Mrs. 
Crehan died in February, 1871. In 1854 Mr. Crehan married Sarah, daughter of 
Leonard and Maria Rysdorph. Mr. Rysdorph died in 1894, and Mrs. Rysdorph now 
resides with Mrs. Crehan. To Mr. and Mrs. Crehan were born five children: Amelia, 
wife of John Karnes; Alice, wife of Nelson Vaughn, a dealer in horses; Ellen and 
Minnie, at home; and Leonard, a milkman. Mr. Crehan ran a dairy business of 
about thirty-five cows. 

McCaffrey, Cornelius. — His first business engagement, after becoming a resident 
of Hoosick Falls, was with the Walter A. Wood Company. After three years he 
embarked in business for himself, and has since that time been an extensive dealer 
in sand and building stone, besides carrying on a teammg and trucking business. 
His father, Cornelius McCaffrey, was also an extensive dealer in like building mate- 
rial in Ireland where he (Cornelius J.), was born in 1835. Just before sailing for 
America in 1863, Mr. McCaft'rey was united in marriage to Catherine Toal. They 
came at once to Hoosick Falls, which has ever since been their home and birthplace 
of their six children: Mary E., wife of William Houlton, of this place; Rose A., Cor- 
nelius jr., John Charles and Arthur; who also carry on the same business. Mr. Mc- 
Caffrey was bereaved in 1894 of his faithful wife, Catherine. 

Diamond, George T., was born in Albany, May 14, 1838. He was a son of Thomas 
S. and Margaret (Lainhart) Diamond, he a native of Albany and she of Guilderland, 
N. Y. The grandfather of Mr. Diamond was William M. Diamond, who was the 
fir.st male child born in Lansingburgh, and in honor of the event Judge Lansing 
deeded him a lot. His father was Thomas S., of French extraction ; he was quarter- 
master in the Revolutionary war and was present at the Boston Tea Party. Thomas 
S. Diamond settled in Lansingburgh and then removed to Albany and afterwards to 
New York city. While in Albany he was one of the founders and junior warden of 
the Master's Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. His father was Sir Hugh Dia- 
mond. The father of Mr. Diamond (Thomas S.)wasa carpenter and spent most 
of his days in Albany, and in 1853 came to Greenbush and worked at the B. & A. 
shops, and in about 1867 went to Amsterdam where he died in 1878. His wife died 
September, 1864. For his second wife he married Mary Jones, who died in Mont- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 121 

cJair, N. J. Mr. Diamond was reared and educated in Albany, and was first em- 
ployed by George T Carter in the variety business when a lad twelve years old. 
He was then with the Western Union Telegraph Company as a messenger boy, and 
soon after was with Hugh J. Hastings as collector and in a short time went in the 
daguerreotyping business employed by R. Emmitt Churchill, and remained with 
him until he came to Greenbush. He was then employed by the B. & A. Railroad 
for about eight months and left to take a position with the Hudson River Railroad 
and was with them until 1857. He then went into the mercantile business and was 
engaged for twenty-six years to a day. He discontinued the mercantile business in 
1883 and now carries on the trucking business, and is at present in Albany employing 
five men. Mr. Diamond has been town clerk, trustee, police commissioner twice, 
collector of the village, and treasurer four times. He has been a member of Green- 
bush Lodge No. 337, F. & A. M., for about twenty-nine years, and is a member of 
the K. of P. September 13, 1860, he married Jane E. Bell, a native of Greenbush 
and daughter of Stephen Bell of Greenbush, who was a miller for several years. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Diamond were born five children; Annie, at home; Allen B., Min- 
nie, George, and Grace, who are dead. 

Finch, George W. , was born in Valley Falls, N. Y , August 23, 1824. He is a son 
of Lemuel S. and Ann Eliza (Woolman) Finch, who was a native of Pittstown, and 
son of Louis Finch, a native of Columbia county, N. Y., and came to Pittstown at 
an early day. The father of Mr. Finch was a farmer and deputy sheriff ; he died 
July 2, 1875, and his wife died March 27, 1876. Mr. Finch was educated in common 
schools and Poultney Academy and studied engineering and surveying. He was 
connected with the Troy and Boston Railroad for about thirty-two years, and for 
seven years had charge as chief engineer of the road. He was also a builder and 
contractor and was engineer of the bridge at Valley Falls and Johnsonville and was 
resident engineer for the Schaghticoke Powder Co., changing from the old system 
to the electrical system. Mr. Finch was married December 31, 1846, to Louisa 
Baker of Stillwater, N. V., by whom has been born seven children: Alice L., Mary 
J., Philip B., Frederick B., Fannie L. (deceased), Helen M. and Lemuel S. Mr. 
Finch is a member of Victor Lodge No. 680, F. & A. M., and was its first master 
for nine consecutive years and afterwards for six years. He also was a member of 
Schaghticoke Lodge No. 216, I. O. O. F., and was a member of the 96th N. Y. Vol. 
State Militia and held every office from private to lieutenant-colonel; his first com- 
mission was signed by Horatio Seymour, then governor of the State. He also 
served for fourteen years in the Schaghticoke and Langsingburgh artillery com- 
panies. 

Graham, James, was born in Galashiels, Scotland, December 9, 1850. He was 
educated in their schools, also received a technical education as a textile pattern de- 
signer, v^'hich occupation he followed at the Schaghticoke woolen mills. July 9, 
1877, he married Mary Richardson of his native place. They have had six children : 
Janet F., Bella A. (who died in her second year), Mary R., James A., Nellie A. and 
George D. They came to Canada in 1880; he entered the employ of the Colburg 
Woolen Co. in Ontario as a superintendent and designer, and was al.so a stockholder 
in the company. On January 1, 1895, he came to the United States and located in 
Schaghticoke, N. Y. Mrs. Graham's father, George Richardson, was born in Scot- 
P 



122 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

and in the year 1825; he was educated there, and was a carder by occupation; he 
married Janet Frier of his native place; they had nine children, five sons and four 
daughters: Christina, Robert, Ellen, George, Christina, Thomas, Mary, James and 
John. Christina No. 1, Robert, James, John and Ellen are dead. Mr. Richardson 
died in 1878, and his wife in March, 1866. The Grahams are in direct line of de- 
scent of the Grahams, the Marquis of Montrose; also of the Hays of Dun's Castle, 
Berwickshire, Scotland. The ancestry of the family is Scotch on both sides. 

Moore, Edward, was born in Troy in 1862. His father, Joseph Moore, came to 
this country from Germany and first settled in Albany, and later came to Troy, 
and worked at his trade for a number of years. He resides in Troy. His mother, 
Sophia (Bates) Moore, was born in Germany and is now living in Troy. Edward 
upon leaving school went to farming in the country for eight years and then re- 
turned to Troy, and in 1878 entered the employ of Flack & Dennison, and has 
been with that concern and its successor since, and is now superintendent. He is a 
member of Phoenix Lodge, F. & A. M., of the Chapter of Lansingburgh, and of 
Bloss Council and Apollo Commandery of Troy. 

Miller, H. C, M. D., was born in Schodack, N. Y., in June, 1846. He is a son of 
John S., born in Sand Lake, a son of Stephen Miller, one of the early settlers of Sand 
Lake. John S. Miller, M. D., a graduate of Castleton Medical College, Vermont, 
came to Greenbush, where he practiced for a short time; he removed to Schodack, 
where he had a very successful practice; he died in 1883. Dr. H. C. Miller was ed- 
ucated in the common schools and Fort Edward Academy, and was graduated from 
the Albany Medical College in 1874 and came to Greenbush, where he had a very 
successful practice. In 1872 he was married to Mary L. Mould, by whom one daugh- 
ter has been born: Hellen E., at home. 

Dunvar, John, was born in Ireland and educated in the Mouruth College of that 
country; he emigrated to New York city when about twenty one years old, and soon 
engaged with the Hudson River Railroad and located in Greenbush ; he was made 
bookkeeper as soon as the oflfice was located in Greenbush, which position he held 
until his death. November 19, 1854, he married Anna Halloran, born in Greenbush 
where the Rensselaer House now stands, and is the oldest native born Catholic of 
Greenbush. The parents of Mrs. Dunvar were Thomas and Eliza (Power.s) Halloran, 
natives of Ireland, and early in life came to (Treenbush and here lived and died; 
he died at the age of eighty-four and she at the age of fifty-four. They had four 
daughters of whom three are living. To Mr and Mrs. Dunvar were born six chil- 
dren : Thomas, Elizabeth (deceased), Michael S. , John J. , Vincent A. , and Catherine. 

Ketchum, Sanford B., was born in North Greenbush, April 4, 1804, and is a son of 
George W. and Lavinna (Hayner) Ketchum, he a native of Schenectady county and 
she of Greenbush. The maternal grandfather, George Hayner, was a carpenter and 
a millwright; he married Magaret Fellows of West Sand Lake, and died in 1872. 
George W. spent most of his life near Wynantskill. He died March 14, 1881, at 
the age of fifty-four, and his wife resides with Sanford B. Sanford B. was educated 
in Troy, and in 1888 he married Sarah M., daughter of Phillip S. and Sarah (Kinney) 
De Freest of North Greenbush, by whom he had three children: George S. , Eugene 
C, and Milton De F. Sanford B. commenced his business career as a clerk for P. J. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. • 123 

Westfall, with whom he remained for eleven years, and in 1890 bought him out and 
has since carried on a large business. 

Link, Calvin E., was born in Poestenkill, June 5, 1849. He was the son of Stephen 
and Eliza (Wattenpock), he of Poestenkill and she of Sand Lake. The grandfather, 
Peter Link, was an early settler of Poestenkill and was accidentally killed by the 
running away of a horse. Stephen was a farmer of Poestenkill. He died in 1882 
and Mrs. Link died in 1877. Calvin Link was educated at Scram Seminary, Sand 
Lake, and was married in 1872 to Mary E., daughter of Lewis E. Wagar, of West 
Sand Lake, by whom he has had two daughters: Alda M. and Ella F. In 1879 Mr. 
Link bought the farm on which he now resides and makes a specialty of dairying; 
he has put up fine buildings and greatly improved his place. 

Howell, Mrs. Ophelia F. B., was born in New York city, as were her two sisters, 
Mary Magdalena and Sophia Helena, daughters of Bernard and Mary Magdalena 
(Neumiller) Rombach. Bernard Rombach was a native of Hanover and his wife of 
Frankfort-on-the-Main. Mr. and xVIrs. Rombach came to New York city in 1850 
and engaged in the furniture bus'iness. He was a carver by trade, having learned 
in the old country. After a short stay in New York city the family removed to Troy, 
where Mr. Rombach worked at his trade; he was a Mason; he died in 1870 and Mrs. 
Rombach died in 1886; also the two daughters Sophia Helen and Mary Magdalena, 
leaving only one of the number, Ophelia F. B. Rombach. At the age of twelve 
years Ophelia Rombach was employed in the collar manufactory of Smith & House 
and soon became forewoman, remaining about five years, when being offered a better 
position, she engaged as forewoman for Tim & Co., where she had charge of all the 
works ; she remained with them until she married Dr. Lyle A. Howell, son of Albert 
L. and Ellen Homer Howell of Mohawk. Mr. Howell is a dentist by profession. 
They have one daughter, Lura Alice Sophia Howell. In 1884 Mrs. O. F. Howell 
purchased the Burden Lake Hotel, now known as The Howell, or Lakeside Innf it 
has been rebuilt and greatly enlarged and improved, and is one of the finest summer- 
resort houses among the lakes of the town ; the fishing is excellent, and guests re- 
ceive first class accommodations. 

Fike, Enos, was born m Nassau, August 30, 1850. He was a son of Peter and 
Sophia (Sheller) Fiske the former born in Germany and the latter in Holland; he 
came to Nassau m 1843 at the age of eighteen years, and she came in 1842 at the age 
of ten years; they settled on the farm now owned by Enos in 1864, and here he died 
in 1891. Enos Fike, with the excepti(m of nine years spent in Castleton, has spent 
his life in Nassau. November 15, 1871, he married Marriett Clark of Nassau, by 
whom five children were born: Emma S., who was educated in the common schools 
and Albany, is now engaged in teaching; Elmer C. is in the employ of the Albany 
& Boston Railroad; Abbie M., who is also a teacher; Ira P. and Willard E. are at 
home. Mrs. Fike is a daughter of Shubel and Abigail M. (Curtis) Clark. Mr. Clark 
was a son of Richard A., a son of a Revolutionary soldier. Mr. Clark died May 19, 
1889. 

McKenna, James T., M. D., was born at West Troy, July 23, 1863, and is a son 
of John and Mary B. (Mclntyre) McKenna. John McKenna was born in Ireland and 
came to this country in 1850, .settled in West Troy and is a blacksmith by trade; in 



124 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

1870 he was elected superintendent of the police of Troy, which position he held for 
fifteen years; he was lieutenant-colonel, 24th regiment N. G. S. N. Y. ; he is now 
agent for a Kentuckey distilling house. James T. was educated in the public schools 
and was graduated from the Troy High School in 1880. He received the degree of 
A. B. from Williams College in 1884, and was one of the orators at commencement 
day and received the degree of A. M. from the same college in 1887, and the degree 
of M. D. from the Albany Medical College m 1896, and has the honor of being one 
of the members in the United States of the Cobden Club, of London, England. In 
September, 1884, he was elected third male assistant of the Troy High School, and 
in 1886 was promoted to first asssistant, having charge of the classics. In 1891 he 
was elected principal and resigned in February, 1896, to take up the practice of 
medicine. He was elected instructor in physiology in April, 1896, at the Albany 
Medical College. He opened an office for the practice of medicine, June 1, 1896. He 
is a member of the Rensselaer County Medical Association, the Doctors' Club, and 
is medical examiner for the Knights of Columbus, and was a member of the Robert 
Emmett Association, and of the Troy Citizens Corps for many years. In April, 1885, 
he married Rose Duffy, of Troy, by whom three children have been born : Nellie, 
Walter and Rose. 

Edward, Brother, was born in Scranton, Pa., November 29, 1854. In his early 
years he attended the public schools and afterwards St. John's Academy, of Pitts- 
ton, Pa. He was destined by his parents to follow in the footsteps of an uncle, a 
physician of much note in that locality, but this proved distateful to him and he 
entered upon the duties of a commercial life, which he pursued but a short time, and 
in October, 1874, he entered the order of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. After 
passing through the ordeal of the novitiate and training school of the Brothers, he 
was sent to teach in one of their schools in New York city. In less than two years 
he was made principal and acted in that capacity until 1888, when he became assist- 
ant director of the De La Salle Institute, one of the largest academies of the order 
in New York city. In 1890 the principalship of La Salle Institute of Troy becoming- 
vacant. Brother Edward was sent by his superiors to assume charge of the institute, 
and in this capacity he has shown himself to be a most successful instructor and 
manager. Shortly after taking charge of La Salle In.stitute, Brother Edward wish- 
ing to successfully compete with the high schools and academies of the State, applied 
to the University of the State for admission; and after the regular requirements 
were complied with, the school took its first examination in June, 1891 ; the results 
were far below his expectations, but this did not dishearten him. Gathering around 
him his confreres he infused into them his own spirit and at the close of the follow- 
ing scholastic year, he had the distinguished honor of seeing La Salle Institute 
receive the highest academic honors ever granted by the L^niverrsty of the State of 
New York. This distintion it has continued successively to hold from June, 1892, to 
the present time, June, 1896. Brother Edward is still in the prime of life, and is 
possessed of untiring activity and will no doubt continue to make his influence felt in 
the cause of education. 

Gottschalk, Charles, was born in Bavaria, Germany, October 22, 18:53. He was 
educated m the schools there, and was by occupation a coachman. September 6, 
1861, he married Christina Ropke, of his native place, by whom he has had six chil- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 125 

dren: Ida H., Minnie E., Endumun C, Charles F., Bertha S., and Emma M., who 
was born in the. United States. The family came to this country in 1871 and located 
in Lansingburgh, N. Y. Ida H. married Frederick Hiller; they have five children 
living: Frederick, jr., Charles, Albert, Randolph, and Henrietta. Minnie E. mar- 
Jacob Spears, and they have two children; Bertha J. and Edna. Charles, jr., mar- 
ried Lena Sage, they have one son, Harold. 

Hammann, Conrad, son of Conrad and Elizabeth (Fike) Hammann, was born in 
Darmstadt, Germany, January 2, 1849, came to America with his parents in 1854 
and was educated in the Albany public schools, working summers to enable him to 
study winters. In 1864 he learned the barber's trade with George Helt, in Albany, 
where he remained two and a half years. In 1867 he came to Troy and worked for 
George Steenberg until 1871, when on May 1 he started in business for himself at 
No. 8 State street. March 3, 1878, he sold out and returned to Mr. Steenberg's and 
on April 9, 1881, he opened his present barber shop. Mr. Hammann is a member of 
Harmensinger Germanliloches and in 1869 was elected a member of Athenia Lodge 
No. 96, I. O. O. F., but left it the same year to become a charter member of Rhein 
Lodge No. 248, I. O. O. F. ; he is a member of Augusta Lodge of Rebecca, I. O. O. 
F. and was a member of America Lodge No. 37, K. P., until the charter was surren- 
dered, when he joined Guttenberg Lodge No. 112, of which he has held every office 
up to and including that of chancellor. In 1882 he joined King Solomon's Primitive 
Lodge No. 91, F. & A. M., Bloss Council No. 15, K. T. and has attained all the 
Scottish Rite degrees, including the thirty second; he is also a member of Oriental 
Temple, Nobles of Mystic Shrine; he is an honorably discharged member of Co. K, 
24th Regt., which disbanded in 1879 and is a member of the Mannerchor Singing 
Society. July 13, 1868, he married Rebe Toxina, daughter of Charles Rhodes, of 
Troy. She died July 24, 1892, and August 29, 1893, he married Julia Rupp, widow 
of Andrew Ford. He had two children by his first wife, Conrad, jr., who married 
Catharine Boyce of Troy, April 15, 1896, and Daisy R., who was married to Herman 
F. Pussut, in February, 1892. 

Quinn, James T., was born in Troy, N. Y., in March, 1855. He is the son of 
Michael and Esther (Dougdale) Quinn, who came to Troy in 1846. His father died 
in 1888 and his mother in 1883. He was educated at the public schools, afterwards 
learned the carpenter's trade, and in 1882 started a liquor store on Third street and 
remained in it till 1895, when he started a confectionery store in the same place 
where he is still doing business. After being alderman from the Eleventh ward for 
seven years he resigned and was elected general assessor, which office he now holds. 
He is a member of the Osgood Steamer Co., the Pilnser Democratic Club and several 
other organizations. He was married October 22, 1894, to Miss Katie Cusack. 

Dunn, Patrick, was born in Wicklow, Ireland, March 17, 1845. He was a son of 
John Dunn and Jane Roche, both of whom lived and died in Ireland. The former 
died in 1872 and the latter in 1853. The paternal grandfather of Patrick was George 
Dunn, whose wife was Mary Burns. His maternal grandfather was Charles Roche 
and his wife was Ann Dunn. The great-grandfather Dunn was a farmer in Ireland, 
and the farm he owned is now occupied by William, a brother of Patrick Dunn, and 
has been in the family over three hundred years. Patrick Dunn came to America 



126 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

in 1865, settled in East Greenbush, and has since followed farming in North Green- 
bush. He has a farm of about eighty acres one mile from Albany and keeps a dairy 
of thirty-five cows. In 1872 he married Hannah, a daughter of John Grady and 
Catharine Dunnivan, both of Limerick, Ireland; they emigrated to America in 1844 
and first settled in Danby, Yt. ; Mr. Grady died in New York city in 1895, and Mrs. 
Grady, now seventy-five years of age, resides with Mr. Dunn. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Dunn have been born ten children, but four of whom are living: Jane, Kate, Sarah 
and Dennis. Mrs. Dunn died at her residence in Blooming Grove, August IS, 1S96. 

Mills, Thomas, was born in Scotland, May 3, 1816. He was educated in their 
schools, and was a confectioner by occupation. He located for a short time in New 
York and Brooklyn, and while there took a pleasure trip on the Hudson as far as 
Lansingburgh. where he found an opening for the business. The date of his arrival 
in the United States was April 14, 1842. He has had a successful business here for 
fifty-four years. He was married twice, first in 1842 to Isabelle Reid of his native 
place. She died here soon after their arrival, and for his second wife he married 
Helen Reid, a sister of his fir.st wife, by whom four children have been born : Isabella; 
Franklin P ; James R., who died at the age of twelve; and Margaret, who died in 
her fourth year. Isabella married James H. Jewett of Buffalo, and Franklin P. mar- 
ried Ada Balcom of Troy, by whom two children have been born: Thomas and 
Helen. He is a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 58, F. & A. M., and of Phoenix Chap- 
ter No. 33, R. A. M. Franklin P. is a member of Jerusalem Lodge No. 355. The 
ancestry of the family on both sides is Scotch. 

Gibbs, Luman H., was born in Boyntonville, Rensselaer county, N. Y., May 22, 
1839. His education was obtained in the public schools and he had a variety of occu- 
pations: farmer, cooper, manufacturer of linseed oil, merchant, and commission 
merchant in flour and extras in Troy N. Y.. for wenty-eight years. August 1, 
1891, he became associated with E. J. Powers of Wilmington, N. C , in the manu- 
facturing of a high grade fertilizer, under the firm name of Powers, Gibbs & Co. 
For the past four years he has been treasurer of the Cable Flax Mills of Schaght- 
icoke, N. Y. He is now a resident of Johnsonville, N. Y. He was married twice; 
first, on May 22, 1868, to Elizabeth Yetto, of Troy. They had six children ; two 
daughters and one son survive: Marie E., Rosalie E., and Lafayette A. Mrs. Gibbs 
died February 21, 1878. For his second wife on July 5, 1880, he married Mary E. 
Yetto of Troy, N. Y. They have three children; Leo C, William S. and Gertrude 
M. Mr. Gibb's father, Benjamin, was born in Connecticut in 1799 and came with 
his parents to this State when a boy. He was educated in the schools of that time, 
and was a carpenter by trade. He married Matilda Geer, formerly of Connecticut. 
They had five children: Lydia A.. Emily F., Albert B., Luman H. and Adeline M. 
Benjamin Gibbs died in 1888, and his wife in 1882. Mr. Gibbs is a member of King 
Solomon Primitive Lodge No. 91, F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter No. 48, R. A. M., and 
Bloss Council No. 13, R. & S. M. 

Fuller, Charles L., was born in South Berlin, September 4, 1864, is the son of 
Henry E. Fuller, born in Petersburgh, December 9, 1830. He was one of three 
children, two daughters and one son, born to Lewis Fuller, also a native of Peters- 
burgh, born July 9, 1S06; he was the son of Amos Fuller, a native of Nine Paitners, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 127 

Conn. He was a farmer and a pioneer of Petersburgh, settled in the wilderness, 
cleared hira a farm and here he spent his last days. Lewis, the grandfather, was 
also a farmer, and removed to South Berlin, where he spent his life in farming; his 
wife was Sarah Wilcox; he died January 25, 1888. Henry E., the father, came to 
South Berlin in 1861 and engaged in the general mercantile business which he con ■ 
ducted until 1873, when he engaged in farming, which business he followed until 
1883; he also dealt in agricultural implements. In 1869 he was appointed post- 
master, which office he filled until his death, which occurred June 8, 1894. He was 
a Republican in politics. His wife was Jeanette Lapham, a native of Adams, Mass., 
and daughter of Daniel and Lucy (Hull) Lapham. Their children were Charles L. 
and Fannie H. His wife survives him and resides in South Berlin. Mr. Fuller was 
an active member and liberal contributor of the Baptist church, as was also his 
father and grandfather. Charles L. spent his life with his father on the farm and in 
the store. Since his father's death he has conducted the mercantile business in con- 
nection with four farms consisting of 438 acres on which he makes a specialty of 
raising Guernsey cattle, having some fine thoroughbreds and a large number of 
grades. He is an enterprising and successful young man in politics. He has offi- 
ciated as inspector four terms and is now holding the office of assessor in his town, 
and is also school trustee and a member of the American Protective -association. 

Hull, Daniel J., a representative citizen of the town of Berlin, was born in this 
town on the Hull homestead in 1844. Daniel Hull, his great-grandfather, was a 
native of Connecticut, he settled in Berlin in 1772 bringing his family with him. 
Major Daniel his grandfather, was born in town of Redding, Conn. , in 1762 ; he grew 
to prominence in the town of Berlin in the military; held various offices up to a ma- 
jor's commission, by which title he was generally known. He was one of the political 
men of the old school, affiliating with the Federalists; a frequent member in con- 
ventions representing his people in State and county, and a member of the Legisla- 
ture. He was a strong advocate of freeman's rights; unambitious, acting from 
principles of duty that he owed to his fellowman, a promoter of arts and sciences, a 
friend to the oppressed ; when the Declaration of Independence was received he read 
it for the first time, publicly, in the Valley of the Hoosick to the inhabitants of this 
part of the country who had assembled at this place to hear it read ; he was an active 
worker in raising troops for the Revolutionary army and later took part himself and 
was at the surrender of Burgoyne, his son, Hezekiah, being with him; he was a mag- 
istrate for many years; he died August 26, 1811; age had impaired his intellectual 
powers and for several years before his death he was incapable of attending to busi- 
ness; he reared three sons and one daughter. Benjamin Hull, the father of Daniel 
J., was born on the same Hull homestead in 1787; he spent his entire life on the 
homestead which he later owned; he was thrifty, ambitious and prosperous and in 
politics a staunch Republican ; his wife was Maria Jones, who was born in Berlin, a 
daughter of James Jones and granddaughter of Major James Jones of Revolutionary 
war fame; they reared two sons and four daughters; he died in 1869 and his wife in 
1883. Mr. Hull is the youngest of his father's family. He remained on the home- 
stead, cared for his parents during their old age and until their death, and later 
owned the home farm where he resided until 1891, when he sold his farm and re- 
tired to the village of Berlin. Mr. Hull has been prominently identified with the 



128 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Republican party for many years; his first public office was in 1870 when he acted as 
justice of the peace, and since then has been elected supervisor seven terms, in 
which capacity he is now serving; at one time he filled the office for five successive 
years. He was president of the Republican Club for three years, is a member of 
the Berlin Chess Club, and a prominent and active man in all town and public affairs 
appertaining to the welfare of his country. In lS6o he was married to Miss Adelaide 
Denison. She was a native of Stephentown and daughter of Pardee Denison and 
granddaughter of Col. George T. Denison, who was assemblyman from his district. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Hull were born three children : Arthur D. , Louis, and Daniel Streeter. 
Arthur is a resident of Rome, Ga., where he is manager of a manufacturing com- 
pany. Mrs. Hull died January, 1891, much lamented ; she was a member of the Bap- 
tist church. Mr. and Mrs. Hull were noted for their hospitality and as entertainers 
they were always ready for company and the company was always welcome. 

Canfield, Thomas. — One of the highly esteemed citizens of Hoosick Falls for the 
last quarter of a century, and for about the same length of time an efficient trusted 
employee of Walter A. Wood Company is Mr. Thomas Canfield, whose recent occii- 
pancy of the village presidential chair is but one proof of his personal popularity. 
He was born in Ireland in 18-49; in 1866 made his residence in Troy until 1870, when 
he located in Hoosick Falls, therefore being a resident twenty-six years. He is by 
trade an iron molder, and also operates a general store at Elm and Third streets. 
He married in 1872 Miss Mary A. Mulcahy of Troy, who is the mother of twelve 
children of whom all but three are living, a large and interesting family. Mr. Can- 
field is an earnest advocate of temperance principles, and was for many years offi- 
cially connected with the Father Mathew Society as president and as treasurer. His 
administration of village atfairs was characterized by economy, honesty, and sole 
regard for the public good. 

Welch, Edgar A., was born at Pownal Vt., August 17, 1837, son of Josiah Welch, 
a farmer and who was also born in that town. The first American ancestors of this 
family were from Holland, and settled in Connecticut. His great-grandfather fought 
in the Revolutionary war, was taken prisoner by the British at the battle of Hub- 
bardton, Vt., made his escape and rejoined the federal forces at the battle of Ben- 
nington, Vt. Mr. Welsh is also a descendant of the famous Baptist preacher known 
far and near as " Elder Bennett." He is a veteran railroad man having entered the 
employ of the Troy & Boston Railroad at a time when a horse was used to pull cars 
between Hoosick Falls and Hoosick Junction. He worked his way steadily toward 
the top; among the various positions held, we mention, two years in the depot at 
North Adams, several years as brakeman, two years as general baggage master at 
Troy and eight years as conductor on a train between Troy and Rutland. He was 
also station agent at Williamstown, Mass , and Hoosick Falls. While engaged in 
coupling cars in 1871, at Valley Falls, he was severaly injured. In 1881 he relin- 
quished life on the rail, and was five years foundry foreman for the Hoosick Mallea- 
ble Iron Co. In 1887 he opened a store for the sale of meats, fish and oysters, in 
which business he is now engaged. Mr. Welch has been twice married and has 
three children, Frances lone, the wite of Capt. C. W. Eddy, Elmer E. and Bertha 
May, the wife of Clarence B. Solomon. His first wife and mother of his children 
was Sarah Daniels of Hoosick Falls. Her death occurred on the fiftieth anniversary 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 129 

of her birth, and in the house where she was born. His second wife was Annie E. 
Sweet, with whom he is now living. Mr. Welch is a member of the First Baptist 
church, a member of Apollo Lodge F. & A. M., of Troy, N. Y., Democratic in poli- 
tics. He has read the Troy Press for forty years. 

Akin, Oliver, was born in East Greenbush September 9, 1856, and is a son of Fred- 
erick W. and Ann (Doughty) Akin, he a native of Greenbush and she of Dutchess 
county. The grandfather, William Akin, came from Dutchess county and purchased 
a large tract of land in Rensselaer county near Greenbush. Mr. F. W. Akin was 
reared in Greenbush and has always followed farming. He died in 1879 and his wife 
died in 1878. After the death of Mr. Akin the farm was carried on by a son of Fred- 
erick W. who carried on a large milk business. He died in 1892. Oliver was reared 
on his father's farm, and in 1884 he married Josephine Prepenbrink, daughter of 
Frederick and Johanna Prepenbrink, natives of Germany, came with his family to 
America when quite young. He was a decorator and upholsterer by trade. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Akin was born one daughter. Mr. Akin now carries on the homestead 
farm of 125 acres of land and keeps about fifty cows. 

De Freest, Frank, was born August 14, 1855. He is a son of John A. and Elenor 
(Manville) De Freest. He was born in Troy, January 16, 1826, and she was born in 
North Greenbush in 1826. The parents of John A. were Abram and Lizzie (Marble) 
De Freest, both natives of Rensselaer county. The father of Abram was David 
De Freest. John A. De Freest bought the farm in 1847 and here died in 1894. The 
parents of Elenor Manville were Jonas and Mary (Wheeler) Manville, he a native of 
Amsterdam and she of Troy. He followed farming in North Greenbush where he 
died in 1888, at the age of ninety- eight years. His wife, Mary Wheeler, died in 
1873, aged seventy-six years. To Mr. and Mrs. John A. De Freest have been born 
three sons and two daughters: Llewellyn, farmer of North Greenbush; Mary L,, 
wife of John Cipperly; Abram and Franklin run the homestead farm and keep a 
dairy of thirty-two cows and buy and sell milk. They and their father have been in 
the milk business for thirty-five years. Mr. De Freest is a member of Silver Brook 
Lodge No. 722, L O. O. F., at Wynantskill. 

Denison, D. Oscar, was born in Berlin, May 1, 1840. He is a son of Albert G., 
a .son of Daniel Denison, who lived and died in Berlin at the age of eighty-six 
years. Albert G. was born, lived and died in Berlin and was a farmer. He was in- 
ternal revenue collector under Lincoln's administration. He died in 1864 and his 
wife, Catherine Jones, died in July, 1885. Mr. Denison was reared in Berlin, and 
was educated there and in the select schools of Petersburgh. He left home when 
nineteen years of age to clerk in the county clerk's office, J. Thomas Davis being 
county clerk at that time. He was there about three years and then went on a farm 
for a short time. December 1, 1862, he came to Greenbush and engaged in the 
grocery and hai-dware business with Griswold Denison, who was also postmaster. 
Mr. Denison and his partner after two years were burned out and D. Oscar Denison 
engaged in the ice business for one year in Greenbush ; then he went to New York 
and was in the ice business for about three years, and was also in the trucking busi- 
ness for two years. He came to Greenbush in 1872 and entered into partnership 
with T. Miles & Co. ; T. Miles was father-in-law of Mr. Denison. Mr. Miles died in 
q 



130 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

1878, but his sons, William T. and James 1. Miles, and Mr. Denison continue the 
business under the same name. The wife of Mr. Denison was Maria E. Miles; they 
were married in 1865 and have two children: Oscar M. and Susan M. Mr. Denison 
has been trustee of the village for two terms, and has been for eight years trustee 
of school district No. 1. In 1895 he was elected police justice and took the office 
January 1, 1896. In 1896 he was elected civil justice and will take office January 1 
1897. 

Vandenburg, Cornelius N., was born in Troy in 1826. He was a son of Cornelius 
M. and Catherine (Frank) Vandenburg. The grandfather of Mr. Vandenburg was 
Matthias, who settled on the farm now owned by Mr. Vandenburg. C. M. Vanden- 
burg was born and reared on the farm and spent most of his life there. He died in 
1868 and Mrs. Vandenburg died in 1881. Mr. Vandenburg has always carried on 
general farming and dairying. He and his wife have a farm of 100 acres and keep 
a dairy of thirty cows. In 1851 he married Harriet, a sister of David Phillips. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Vandenburg were born seven children: John and Otis, on the home- 
stead; Arba, in Gordinier's store in Troy; Harriet, deceased; Mary, wife of James 
Farrell, a lawyer of Troy. 

Worthington, Albert, was born in the city of Troy, December 28, 1847, and is a 
son of Lynus P. and Hannah L. (Haner) Worthington, he a native of Grafton and 
she of Sand Lake. The grandparents, John and Lovisa (Robinson) came from Con- 
necticut to Grafton at an early day and engaged in farming. Lynus P. Worthing- 
ton was reared on the farm in Grafton, and commenced farming and then went into 
the grocery business in Troy and spent his last days in North Greenbush, on the 
farm now owned by Albert, where he died August 8, 1882. Mr. Worthington was 
justice of the peace and supervisor of Grafton. Albert was educated at Lansing- 
burgh Academy. In 1882 he married Sarah E., daughter of William and Mariah 
Ostrander, he a native of North Greenbush and she of East Greenbush. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Worthington have been born two children: Lena B. and Edgar L. Mr. 
Worthington owns the farm of eighty-seven acres and keeps from eighteen to twenty 
cows. 

Koon, Alfred, was born in North Greenbush, June 26, 1855. He was the son of 
Alfred Koon and Delia Sharp, both natives of North Greenbush. His paternal 
grandparents, Henry and Ann (Lansing) Koon, were both born in Rensselaer county. 
Henry Koon was a farmer, lawyer, and judge, and served in the militia in the war 
of 1813; he was a large owner of real estate, part of which was a tract of 200 acres, 
located in that part of the city of Troy now occupied by Pawling, Maple and Pine 
Woods avenues, and justly esteemed by many to be the most beautiful portion of- 
the city. Henry was the son of John Koon who came to Greenbush at a very early 
day and owned a large tract of land near Wynantskill. The parents of Delia Koon 
were Frederic and Mary (Kenter) Sharp. The father of Frederic Sharp was Peter 
Sharp, a pioneer of North Greenbush and a Revolutionary soldier; his wife was 
Catharine Barringer. The oldest brother of Mary Kenter entered the Revolutionary 
army as a drummer boy at the age of twelve years, but being of unusual size and 
strength was soon placed in the ranks; he survived the war living to the age of 
ninety and becoming a man of wealth and the progenitor of a large family. A 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 131 

j-ounger brother of the above served in the war of 1812 and lost his life at the mem- 
orable battle of Lake Erie September 10, 1813. Alfred Koon the elder was born 
November 1, 1809, and died July 23, 1872; he was a farmer, dairyman and stock- 
dealer, held the office of postmaster at Wynantskill and in his early manhood was 
lieutenant-colonel of the 155th Regt. of State Infantry, his commission signed by 
Governor Marcy being still in the possession of the family. Delia Koon was born 
February 21, 1812, and is still living. Alfred Koon, the younger, was educated at 
Cazenovia Seminary and resides with his mother on the home farm at the village of 
Wynantskill. The farm, which is fertile and carefully tilled, is pleasantly located 
on the south bank of the beautiful stream known as the Wynantskill; the buildings 
are large and commodious and in perfect repair. The Troy and New England Elec- 
tric railway passes through the farm givmg easy and pleasant access to the city of 
Troy, whose eastern boundary is only one mile away. In addition to general farm- 
ing Mr. Koon carries on the business of market gardenmg, and as agent, has the 
care of his mother's property. 

McDonnell, George J., was born in Troy, N. Y., May 8, 1868. His father is Fran- 
cis McDonnell, who for many years with John Ryan carried on an extensive carpet 
business in Troy, N. Y., and who subsequently became associated with William Cox 
in the boot and shoe business in this city, under the name of McDonnell & Cox. Mr. 
McDonnell in September, 1886, entered Holy Cross College, Worcester, Mass., and 
graduated from that institution in 1890, receiving the degree of A. B. He taught 
school for two years at the Amsterdam Academy at Amsterdam, N. Y. ; at the same 
time he studied law with Westbrook, Borst & Perkins of that place ; he was admitted to 
the bar in 1892. He then accepted the position of managing clerk for the law firm 
of Merritt & Ryan of Troy and continued with that firm until shortly before the death 
of Mr. Ryan. He then formed a partnership with Henderson Peck under the fiyn 
name of Peck & McDonnell. Mr. McDonnell is a memberof the Troy Citizens Corps 
and the Arba Read Steamer Co. In politics he has always been a Democrat and has 
made many speeches in the interests of his party. 

Flack, Frank M., was born in Flackville, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., July 8, 1845. 
He is of Scotch-Irish descent. His father, Benjamin W., was born in Flackville, 
and was manj' years a justice of the peace. He tiied January 17, 1891. His mother, 
Augusta Ann (Forsyth) Flack, was born in Lisbon, N. Y., and is at present living in 
Flackville. Frank M. was educated in the public schools and went to Chicago, where 
he remained for one year, and in 1865 came to Lansingburgh, where he was a clerk 
in a hardware store for one year. He then took a course m the business college, and 
in the spring of 1867 was employed by Sydney D. Tucker as bookkeeper, and was a 
partner m the concern from 1876 to 1887, and since that time has been in charge of 
the office work. He belongs to all the Masonic bodies. In January, 1877, he was 
married to Frankie M. Long, of Troy. 

Speck, Henry J., was born in Troy, N. Y., December 7, 1867. He attended both 
public and private schools. He studied law with Gale, Alden & King and at the age 
of twenty-one was admitted to the bar in February, 1889, and the same year was 
taken into the firm, Mr. Gale having retired, under the firm name of Alden, King & 
Speck, which was continued some years. Later Mr. Alden retired and the firm con- 



132 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

tinued under the firm name of King & Speck until Mr. King's removal to Massachu- 
setts in 1895. He belongs to the Troy, East Side and City clubs. 

Otis, Major George H., was born in Halifax, Vt., January 27. 1830, and came to 
Troy with his parents in September of the same year. He is a descendant in a 
a direct line of John Otis, who was born in England and settled in Hingham, Mass., 
in 1635. Stephen of the fifth generation was born in 1738 and was in the French 
war under General Putnam and was also in the Revolutionary war. Stephen of the 
sixth generation was a member of the Vermont Legislature and died March 16, 
1859. Chandler Otis, the father of George, was born April 6, 1803, and married 
Mary Miner of Massachusetts in 1828. He died from injuries received by a fall 
during the building of the Union depot in Troy February 25, 1854. His mother died 
in July, 1876. Major Otis after receiving his education entered a hardware .store 
and later entered the employ of the old Troy Steamboat Company and was in New 
York city in the dry goods business until June, 1852. At the breaking out of the 
Rebellion he raised Co. C, 2d N. Y. Vols., and left May 18, 1861, for the front as 
captain of the same. On July 27, 1861, he was promoted to the rank of major and 
served with the 2d Regiment until after the battle of Malvern Hill, when he was 
obliged to resign on account of his health being poor. He was a member of the 
Old Troy Citizens Corps, and from 1870 to 1877 was inspector on Brigadier-General 
Alden's staff with rank of major. He was thirty-one years bookkeeper in the office 
of the John A. Griswold Steel and Iron Company. He is a charter member of Post 
Griswold, G.A.R., LO.O.F. and Mt. Zion Lodge No. 311, F. &A. M. He isalsoa mem- 
ber of the Third Army Corps Union, and the Society of the Army of the Potomac. 
September 6, 1853, he married Miss Cordelia S. Babcock of Rochester, N. Y.. who 
died in December, 1882. His present wife was Mrs. Marian Van Arnam, to whom 
he was married April 24, 1884. He has one son and one daughter by bis first wife. 

McWhinnie, Dr. Henry, was born in Chateauguay county, province of Quebec, 
Canada, May 16, 1865, and received his early education at Ormstown. He remained 
on the farm until 1880 when he became an apprentice to the blacksmith's trade in 
Missisquoi county, Canada. In 1884 he entered Huntington Academy and in 1886 
matriculated as a student in the medical department of McGill University in Mon- 
treal, from which he was graduated in 1889. While studying, he followed his trade 
of blacksmith summers, earning partly enough in this way to put himself through 
college. In 1889 he removed to Troy, where he has built up a successful practice as 
a veterinarian. He joined Chateauguay Lodge No. 86, O. <& R., December 25, 1888, 
and affiliated with Apollo Lodge, F. & A. M., of Troy in 1890. He is also a mem- 
ber of Bloss Council, Apollo Commandery and Oriental Nobles of the Mystic Shrine ; 
he is a member of the New York State Veterinary Medical Society, the United 
States Veterinary Medical Society and the McGill University Veterinary Society, 
and an honorary member of the Montreal Psychological Society. May 7, 1890, he 
married Wilhelmina, daughter of Creighton Cassidy and sister of Rev. Creighton 
Cassidy of Montreal. 

Peoble, Charles W., was born in Clermont county, Ohio. November 19, 1827, and 
learned the trade and worked at chairmaking for five years, and for many years was 
employed in the furniture business as manager and salesman for Robert Green j 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 133 

from 1868 until 1807 rau a furniture business of his own. He was burned out in 1867, 
and for ten years was employed by VV. M. Whitney &■ Co., Albany, as manager of 
their furniture department. He became connected with the fire department June 5, 
1845, as a member of Cataract Engine Company No. 8, and continued with that 
company, with the exception of two years, until January 18, 1856. when he joined what 
is now Trojan H. & L. Company No. 3, serving with that company for thirty- four 
years, when he resigned March 27, 1890; was appointed clerk of the Board of Fire 
Commissioners March 1, 1875, which position he still occupies; and is a member of 
the Exempt Firemen's Association. He is a member and past master of King Solo- 
mon's Primitive Lodge No. 91, F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter No. 48 R. A. M., Bloss 
Council No. 14 R. & S. M.. and 33 member of the Supreme Council A. & S. Rite U. 
S. A. In 1849 he married Henrietta Luce of Cohoes, who died in 1885. His present 
wife is Catherine Shipperman of Amsterdam and his children are Mrs. J. W. Ben- 
nett of Harvey, 111. : Mrs. J. A. F. Bosworth of Philadelphin ; Fred G. Peoble who is 
in the furniture business in Cincinnati, and Robert Green Peoble who is a traveling 
salesman. 

Quigley, John H., son of Thomas and Mary (Devine) Ouigley, was born in Schuy- 
lerville, Saratoga county, October 11, 1860, and was educated in the public schools 
at Victory Mills, where he lived with his grandmother after his mother's death in 
July, 1862. He also attended St. Peter's Sisters school in Troy. After a few years 
spent in Saratoga and Schuylerville, he went to Greenwich, Washington countj^ 
where for three years he was clerk of the Central House, under George Dawley, pro- 
prietor, with whom he went to Schuylerville when he purchased the Goldsmith 
House, now the Schuyler House; soon after he purchased a restaurant in Schuyler- 
ville and finally went West for a short time. He returned to Troy in May, 1884, and 
on September 15, engaged in business with George Dorian, at the foot of Broad xvay, 
where he remained until Mr. Dorian's death in 1886. August 31, 1889, he purchased 
his present restaurant. May 13, 1886, he married Ella E., daughter of Arthur M. 
Moynihan, of Greenwich, N. Y., and they have four children; Mary A., James J., 
Johanna and Helen. 

Manss, Frederick H., son of John and Catharine (Meisch) Manss, who were born 
near Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, was born in Troy, January 15, 1864, received 
his education in the public and high schools and took further tuition under J. T. Mc- 
Kenna, formerly principal of the Troy High School. May 19, 1876, he secured a 
position in the passenger department of the Troy and Boston Railroad, where he 
became chief clerk. He resigned this position in 1885 to accept that of night ticket 
agent in the office of the N. Y. C. & H. R. R. R. at Troy, where he remained two 
year.s. In 1887 when the joint office was formed, he was appointed ticket agent for 
the several lines forming the Troy Union Company which position he now holds. 
Mr. Manss is a member of the Old Guard of the Troy Citizens Corps; he is a Mason 
and a member of Apollo Commandery No. 15, K. T. In October, 1887, he married 
Caroline L. Fenn, of Rutland, Vt., who died December 19, 1893, leaving one son: 
Paul Herman. 

Treanor, John P., son of John B'. aud Margaret (Donnelly) Treanor, was born in 
Abbottsford, Province of Quebec, Canada, March 15, 1866. In 1870 became to Troy 



134 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

with his parents and was educated in the pubhc schools. He learned carriage black- 
smithing and followed that trade for seven years, with Martin Payne and the Gilbert 
Car Works, on Green Island. In 1890 he was appointed agent and later assistant 
superintendent of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, which latter position 
he held about two years. He was selected by the faculty of the La Salle Institute 
of Troy, N. Y., as military instructor in November, 1892, and assisted in forming 
the present batallion of cadets; he retained this position until October. 1895, when 
he resigned, on account of business; he also instructed the students of St. Joseph's 
Parochial School in the elementary principles of military tacticsin 1892. In October, 
1893, he was appointed a clerk in the adjutant-general's ofhce at Albany, where he 
remained one year. In July, 1894, he was appointed letter carrier at the Troy office, 
by postmaster M. F. Sheary, which position he still holds. He is a member and 
trustee of Byron Council C. B. L., a member of the choir and Young Men's Sodality 
of St. Joseph's church, of the Alumni Association of the La Salle Institute and an 
honorary member of the Tibbitts Cadets. January 30, 1895, he married Mary E., 
daughter of James Crowley, of Troy. 

Flynn, John, was born in Ireland, May 5, 1839, and came to America in 1848 with 
his father, his mother having died when he was six years of age. They settled in 
Troy. At the age of ten years John Flynn was working on a farm ; he next worked 
in a chair factory in Troy and again farmed for seven years; he was subsequently 
engaged on State and government works, building dykes, etc. In 18C3 he became 
connected with the ice business in which he is still engaged. He is now superin- 
tendent for the Consolidated Ice Company. On February 14, 1852, Mr. Flynn mar- 
ried Bridget Minnock ; they have a family of two sons and two daughters, namely, 
Frank Flynn, who is superintendent for the Yonkers Ice Company, and William 
Flynn; Mrs. Thomas Clinton and Mrs. William Thomas Clifford. Mr. Flynn was 
trustee of the village of Castleton two years; was elected president of the village in 
the spring of 1895, and was re-elected in 1896. He has the fullest confidence of all 
classes and is widely respected for his sound judgment, business ability and sterling 
integrity. 

Herrick, G. M., jr., was born in Schodack on the farm he now owns, April 22, 1851, 
a son of G. M. Herrick, sr. , and Lucretia (Dings) Herrick. G. M. , sr., was born in 
East Greenbush, June 9, 1803, and his wife was born in Columbia county, January 
19, 1812. The grandfather of Mr. Herrick came from Dutchess county to East 
Greenbush where he died. The father was a farmer; be came to Schodack in 1840 
and bought the farm Mr. Herrick now owns, and there died, January 9, 1874. Mrs. 
Herrick was a daughter of Adam Dings. To. Mr. and Mrs. Herrick were born five 
children:- William I., of Schodack Landing; Mary J., wife of Johnson Willard, of 
Wilmington, Del.; John A., of Schodack Landing; Maggie N., wife of James R. 
Downer, Castleton; and G. M., jr. G. M. Herrick, jr., was reared on a farm and 
received a common school education. He is a farmer and has 210 acres of land, 
where he lives, and his wife has a farm of 133 acres in Saratoga. January 27, 1875, 
he was married to Hattie A. Fry of Clifton Park, N. Y. To Mr. and Mrs. Herrick 
were born two sons: John W. , born September 28, 1878; and Herbert E., born Octo- 
ber 15, 1886. The parents of Mrs. Herrick were William and Hettie (Doty) Fry, 
both born in Clifton Park, he in 1817 and .she in 1820. They came from Saratoga 



FAMILY SKETCHES. l;{5 

to Schodack in 1886, where he died in 1891, and his widow lives in the town. His 
father was Michael Fry, one of the early settlers of Clifton Park. The father of G. 
M. Herrick, jr., was first cousin of Dr. Herrick. 

Hamilton, Roswell, was born in Athens, Greene, county. April 1, 1840. His ear- 
lier years were spent on the farm but while yet a boy he went into brickmaking and 
was so occupied from 1853 until 1861, when he first became connected with the ice 
business, entering the employ of the Knickerbocker Ice Co. of New York city. After 
being four years in the employ of this company he was made superintendent of one 
of their depots in New York, which position he filled for eight years. In 1872 he 
came to Schodack Landing and built their mammoth ice house for them. He then 
returned to New York as superintendent and remained until 1884 when he went to 
Schodack landing as superintendent for the company on the Hudson River, which 
position he .still holds. In 1858 Mr. Hamilton married Rachel J. Smith and they 
have a family of two daughters: Carrie E. Hamilton and Ethel, now Mrs. Harry 
Connolly. Mr. Hamilton is a prominent Mason and a member of the Odd Fellows. 
During his business career in New Y^ork he kept his residence in Athens and was 
for many years a member of the Board of Education and was twice president of the 
board; also served as president of the village for two years. His parents were J. B. 
and Lany (Saulsbury) Hamilton. His grandfather, Samuel Hamilton, was a Scotch- 
man and served in the Revolutionary war. 

Herrick, John A., was born in the town of Schodack, May 27, 1841, and has re- 
sided in Rensselaer county all his life. He was reared on a farm and at the age of 
twenty-two went into the forwarding business which he followed from 1863 until 
1873 when he sold out and embarked in mercantile business, starting the dry goods 
and grocery business which he still conducts. In 1864 Mr. Herrick married Mary L. 
Van Hoesen who died leaving three daughters: Carrie L. , Cora B., and Grace^E., 
now Mrs. William Kennedy. Mr. Herrick's father was G. M. Herrick, and his 
mother, Lucretia Dings. Mr. Herrick is a successful and enterprising business man 
and is a prohibitionist in politics. 

Butterworth, Charles F., was born in London, England, in 1836, where he learned 
the furrier's trade, and came to this country in 1857 with his father. Fred Butter- 
worth, also a furrier. His father died in 1862, and his mother, Elizabeth (Pige) 
Butterworth, died in 1894. Charles F. was engaged in the manufacture of furs m 
New York, and came to Troy in 1869 and was foreman for Mr. Boughton for several 
years, when he entered in partnership with H. Broughton, under the firm name of 
Broughton & Co. Three years later he started a business of his own at 259 River 
street, where he carried on the fur business. In 1863 he was a member of the 13th 
Regiment of Brooklyn National Guards and is now an honorary member of the Tib- 
bits Cadets. He belongs to King Solomon's Lodge, F. & A. M., to all the Masonic 
bodies of Troy, of the Albany Sovereign Consistory, and has been a member of the 
I. O. O. F. since 1859. In 1860 he married Catherine Rice of Brooklyn, and their 
children are Elizabeth J., Charles H., George P., Frederick G., Louise and Albert. 

Bussey, jr., Esek, was born in Troy, January 15, 1866. His grandfather on his 
mother's side was a major in the Continental army. His great-grandfather, 
Robert Cruinkshank, was born in 1800; he was appointed major of the militja by 



13G LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Governor Clinton; he died in 1892. His father, Esek Bussey, was born in Hoosick 
Falls and came to Troy in 1855, was with his father in a stove store on River street, 
and later with Charles A. McLeod formed the celebrated firm of Bussey & McLeod, 
stove manufacturers. Esek, jr., entered the Riverview Military Academy, from 
which he was graduated in 1886, and entered the firm of Bussey & McLeod in 1890, 
and is now secretary and superintendent of the works He is a member of the Esek 
Bussey Fire Company, of which he has been captain six years. June 16, 1892, he 
was married to Miss Eva Macy of Hudson, N. Y. 

Hutchms, Charles P., was born at Schuyler Lake, Otsego county, March 21, 1829, 
He is of English and German descent. His great-grandfather, William Hutchins, 
was a captain in the French and Indian wars, and was a resident of Bennington, 
Vt., at the time of the Revolutionary war and participated in the celebrated battle 
of that name. His father, the Rev. Stephen, was born in Otsego county and was a 
Baptist clergyman; he died in 1843. His mother was Mary (Zimmerman) Hutchins, 
born at Minden, Montgomery county, N. Y., and died in Utica in 1882. Charles P. 
attended the Bennington Academy, and at the age of fourteen entered a carpenter 
shop at Cooperstown, where he remained for three years. In 1846 he cam.e to Troy 
and worked for Z. E. Fobes, a prominent builder, for seven years. In 1858 he 
formed a partnership with John Shannahan, under the firm name of Shannahan & 
Hutchins. In 1860 he went in business for himself and since that time he has done 
an extensive building and jobbing trade and keeps a force of men employed all the 
year round. His first wife was Elizabeth Talmadge of Troy, who died in 1866. His 
present wife was Miss Mary Baldwin of Charlotteville, to whom he was married in 
1867. He has one son, J. Maynard Hutchins. 

Hislop, James W., was born in Troy, N.Y., February 3, 1860. His father, Thomas 
T. Hislop, was born near Glasgow, Scotland, and came to this country, settling in 
West Troy, where he worked in an iron foundry, and later came to Troy and was 
engaged as foreman in the Marshall foundry, where he remained for eighteen years, 
when he purchased the business and run it until his death, which occurred in 1880. 
The foundry manufactured machinery castings. His mother, Elizabeth Williams, 
was born in Wales, and came to this country when young; the foundry is now run 
in her name. Thej^ had ten children. James W. received his education in the 
public schools and the Business College of Troy, and learned the tinsmith's trade 
with H. Joice, where he remained seven years, and since his father's death he has 
had charge of the foundry ; they employ from fifteen to twenty moulders on an 
average and do all kinds of moulding and tinning on malleable, wrought and cast 
iron. He married in 1890 Ada C. Miller of Troy, a daughter of Abram Miller, a 
well-known hotel man of Albia. 

Hoffman, Heman F., was born in Brunswick, N. Y. , in 1847. He the son of 
Adam H. Hoffman who was a mason and died in 1875. His mother was Christina 
(Meyers) Hoffman of Troy who died in 1855. Heman received his education in the 
public schools of Brunswick and Troy and was in the U. S. navy from 1863 to 1865, 
after which he returned to Troy and learned the machinist trade and nine years later 
became connected with the wholesale and retail ice business of B. Cooper & Co. 
where he has been since. He belongs to Rensselaer Lodge No. 53, I. O. O. K. In 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 137 

1871 he was married to Julia Winne, who died in 1880. In 1883 he was married to 
Hannah Horton, who died in 1890. His present wife is Ouida Whipple, to whom 
he was married in August, 1893. He has two sons and one daughter. 

Sayles, John P., was born in Adams, Mass., April 11, 1811. He is a son of Nathan 
Sayles who was born at .Smithfield, R. I., in 1780, and died in 1860. His mother, 
Harty (Lippitt) Sayles, was born in Cheshire, Mass., in 1783, and died in 1858. John 
P., received his early education in Adams, Mass, and later learned the trade of 
cabinet making. He came to Troy in 1833 and for a time worked at this business, 
but soon took up the business of pattern making for the leading stove factories of 
Troy, including, Vedder, Davy, Inram & Phillips, Fuller & Warren, and other con- 
cerns of Troy. In 1844 he was married to Celia Wilmarth of Troy who died August 
28, 1896. They have one daughter, Mrs. George Hitchcock of Troy. 

Adt, L. F. , M. D., was born in Torrington, Conn., April 4, 1866. He received his 
education 'm the High School of Waterbury, Conn., and entered the Albany Medical 
College in 1889, graduating in 1892, afterwards studying for two years in France, 
Germany and England. He is a member of the Rensselaer County Medical Society, 
also of the Medical Society of Troy and Vicinity. He took a special three months' 
post-graduate course in the New York Polyclinic. He located in Troy, N. Y., Octo- 
ber 3, 1894. He is a specialist on the eye and ear, and is connected with the Troy 
Hospital, House of the Good Shepherd and the two orphan asylums of Troy. 

Stillman, Wait J., was born in Petersburgh, N. Y., in 1816, and is a son of David 
M. and .Susannah (Powers) Stillman, both natives of Petersburgh. His father died 
in 1825 and his mother in 1874. Wait J. attended the common schools and Benning- 
ton Academy, and for eleven years taught school in Brunswick and other places. 
For many years he was a dealer in horses, cattle, and sheep. He later engaged in 
farming and ran a mill. He moved to Troy in 1870 and entered the insurance busi- 
ness, and a few years later started a teaming business in connection with the insur- 
ance and real estate business, under the firm name of Stillman & Sons. Mr. Still- 
man is a Jeffersonian Democrat and a member of Apollo Lodge, F. & A. M. He 
married Sevena M. Haner, who died November 6, 1891, and his children are Wait 
H., Byron and Marie Antionette. Captain Wait H. Stillman, the eighth of the 
name, was born at West Sand Lake, June 14, 1850, and received his education in the 
district and boarding schools at West Sand Lake, the Troy Academy and the Troy 
Business College, and has been a member of the firm of Stillman Sc Sons since 1870. 
He was elected a member of the Troy Citizens Corps December 6, 1876; enlisted in 
the 6th Separate Company as private, January 22, 1877; promoted quartermaster- 
sergeant, March 6, 1877; reduced to sergeant on his request, January 11, 1878; hon- 
orably discharged at the expiration of his term, March 23, 1882 ; re-enlisted as pri- 
vate, March 27, 1882; promoted sergeant, March 31, 1882; first sergeant, February 
21, 1884; second lieutenant, December 13, 1888; first lieutenant. May 7, 1891, resigned, 
honorably discharged, February 14, 1893, and was commissioned captain, March 9, 
1893. He is a member of Mt. Zion Lodge, F. & A. M. and Apollo Chapter, and is 
vice-president of the Albany Camera Club, vice-president of the Troy Camera Club, 
and is a member of the Pafraets-Dael Club. He married Nella F. Mathews of Troy ; 
she is the daughter of the late Hiram Mathews of Troy. Captain Stillman is a mem 
ber of the First Baptist church, and politically a staunch Republican. 



138 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Burton, Henry B., M. D., son of the late Dr. Mathew H. Burton, was born in Troy, 
N. Y., April 11, 1869. He attended the Christian Brothers' Academy, the Troy 
Academy and graduated from the Albany Medical College in the class of '92. He 
then went abroad and studied medicine in London and Berlin two years. He re- 
turned to Troy and began an active practice with his father. He was attending phy- 
sician of St. Vincent's Female Orphan Asylum and Troy Orphan Asylum, which 
positions he resigned, and belongs to Read Steamer Co., is a member of the Royal 
Arcanum, and the sons of Veterans. He is secretary of the Rensselaer County Med- 
ical Society, and the Medical Society of Troy and Vicinity and member of New York 
State Association. 

Butler, George T., was born in Troy in 1859. His grandfather, John Butler, came 
from Yorkshire, England, about the year 1820, was very prominent in Lansingburgh 
politics and died in 1884. His father was born in Lansingburgh, was a brush man- 
ufacturer by trade and previous to his death, which occurred in 1865. he was in busi- 
ness with his brother manufacturing those articles. His mother, Mary F. (Sands) 
Butler, was a native of Troy, N. Y. He received a public school education and 
entered the drug store of R. H. Lawton where he remained eight years. He then 
took a position with D. F. Magill and after twelve years opened a drug store at 21 
Hoosick street, forming copartnership with A. W. Loudon under the firm name of 
George T. Butler & Co. He is a member of Apollo Lodge F. & A. M., and belongs 
to the State Pharmaceutical Association. In 1889 he married Miss Mary Elizabeth 
Shepardson of Troy. 

Burton, Mathew H., M. D., was born in Albany March 17, 1833. He studied 
medicine in the office of his father, C. V. W. Burton, and with Dr. Leonard, and was 
graduated from the Albany Medical College in 1853. He then came to Troy and 
located with the Sisters in the old Troy Hospital on Washington street; afterwards 
was one of the medical staff and one of the surgeons to that institution, where he 
remained tmtil 1858. He then opened an office on the corner of Third and Congress 
streets for general practice. He was elected coroner of Rensselaer county and was 
health officer of Troy for sixteen years; he was attending physician at the Marshall 
Infirmary, the Troy Hospital, the St. Vincent's Orphan Asylum, St. Joseph's Pro- 
vincial Seminary, and Troy Orphan Asylum. He was a volunteer surgeon during 
the war, serving on General Carr's staff. He was sent to Berlin, Germany, in 1892 
as a delegate from the New York State Medical Society : he belonged to all the med- 
ical societies. He was a member of King Solomon's Lodge, F. & A. M., Apollo 
Chapter and Commander}^, and was a thirty-second degree Mason. He was also a 
member of the Troy Citizens Corps. He died in Bay Shore, L. I. , at the residence 
of his daughter, Mrs. J. Ives Plumb, April 28, 1895. He was a member of St. Paul's 
church of Troy. 

Bloss. Jabez P., M.D., B.N.S., was born in Windsor county, \'t., in 1S2T. He was 
educated at the Royal Academj' in Vermont and afterwards entered the Rensselaer 
Polytechnic Institute of Troy, from which he graduated in 1840. In 1846 he went 
to work as first assistant engineer on what is now known as the Boston and Albany 
Railroad. In 1849 he sailed around Cape Horn to California, afterwards sailing up 
and down the Spanish Main, visiting the Islands of the Pacific Ocean, Japan, etc.. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 139 

in a vessel of which he was part owner until 1853. On his return he studied medi- 
cine and graduated from the medical department of Columbia College in 1854. He 
then began the practice of medicine in Troy, N. Y., where he is now located. He 
belongs to the County and the State Homeopathic Societies and the American Insti- 
tute of Homeopathy. In 1863 he married Catherine Van Schaick of Troy; she died 
in 1893. He has two sons and one daughter : Frederick S. , also a physician of Troy ; 
Richard P., resident engineer of Duncan Pulp and Paper Works, at Mechanicville; 
Gratia L., married Frank Harrison of Toledo, Ohio. 

Chase, Philander, was born in Chesterfield, N. H., in 1844. He is the son of 
Charles and Thirza E. Symonds Chase, formerly of Chesterfield, but now living in 
Keene, N. H. Philander received his education in the public schools of New Hamp- 
shire, where he worked until he was twenty-two years old when he came to Troy in 
1866 and entered the employ of the Street Railroad Co., where he remained until 
1877 when he went to work for J. B. Anthony & Co. and for their successors in the 
roasting business and bought out the business and has since been sole owner and 
proprietor. He belongs to Clinton Lodge F. &. A. M. He was married in 1868, to 
Miss Mary Herbert of Troy, by whom he has seven daughters and one son. 

Davitt, Alfred H., was born in Poestenkill, Rensselaer county, N. Y., in 1850. 
He is the son of George W. and Catherine (Stowell) Davitt. His father died in 1888. 
Alfred received an academic education in the Lansingburgh Academy and came to 
Troy and formed a co partnership with William Place in the grocer}^ business, the 
firm name being Davitt & Place; two years later he bought out Mr. Place and con- 
ducted the business himself. He was in the grocery business for twenty-two years. 
In 1892 with Thomas H. Dwyer he opened a carriage repository at No. 1500 Sixth 
avenue, the firm being Dwyer & Davitt; they have also a large storehouse. He ran 
for supervisor in 1893 but was defeated by twelve majority. He married, Januafy, 
1875, Frankie Horton of East PoestenTiill. 

Dutcher, T. Henry, was born in Troy, N. Y., September 28, 1844. His father, 
Jacob M. Dutcher, was born in Hadley, Saratoga county, N. Y. , June 24, 1818, and died 
in Poestenkill, February 22, 1890. His mother, Phoebe A. (Morrison) Dutcher, was 
born in Sand Lake. T. Henry left school and entered the grocery store of his uncle 
in Troy and later was appointed mail clerk by Postmaster Clowes, which position he 
resigned to enter the mercantile business with his father under the firm name of J. 
M. Dutcher & Son, in the manufacture of tin, sheet iron, etc., at 118 Congress street; 
they were burned out in 1881, then started business at 96 Congress street, adding to 
their regular business hardware and fishing tackle. He has represented the Second 
ward in the Board of Supervisors and had the honor of introducing the resolution to 
build the new court house which is now in course of construction. November 15, 
1869, he married Lydia A. Northrup, by whom he has one son and one daughter. 

Dickson, Thomas G., M.D., was born in Troy, N. Y., October 2, 1868. His father, 
Thomas Dickson, was a member of the Legislature in 1887 and 1888, and was county 
treasurer from 1889 to 1891. His mother was Sarah (Purdy) Dickson. Thomas G. 
attended the public and high schools of Troy and entered the L^niversity of Pennsyl- 
vania in 1888 and was graduated from that institution May 1, 1891. After associating 
with Dr. Harvie in practice for a short time he opened an office on Fifth avenue for 



140 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

the practice of medicine, where he is at present located. He is assistant surgeon at 
the Troy Hospital ; a member of the State Medical Association, the Rensselaer 
County Medical Society and secretary' of the Medical Association of Troy and 
Vicinity. 

Dickinson, Melville Day, M.D., was born in Seward, Schoharie county, X. Y.. 
March 24, 1868. His early ancestors came from England in 1660; he is the son of 
Dr. Charles Dickinson, a physician of Seward, N.Y. ; his mother was Celia (France) 
Dickinson, who died in 1877. Melville Dickinson was graduated from the Cobles- 
kill High School, and after taking a two years' preparatory course at Cornell Uni- 
versity he entered the Albany Medical College, from which he was graduated in 
1890. He studied with Dr. Van Devere of Albany, during which time he was 
house physician for St. Peter's Hospital. In the fall of 1890 he came to Troy. He 
belongs to the Rensselaer County Medical Society, which he served as secretary, and 
to the New York State Medical Association; also is a member of the Medical Society 
of Troj' and Vicinity, and a member of the New York State Medical Society ; he 
is assistant surgeon with the rank of first lieutenant to the 12th Separate Co., N. Y. 
N. G. ; he is assistant surgeon of the Troy Hospital, attending physician of St. Vm- 
cent's Female Orphan Asylum, and has been city physician of Troy for four years. 
He married Miss Emma G. Cole of Brunswick, N.Y., in 1889; they have one daugh- 
ter, Celia. 

Geer, William Clarke, was born in Orange, N. J., September 29, 1859. His father, 
George S. Geer, was born in Troy. Through the influence of John A. Griswold he 
secured an appointment on the Monitor and remained with that vessel until she was 
lost off Cape Hatteras. He was in the United States navy until the close of the war, 
when he was engaged as engineer on a steamship running between New York 
and Brazil, and came to Troy in 1870 and was for some time engaged in the 
paving and stone business. He was a charity commissioner two terms and was a 
member of Post Griswold, G. A. R., and at the time of his death, which occurred in 
1893, he had charge of the Bradley Fertilizer Works at Charleston, S. C, at which 
place he died. His mother was Martha Clarke (Hamilton) Geer of New York cily; 
she came from an old Quaker family ; she now resides in Troy. William received 
his education in the public and high schools of Troy and entered the real estate and 
insurance office of Gilbert Geer, jr., as clerk. In 1880 he was admitted to the busi- 
ness, the firm taking the name of Gilbert, Geer, jr., & Co., which is the oldest in- 
surance firm in Troy. He is secretary and treasurer of the Wynantskill Knitting 
Mill, vice-president of the Harvester Fertilizer Company, director in the Boutwell 
Milling and Grain Company, trustee and secretary of the First Baptist church and 
has been civil service e.\aminer for a number of years. He married Kate Ever- 
ingham, daughter of Richard Everingham, who was for some years connected with 
the Burden Iron Company store. He has one daughter. 

Hutchison, James C, M.D., was born January 18, 1846, in Halifax, England. His 
parents were Scotch and came to this country when he was seven months old. His 
father, James Hutchison, was a designer of carpets and oil cloths and made the first 
designs for tapestry carpets that were made in this country. He died August 25, 
1893. James C. received his preliminary education in the Lansingburgh Academy, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 141 

Mount Pleasant Academy in Sing Sing, and the Troy Academy. He graduated 
from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York city March 8, 1866. After 
attending lectures with the class of 1861, P. and S., he came to Troy and entered 
the Marshall Infirmary as medical assistant, where he remained until 1865. After 
taking his degree he practiced for a few months in Newark, N. J., then came 
back to the Marshall Infirmary as assistant physician ; two years later he opened 
an office on Ida Hill, and in May, 1875, removed to the corner of Third and Ferry 
streets; he remained there until 1891 when he moved to his present quarters on 
Fourth street. He was one of the attending physicians at the Troy Hospital for 
fourteen years, and is now one of the consulting physicians. He is a member of the 
New York State Medical Society and also of the Rensselaer County Medical Society, 
of which he has been secretary, vice-president and president; he was city physician 
in 1874 and 1875 ; he took charge of the smallpox hospital during the epidemic of 1881. 
He is a member of King Solomon's Lodge No. 91, F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter No. 
48, Bloss Council, R. & S. M., Apollo Commandery and the Albany Sovereign Con- 
sistory. He married Alice Miller of Troy in 1869, and has two daughters, Sarah 
Louise and Jane Carmichael Eddy of Rockford, Ills. He attends the Fifth Avenue 
Baptist church. 

Hannon, Edward, was born in Albany county in 1842 and came toTroy in 1847 ; he re- 
ceived his education in the public schools and the La Salle Institute and for many 
years was a prominent contractor and builder of Troy. He represented the Eleventh 
ward in the Board of Aldermen from 1870 to 1877 inclusive, and during that time 
was president of the board one year, and was police commissioner for twelve or 
fourteen years ; he was one of the commissioners appointed to construct the City 
Hall in 1875 and 1876; in 1889 he was appointed by Governor Hill as superintendent 
of public works, which office he held until January, 1892, and was reappointed.by 
Governor Flower and served until the middle of January, 1895, since which date he 
has resumed his former business as builder and carpenter, which he is carrying on 
with his old time vigor. He married Ellen Halpin of Troy in 1872. His children 
are Charles, Edward, Frank and Ellen. 

Howes, W. J., was born in Peru, N. Y., in 1819, and was reared in Chelsea, Vt., 
until sixteen years of age when, in 1836, he moved to Troy, N. Y. He worl-ed on a 
farm for two years, then went to Boston and learned the trade of carpenter and 
builder; he then returned to Troy and entered the employ of Hezekiah Thayer, one 
of Troy's most competent builders, and after four years he commenced business for 
himself with varied success until 1878, when he entered the wholesale and retail lum- 
ber trade ; he retired from business in November, 1883. In the great fire of 1862 Mr. 
Howes lost $42,000. Some of the finest buildings in Troy were erected under his 
plans and direct supervision. Mr. Howes has a beautiful farm in Castleton, Vt., 
where he spends most of the summer months and where he is a very successful 
breeder of horses. In 1842 Mr. Howes married Miss Eliza Bartlett of Stillwater, 
who died in 1843, and in 1845 he married Miss Flora Mackie. During their married 
life they adopted and reared four children, only one of whom is now living. He and 
his wife are members of the Second Presbyterian church. 

Horton, Mahlon F.,.was born in Sand Lake, N. Y., in 1846. His father, James 



142 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Horton, was a carpenter of Sand Lake, and died in 1878. His mother, Lany 
(Feathers) Horton, died in 1854. He was educated in Sand Lake and in 1866 went 
to New York and for three years was in the employ of the Knickerbocker Ice Co. ; 
he came to Troy in 1869 and became connected with the firm of B. Cooper & Co., 
wholesale and retail ice dealers, and is still a member of that concern. In 1868 he 
was married to Cornelia Cooper, who died in 1882; his second wife was Alice Brade 
of Troy, to whom he was married in 1883 and who died in 1894. He had four chil- 
dren: Meritt D., Allie, Lucy and Clarence. 

Kennedy, John H., was born in Ireland, June 26, 1850, and came with his parents 
to this country when very young. He received a public school education and went 
to Boston, Mass., in 1866 and entered the firm of Stephen, Smith & Co. as an appren- 
tice in the manufacturing of furniture and was later in the employ of Edward Hixon 
of Cambridgeport, Mass. He came to Troy in 1871 and worked for Robert Green 
three years and then returned to Boston and two years later came back to Troy and 
was in the employ of Green & Waterman five j'ears, and with three of his fellow 
workmen started in the furniture and upholstery business, but in 1889 he became 
sole proprietor of the business, which is located at 55 Congress street, where he does 
all kinds of custom work in the furniture line, also does hard wood finishing, uphol- 
stering, etc. He was a member of the Robert Emmett Association and is senior 
vice-chancellor of the C. B. L. He married in 1876 Katie Hart of Troy, N. Y., by 
whom he has two children, Mary and John. 

Mattocks, James E., M. D., was born in New York city. May 29, 1823. His father, 
John S. Mattocks, was born in Sing Sing in 1797 and was a practicing physician in 
New York city and Troy, and died in 1873. His mother, Clarissa (Palmer) Mattocks, 
died July 20, 1873. James E. received a common school education and entered the 
Metropolitan Medical College in New York city, graduating in 1858. In 1862 he 
entered the army as a contract physician and after the war was over he came to 
Plattsburgh, Clinton county, where he practiced medicine until 1870, then removed 
to Sing Sing where he remained until 1876, when he came to Troy and has been in 
active practice since in that city. He is a member of the State Medical Society, be- 
longed to the Seventh New York Regiment, and is an exempt fireman of Troy; for 
a number of years he served as police surgeon. He married Anna M. Thompson of 
Troy in 1848, and has one daughter living, Josie Palmer, and lost one daughter, 
Emma A., and a son, George A. The family belong to the Episcopal church. 

Murray, John A., was born in Troy, October 25, 1863. His father was John 
Murray, born in Brandon, Vt. ; he came to Troy in 1839, and was for many years in 
the hotel business; he died May 1, 1889. His mother was Sabina (Fitzpatrick) 
Murray, born in Ballinrobe, Ireland, and came to this country with her parents when 
quite young; she died November 29, 1893. John A. entered the Brothers' School of 
West Troy, then attended the public schools of Troy, and in- 1878 entered Troy 
Business College. He was in the employ of W. II. Frear for six 5'ears. The follow- 
ing eight years he managed the upholstery department of the A. M. Church Co., 
and for the past four years has had a large furniture store on River street. He was 
married to Miss Elizabeth McDonough of Richmond, Va., in 1887. He has two 
daughters and one son. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. US 

Prendergast, Felix R,, of Prendergast Bros., was born in South Dorset, Vt. , Feb- 
ruary 5, 1865. He is the son of Patrick Prendergast who came to this country from 
Ireland in 1846 and settled in West Granville, N. Y. ; later he moved to Dorset, Vt., 
where for twenty years he was foreman in a stone quarry and monumental works, 
and later removed to Schaghticoke where he was engaged in business in monumental 
work, and came to Troy in 1883. His mother is Mary Ann (McConnell) Prendergast; 
her parents came from Ireland nearly one hundred years ago. Felix R. Prendergast 
attended the public schools of Schaghticoke, and there with his brother, P. J. Pren- 
dergast, took charge of the monumental works when their father retired at the 
corner of Sixth Avenue and Rensselaer streets. Patrick J. belongs to the A. O. H., 
and has five sisters living. 

Walz, Rev. Adolph F., was born in Dauphin county, Pa., in 1862. His father, 
the Rev. Frederick Walz, was born in Baden, German}', where he received his ed- 
ucation and came to this country and settled in Wilmington, Del., where he bad 
charge of the German Lutheran church, and later had charges in Dauphin county 
and from there to Sellersville, Pa. ; for a number of years he was on the editorial 
staff of the Herold.and Zeitschrift, a paper printed in Allentown, Pa. His mother, 
Charlotta (Stimmler) Walz, was born in Wuerttemberg, Germany. Rev. Adolph 
received his education in the grammar schools of Sellersville andgraduated from the 
college in Elmhurst, 111. in 1882, and also graduated from the Theological Seminary 
in Philadelphia in 1885. He then took charge of a church in Schlichters, Pa., one 
year and came to Troy in September, 1886, and took charge of Trinity Lutheran 
church where he has since been located. He has been very successful in the work 
he is engaged in. He organized a mission in Cohoes in 1889 which is now self sup- 
porting. He is a member of the New York Ministerium and also a member of the 
State Luther League. In May, 1888, he married Katharine Bissikummer of Alb^y,~ 
and they have one son, Matthias F. Rev. Mr. Walz resides at his home at No. 3, 
West Sunnyside. 

Whitman, William W., was born in Chester, Mass., in 1820. His father, Asa B. 
Whitman, was a native of Massachusetts, and was in the mercantile and manufac- 
turing business m Chester and Westfield, Mass., formany years, and also represented 
West Springfield and Westfield districts in the Massachusetts Legislature; he was in 
the war of 1812; his wife, Annis R. Clark, was also a native of Massachusetts and 
died in 1882 at the age of eighty-three years. William W. Whitman was educated 
in the public schools and entered Brown University, at Providence, R. I., and was 
admitted to practice law in Massachusetts in 1846. He practiced until 1849, when he 
came to Troy and became the proprietor of the Troy Budget, which he sold to Col. 
MacArthur in 1853. He was appointed postmaster of Troy in 1852 and held that of- 
fice until 1858. He then entered the mercantile and manufacturing business, the 
firm being Whitman & Vosburgh; this partnership was continued until 1862 when 
Mr. Vosburgh retired. In 1876 the establishment was burned out, and Mr. Whitman 
has since retired from active business life. In 1846 he married Caroline Perkins of 
Poughkeepsie, N. Y. ; she died in April, 1868; they had three children: Mrs. Ida N. 
Marvin of Germantown, Pa. ; Frank P., a professor in Adelbert College, of Cleve- 
land, O. ; and Marie Antoinette, a graduate of Vassar and now a missionary in Japan. 
His present wife was Jlrs. Annie J. Carleton of Waterville, Me., whom he married in 
1873 ; they have one daughter, Helen L. , now attending Vassar. 



144 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Goldthwait, B. L., M. D., is a native of the city of Troy, where he was born in 
1865, son of Abel G. Goldthwait, the well known mechanical engineer. His medical 
research began with Dr. Carpenter and afterwards in the ofHce of Dr. J. W. Morse, 
matriculating in 1885 at Albany Medical College. He first practiced at Rensselaer- 
ville, and only recently opened an office at Eagle Bridge. 

Sherman, Wesley E., born in Pittstown on the Sherman homestead January 21, 
1857, IS a son of Piatt and Phebe (Francisco) Sherman, he also born on the farm of 
Wesley E., and she in Western New York. The grandfather, Stephen Sherman, 
came from Dutchess county at an early day, settling on the farm now owned by W. 
E. Sherman; he married Ruth Sissoh. Piatt Sherman was reared on the farm and 
with the exception of about three years, spent his life on the homestead. Mr. Sher- 
man was born April 11, 1814, and died July 15, 1882. Mrs. Sherman was born Feb- 
ruary 17, 1820, died February 8, 1892. W. E. Sherman was reared on the farm and 
has always resided on the homestead which he now owns; he has 194 acres of land. 
He is at present a road commissioner and a member of P. of H. January 2, 1879, 
Mr. Sherman married Ella M., daughter of Stephen and Caroline (Lamb) Pierce, 
he a native of Hoosick and she of Pittstown; Mr. Pierce was a farmer. Mrs. Pierce 
resides with Mr. Sherman. To Mr. and Mrs. Sherman were born two children: 
Everett Eugene, and Emily Frances. 

McCarthy, Charles A., the well known lawyer and justice of Hoosick Falls, was 
born at North Adams, Mass., November 28, 1800. When he was nine years of age 
his parents moved to Mexico, N. Y., thereby giving him the advantage of an educa- 
tion at the famous old academy at that place, from which he graduated June 16, 
1881. He first studied law with George B. French of Mexico and also spent three 
years as a clerk in the Second National Bank under Mr. French. Mr. McCarthy was 
admitted to the bar at Syracuse, November 13, 1885, and first practiced at Hoosick 
Falls the following year and has continued since. He has during that brief period 
of residence made himself a potent factor in business and political life, serving as 
police justice, from March 17, 1891, to March 17, 1894. He is one of the local man- 
agers of the A. O. H. 

Leonard, Edgar, the manager of the Leonard's Express business of Hoosick Falls, 
is a son of Edmuiid_NL ^Leona rd, who was also manager of express here, which he 
established in 1852. The latter was born in 1814 at Pownal, Vt., and when he 
first located here in 1840 was engaged in manufacturing. He was an influential 
man of the town and enjoyed the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends and 
his death in 18S9 was mourned by the whole community. Edgar Leonard was edu- 
cated in the public schools of his native place and, after clerking for Wallace, Jones 
& Ely from April 1, 1865, to April 1, 1871, entered partnership with his father in 
1871, who then retired from active life, and has had sole control of the business since 
that time. He is now agent for the National Express Co. separate from his own 
private express business, and is also connected with a new clothing industry here. 
He is a Republican and has officiated as president of the village and member of the 
Board of Trade, and is a director in the Building and Loan Association. He was 
born in 1846 and married in 1869 Mary E. Jones of New York city. They have two 
children: Walter A., a student of Colgate University; and Norma, wife of George 
E. Bartlett, of Bristol, Vt. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 145 

Gardner, James J., was born in Petersburg in 1836, and moved with his parents 
to Hoosick when three years of age, where he has since lived. He owns a farm of 
300 acres and devotes himself mainly to the raising of sheep, dairying, and cultiva- 
tion of the grasses. He is the son of Varnum W. Gardner and Eliza Steenbergh. 
His father's ancestry dates back to an old Rhode Island family, and his mother's to 
the first settlers of the Mohawk valley. His family have ever been noted for their 
industry and longevity. His great-grandparents, his parents, four uncles and aunts, 
of which two are still living, lived to an average of nearly eighty-five years, there 
being ten in number. The aggregate ages is nearly 850 years. 

Cottrell, jr., Jonathan, one of the most worthy farmers and estimable men of 
West Hoosick, was born in 1848. His father, Jonathan Cottrell, also a native here 
and lifelong resident, died when Jonathan, jr., was but a boy. He is a descendant 
of an old Rhode Island family; his grandfather, Samuel Cottrell, was one of the first 
settlers here. He has always been engaged in farming and once operated 400 acres. 
In politics he is a Democrat. He married in 1866 Mary, daughter of James Pine, 
one of the oldest local families. 

Scriven, Clinton W., was born in the town of Grafton, N. Y. , July 16, 1870, is a son 
of John H. and Pamelia J. (Ives) Scriven, his father having been born in the same 
town, September 13, 1840, and his mother in the town of Poestenkill, N. Y., July 15, 
1843. He was reared in the town of his nativity and educated in the public schools 
and the Troy Business College. For the past eight years he has been bookkeeper of 
the J. A. Scriven Company's Shirt Factory of Grafton. He is a Republican in poli- 
tics, and was elected justice of the peace in the spring of 1894. He has for several 
years been a member of the Rensselaer County Republican Committee, and was a 
delegate to the State Conventions of 1893, 1895 and 1896. Mr. Scriven is leader of 
the Grafton Centre Cornet Band, and a writer and publisher of band music. Num- 
bered among his compositions are the " Town Talk Polka," "Argo Schottische," and 
overture "Grand Central." His father, John H. Scriven, was at one time a merchant 
and a manufacturer of shirts. He was a Republican and was postmaster of Grafton 
for eight years. He was in partnership with his brother, J. A. Scriven of New York 
city, at the time of his death, August 19, 1886. The grandfather of the subject of 
this sketch was Caleb W. Scriven, who was born in Grafton April 5, 1805, and he 
was a son of James Scriven, also born in the same town. His wife was Mercy 
Scriven, who was born in Grafton September 2, 1811, she being a daughter of John 
Scriven, who was also born in Grafton. As a result of this union thirteen children 
were born, eleven of whom grew to maturity. He spent most of his life in Grafton, 
where he was a hotel keeper, merchant, and engaged in the manufacture of shirts. 
He brought the first sewing machine into Grafton. He was supervisor of the town 
three years, which ofhce he held at the time of his death, which occurred July 27, 
1868. His widow is living and quite hearty and strong as the ripe old age of eighty- 
five years. 

West, Daniel M., was born May 3, 1851 ; he was reared on a farm and educated in 
the common schools, and is a farmer by occupation and owns fiftj^-three acres of 
land; he is a Republican in politics. He was married September 16, 1874, to Celia 
Hakes of Grafton, by whom have been born six children: Alta, Edna, Cora, Arba, 



146 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Nina, and Osta. The father of our subject was Joseph J. West, who was born in 
Grafton, March 23, 1828, a son of Francis- and grandson of William, who, with two 
brothers, Nathan and Laton, came from Rhode Island and settled in Grafton, N.Y., 
in a very early day, being among the first settlers of the town. William and Nathan 
lived and died in Grafton and reared large families. The father of the subject spent 
his life in Grafton as a farmer; he was a Democrat in politics and justice of the 
peace a number of years; he died m 1837, aged forty-four; his wife was Olive Rey- 
nolds, who came from Rhode Island and here lived and died February 24, 1870, aged 
sixty-nine years. Joseph J. West is a cooper by trade but now is a farmer; he has 
made his own way in the world and owns 120 acres of land; he was a member of the 
Loyal League, is a Republican and has been overseer of the poor. He was married, 
December 23, 1848, to Priscilla Saunders, daughter of Daniel and Ruth (Jones)' 
Saunders of Grafton. To Joseph J. West and wife have been born five children: 
Arthur J., Daniel M., subject of sketch, Emma A., wife of Albert R. Waite of Wis- 
consin, Ida P., wife of Albert Coons of Grafton, and Ruth, wife of John E. Burdick. 
They have four children: Adelbert A., John, Victor A., Mattie A. 

Scott, Walter, began his work for Walter A. Wood by taking the agency for mow- 
ing machines in 1867. Two years later he acted as general agent for the machine, 
traveling throughout the Northeast States, and selling 500 machines in the year 
1871. In that year he received a letter from Mr. Wood which he still trea.sures, en- 
gaging him as wholesale agent. This necessitated him traveling to all parts of the 
globe, the engagement continuing to the present time. Mr. Scott has probably sold 
more mowers than any other living man. He is of Scotch ancestry, born at Fort 
Ann, Washington county, in 1839. His father was Henry M. Scott, a farmer. The 
oldest daughter of Mr. Scott is Helen S. Locke, widow of Norman W. Locke. She 
is again an inmate of her father's house. Mary H. Scott, aged seventeen, is a stu- 
dent here. Mr. Scott is a Republican but not an active politician ; he is also a mem- 
ber of the Baptist church. He was engaged in farming prior to his association with 
Mr. Wood, whose entire confidence he cherished. 

Thorpe Brothers.— George L. Thorpe is the senior member of the firm of Thorpe 
Brothers, leading pharmacists of Hoosick Falls. Mr. Thorpe first came to this 
village in 1883 and purchased Atwood's interest in the Elm street store, the new firm 
being Thorpe & Cahill until 1886, when he bought the Cahill interest and took a 
younger brother, W. L. Thorpe, as clerk, and in 1890 as partner. In 1892 Mr. Thorpe 
purchased the business of William Archibald on Classic street, and the brothers now 
operate two stores, each personally supervising one of them. George L. Thorpe was 
born at Bennington, Mich., and his boyhood was passed on a farm at that place, 
educated at Michigan University and at Mexico (N. Y.) Academy. He turned his 
attention to chemistry while at the latter institution and soon became an assistant of 
E. L. Huntington, a druggist of Mexico, where he remained for seven years, gam- 
ing the thorough and practical knowledge of the business and of pharmacy as a pro- 
fession that has conduced to their success here. He has been for twenty years a 
working member of the M. E. church, is of high rank in the order of K. of P., and of 
the Odd Fellows, and is a steadfast Republican. His wife was Miss Emma A. Mat- 
tison, of Mexico, N. Y. Willis L. Thorpe, the junior member of the firm, also born 
at the old homestead in Bennington, Mich., began the study of pharmacy at Mexico 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 147 

N. Y., and was for two years a clerk with Huntington, the druggist of Mexico. He 
became a resident of Hoosick Falls in 1886 and has already made for himself a high 
.place in the public esteem in social and business circles. He is allied to the well 
known family of Easton by his marriage to Miss Pearl, daughter of C. W. Easton, 
in 1893. 

Holmes, Watson M., head of the experimental department of the Walter A. Wood 
Mowing and Reaping Machine Co., is the son of Hector A. Holmes, also an in- 
ventor, who had previously been associated with the late Walter A. Wood until 
1895, when he removed to Austin, Minn., where he now resides, retired on a large 
farm. In his earlier life he engaged in farming, but in 1868 established himself in 
Minnesota as an inventor of harvesting machines, and it was in 1879, after the com- 
pletion of a successful grainbinder, that he came to Hoosick Falls. Watson M. was 
born at Lawrenceville, St. Lawrence county, in 1856, and was educated at the dis- 
trict school, working on the farm for board and clothes in the mean time. At twenty 
years of age he entered a machine shop to learn the trade. There he found a wide 
field for the development of genius such as his. He has received twenty patents on 
harvesting machinery. Always a Republican, his first public office was that of 
village trustee, and in 1893 he became supervisor, which oflfice he holds at the pres- 
ent time. He has been an extensive traveler, adapting machines to all conditions 
and to all nations. United States, Canada, Old Mexico, New Zealand, Africa and 
Europe. He is associated with all the business enterprises of the place and is an 
active promoter in all matters pertaining to the public good. 

Bovie, Israel, one of the oldest residents of Hoosick, was born in this town Febru- 
ary 5, 1824, and never resided elsewhere. His father, Henry Bovie, was also a life 
long inhabitant, and his grandfather, John Bovie, was one of the first settlers. Israel 
Bovie has been principally engaged in farming, and also in bee culture, having- at 
one time over 100 swarms of the latter. He was recently bereaved of his wife, his 
beloved companion for half a century. She was Ruby Lee Barron ; they married 
March 26, 1846, and her death occurred iVugust 2, 1896. There are no children. 
Mr. Bovie is highly esteemed for his sterling worth, and has served as highway 
commissioner and as postmaster. He has in his possession one of the old-fash- 
ioned tall wooden clocks which kept time for both grandfather and father, and which 
he values not only as a memento but as a good time keeper. 

Ilerrington, Mrs. Sylvia A. — Benjamin F. Herrington, late of Buskirk Bridge, 
whose name must remain associated with all that is honorable in the life of a citizen, 
was born at Hoosick in 1829. He was a Republican and took an active part in the 
political affairs of his town, and held several positions of trust and responsibility. 
He was intimately identified with the M. E. church, and a faithful supporter until 
his death in 1891. He married in 1856 Sylvia A. Case, daughter of David Case, an 
old resident of Pittstown. Of their three daughters only one is living: Mary I., wife 
of John Kenyon, a merchant of Buskirk Bridge. 

yuackenbush, Dyke, was born in Hoosick, November 12, 1851, a successful farmer 
on a large scale, and a fair type of the modern farmer whose views are broadened 
by contact with fellow minds and by the surroundings and refinements of modern 
civilization. This family is of Holland ancestry, and the elder Quackenbush, Benja- 



148 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

min V. of Hoosick Falls, was a most successful farmer in the vicinity of Hoosick. 
Dyke Quackenbush still operates his farm of 200 acres, but inhabits a handsome 
modern home in the village, completed in 1890. May 29, 1878, he married Jennie L. 
Reynolds, daughter of Almon E. Reynolds of Hoosick. They have three children: 
Annabelle, Benjamin V., jr., and Helen M. 

Rudd, Sanford H., a man much esteemed for his sterling character, is a progres- 
sive farmer who came to Hoosick twenty years ago, purchasing 200 acres devoted to 
dairy productions ; he is also a dealer in agricultural implements. He was born in 
1827 at Bennington, as was also his father, David Rudd, son of Joseph Rudd, who 
came to Bennington from Connecticut about 1760 ; the latter participated in the bat- 
tle of Bennington under no commander but his own conscience, melting up the last 
platter in the house for bullets; he captured a sword from a Hessian officer which is 
still cherished as a relic by Mr. Rudd; also a letter dated August 26, 1777, at Ben- 
nington, from Joseph Rudd to his father ten days after the battle, which it describes 
in detail. Mr. Rudd values relics and is much devoted to historical research. He is 
a man of sound judgment and has proven an efficient official as assessor for seven 
years. He is the father of ten children: one son, Sanford L. Rudd, died in 1894. 

Bratt, Seneca, is of Dutch ancestry, son of John Bratt and grandson of Daniel 
Bratt, founder of the family in America. The latter came from Holland and settled 
in Albany during the latter part of the last century. Seneca has always followed 
the pursuit of farming as did his father before him ; he has served his townsmen as 
commissioner of highways and acted as school trustee. Until recently he was a 
Democrat, but now is a Republican. He is a native of Hoosick, born in 1813, and 
carries the infirmities of age with remarkable vigor. He has in his possession a 
Dutch Bible 200 years old which was brought by his grandfather to America. His 
wife, who was Christina Haynar, died in 1876, leaving nine children, seven of whom 
are living. 

Wilson, Lorenzo, is a native and lifelong resident of Hoosick with the exception of 
two years spent in New York city as an employee of the Knickerbocker Ice Co. Re- 
turning in 1860 he purchased a farm in Pittstown, but sold it in 1865 and bought 200 
acres where he is at present located. The home was destroyed by fire in 1892, but 
has since been rebuilt. Mr. Wilson was born in 1827, son of Solomon Wilson who 
came here from Vermont an early settler. The wife of Lorenzo was Sarah Brim- 
mers, daughter of David Brimmers of Petersburgh ; she had been a helpless invalid 
for years but bore her lot with true Christian fortitude until her death in 1895, aged 
fifty-five. She left three children: Mary T., wife of William Lawton of Tomhan- 
nock, who has two children; Cora B.. and Lizzie. The last two named care for the 
father, who is also an invalid. 

Reardon, John J., D. D. S.. — Mr. Reardon is a native of the village where he now 
successfully practices his profession, having been born here in 1862. In 1889 he was 
graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery at Philadelphia after a 
four years' course, and opened an office on Main street in Hoosick Falls. He had 
previously been an associate of Dr. Boynton for several years. In 1883 he married 
Miss Joanna Agnes Donovan of Hoosick Falls, who bore two children, but neither 
survived infancy. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 149 

Peckham, Silas C , was born in the town of Petersburgh, June 18, 1841. He is a 
descendant from Sir John Peckham, who with a brother came from England and 
settled in Newport, R. I., in 1638; the brother died soon after. Sir John reared a 
large family and his descendants for a hundred years were m the ship building and 
the shipping business. Abel Peckham, great-grandfather of Silas C, was a native 
of Westerly, R. I. He was a farmer by occupation and reared four sons and two 
daughters. He and his two sons were minute men during the Revolutionary war. 
Joshua, his grandfather, was born in Westerly, R I., in 1770. He was a ship car- 
penter by trade and soon after the Revolutionary war he, with two of his brothers 
and two sisters, removed to Rensselaer county and settled on the wild forest land in 
the town of Grafton ; here he made a home and became prosperous. He was a 
.soldier in the war of 1813. He was married twice; his first wife was Sarah Stetson, 
by whom four sons and three daughters were born. His second wife was Sarah 
Burdick, to whom were born two sons and two daughters, and ten of his children 
grew to maturity. He died in 1851. Stephen, the father of Silas C, was born in 
the town of Grafton in 1803; he was a blacksmith during his younger days, but he 
soon left this and engaged in the business of drover, which he followed extensively 
for man}' years, driving to New York, Buffalo and Boston ; his last years were spent 
on his father's homestead; his wife was Cornelia Van Brown; she was born in 1806 
and was a daughter of Nathan Brown and grand daughter of Elder Elijah Brown. They 
reared five sons and five daughters, all of whom grew to maturity. He died in 1883 
and she died in 1888. Silas C. Peckham received his education m the common and 
select schools and when nineteen years of age began to teach. He went to Chicago, 
111., where, in March, 1863, he enlisted in the famous Chicago Board of Trade Bat- 
tery and served in that until the close of the war. This battery has recorded to its 
credit seventy-nine battles, eleven of which were the hardest fought battles of the 
war. The principal battles in which Mr. Peckham participated were Chickamauga, 
Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Noon-Day Creek, Atlanta, Nashville, Pulaski, Selma, 
and Wilson's raid. He received a dangerous wound in the battle of Noon-Day 
Creek by a musket ball entering and passing through his hip ; the ball he has now 
in his possession. After his return from the war he taught school one term and then 
settled on his present farm, where he has since resided, doing general farming. He 
is a life member of the Chicago Board of Trade. He is also a member of the 
Chicago Battery Association, and of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland, 
and of Tappan G.A.R. Post of Berlin. In 1861 he married Harriet E. Allen, who was 
born in the town of Petersburgh, and is a daughter of Dr. Amos and Betsey (Avery) 
Allen. They have one child, Allen, who is a commercial traveler for a drug house 
in New York. 

Henderson, Jo.seph C, was born in New York city in 1825. His ancestors on the 
paternal side were Scotch, and on the maternal side of the old families of Holland 
Dutch. His grandfather on his father s side came to Troy in 1808 from New York 
and started the manufacture of all kinds of webbing, which was the first concern of 
the kind in the United States. His father, John Henderson, was born in New York 
city and came with his parents to Troy, was engaged in business with his father, 
and in 1829 married Dorothy Cole, who was born in North Greenbush. John Hen- 
derson died in New York in 1832 and his wife in 1869. Joseph C. received his ed- 



150 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

ucation in the public schools of Troy and in 1834 entered the establishment of 
William T. Smith, a manufacturer and dealer in paper, with whom he remained one 
year ; he was afterwards engaged with a Mr. Atwood in the manufacture of stoves. 
He attended school for a period, and in 1844 again went into the stove business. 
In 1848 he was employed as foreman in a foundry at Brockville, Ont., and later he 
returned to Albany and in company with Anthony Weller began furnace manufac- 
turing. He continued in this business until 1861, when, being a staff officer of the 
9th Brigade New York Militia with the rank of major, he was detailed by Governor 
Morgan to take command of the volunteer post at Saratoga, one of five established 
in the State for the reception of recruits and organizing them into companies pre- 
paratory for active service in the field. Later he went to the front with the 77th 
N. Y. Vols, as lieutenant-colonel and remained with the regiment until June, 1862, 
when he returned to Albany and resumed the manufacture of furnaces until 1864. 
In 1866 he came to Troy with Charles Eddy & Co., which was later Shaver & Hen- 
derson, Sheldon Greene & Co., and is now J. C. Henderson & Co. He belongs to 
Masters Lodge F. & A. M. of Albany, the L O. O. F., and is now a Royal Arch 
Mason of Albany, and is a member of the East Side Club. In 1850 he married 
Mariel Beech er, a relative of Rev. Henry Ward Beecher; she died in 1855. His 
present wife was INIarietta Beecher, a sister of his first wife. He has had five sons 
and two daughters; four of the sons are now living — Charles H., David P., William 
B. and Frank. 

Dwyer, Thomas H., was born in West Troy November 22, 1847, and is a son of 
William and Ann (Delaney) Dwyer. His father died in 1863 and his mother in 1882. 
He was educated in the public schools and St. Joseph's Academy. In 1862 he en- 
listed at Troy, in the 12th N. Y. Cavalry and served in the Department of North 
Carolina until August, 1865. Upon his return to Troy he learned the carriage- 
maker's trade at Lown & Horton's carriage works, at the corner of Broadway and 
Seventh street, where the Geo. P. Ide & Co.'s collar factory now stands; they were 
the largest carriage works in Troy at that time. He was appointed a member of the 
Old Capitol police force in 1870 and served as a police officer until 1874, when he 
purchased the carriage and wagon business of Lawrence Sheary, and carried on the 
business alone until 1892, when he formed a partnership with A. H. Davitt and car- 
ried on the business under the firm name of Dwyer & Davitt for the sale of the cel- 
ebrated Studebaker vehicles, for which they have the sole agency for Troy and Al- 
bany. He is senior vice-commander of the John McConihe Post No. 18, G. A. R. 
In 1876 he married Margaret Dorsey of Troy. 

Burton, Lebbeus, was born in Norwich, Vt., June 24, 1826. He is the son of Jacob 
and Betsey (Satford) Burton, of New England ; his father died in 1843, and his mother 
in 1830. Lebbeus Burton received his education in the Norwich High School and in 
1848 came to Troy and entered the drug business with the firm of Baddeau & Stod- 
dard with whom he remained as a clerk seven years, when he became a partner 
under the firm name of Stoddard & Burton. Mr. Stoddard sold his interest and the 
firm name was changed to L. Burton & Co., which was continued until January 1, 
1896, when Mr. Burton retired, still retaining his interest therein as a special part- 
ner. The firm has always done a large wholesale and retail trade, and is the second 
oldest wholesale drug firm in the city of Troy ; the success of the business was accom- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 151 

plished largely through the personal and energetic efforts of Mr. Burton. Soon after 
becoming a partner he established the system of paying cash and receiving the 
benefits of discount, being among the first in the trade in the city to adopt that sys 
tem, and he credits that as being one of the causes of his success. He has a beau- 
tiful place on Ninth street, Troy, called " Sunnyside," where he resides. "Sunny- 
side " is one of the handsomest places in Troy; the lawn contains several acres hand- 
somely laid out and ornamented with beautiful trees, shrubbery, and flowering 
plants. In 1885 he married Mrs. Rachael Burton, who died in 1888. In politics Mr. 
Burton has always been a Republican. As a business man he has always held a 
prominent place in Troy, being recognized as among the most reliable men in the 
city. 

Akin, Washington, M. D., was born in Pittstown, N. Y., August 22, 1835. His 
father, John Akin, was also born in Pittstown in 1811; he removed to Johnsonville 
where for many years he was deputy sheriff. His mother, Jane (Button) Akin of 
Pittstown, died in March, 1891. Washington Akin secured his classical education 
at the Cambridge Academy, Cambridge, N. Y. , where he graduated, and in 1855 
removed to Sandy Hill, Washington county, and began the study of medicine with 
Dr. William H. Miller; afterwards he studied with Dr. A. Hill of Buskirk's Bridge, 
and in September, 1856, he came to Troy and entered the office of Dr. Reed B. 
Bontecou and remained with him until he graduated from the Albany Medical College 
in 1858; he then began practice in Troy. In 1862 he joined the 125th Regiment, N. 
Y. Vols., as assistant surgeon, and was at the battle of Gettysburg, the Wilderness, 
Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Siege of Petersburg, and at the surrender of General 
Lee at Appomattox, Va. He has served as city physician, jail physician, police sur- 
geon for twelve years, and at present president of the Board of Examining Surgeons 
for Pensions. He has served as president of the Rensselaer County Medical Society, 
also its secretary. He belongs to the American Medical Association, and the Troy 
Scientific Association. He is attending physician of the Marshall Infirmary, and one 
of its governors. He has been attending physician at the Sisters' Hospital. He is 
vestryman of Christ's church. In 1866 he married Miss Margaret Euphemie Blais- 
dell of Coeymans, Albany county. They have had three children, two of whom are 
living: Josephine, married George F. Houghton of North Bennington, Vt. ; Isabella, 
at home; and Winthrop, who died at the age of one j^ear. 

Van Hagen, James, was born in the town of Glen, Montgomery county, N. Y., 
May 17, 1824. His parents moved to Caughnawaga, in the town of Mohawk, from 
there to Canajohane, and from there to Troy, N. Y., in 1831. He was educated in 
the common schools, and learned the tin, sheet iron, and copper trade. He then 
went to Boston, Salem, and Medway, where he remained for sixteen years, follow- 
ing his trade. In the year of 1860 he returned to Troy and became manager in the 
tin department of Fuller, Warren & Co., where he remained for six years. He was 
in New York city for one year, then returned to the city of Troy and took charge of 
Troy Stamping Works, which grew and enlarged under his fostering care from small 
beginnings to a successful business, until 1875. He then began business on his own 
account in North Adams, Mass., in stoves and tinware which continued one year. 
He then again returned to Troy and began business in company with his son, John 
E., under the firm name of James Van Hagen & Son, conducting the Troy Tinning 



152 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. • 

Works, which continued until 1889. They then began another business of hardware, 
heaters, ranges, etc., under the same firm name which continues until the present 
time with success. January 16, 1847, he married Mary J. Fox of Troy, N. Y., form- 
erly of Montgomery county, by whom he has had six children: Janett, James G., 
Fred, John E., Mary H., and Fred (2), all of whom are dead except John E. and 
Mary H. The ancestry of the famil}- is Dutch and German. 

Thomas, Jeffrey P., is descended from an old Rhode Island family, his earliest 
traceable ancestor being Peleg Thomas, a Revolutionary soldier, who married Miss 
Russell Aylsworth, and who, about the close of the war, brought his family on an 
ox-cart from Warwick, R. I. (where he was probably born) to a farm m the south 
part of the town of Berlin, Rensselaer county, where he died. He was a pioneer of 
that then rude locality, and had twelve children. Rowland Thomas, his eldest son, 
was born in Warwick in 1761, served in the Revolution under Washington, and died 
in Berlin, aged twenty-six. His wife, Sarah, daughter of Joseph and Phebe (Lang- 
ford) Greene, was born June 21, 1764. Peleg Rowland Thomas, their only son and 
one of three children, was born in Stephentown, Rensselaer county, December 7, 
1780, was a blacksmith and farmer, and in the sprmg of 1826 moved with his wife 
and six children to Sand Lake, m the same county, settled on the old Fellows farm, 
and died there February 9, 1847. He married Freelove, daughter of George and 
Mary (Hopkins) Arnold, descendants of the Arnold and Hopkins families of Rhode 
Island. She died June 18, 1863. [William Arnold, born in Dartmouth, England, set 
sail May 1, 1635, for America, arriving in Hingham, Mass., June 24, and on April 
20, 1636, settled with his family in Providence, R. I. Receiving grants of land from 
Roger Williams his initials, W. A. are second in the famous initial deed. His estate 
was mostly in Providence, Pawtuxet and Warwick, where he had houses. He held 
various offices. Stephen Arnold, his youngest son, was born in Dartmouth, Eng- 
land, December 22, 1622, came to America in 1635, and died November 15, 1699. He 
married Sarah, daughter of Edward Smith, of Rehoboth, R. L, and their children 
were Esther, born September 22, 1647; Israel, October 30, 1649; Stephen, November 
27, 1654; Elizabeth, November 2, 1659; Elisha, born February 18, 1662, died March 
24, 1710; Sarah, born January 26, 1665; and Phebe, November 9, 1671. Elisha 
Arnold was born in Warwick, R. I., where his son James was also born. James 
Arnold was appointed by Gov. Stephen Hopkins an ensign in the 2d company of 
trained band of Warwick March 14, 1758, and by Gov. Josias Lyndon a major in the 
Kent county militia June 20, 1768, and by Gov. Joseph Wanton, lieutenant-colonel 
May 6, 1769. He had a son James, who was deputy governor of Rhode Island in 1788, 
member of Assembly, and an officer of militia. George Arnold, son of James, sr., 
was born in Warwick Oct. 12, 1754, and was appointed by Gov. Arthur Fenner the 
ninth justice of the peace of that town May 7, 1792. He married, Sept. 7, 1781, Mary 
Hopkins, who was born Aug. 15, 1760, and who died April 15, 1808. He died March 
22, 1829. Their children were Gorton, born January 25, 1788; Benjamin, Nov. 10, 
1784; Zilpha, Feb. 25, 1786; Simon, Oct. 4, 1787; Joseph Hopkins, Feb. 17, 1789; 
Wate, September 12, 1790; Freelove (Mrs. Peleg Rowland Thomas), April 16, 1792; 
Mary, May 13, 1793; Phebe, April 2, 1795: George Anson, November 19, 1796; Ayl- 
sey and Elizabeth (twins), October 5, 1799; Elijah, March 15, 1801; and Minerva, 
April 12, 1803. | The children of Peleg Rowland and Freelove (Arnold) Thomas were 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 153 

Burton Arnold, born July 15, 1809. died December 28, 1880; Sarah Greene, born 
December 21, 1810, married William Yavy, October 12, 1833, and died January 26, 
1849; Rowland, born March 4, 1813, drowned in the Mohawk river at Glenville, N. 
Y. by a falling bridge, June 9, 1880; Phebe, born October 13, 1814, married Alvaro 
R. Traver December 24, 1835, and died January 19, 1851 ; Russell (a daughter), born 
May 20, 1818, married Mervin C. Traver November 20, 1841, and died March 22, 1869; 
Alonzo, born July 2, 1820, died December 17, 1889; Mary Esther, born May 28, 1827, 
married William Vary December 20, 1849, died November 28, 1854; Marilla, born 
March 16, 1831, married Charles M. Traver February 19. 1848, and died August 
21, 1885; Albert Peleg, born January 15, 1834, died June 23, 1886; and Minerva, 
born March 12, 1836, married Reuben Van Decar March 25. 1856, and died Sep- 
tember 29, 1893. Burton Arnold Thomas spent his early life on his father's 
farm and attending the district schools, developed a taste for surveying and land- 
scape gardening and at the time of his death was one of the oldest surveyors in 
Rensselaer count}'. He read law and was admitted to the bar October 10, 1842, 
under George R. Davis, first judge, practiced successfully in the probate courts, set- 
tled many estates, was commissioner and inspector of schools, town clerk, super- 
visor, justice of the peace twelve years, was first a Democrat and later a prominent 
Republican, and died December 28, 1880. He married Maria, daughter of Henry 
Cipperly, of Sand Lake, who survives at the age of eighty-seven. [Her family de- 
scends from Barrent Zippertie, a blacksmith, a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, and 
one of the religious refugees brought to America by Gov Robert Hunter in 1710. 
He came with one son, Barrent, jr., and settled in Rhinebeck, N. Y. In 1712 his two 
other sons, Frederick and Michael, joined him. He was "a widower, and married 
here, February 27, 1711, Anna Maria Reichard (or Rykert), daughter of Hans Ry- 
kert, of Wurtemberg. Michael Zippertie (Cipperly) was born in 1707, and had a son 
Joseph Henry Cipperly, who was born in Rhinebeck in 1743. The latter married 
Elizabeth Teall and had five children: Henry, George, Katharine, Regina, and Ger- 
trude. Henry Cipperly, born in 1768, married Catharine Minick, of Greenbush, who 
was born the same year. Their children were Elizabeth, born May 14, 1792; Peter, 
June 14, 1793; Margaret; George; Jacob; Michael and Philip (twins). May 25, 1802; 
Henry, October 22, 1803; Nicholas, September 1, 1805; David, June 8, 1806; and 
Maria (Mrs. Burton Arnold Thomas), February 14, 1810. The family moved from 
Rhinebeck to Sand Lake, Rensselaer county, about 1790.] Burton Arnold and Maria 
(Cipperly) Thomas had two children: Alsina, born August 1, 1833, married George 
N. Goewey March 2, 1854, and died June 13, 1854; and Jeffrey Peleg, born in West 
Sand Lake December 2, 1838. Jeffrey P. Thomas was educated and studied sur- 
veying at Hartwick Seminary in Otsego county, and when nineteen began surveying 
with his father, continuing about fifteen years. He was superintendent of the Albany 
Rural Cemetery from June 1, 1868, to July 1, 1893, and many adornments of that 
beautiful spot are due to his taste and skill. His father did more or less work on 
that cemetery for thirty-two years. January 1, 1896, Mr. Thomas formed a partner- 
ship with Charles G. Witbeck, as Thomas & Witbeck, and opened an office in Troy. 
He is a Republican, was town clerk of Sand Lake, and is a 32^ Mason. June 14, 
1865, he married Sarah Henrietta, daughter of Jacob and Jane A. Warner. [Jacob 
Warner was born January 1, 1800, married Jane Ann Cochrane June 5, 1839, and 
had five children, all born in Wynantskill, Rensselaer county, viz.: Eliza Maria, 
t 



154 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

(Mrs. James H. Chapman), born April 16, 1840; Matilda Ann, born Janviary 1, 1842, 
died May 25, 1855; Almyra Jane, born January 9, 1845, died July 30, 1845; Sarah 
Henrietta (Mrs. Jeffrey P. Thomas), born January 1, 1847; and Nancy Catharine, 
born January 23, 1850.] Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey P. Thomas have had three children: 
Burton Arnold, born April 21, 1868, died May 22, 1894; Jeffrey Warner, born Sep 
tember 3, 1871, died September 19, 1871 ; and Jessie Florence, born November 7, 
1872, who married James Annan Avers September 2, 1896. 

Bontecou, R. Brinsmade, M. D., was born at Harwood General Hospital at Wash- 
ington, D. C, December 1, 1864, where his father, Dr. Reed B. Bontecou, at the 
time had charge of 3,000 wounded soldiers. In 1883 he entered Williams College 
where he remained one year, and afterwards entered Harvard University where he 
was for one year ; subsequently he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons 
in New York city where he was graduated in 1889. He then began practice in Troy 
where, with the exception of about six months, he since has continued. He has 
been president and secretary of the Rensselaer County Medical Society; was a dele- 
gate to and is now a permanent member of the New York State Medical Society; is 
a member of the Medical Association of Troy and Vicinity ; one of the governors 
and surgeon of the Marshall Infirmary; secretary of the Pension Board, and a mem- 
ber of the Troy Scientific Association. He was one of the medical sanitary inspec- 
tors during the cholera scare in 1893, and belongs to the Arba Reed Steamer Com- 
pany. In 1890 he married Lula May Vail of East Marion, Long Island, by whom he 
has two children, Susan May and Louise Cluett. 

Smith, Charles H., was born in the city of Albany, N. Y., September 7, 1854. He 
was educated there in the public schools, and entered the employ of the Troy City 
Railway Co. in the year 1870, first as barn boy. In 1880 he was made foreman ; in 
1881 he was appointed general sviperintendent; in the year 1885 he was appointed 
general superintendent of all the lines under this contract, and later when the Troy 
& New England Railroad was built, he was appointed general manager of the road ; 
he is one of the directors and is one of the executive committee. July 7, 1887, he 
was married to Catharine Cranner of Cohoes, Albany county, N. Y. They have had 
two sons, William and Charles A. Mr. Smith is a member of Cohoes Lodge No. 116, 
F. & A. M., of Cohoes Chapter No. 168, R. A. M., of Apollo Commandery No. 15, K. 
T., Delta Lodge of Perfection, Delta Council P. of J., Delta Chapter, Rose Croix of 
Albany. He is a member of the Waterford Club of Waterford, Saratoga county^ 
and a member of the celebrated Apollo Drill Corps. 

Bowman, Joseph, jr., was born in Troy, September 9, 1852. He was educated in 
the public schools and Bryant and Stratton's Business College. He worked at the 
paper collar business for eight years in New York city ; he then came to Troy in 1876 
and became a collar and cuff manufacturer under the firm name of Jo.seph Bowman 
& Sons. He has married twice, first, in 1874, to Nettie Wilson of New York city, 
by whom one daughter has been born: Vinnie G. Mrs. Bowman died in 1879. For 
his second wife, on April 3, 1882, he married Emma A., daughter of Daniel and Jane 
Ford of Troy, by whom three children have been born: Albert M., Clarence F., and 
Florence B. The father of Mrs. Bowman, Daniel Ford, was born in the town of 
Grafton in 1818. He spent his early life on a farm, and was afterwards a contractor 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 155 

and builder. He married Jane Bonesteel of the town of Brunswick, by whom three 
children were born: Martha, Ellen, and Emma A. Mr. Ford died in 1888, and his 
widow survives at this date. Mr. Bowman is a member of Apollo Lodge No. 13, 
F. & A. M., of Troy, of Phoenix Chapter No. 133 R. A. M., of Lansingburg, of Bloss 
Council No. 14, R. & S. M., of Troy, of Apollo Commandery No. 15, K. T. of Ori- 
ental Temple A. A. O. N. M. S., and of Apollo Drill Corps. The ancestry of the 
family is German, Scotch, and English. 

Sweet, Hon. Rufus, born in Stephentown, January 22, 1833, is the son of Rufus and 
Mary (Shaw) Sweet, both natives of Stephentown. The grandfather, Elnathan Sweet, 
came from Connecticut to Stephentown on horseback in pioneer days. He married 
Miss Rodgers, a daughter of one of the early settlers of Stephentown. The Sweet 
family are of English and Scotch descent. The parents of Mary Shaw were An- 
thony and Dianah (Smith) Shaw, who were early settlers of Stephentown, coming 
from Rhode Island. The father of Rufus during his early life was engaged in 
various occupations, but in his latter days followed farming. He was justice and 
town clerk and collector twenty-one years in succession. He died in April, 1860. 
Mrs. Sweet died August 27, 1856. Rufus was educated in the common and select 
schools in Stephentown and when quite young took charge of the home farm on 
which he has always resided. He owns the homestead of 190 acres to which he has 
added 125 acres. In 1857 Mr. Sweet married Eunice M., daughter of Malankin and 
Eliza C. (Smith) Bently of Hancock, Mass. To Mr. and Mrs. Sweet have been born 
three children: George B., farmer of Hancock, Mass. ; Mary E., Carrie, a teacher in 
Virginia. Mr. Sweet has been ten years supervisor of Stephentown, railroad com- 
missioner several years, and member of the Assembly from 1882 to 1883. June 14, 
1893, he was appointed superintendent of the poor of the county and in the following 
fall was elected to the same office by a majority of 7,121. He is a member of Am^y 
Lodge, F. & A. M., also of the I. O. O. F. 

Winnie, Daniel R., was born in Lansingburgh, February 11, 1824. He was edu- 
cated in the public schools and began his life work about 1841. He was with Captain 
Alfred Mosher on his sloop on the Hudson River, and through life's various changes 
always attended to his business with various partners until 1S74. At that time he 
went into partnership with Cooper & Co. in the ice business, which was continued 
until 1894, when a joint stock company was formed with the following members: 
B. Cooper, president; Daniel R. Winne, first vice-president; G. T. Bond, treasurer 
and secretary; M. F. Horton, manager; and H. Hoffman, assistant manager and 
bookkeeper. Mr. Winnie is a member of the Board of Charities and served as presi- 
dent of the board. He was married twice, second time in 1857 to Kate Geer of 
Troy. He had two children by his first marriage: Julia F. and Mary J. Julia F. 
married Herman Hoffman, by whom three children have been born: Irwin, Daniel 
W., and Kate. Mary J. married Peter Mealy of Troy, by whom eight children have 
been born: Daniel R., Walter B., Alice, Grace, Clarence, Chester, Alida and Susan. 
Mr. Winnie's second wife died and for his third wife he married Mrs. Anna E. House, 
born Philip, of Troy. He has two great-grandsons, Daniel Hoffman and Walter 
Gunther. His father, Philip, was born near Lansingburgh in 1798; he married 
Roxie Robinson, by whom niie children were born: Julia A., Daniel R. , Jane, 
Hester, Levinas, Susan, Maria, Philip, Catherine and Nancy. Daniel R. Winne 



156 Landmarks of rensselaer county. 

is a member of the Apollo Lodge No. 13 of Troy, F. & A. M. The ancestry of the 
family was of Dutch and New England extraction. 

Galbraith, Hugh, was born in Troy, October 22, 1865. He is the son of William 
J. Galbraith, who was born in Ireland and came to this country about 1850 and set- 
tled in Michigan. He came to Troy in 1855 where he died 18S0. His mother is 
Sara Jane (Crooks) Galbraith, who was born in Paisley, Scotland. He received his 
education in the public schools and went to work in the Troy and Boston railroad 
office for two and a half years and then was with Boutwell & Son, and in 1892 the 
Boutwell Milling & Grain Co. was incorporated and he has been one of the firm since 
and is secretary and manager of the same ; he is a director in the Troy Hydraulic 
Co., a member of the Senior Company of the Troy Citizens Corps, Laureate Boat 
Club, Apollo Lodge, Apollo Chapter, Bloss Council, Apollo Commandery, and Ori- 
ental Temple of the Mystic Shrine. In 1891 he married Caroline L. Sturtevant of 
Troy. 

Heimstreet, Thomas B., M.D., was born in Troy, March 11, 1843. His father. Dr. 
Charles Heimstreet, was for many years a druggist in Troy, being the first prescrip- 
tion druggist in the city; he died in 1854; he was married to Miss Harriet J. Walsh 
of Lansingburgh, N.Y., in 1838; she died in 1876. Thomas B. received his education 
at the common and private schools, Albany Medical College, and graduated from 
Bellevue Hospital Medical College in March, 1867, when he began practice in Troy. 
He has been one of the attending physicians of the Troy Hospital, and is a member 
of the Rensselaer County Medical Society, the New York State Medical Association, 
and the American Ornithologists' Union. He was librarian of the Troy Young Men's 
Association for nine years. In 1871 he married Miss Mary E. Quintal of Fall River, 
Mass. 

Bowman, Joseph, sr., was born in Royalton, Windsor county, Vt., April 30, 1815. 
He was married three times as follows: Sarah Van Arnam, of Lansingburgh, N. Y. ; 
Sarah G. Moseley, of Troy, N. Y., and Mrs. Cynthia Everett, of Troy, N. Y. He 
was one of the first to manufacture collars and ciiflfs in Troy under the name of 
Bowman & Moseley in 1853. His sons now compose the firm which is known as 
Joseph Bowman & Sons. He was the oldest fireman in Troy, having been appointed 
in 1843. He died September 11, 1896, in his eighty-second year, leaving two sons 
and one daughter. 

Greenman, Charles Edgar, M. D., was born in Manchester, Mich. ; September 29, 
1867. His father, Lorenzo Greenman, was born in Waterloo, N. Y., and when young 
came to Troy and learned the mason's trade, later moved to Michigan and enlisted 
in the Third Michigan Cavalry and in 1870 came to Cohoes where he died in 1880. 
His mother, Ellen (Magary) Greenman, was born in Montreal, P. Q., and is at 
present living in Troy. Dr. Greenman received his education in the public schools 
and graduated from the Albany Medical College March 21, 1889, and has since been 
in practice at 179 First street, Troy, N. Y. He is assistant physician of the out- 
patient department of the Troy Hosjiital and is examining physician for the Union 
Central Life Insurance Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio, and belongs to the New York State 
Medical Association, Rensselaer County Medical Society and the Medical Associa- 
tion of Troy and Vicinity. He also belongs to King Solomon's Lodge F. & A. M. 



FAMILY SKETCHES, 157 

June 3, 1891, he married Margaret Frances Mitchell of Waterford, N. Y. They be- 
came the parents of one son, Harold, who died January 20, 1896. 

Donovan, jr., Daniel D., M. D. was born in Troy, N. Y., November 5, 1873. His 
father, Daniel Donovan, came from Ireland in early childhood and settled in Troy. 
His mother is Ann (Daly) Donovan; she was born in Ireland. Daniel D. was grad- 
uated from St. Mary's in 1892, and entered the Syracuse University for the study of 
medicine, afterwards entering the Albany Medical College from which he was grad- 
uated in June, 1895. He is now resident physician of the Troy Hospital. He is a 
member of the Medical Association of Troy and Vicinity and Rensselaer Coimty 
Medical Society. 

Kinloch, Osman F., M. D., was bcrn in Brunswick, Rensselaer county, N. Y., Jan- 
uary 29, 1853. He is a son of Charles and Catherine A Kinloch ; Charles was a mer- 
chant in Troy for many years and was in the grocery business at the time of his death. 
Osman F. first attended the district schools of Brunswick, later the public schools of 
Troy, the Troy Academy and the business college, and graduated from the medical 
department of Union University at Albany in 1879. He was a student of Drs. Reed 
B. Bontecou and C. E. Nichols. He was elected delegate to the Medical Society of 
the State of New York, and is now a permanent member of same. He has been 
secretary, treasurer and vice-president of the Rensselaer County Medical Society and 
is now serving as president of the same. He is also a member of the Medical Asso- 
ciation of Troy and Vicinity for which he served as first secretary and treasurer 
He was city physician for five years, was deputy health officer at the time of the 
small pox epidemic, and was physician and surgeon in charge of the Rensselaer 
County Hospital during the absence in Europe of the regular apointee(Dr. Herrick) 
in 1887; he was jail physician for one year. He is medical examiner for a large 
number of life and accident insurance companies. He is a member of King Solomon's 
Primitive Lodge No. 91, F. & A. M., a member of Trojan Hook and Ladder Co., 
and in 1886 served as its president. He is now serving as alderman from the Fourth 
Ward, and is a member of the Good Government Club. He married May L. Fales 
of Troy, November 8, 1881 ; she is the daughter of the late Joseph and Harriet H. 
Fales. 

Ricker.son, Le Roy, was born in Durham, Greene county, N, Y., in 1845, His 
father was Lyman Rickerson, who was born in 1818; he was a captain in the State 
militia. His mother was Laura (Bagley) Rickerson ; she died in Troy in 1888. Le 
Roy received a public school education and afterwards worked with his father on 
the farm, and afterwards clerked in a village store, He came to Troy in 1871 and 
went to work for P. M. Marston in the grocery business. He bought Mr. Marston 
out in 1873 and carried on the business until 1876, when he engaged in the flour and 
grain business under the firm name of Lape & Rickerson; after six years Mr. Lape 
retired and Mr. Rickerson bought his interest in the business. He was alderman 
from 1888 to 1892, and is secretary of the Citizens' Association, treasurer of the Uni- 
tarian Church Society, a member of the East Side Club and the Farnham Steamer 
Fire Company. He married May M. Murphy of Dutchess county in 1883, and has 
two children. 

Carter, Edward, was born in Oxford, England in 1825, and came to this country 



158 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

in 1831 with his parents, Richard and Elizabeth (Wells) Carter. His father came to 
Troy in 1833 and started the plane manufacturing business, which he continued at 
until he removed to Lewis county in 1855 and died in 1891 ; his wife died in 1875. 
Edward received his education in the j^ublic schools of Troy and Troy Academy and 
entered the '.nanufacturing business; he has been sole proprietor of same since 1864. 
He represented the Fifth ward in the Board of Aldermen ten years and during that 
time was president of the board one year; he has been general assessor for ten 
years; he was a member of the Arba Reed Steamer Company five years, and was 
five years a member of the Farnham Steamer Company, during which time he was 
president of the company. Mr. Carter was one of the number selected to form a 
committee of one hundred who had charge of the proceedings to commemorate the 
anniversary of Troy's Centennial in 1889. In 1849 he married Lucy A. Stevens of 
Troy. They have two sons, Richard, jr., and Edward, jr., who assist in the manu- 
facturing business. 

Crandall, Louis S. , was born in Troy, N. Y., December 25, 1850. His ancestors 
were English and came from Rhode Island early in the present century, and settled 
in Brunswick, N. Y. His great-grandfather, Ethan Crandall, was a soldier in the 
Revolutionary war. His father, Ethan A. Crandall, was born in Brunswick in 1814. 
He came to Troy when a young man, and entered into the manufacture of mill 
stones, and was thus engaged until his death, which occurred in 1860. His mother 
was Leona (Smith) Crandall, who was born in Troy in 1824, and died in August, 
1866. Louis S. received his education at the high school and afterward entered the 
academy for a short time. He clerked for J M. Warren & Co. from 1868 to 1870, 
and then started the manufacturing of mill stones which he continued for ten j'ears. 
In 1880 he with George H. Morrison bought out the seed business of Warren & 
Taylor and conducted business under the firm name of Crandall & Morrison; in 
1886 he sold his interest in the concern and bought A. L. Hotchkin's furniture store. 
In 1890 he bought a controlling interest in the Troy Belting and Supply Company, 
and has been secretary and treasurer since; he is also interested in pulp and paper 
mills in Essex county, of which he is secretary and treasurer ; he was elected alder- 
man in 1894, and re-elected in the fall of 1895; he has been treasurer of the East 
Side Club since its organization. He married Miss Kate J. Lape of Troy in 1878. 
He has four daughters. 

Tupper, John H., was born in Troy, N. Y., November 26, 1841. His father, Will- 
iam W. Tuppsr, was a boatman owning a number of sloops. He retired from 
steamboating in 1851, and went into the lumber bu.siness in New York city and in 
1862 entered the iron manufacturing business at which he was engaged until he 
died, which was in 1893. His mother, Frances E. (Perry) Tupper, is now eighty 
years of age and lives in New York city. He was educated in private schools in 
Troy and Brooklyn. He made several trips across the ocean for business and pleas- 
ure. In 1860 he entered Charles Merrill & Sons' hardware store in New York city, 
where he remained until 1862, when he was engaged by the Hudson River Rail- 
road and afterwards became first bookkeeper and then auditor for the Delaware 
& Hudson Canal Co., New York office. He left New York and came to Troy in the 
fall of 1869, and bought an interest in the coal business of William Barton, an old 
established business at 433 River street. In 1878 he purchased Mr. Barton's inter- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 159 

est and has since carried on the business alone. He belongs to the Laureate Boat 
Clubf of which he was president tor a number of years, and has been president of 
the Troy Coal Exchange since 1891 ; has been lieutenant in the Troy Citizens Corps, 
and has been prominently connected with St. Paul's Episcopal and St. John's Epis- 
copal churches; he is one of the directors of the Y. M. C. A. He married Miss Ade- 
laide Taylor, May 20, 1868. She was at the time a resident of Brockville, Ontario, 
Canada. 

Seaton, William G., was born in Troy, August 17, 1861. His father, Alexanders., 
was born in Scotland and came to this country in 1845. He was a currier by trade 
and took charge of Elias Plumb's tanner)^ for a number of years, and died in 1888. 
His mother, Mary (Ridgeway) Seaton, was born in Ridgeway, England, and died in 
1892. William G. attended the public schools of Troy and later entered a business 
college. Then he learned the papermaking trade, worked at that six years, when 
he learned the trade of a machinist and worked at that two years, when he went to 
work again at papermaking. In 1884 he started a news room and confectionery 
store on River street, and seven years later he moved to 706 River street, where he 
is at present conducting a gent's furnishing goods establishment. He served on the 
Board of Aldermen from 1890 to 1892. He is a member of Mt. Zion Lodge F. & 
A. M., Diamond Rock Lodge I. O. O. P., and has belonged to the Troy Fire Depart- 
ment since 1882. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, the Brownie Club of North 
Troy and the N. T. A. C. of North Troy. 

Pollock, Philander, was born in La Chute, Quebec, Canada. His father, James 
Pollock, came from Paisley, Scotland, and settled in La Chute, Canada; he died in 
1848. His mother, Maria (Stevens) Pollock, was born in Vermont and rnoved to La 
Chute with her parents about the time of the War of 1813; she died in 1841. Phi- 
lander went to work for a tanner and learned the trade and came to Troy in 1866. 
He worked for Mr. Haight one year, and for a short time afterwards worked in New 
York city. In 1870 he returned to Troy and entered the store of Ross & Smith as 
clerk; he was with that concern as clerk until January 1, 1873, when Mr. Ross died 
and he bought his interest in Ihe concern and carried on the bu.siness under the 
firm name of Smith & Pollock. In 1892 Mr. Smith died and he became sole owner 
of the leather business. He is a member of the Fifth Avenue Baptist church, and 
the Royal Arcanum. In 1867 he married Miss Jennie E. Hoyt of Troy. He has one 
son and a daughter. 

Peterson, S. A., was born in Fulton county, N. Y., March 18, 1844, son of William 
and Nancy (Riddle) Peterson. He received a district school education and was 
reared on his father's farm; at the age of seventeen years he came to Troy and en- 
gaged in the coal business at his present location, and he has carried on his exten- 
sive coal business since that time; his office is on the west end of Fulton street with 
yards adjacent. In 1872 he took in as partner George A. Packer; Mr. Packer died 
in June, 1896. His father died in May, 1872, and his mother in July, 1892. On April 
1, 1872, Mr. Peterson married Sarah M. Mackey; one daughter was born, who died 
in infancy. 

O'Brien, Michael H., was born in Troy in 1857. His father and motherdied when 
he was quite young. After leaving school he entered the clothing house of Julius 



IGO LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Saul where he remained until 1888, when he went into the clothing business at 316 
River street, taking in Mr. M. V. Molloy as partner. The firm is doing an extensive 
clothing and gent's furnishing goods business, under the name of O'Brien & Molloy. 
They occupy the entire building consistmg of three floors, 130 feet deep and twenty- 
five feet wide. They carry a fine line of goods and sell strictly at one price. 

Hydorn, Frank, was born in Grafton, Rensselaer county, N. Y., in 1831. His 
father, David Hydorn, was a carpenter by trade and died in Delaware in 1894. His 
mother, Esther (Burdict) Hydorn, died m 18G . Frank received a common school 
education and learned the carpenter's trade and came to Troy in 1862. In 1867 he 
■weni in business with William Collins under the firm name of Collins & Hydorn, and 
was with that firm until 1878 when he started in the sash and blind business for 
himself on Front street, corner of Federal, where he has been since. He belongs to 
the L O. O. F. and has held all the offices in the same. His first wife was Angeline 
Daniels of Brunswick who died in 1865. His present wife was aMrs. Shook of Troy, 
to whom he was married in 1868. He has two sons and one daughter; Nelson H., a 
commercial traveler, and George who assists hmi in his business. 

Hartigan, John J., was born in Troy, N. Y., October 31, 1853. His father, Maurice 
Hartigan, came from Ireland in 1849 and settled in Troy; he was alderman and 
supervisor of the Eighth ward for many years. His mother, Ellen (Hogan) Hartigan, 
was born in Ireland, and died in 1889. John J. was educated at the Christian 
Brothers' Academy and entered the store of George Bristol & Co. as cash boy in 
1867 and was with Bristol and his successors until 1888, when he started in the dry 
goods business on King street where he still remains. In 1895 he formed a copart- 
nership with his cousin and started a branch store at 79 and 81 Congress street. He 
was president of the Robert Emmet Association in 1889, 189(» and 1891 ; also presi- 
dent of the La Salle Alumni Association in 1890 and 1891. November 29, 1884, he 
married Elizabeth Clogan of Chicago, 111., by whom he has one daughter. 

Fitzpatrick, Philip, was born in Albany, N. Y., in 1844. His father, Francis Fitz- 
patrick, was born in Ireland and came to this country in 1820 and was for many 
years in the teaming business in Albany, where he was killed by the premature dis- 
charge of a gun while firing a salute on the 7th of April, 1847. His mother, Anna 
Kennedy, came to this country from Ireland in 1818 and died in 1852. Philip Fitz- 
patrick received his education in private schools in Albany and entered a tobacco 
manufacturing house in Albany and afterwards learned the cigarmaker's trade. In 
1862 he enlisted in the Eleventh New York Independent Battery. He was in most 
of the principal battles of the war and received his discharge in 1865. He then 
worked at his trade in Connecticut for three years and came to Troy in 1869 and 
with Mr. Draper started the firm of Fitzpatrick & Draper in the wholesale tobacco 
and cigar business. He was the first commander of John A. Griswold Post No. 338, 
G. A. R., organized in 1883. He married Mary Frances Bunting of Troy, September 
16, 1873, who was a teacher in the public schools. They have two sons and two 
daughters. 

Lobdell, Archie S., was born in West Troy in 1862. His father, Henry Lobdell, 
was for many years in the dry goods business in West Troy and came to Troy in 
1876 and entered the house decorating business, where he continued until his death 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 161 

which occurred in 1893. His mother, Alice R. (Tobias) Lobdell, is a native of West 
Troy. Archie S. received his education in Troy public schools and entered business 
with his father, and since his death has had full management of affairs. He belongs 
to Mount Zion Lodge, F. & A. M. He married Miss Florence A. Toy of Troy in 
1886, daughter of John Toy. 

Duncan, Charles, was born in Scotland in 1844, in which country he learned his 
business as a carpenter and builder. He came to this country in 1864 and settled in 
Troy where he continued his business. In 1872 he started in business for himself 
and is now one of the prominent contractors and builders of Troy. He erected the 
State Armory at Troy and at Hoosick Falls and several collar factories, the Second 
Presbyterian church, and is at present at work on the new court house. He manu- 
factures all kinds of lumber for buildings, sawing, planing, etc. ; his works are lo- 
cated on Front street near Fulton. He is vice-jjresident of the Pioneer Building and 
Loan Association, and a member of King Solomon's Lodge, F. & A. M. In 1871 he 
was married to Annie Buchanan of Troy, daughter of Archibald Buchanan who for 
forty years was connected with the Burden Iron Works. He has one son and four 
daughters. 

Brewer, Alonzo, was born in Greenwich, Washington county, in 1836. His an- 
cestors originally settled in Rhode Island, and his grandfather, Daniel Brewer, moved 
from Rhode Island to Greenwich and worked in the first cotton factory in the State 
of New York. He died in the early forties. His father, Harvey Brewer, was born 
in 1810 and is still living in Greenwich, and his mother, Jane (Reynolds) Brewer, 
died in 1886. Alonzo was educated in the public schools and Greenwich Academy, 
and worked on a farm until he was seventeen years of age. He then learned the 
carpenter's and builder's trade and in 1863 started in business in his native town, 
which he continued until 1876, when he came to Troy and worked in the car shof)s 
for the Troy and Boston Railroad and from 1882 until 1884 had charge of the bridges 
of that road, and in 1884 was appointed master car builder of the Troy and Boston 
Railroad, which position he now holds at the Fitchburg car shops, and has charge 
of car building for the western division and of the buildings. He is a member of . 
Apollo Lodge F. & A. M. In 1860 he married Matilda J. Pauley, by whom two 
children have been born: John R., who died in 1886, and Ida, who died in 1888. 

Dorrance, James A., was born in Woodstock, Conn. He is the son of Alexander 
and Mary E. (Fox) Dorrance, both born in New England. His father died in 1870 
and his mother in 1849. James A. received his education in the public schools and 
for some years clerked in stores in different places in Connecticut and came to Troy 
in 1847 and was clerk in the shoe store of James Sutton two years, and in 1864 with 
Mr. C. D. Parkard opened a shoe store under the firm name of Dorrance & Packard. 
Mr. Packard sold out to Mr. Pellet in 1865 and the firm was continued under the firm 
name of Dorrance & Pellet and later Mr. Dorrance bought Pellet's interest and con- 
tinued some years and in 1881 formed a partnership with his son, William J. Dor- 
rance; the firm now is J. A. Dorrance & Son, one of the oldest shoe stores in the city 
of Troy. He married Eliza McBurney of Troy in 1850. His children are Mrs. Mary 
D. Heustis, William J., Fanny and Jessie. William J. Dorrance was a member of the 
school board from 1887 until 1893; he is now a member of the Knights of Maccabees 



162 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

and of the Trojan Hook and Ladder company No. 3, of which he was at one time 
secretary, having served altogether twenty years in the Troy Fire Department. 

Cheney, Edward D., was born in Troy, June 30, 1846. His father, Warner E., 
came to Troy in 1835, and was a mason and builder by trade, and in 1862 commenced 
the manufacture of lime; he died June 29, 1889. His mother, Phoebe A. Smith, was 
born in Dutchess county, and now resides in Troy. Edward D. was educated in the 
public schools and in the Troy Business College. In 1866 he associated himself in 
the cement business with his father, and at the death of the latter became sole pro- 
prietor. Mr. Cheney was school commissioner for two terms. He is a member of 
Apollo Lodge and Chapter and Commandery, and al.so of the Knights of Pythias. 
In 1869 he married Margaret A. Smith, a daughter of the late Leonard Smith, for 
many years a furniture dealer of Troy. He has two children: Edward W. and 
Clara Louise. 

Strauss, Moses J., was born in Albany February 11, 1846. His father, Joseph 
Strauss, was one of the oldest Jewish settlers of Albany, having come to this country 
from Germany in early life and settled in Albany, and was for many years in the 
grocery business; he died in 1863. Moses J. at the age of fourteen left school and 
entered a fancy goods store at Albany, and came to Troy in 1862, where he clerked 
for his uncle until 1870. The same year he started a fancy goods store on Fulton 
street, under the firm name of Strauss & Stern, and two years later bought Stern's 
interest and moved to the corner of Fulton and Fourth streets, occupying three 
stores for the exclusive sale of ladies' and gents' furnishing goods, where he re- 
mained until 1890, when he bought the building at No. 332 River street and changed 
his business to wholesale and retail millinery. He is a member of the King Solomon 
Lodge, F. & A. M., and also a member of the Troy Lodge of Elks, of which he is the 
present treasurer. He married Jennie Herman of Albany, daughter of the late 
Morris Herman, a jeweler, engaged in business for many years in that cit}'. 

Caldwell, James B., was born in Troy, N. Y., January 25, 1843. He is the son of 
James Caldwell who was born in Belfast, Ireland, and came to the United States 
with his parents when a young man and settled in Troy; he died in 1851. His 
mother was Nancy Sample, born in Glasgow, Scotland, and died in 1888. James B., 
after attending the public schools of Troy, started in as apprentice to learn the tailor's 
trade and after working at it some time went to New York city where he completed 
his trade. He then returned to Troy and entered the firm of Bernard Montague ; in 
1885 he bought out the business and ran it until 1895 when Philip A. Morse was 
taken as partner, the firm being J. B. Caldwell & Co., custom tailors. He is a mem- 
ber of the E.Kempt Fireman's Association and has been secretary and treasurer of 
the same. He married, May 18, 1870, Amanda Padley of Troy. His children are 
Charles H. and Maggie. 

MacKenzie, John, was born in Pictou, Nova Scotia, October 2, 1842. He is the son 
of John and Mary (Campbell) MacKenzie. His father died in 1885, and his mother 
in 1S89. John went to sea at an early age and in 1859 settled in Boston, Mass., and 
learned the cooper trade. In 1860 he came to Troy and worked at his trade until 
August, 1861, when he enlisted in the Second New York Cavalry (Harris Light) and 
served over four years, during which time he was in prison over a year. When he 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 163 

was mustered out of service he located in Bath, N. Y., where he worked at his trade 
with Requa & Co. and their successors until 1868, and later with A. Widenhamer 
bought out the small refinery and carried on business until 1870 when he came to 
Troy, when he brought refined oil from Pennsylvania and barreled it on Green Lsland, 
and in 1877 he took charge of the oil works on Green Island for the Standard Oil Co. 
He operated in opposition to the Standard Oil Co. from 1890 until 1895, during which 
time oil was sold as low as four cents per gallon. The business is now conducted on 
Fulton street. He is an inventor of several appliances, among which are a rail-joint 
and a floor oiler. He is commander of Post Tibbits, G. A. R., No. 141, and belongs 
to King Solomon's Lodge, F. & A. M. He has been a trustee and an elder of the 
First Presbyterian church of Watervliet since 1879. He married Lucretia A. Streeter, 
a daughter of Dr. Lorenzo Streeter of Albia. Their children are Morris S. and 
Charles H., who are connected with the oil works; and John A., on the police force 
in West Troy, N. Y. 

Morse, Philip A., was born in Schaghticoke, Rensselaer county, in 1857. His an- 
cestors came from England in 1634 or 1635, and settled in Newberry, Mass. His great- 
grandfather, Peter Morse, came from Connecticut to Schaghticoke, where his grand- 
father and father were born. His father, Amos Morse, removed to Troy in 1871 and 
for a time ran the Rensselaer House on River street ; he was auditing superintendent 
of the poor of Rensselaer county from 1867-69 ; he still resides in Troy. His mother 
was Elizabeth (Cipperly) Morse. Mr. Morse received his education in the public schools 
and entered as an apprentice in the tailor shop of Morris Gross on Third street, 
where he remained until 1880. He then went with A. Montague & Co., who sold 
out in 1885 to J. B. Caldwell, and in 1895 was made a partner, the firm name being 
J. B. Caldwell & Co., fine custom tailors. He is a member of the Troy Citizens 
Corps, and an elder in the Ninth Presbyterian church. He is also president of the 
Christian Endeavor Local Union, having some sixty societies in his charge, fie 
married Miss Alice Northrup of Lansingburgh, N. Y., in 1881, by whom he has had 
one daughter, Lela. 

Rapp, Christian W., was born in Germany in 1835, and came to this country and 
settled in Newark, N. J., in 1854, where he worked at his trade,. that of a brewer, 
for one year, when he came to Troy and worked at the cooper business. In 1859 he 
joined the New York State Militia in which he continued for ten years, five of which 
he was captain. He was one of the old Cajjital police force of Troy, and after- 
wards on the Rensselaer police, of which he was captain. He engaged in the meat 
business with Fred Epting, under the firm name of Epting & Rapp, and in 1886 be- 
came proprietor of the entire business, which is now in charge of his sons. He 
served in the board of aldermen from the 13th ward from 1875 to 1878 inclusive, and 
represented the same ward m the board of supervisors for three years; also served 
as general assessor for nine years and two months. He is also a member of Apollo 
Lodge No. 13 F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter, Bloss Council, and Apollo Comraandery, 
is a member of Oriental Temple of the Mystic Shrine, and of Rhine Lodge No. 248 
I. O. O. F., of the Mistletoe Grove No. 11, U. A. O. D., and is also a member of the 
Knights of Pythias, and is a trustee of the German Hall Association. December 25, 
1864, he married Amelia Grose, of Troy, and his sons are A. Christian and Fred- 
erick L. 



164 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Williamson, Stephen H., was born in Troy in 1851. His father, Howard William- 
son, was born at Onondaga Hill, and was for many years a liveryman in Troy. He 
died in 1884. His mother, Helen G. Greenwood, was born at West Troy and died 
in 1856. Stephen H. was educated in the public schools and the Troy Academy, and 
at the age of twenty-one entered the livery business with his father, the firm being 
J. H. Williamson & Son, and later, after the death of his father, he became sole pro- 
prietor. Mr. Williamson has one of the finest livery stables in the city of Troy, fully 
equipped with every kind of vehicles and excellent horses for riding and driving. 
The stables and office are situated in the central portion of the city at No. 22-24 
Fourth street. He was the first to introduce the rubber tire on carriages and bug- 
gies, and has several now in daily use. He is a member of King Solomon Lodge 
F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter, Bloss Council and Apollo Commandery. In 1875 he 
married Ella J. Young, daughter of Dr. Orange R. Young, and has one daughter, 
Grace Bardwell Williamson. 

Pitts, Andrew F., M. D., was born in Clinton, Rensselaer county, N. Y., July 5, 
1855. He is a son of John W. and Nancy M. (Finch) Pitts. Both were born in 
Nassau. Andrew F. is a grandson of David Pitts who spenthis life in Nassau. The 
father of Andrew F. is a farmer and teacher in his seventy-eighth year. Andrew F. 
was educated in common and State Normal schools, and also Troy Business College, 
from which he graduated in March, 1881. He began the study of medicine with 
Dr. Thomas S. Robertson and graduated from the medical department of the Uni- 
versity of Vermont in 1884. His diploma was endorsed by Bellevue Hospital Med- 
ical College in July, 1884. He had practiced medicine with his preceptor in New 
York city for two years previous to this. After graduating he continued his practice 
from July 1, 1884, to August 15, 1885. He then came to Nassau where he has since 
had a successful practice. He married Libbie Wing of Nassau, by whom three 
daughters have been born: Ethel, Florence, and Marion. 

Hermance, Emily. — Ryer Hermance was born in Nassau, November 16, 1799. 
He was a son of Garret Hermance, a native of Dutchess county and one of the early 
settlei'S of Nassau, where he died. Ryer Hermance was descended from a Duke 
and Duchess Hermance, natives of Holland. The name itself (Hermance) means 
lord's man. Ryer was a farmer and wool dealer. He represented his district in the 
Assembly, and was a man of good judgment and high integrity, and was an enthus- 
iastic worker in all charitable enterprises; he was an office bearer in the Reformed 
church for many years and its liberal supporter. He died April 16, 1876. His wife, 
to whom he was married December 20, 1820, was Elizabeth Miller, who spent her 
life in Nassau, dying April 23, 1877. She was the mother of seven children : Garret 
(deceased), Mary A., Sarah E., Cornelia, Emily, an infant unnamed, and Peter M. 
(deceased). Emily now owns the old homestead, where she resides. 

Boyce, Charles A., was born in Schodack, March 22, 1853. He was a son of Eli and 
Fannie Gardner ; he was a native of Schodack, and she of Rhode Island. The grand- 
father of Charles A. was Isaac Boyce, one of the early settlers of Schodack. Mr. 
Boyce was a farmer by occupation. September, 1874, he married Mary A. Pitts, 
daughter of William and Charity (Wood) Pitts. The grandfather of Mrs. Boyce 
lived and died in Nassau, and the father took up the land. The father of Mrs. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 165 

Boyce was a farmer, and held minor town offices. He died June 10, 1893, and his 
wife died in November, 1873. Mr. Boyce died January 3, 1890. Mr. Boyce was a 
natural botanist and made a study of that subject from childhood. 

Brown, Thomas G., was born in Surrey county, England, October 39, 1838. He is 
a son of Jacob and Mary A. (Nightingale), both born in England and there lived and 
died. Thomas G. was educated in England and at the age of nineteen came to New 
York city. In England Mr. Brown worked at farming and lime burning, which busi- 
ness his father carried on. He came to Nassau and worked by the month for Mr. 
George Carpenter, and continued work until 1859. He married SamanthaK. Knapp 
who was born in Nassau and daughter of Reynolds Knapp and Abigail Harris, who 
came to this farm in 1808; he was the son of Joshua Knapp, born in Nassau. Mr. 
Knapp owned the farm upon which Mr. Brown now resides. Mr. Brown began the 
manufacture of cider and vinegar in 1878, and has now added a feed mill. 

Dunham, W. V.. was born in Dunham's Hollow, N. Y., October 34, 1835. He is 
a son of Harry, a son of Isaac Dunham, who settled at Dunham's Hollow, N. Y., 
in about 1790 and there lived and died; he kept hotel for many years, and reared a 
family of seven sons and two daughters. The father of W. V. was a farmer ; he 
died in 1851; his wife was Lucy Vary: they had two sons and three daughters. 
W. V. was reared on a farm and educated in common schools; he followed farming 
until 1884; he came where he is now and bought the Knap grist mill; he has added 
a saw mill to it and is very successful. December 8, 1835, he married M. Eliza 
Lester, by whom he has had seven children: Ella, Henry, Mattie, Calvin. Jennie, 
Lena and Flora. Mr. Dunham has been commissioner of highways for six years, 
and also collector for one year. He is a member of Gratitude Lodge, F. & A. M. 

Germond, John T., was born in Nassau, N. Y., December 37, 1839. He is a son 
of Willett and Susan (Loweree) Germond, both natives of Long Island, town* of 
Flushing. The grandfather of Mr. Germond was Simeon Germond, who came from 
Long Island to Schodack in about 1830, where he lived and died. The father of 
Mr. Germond came to Nassau in 1833 and settled on the farm where Mr. Germond 
now resides and here spent his days. He died in December, 1859, and his wife died 
in March, 1879. To Mr. and Mrs. Germond were born eleven children : Mary R. is 
at the old homestead; Abraham L. is at home; Fannie M. is the widow of John W. 
Huested; Sallie A. is at home; John T. ; Susan J. is the widow of Fenner Huested; 
Anna is the wife of Aaron Middlebrooks of Nassau; and Samuel is at Albany. 
John T. was educated in common schools and farming has been his business. John 
T., his brother and sisters Mary R. and Sallie A., occupy the farm of 160 acres, 135 
acres of which the maternal grandfather of John T. bought in 1834. 

Ham, C. G., was born in Greenbush, N. Y., December 9, 1856. He is a son of C. 
G. and Charlotte L. (Lyon) Ham, he born is vSchodack, N. Y., and she in New Lon- 
don, Conn. The grandfather of Mr. Ham was Isaac Ham, who was born in Scho- 
dack and was a son of Frederick Ham, a native of Holland, who came to this 
county at an early day. The father of Mr. Ham was a railroad man and cashier 
in the office of the Boston Railroad at Albany. He came to Bath in 1871 and en- 
gaged in the coal business, which he followed for about twelve years. He died in 
May, 1883, and his wife lives in Bath. Mr. Ham was reared in Greenbush until 



166 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

eleven years of age, and was educated in common and model schools of Albany. 
He was in the railroad office at East Albany with the Boston Railroad for five years 
and at the death of his father succeeded him in the coal business. 

Hogeboom, John V. , born in Nassau November 29, 1827, was the son of Nich- 
olas and Paulina (Valentine) Hogeboom, he born February 25, 1800, and she born 
February 24, 1804. Mr. Nicholas Hogeboom died in Nassau October 10, 1837; his 
wife married William Sikes and went to Rome, N. Y., afterwards to Niagara county, 
N. Y., where William Sikes died October 8, 1874, and she returned to North Nassau 
and resided with her son until her death, December 24, 1879. John V. Hogeboom 
was a farmer and saw mill man, and has owned the mill and farm on which the 
family now live for a number of years. He was a prominent Democrat in politics 
and was highway commissioner for ten years. He was a member of Schodack Union 
Lodge No. 87, F. & A. M., and united with lodge in 1867. He died February 1, 1891. 
His wife was Sophia Deverealux, daughter of Epaphroditus and Mittie (Crandell) 
Devereaux, both born in Nassau, and his father was Jonathan, one of the early set- 
tlers of the town, locating and clearing up the farm where Mrs. Hogeboom and sons 
now live. To Mr. and Mrs. Hogeboom were born three sons: George M. was born 
February 27, 1858, educated in the common schools; he resides at Hoag Corners, 
and is connected with the milling business; is postmaster of that place; he is an 
active Democrat, and a member of Schodack Union Lodge No. 87, F. & A. M. ; he 
married Mattie, daughter of Willett V. Dunham, and had one son, Aaron, deceased. 
D. Aaron was born April 9, 1864, educated at the Averill Park Seminary, graduated 
from the Evansville Academy in 1883, and has been engaged in teaching for thirteen 
years, being principal of the Averill Park Public Schools for three years; he is a 
prominent Democrat, being elected town clerk two terms in succession, and was 
defeated for supervisor in 1894 by a small majority of thirty-seven votes; he is a 
member of Schodack Union Lodge No. 87, F. & A. M., Interlochan No. 641, L O. O. F., 
P. G. and past member of the (Jrand Master's Staff, also Rensselaer Encampment, 
and is connected with several enterprises. Owen P. was born September 14, 1867, 
educated in the common schools, and he and D. A. are associated in the milling and 
lumber business; he is also a farmer. He is a member of Interlochan Lodge No. 
641, I. O. O. F., and of Rensselaer Encampment. He is an active Democrat. He was 
married, February 23, 1893, to Edna Clark, daughter of Ira Clark of North Nassau. 
John V. and wife settled in the far west in the early fifties, but the climate not agree- 
ing with them they returned east in a short time. Mr. Hogeboom was postmaster 
at North Nassau during Cleveland's first administration. 

James, Thomas D., was born in Albany, N. Y., November 4, 1848. He is a son of 
Thomas D. James, a native of Newark, N. J., born March 17, 1806; his mother was 
Mary Ford Ailing, daughter of Pruden Ailing who was a merchant and for a time 
postmaster of Newark. The father of Thomas D. was a graduate from Princeton 
College and studied law in Newark, N. J. ; he practiced for a time in Albany, N. Y., 
with Andrew J. Colvin, and then removed to New York city where he continued his 
practice until 1868, when on account of advanced age he retired from business and 
came to Nassau; he died December 2, 1883. He took a great interest in public 
affairs and was a very successful lawyer while in New York city. The children of 
Thomas D. James and Mary Ford Ailing were Maria, Charles, Josiah, Rose, Thomas 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 167 

and Norwood. Thomas D. was educated in New York ; he went to Florida in 1870 
and was engaged in the orange business near Palatka, and for twenty-three years 
lived in that State during the winter, and since 1893 his permanent home has been 
in Nassau. He has been postmaster in Nassau since 1893, and president of the village 
in 1896. He is a member of Gratitude Lodge No. 674 F. & A. M. The grandfather 
of Thomas D. was Josiah James, a son of David, who was taken prisoner by the 
British during the Revolution and confined in the old sugar house in New York city. 

Laydon, D. E. L., was born in Schodack, N. Y., September 8, 1846. He is a son 
of John and Mary (Janes) I.aydon, both were born in Ireland, and came to Schodack 
about 1840 and afterwards went to Nassau, N. Y., where Mr. Laydon died in 1874, 
and his widow lives with a son-in-law, George W. Stratt of Nassau. Mr. Laydon 
was reared on a farm and educated in Vermont schools. He learned the carpenter's 
trade and has been a builder and contractor for some years ; in 1877 he came to Bath, 
where he has since resided ; he is a real estate dealer and is president of the Albany 
and Sand Lake Plank Road Co., and is secretary and treasurer of the Rensselaer 
and Turnpike Road. In 1876 he was married to Mary F. Cotton of Sand Lake, a 
daughter of John T. Cotton, a wagon maker by trade ; he died in Brooklyn in 1894 
at the age of eighty-five, and his wife, Adaline E. Williams, died in Sand Lake 
January 7, 1882, at the age of fifty-eight. To Mr. and Mrs. Laydon were born three 
children: Walter S., Jennie B., and Jessie D. E. F. Mr. Laydon has been overseer 
of the poor and trustee of the village. 

Lennon, Samuel J., born in Schodack, N. Y., December 31, 1844, is the son of 
James and Mary (Davis) Lennon, both natives of Wicklow, Ireland, and came to 
Schodack in 1828 and there lived and died. Samuel J. was educated in the common 
schools. He started in life at the age of ten years, learning the confectionery and 
pastry cook business, and after serving five years as an apprentice he worked t^o 
years as journeyman, and September 5, 1861, enlisted in Companj'^ C, 1st Battalion, 
Twelfth U. S. Infantry, H. R. Rathbone, captain, and served three years, and about 
a week previous to expiration of enlistment he was taken prisoner on the Weldon 
Railroad and taken to Libby prison and held for three weeks and four weeks on 
Belle Island and was m Salisbury prison, N. C, five months. Mr. Lennon was in 
the following battles: Yorktown, Williamstown, Second battle of Bull Run, South 
Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, 
three days in the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Laurel Hill, North Anna, Tolopotomoy 
Creek, Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad. At the close 
of the war Mr. Lennon was sick two years and then entered the confectionery busi- 
ness in Nassau. His business rapidly increased, so that the output in sweets ex- 
ceeded one-half ton. Mr. Lennon has been correspondent for the local newspaper 
and others for thirty years. 

Merchant, Abel, born in Schodack, January 31, 1829. is the son of Reuben and 
Susanah (Krum) Merchant, he a native of Amenia, Dutchess county, N. Y., and she 
of Schodack, and a daughter of Martin Krum, one of the early settlers of Schodack. 
The grandfather of Abel Merchant was one of the pioneers of Schodack, was a soldier 
of the Revolutionary war at the battle of .Saratoga, and first came from Connecticut 
to Dutchess county, afterwards removing to Schodack. The father of Mr. Merchant 



1G8 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

was a farmer and for twelve years a merchant m Albany. In 1829 he purchased the 
Nassau Mills and removed to Nassau. In 1832 he bought the farm now occupied by 
his son Abel, and four years later disposed of the mill property. The mother died 
in 1844 and the father in 1850. Mr. Merchant graduated from Union College, class 
of '49, after a preparatory course at Nassau Academy. Upon graduating frem Union 
he was elected a member of the Phi Beta Kappa society ; and being the oldest of 
seven children, all of whom excepting himself are now dead, he assumed charge of 
the business affairs of the family, upon the death of his father, and has since remained 
on the old homestead. Mr. Merchant was one of the organizers of the Mutual In- 
surance Association of Nassau, Schodack and Chatham, and was its first president, 
which office he held for ten years, from 1856 to 1806, since which time has been its 
secretary ; he is president of the Nassau Free Library, of which he was also one of 
the founders ; he has been secretary and treasurer of the Nassau and Schodack Cem- 
etery Association for some years, has bad the settlement of several large estates, and 
now has a number of trusts in hand amounting to several thousands of dollars. He 
was married in January, 1868, to Miss Clara L. Doty of Stephentown, and to them . 
five children have been born: Clarinda, a graduate of Nassau Academy and of 
Wellesley College, Mass., a member of the Zeta Alpha society, and now a teacher at 
the Albany Female Academy. Henry D. was educated at Nassau Academy, gradu- 
ating from Union College in 1898, and from the Albany Law School in 1896, and also 
a member of Phi Beta Kappa; John C. and Abel, jr., are now students at LTnion 
College. Reuben died at the age of eight years. The family attend the Reformed 
Church. Mr.s. Merchant was a daughter of Joseph S. Doty and Palmyra Jolls Doty, 
both of Stephentown, N. Y. The grandfather of Mrs. Merchant was William Doty, 
and she traces her ancestry to Edward Doty who came over in the Mayflower; her 
maternal grandfather was Stephen Van Rensselaer Jolls, who came from Rhode 
Island in the last century. 

Mynders, Archibald D., was born in Albany, N. Y., July 27, 1860. He is a son of 
Jonathan and Magdaline(Halenbeck) Mynders; he was born in Guilderland, and she 
was born in Bethlehem, both m Albany county. Mr. Mynders was a traveling man and 
lived and died in Albany county where his wife also died. Mr. A. D. Mynders was left 
an orphan and has made his own way in the world. He was under his grandmother's 
care, Jane Ann Hallenbeck, widow of Peter Hallenbeck, and one of the wealthiest 
men of Slingerlands, Albany coiinty. Mr. Mynders received a common school edu- 
cation and began life working on the farm for his grandfather; he got twenty-five 
cents per day and board. When about fourteen years of age he came to Albany and 
worked for Amos Van Groesbeck, a carpet dealer of North Pearl street, for about 
two years and then went to Poughkeepsie and studied for a professional nurse in the 
Hudson River State Hospital, taking a two years' course. September 15, 1887, he 
married Jennie L. Lord, bj^ whom one son has been born ; Clayton R. Mr. Mynders 
returned to Albany and worked at various occupations. April 5, 1890, he came to 
Bath-on-the-Hudson and purchased a newspaper route of about 200 customers from 
Harry Bates of Broadway, East Albany, and now has about 1,000 customers. He 
is now handling the news business in all its branches, conducting his route per- 
sonally, and in four years built himself a home on the corner of Third street and 
McNorton avenue, and in addition to the news business carries tobacco, cigars, can- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 169 

dies, and soft drinks. Mr. Mynders employs one clerk and has two boys assisting 
in the newspaper route ; he has a system of blowing whistles which is very satisfac- 
tory. Mr. Mynders has the agency of supplying the Bath schools with books. 

Penney, Thomas, born in Lincolnshire, England, February 12, 1850, is the son of 
Thomas and Ann (Broome) Penney, natives of England, who in the fall of 1852 
came to Albany and in 1865 went to Saratoga and engaged in farming and in 1893 
came to East Albany, where they now reside. Thomas was reared in Albany and 
educated in old school No. 10; he learned the carpenter's trade and followed that 
work until 1882, when he engaged with the New York Central and Hudson River 
Railroad as car inspector and has since continued with the company. He came to 
Bath in 1881 and is now stationed at Troy, where he has charge of car inspection 
and repairs. He was first married in December, 1872, to Annie Thornley of Al- 
bany and had one .son, Arthur William. Mr. Penney is a Republican in politics and 
at present is president of the village. He is a member of Greenbush Lodge No. 
337, F. & A. M., and also of Greenbush Chapter No. 274, R. A. M. 

Pitts, Alvah, born January 14, 1815, is the son of William and Charity (Hoag) 
Pitts, who came to Nassau in an early day and settled about three miles north of 
where Mr. Pitts now lives and there both lived and died, Mr. Pitts was a farmer 
by occupation ; he and his wife were members of the M. E. church. Alvah has been 
one of the successful farmers of the town. He located on his farm in 1865, but in 
1883 removed to Nassau. He was married in 1840 to Margaret Traver of Schodack, 
N. Y. They have three children: William H., who married Lavina Germond; 
they have three children : Anna, Bertha, and J. Alvah. After her death he was 
married to Mrs. Ida Mickle, by whom he has two children: Margaret and Oscar. 
George, who married Emma Taylor of Saratoga county, N. Y. Susan J. is the wife 
Martin P. Carpenter of New Lebanon, N. Y. Mr. Pitts has been assessor eleven 
years. The family attend the M. E. church. 

Raney, Mrs. B., was born in Ireland; she is the daughter of Christopher and 
Margaret (Powers) Russell of Ireland. Mr. Russell died when Mrs. Raney was a 
mere child. Mrs. Raney and a brother, John, came to America when he was sixteen 
and she seventeen years of age. They then sent for their only sister and their 
mother remained in Ireland, where she died in 1883. John Russell received his 
education in Ireland and was a good scholar for a boy. He began to work in the 
iron works of Troy, and soon after he worked in a drug store, and finally in the 
grocery business as a clerk. He came to Greenbush when still a young man and en- 
gaged in mercantile trade, which business he followed until his death, August 12, 
1883. His wife, daughter of Cornelius Ryan, mentioned in this work, died in 1878. 
He left two children: Mary A. and John C. At the death of Mr. Russell, Mr. 
Raney bought out the business which has since proved very successful. The hus- 
band of Mrs. Raney was Michael Raney, who came from Ireland when a young 
man, and here died in 1878. He left one son, John C, at home. Mr. Russell was 
city clerk and also village treasurer. 

Reichard, Elmer E., M.D., born in Nassau, March 12, 1866, is the son of Calvin T. 
and Almeda (Bartle) Reichard, both natives of Rensselaer county. He is a son of 
John Reichard, a son of Mr. Reichard who came from Germany and settled in 



170 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Rensselaer county, where he lived and died. The father of Dr. Reichard was a 
farmer; he died June 12, 1887, and his widow lives with Dr. Reichard. Dr. Reich- 
ard was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools and Averill Park 
Seminary. He then taught school one year and began the study of medicine with 
Arlington Boyce of East Schodack ; he graduated from Albany Medical College in 
1892 and practiced his profession at East Schodack for a short time, and then lo- 
cated at Poughkeepsie and after six months left on account of health and located at 
Hoag Corners, where he has since had a successful practice. He was married Feb. 
27, 1895, to Lottie M. Hitchcock, a native of Poughkeepsie N. Y., and a daughter 
of Mark and Maria Dewey of Oklahoma Territory, but he died in Kansas. Mr. 
Reichard is a Republican in politics. He is a member of Schodack Union Lodge 
No. 87, F. & A. M., and Tsatsawassa Lodge No. 356, I. O. O. F. 

Sharkey, Andrew J., was born in Ireland; his parents having died he came to Al- 
bany ; he was the son of Barnett and Bridget Sharkey, both of whom lived in Bal- 
lina, Parish of Kilmore, County of Mayo, Ireland. Mr. Sharkey was engaged in the 
horseshoeing business and with the Hudson River Railroad ; he was also employed 
in the cotton mills in St. Lawrence county for about three years. He then went to 
Oneonta, N. Y. , remaining there for about eight years, returned to Albany, staid a 
short time in Troy, and then removed to Greenbush in 1881 and is now employed by 
the Boston & Albany Railroad in the shops. He has made his own property and 
now owns the place on Second street where he lives, and a house on East Eighth 
street. Mr. Sharkey was married in 1853 to Mary Welsh of Ireland by whom he has 
eight children, of whom three are living: John F. of Greenbush, Bernard L. at home, 
and Kate M. at home. When a young man Mr. Sharkey spent some time at sea, 
and when sailing for Galatz, Turkey, was shipwrecked. He has made a beautiful 
model of the sailing vessel on which he came to the United States; it is called the 
Atlantic of Liverpool. Mr. Sharkey had a brother, James Sharkey, who was in the 
late war, and died in Massachusetts. He was left on orphan at the age of eight 
years, and was employed in a shop making horseshoe nails. He was employed in 
the Atlantic of Liverpool while coming to this country, which probably accounts for 
his coming to the LTnited States. He is a natural mechanic but says he never at- 
tended school. 

Twining, Francis B., was born in Lansingburgh, December 3, 1856. He was edu- 
cated in the public schools and Lansingburgh Academy. At the age of fifteen he 
became clerk in a grocery store here. Three years later he went to Troy and en- 
tered the employ of old National Exchange Bank as messenger. Some time after- 
wards he entered the employ of Ide Bros. & Bruce, shirt and collar manufacturers, 
as clerk. In 1882 he became partner in the concern, under the firm name of George 
P. Ide, Bruce & Co. After a few years Mr. Bruce withdrew and the firm name has 
since been, George P. Ide & Co. In December, 1889, he married Nomina, daughter 
of Dr. D. D. Bucklin of Lansingburgh, by whom one daughter has been born: Elea- 
nor. Mr. Twining's father, Alfred, was born in the town of Tolland, near Lenox, 
Mass., in 1806. He was well educated and was a merchant by occupation ; he came 
here when a young man and married Mary Frances Barton of Lansingburgh, by 
whom four children have been born: William, Frederick, Charles, and Francis B. 
They are all dead with the exception of the youngest son. Mr. Twining was a cloth- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 171 

ing merchant and died in 1885, and his wife died in 1888. Mr. Twining is a member 
of the Troy Club, of the Laureate Boat Club, of the Pafraets Dael Club, and of the 
Riverside Club of Lansingburgh. He is one of the directors of the People's Bank 
of Lansingburgh. 

Tyndall, James J., was born in Greenbush in December, 1862. He was a son of 
George and Ellen Tyndall, both natives of Ireland who came to Greenbush about 
sixty years ago and here lived and died. He died in 1882 and she died in 1895. Mr. 
Tyndall was reared and educated in Greenbush, and began life railroading for the 
Hudson River Railroad. He was fireman for eleven years and for the last ten years 
has been engineer. April 20, 1881, he was married to Mary A. Vaughn, daughter of 
Judge Michael Vaughn and Margaret (Collins) Vaughn of East Albany. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Tyndall were born two daughters: Nellie and Bertha. Mr. Tyndall is a mem- 
ber of the C. M. B. A., and is a member of the B. of L. F. Mr. Tyndall owns the 
home he resides in, No. 437 Broadway. 

Tifft, Willard D., was born in Nassau, August 13, 1834. He was a son of Sprague 
and Sophia B. (Watson) Tifft. He was born in Nassau, July 12, 1800, and she was 
born in 1809, in Red Rock, Columbia county. The grandfather of Mr. Tifft was a 
native of Rhode Island and came to Nassau where he lived and died. The father of 
Mr. Tifft was always a farmer; was the oldest man in the town of Nassau and at 
the time of his death in May, 1896, lacked two months and fifteen days of being 
ninety-six. His widow is eighty-seven years of age. Mr. Tifft was reared on a farm 
and educated in the common schools. From the age of twenty-one until twenty-five 
he remained on the farm with his parents, receiving twelve dollars per month. He 
then came to Hoag's Corners and engaged in partnership with George W. Caswell; 
after a year and a half he bought him out and formed a partnership with Charles S. 
White and was with him for about six years. Mr. Tifft then sold out to him %nd 
engaged in the wood and lumber business ; after three years he purchased a farm 
which he kept two years, then bought out Mr. White and has since continued in 
business. He was assessor for four years and is a member of Gratitude Lodge No. 
674 F. & A. M. July 4, 1864, he married Adaline S. Larkin of Nassau, by whom six 
children have been born: Minnie M., Delmer D., who died November 15, 1890, Charles 
S., Jennie A., Mabel F., Florence A. 

Thompson, John, was born in the North of Ireland (Londonderry), December 18, 
1843. He was a son of William and Margaret Thompson, he born in Scotland and 
she in Ireland; he died in Ireland and his wife died in Greenbu.sh. Mr. Thompson 
was reared and educated in Ireland, and at the age of fourteen years was copyist in 
an attorney's office. At the age of seventeen he came to Albany and began to 
work for the National Express Company and was with them for two years. He then 
began to work for the New York Central Railroad and was with them until 1866; 
since then he has been with the B. & A. and has been train dispatcher from 1872 
until the present. Mr. Thompson is a member of Greenbush Lodge No. 337, F. & 
A. M., and also of Chapter No. 274, R. A. M., and assisted in the organization of 
that chapter. In 1868 Mr. Thompson was married to Margaret Potts of Tyrone, 
Ireland, by whom nine children have been born: Martha J., Sarah, John C, Mar- 
garet, Jessie, Josiah B., Mary A. and Augusta; one died unnamed. Mrs. Thompson 
died February 22, 1894. 



172 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Van Valkenburg, Smith, born in Schodack, November 11, 1813, is the son of Peter 

C. and Maria (Griffith) Van Valkenburg, both born in Schodack, N. Y., he born Jan- 
vary 25, 1782, and she born May 20, 1790. The father of Smith Van Valkenburg, 
moved from Schodack in 1814, kept a hotel in Nassau until 1837 and then followed 
farming until his death in 1846; his wife died September 25, 1878. Smith was edu- 
cated in the common schools and Westfield Academy of Massachusetts. He re- 
mained in the hotel until twenty-five years of age and in 1836 engaged in the mer- 
cantile business until 1868, since which time he has lived retired. He now owns 110 
acres of land and it is on this farm that the grounds of the Agricultural and Liberal 
Arts Society of Rensselaer county is located. He was postmaster in Nassau under 
General Harrison ; he was married in 1840 to Phoebe Griffiths, daughter of John 
Griffiths, one of the early settlers of Albany count)'. To Mr. and Mrs. Van Valken- 
burg were born three children; Maria, born in 1842 and died in 1860; John, born 
November 22, 1844; Phoebe, born in 1849 and died in 1873. John was educated in 
Nassau Academy and was with his father in the mercantile business three years; in 
1868 his father sold to Charles E. Huested and he and John were in partnership 
eleven years, and then Mr. Van Valkenburg sold to Mr. Huested and in 1881 again 
engaged in the mercantile business and sold in 1882, and in 1886 again went into 
business and in 1891 was burned out and then rebuilt the store which is now occu- 
pied by Mr. Witbeck. John Van Valkenburg at the age of twenty-one was ap- 
pointed town clerk and was justice of the peace eleven years; he was then elected 
supervisor one year. Mr. Van Valkenburg is a member of Gratitude Lodge, F. & 
A. M. He was married in 1869 to Sarah Mead, by whom he has four daughters: 
Maria E., wife of Delmar Lynd, who have one son, John A. ; Florence J., Katherine 

D. aild Fannie P. Smith was one of the organizers of the Nassau, Schodack and 
Chatham Mutual Insurance Company, organized in 1856, and was secretary about 
ten years. Mrs. Van Valkenburg died in 1881 and he married Mary E. Kane of 
Schodack, a daughter of D. Kane of Albau)'. 

Wood, John B., was born in Schodack, March 22, 1839 and is a son of Hosea and 
Annie (McGill) Wood, he a native of Schodack and she of Columbia county, N. Y. 
The grandfather, Benjamin Wood, went from Albany county to Saratoga county and 
died in Clinton Park in 1854; he married Betsey Du Bois of Schodack. The father 
of Betsey was Richard Du Bois, who came from Dutchess county and was a pioneer 
of Schodack. The maternal grandparents were Gilbert and Maria McGill, who 
came from Scotland ; he was a captain on a sail vessel, sailing from Glasgow to 
New York city, and in old age he settled in Clearmont, where he died. Hosea 
Wood came to Schodack where he married and remained until 1861, when he re- 
moved to Stuyvesant, Columbia county, and remained until 1884; he then came to 
East Greenbush and bought the Peter Hogle farm ; he died in 1888 and his wife died 
in 1853. John B. was reared in Schodack and educated in Saratoga. In 1872 he 
married Lucy M. Hadsell, daughter of William and Elvira (King) Hadsell, of Berk- 
shire county. Mass. She was a daughter of Dr. King of Lebanon Springs and a 
graduate from Miss Willard's Seminary of Troy. Lucy M. Wood graduated at 
Holyoke, Mass. To Mr. and Mrs. Wood have been born two children: Walstine H. 
and Hazel E. Mr. Wood was educated for the ministry, but gave it up on account 
of ill health and took up farming. In 1884 Mr. Wood located on a farm in East 
Greenbush, where be has since carried on general farming. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 173 

Waugh, John, was born in Westchester county, N. Y., October 2, 1854. He was 
a son of William and Latitia (Taylor), he a native of Scotland and she of England. 
The father of Mr. Waugh came to Verplanks, where he lived and died. Mr. Waugh 
was educated in the common schools of Verplanks and worked at various occupa- 
tions. In 1873 he engaged in the ice business, and in 1880 he came to Albany and 
continued that business. He was employed as agent for the Knickerbocker Ice 
Company for sixteen years, and was also in their employ for seven years previous. 
Mr. Waugh is now engaged with the Consolidated Ice Company of New York city, 
of which he is agent. April 19, 1885, Mr. Waugh married Phoebe Simkins of Mon- 
trose, by whom four children have been born; Raymond (deceased), Ethel M., 
John E. (deceased), and Nina (deceased). Mr. Waugh has been overseer of poor for 
one year, and is at preseut collector. He is a member of Cortland Lodge No. 6, I. 
O. O. F. of Peekskill, N. Y. 

Yadeau, George H., born in North Greenbush, N. Y. , August 23, 1844, is the son 
of Moses and Emily (Barringer) Yadeau, he born in St. Lynn, Canada, and she born 
in North Greenbush, N. Y. He came to North Greenbush when a young man 
where he died soon after coming there and his widow has since resided with George 
H. George H. was reared on a farm and educated in Wynantskill, N. Y., and has 
followed farming in North Greenbush and Schodack, and then in Kinderhook about 
three years and then again to Schodack and in 1872 came to Nassau and located 
near where he resides. In 1894 he bought the John W. Pitt farm where he now 
lives and makes a specialty of small fruit. He owns 156 acres of land. He has been 
a collector three years and supervisor five years. He was married March 25, 1866, 
to Mary Morris, daughter of William H. and Harriet Straight, both born in Nassau, 
he a son of S. Danas Morris, one of the first settlers of Nassau, and built one of the 
first houses in the village. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Straight was Shadrich 
Straight, an early settler of Stephentown. To Mr. and Mrs. Yadeau were born four 
children: Adella (deceased), Alta, Will, and Jennie (deceased). Mr. Yadeau enlisted 
January 9, 1864, in Co. H, 169th N. Y. Vols., and served until the close of the war. 
He was turnkey under Sherifl" Harrington thirteen months and has always held the 
chairmanship of prominent committees and the Board of Supervisors. Mr. Yadeau 
is a member of Schodack LTnion Lodge No. 87, F. & A. M. 

Anderson, William, was born in New York city, March 11, 1834. He is a son of 
James H. and Christina Rodgers, both born in Ireland, of Scotch-Irish descent, and 
came to America in about 1832. He died in West Troy and she died in Saratoga 
county. Mr. Anderson was reared and educated in Saratoga. He then went to 
Schenectady and learned the machinist trade, and then came to Troy about 1859 
and worked for the Lilly Safe Works. He came to Greenbush in 1871 and worked in 
the Boston-Albany shops for fourteen years. He worked in the machine shops of 
West Albany and for the last t\vo years worked in the machme shops of Greenbush. 
Mr. Anderson was married to Mary J. Jones of Berlin, N. Y., by whom have been 
born four children: Christiana E., deceased; Jennie, deceased; Eva M. and Mary. 
For his second wife he married Anna J. Thompson, by whom has been born one 
child, who died in infancy. His third wife was Orelia Rockerfeller, daughter of 
Stephen Rockerfeller of Bath, N. Y. Mr. Anderson has been engaged in mercantile 
business for about fourteen years. 



174 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Raymond, William Gait, was born at Princeton, Iowa, March 2, 1859. He was 
prepared for college at the grammar and high schools in Leavenworth, Kansas, and 
at the Kansas State University took an engineering course. In 1879, 1880 and 1881 
he was employed on surveys and construction for the Kansas Pacific Railroad and 
the Kansas City, Fort Scott and Gulf Railroad, and in 1881 entered the Washington 
University at St. Louis, Mo., where he remained for one year. After another year 
in railroad construction for the Kansas City, Springfield and Memphis Railroad, he 
returned to the Washington L^niversity in the fall of 1883, and was graduated in 
1884 with the degree of C. E. In 1884 he was appointed instructor in civil engineer- 
ing in the University of California, which position he resigned in 1890 to undertake 
some special railroad investigation in California. With Mr. James L. Bay he subse- 
quently opened the office of Raymond & Bay, consulting engineers, in San Francisco, 
Cal., and engaged actively in engineering work in the State. He was town engineer 
of Berkley, Cal., in 1892, when he came to Troy to assume the chair of Geodesy, 
Road Engineering, and Topographical Drawing in the Rensselaer Polytechnic In- 
stitute, which position he now holds. He is engineer to the Board of Water Com- 
missioners of Troy, and as chief engineer constructed the Troy and New England 
Electric Railway. He has served on numerous other engineering works as consult- 
ing engineer. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. While 
in California and in Troy he has been active in Sunday school work, and is superin- 
tendent of the Sunday school of the First Presbyterian church in Troy, where he has 
instituted new and advanced methods. His publications are a text book on survey- 
ing and numerous papers on engineering subjects, including a number on Engineer- 
ing Education. 

Osborn, M. L., is a native of Lansingburgh, born in 1851. His father, a coal 
dealer there, has been a boatman for many years on the Hudson. Mr. Osborn was 
reared in his native town, and his first business engagement was with his father in 
the coal trade and a grocery store. He came to Hoosick Falls in 1893 and assumed 
management of the business of renting houses for Charles Q. Eldredge. Mr. Osborn 
wes first married in 1875 to Julia .A. Leavens of Lansingburgh, who died in 1885; 
they had three children: Julia R. and Susie H., and one deceased. He married sec- 
ond Nellie Icke, also of Lansingburgh, by whom he has four children: Wright H., 
Lloyd Q., Fannie L., Clyde L. Mr. Osborn is a member of the First Presbyterian 
church, and a Republican. He returned to Lansingburgh in 1896. 

Meekin, Alexander, was born in Middlebury, Vt., November 18, 1857. His father, 
James Meekin, was born in the North of Ireland and came to the United States in 
1837, settled in Vermont and died in 1893. His mother, Mary (Culbert) Meekin, was 
born in the North of Ireland and died in 1876. They were of Scotch-Irish extraction, 
and brought letters from the Scotch Presbyterian church to their new home and 
joined the Congregational church there where they remained through life. Alex- 
ander Meekin received his education in the Middlebury graded school, and learned 
the printer's trade in the office of the Middlebury Register, and later worked at the 
trade in Brandon, Rutland and Montpelier, Vt., Rochester, N. H., Providence, R. I., 
and Springfield, Mass., and came to Troy in 1883, where, with the exception of eight 
months in the fall and winter of 1884 and 1885, he worked until 1887, when he started 
a general printing establishment in the Manufacturers' Bank building. He is the 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 175 

editor and publisher of the Trojan Advance. He joined the Congregational church 
at Middlebury when eighteen years of age. He is vice president of the Troy Bicycle 
Club, treasurer of the Rensselaer County Prohibition Society, and is a member of 
the Second Presbyterian church, and has acted in the capacity of secretary and vice- 
president of the Y. P. C. U. of that church. He was proof-reader for Tuttle & Co., 
Vermont State printers, for two years and left them only on account of his health. 
He married, in 1888, Miss Agnes Buchanan of Troy, by whom he has one son and 
one daughter. 

Colby, John D., was born in Troy, N. Y., August 3, 1864. His father, the Hon. 
John H. Colby, was a prominent lawyer of Troy and was district attorney of the 
county. He was the author of Colby on Criminal Laws, Colby on New York Rail- 
road Laws, Colby on Surplus Money arising from Mortgage Foreclosure. He died 
in January, 1885. His mother is Ellen (Desmond) Colby, of Troy. John D. was 
educated at the public schools and graduated from the Rensselaer Polytechnic In- 
stitute in the class of 1884 and was in the department of public works in New York 
for a time, working on the Croton aqueduct. He returned to Troy and was transit- 
man and engineer in charge of the public improvements commission. He belongs 
to the senior company of the Troy Citizens Corps, and is a member of the Theta Xi 
Fraternity of the R. P. I., and is vice-president of the Foote-Thorne Glass Company 
of New York city. 

Loewenstein, Louis, was born at Neudam, Prussia, November 28, 1857. He is a 
son of Herman Loewenstein, who came from Prussia and settled in Troy in 1873, and 
officiated as rabbi with the congregation on State street for about two years, and is 
now retired. His mother, Esther (Behrendt) Loewenstem, died Jannary 11, 1894. 
Louis was educated in the public schools at Roessel, East Prussia, and then entered 
the gymnasium, where he took a four years' coui'se, and came to this country'in 
March, 1873. In December, 1874, he entered the office of Warren & Patterson in 
Troy, and was admitted to the bar in 1879, and is at present stenographer to the 
County Court of Rens.selaer county. He was one of the organizers of General John 
E. Wool Lodge A. O. U. W. and has held all elective offices m that lodge. He is a 
a past president of Jeremiah Lodge I. O. B. B., and is a member of King Solomon 
Lodge, No. 9, F. & A. M., also of the Illium Club. April 33, 1884. he married 
Gussie Cohen, of Troy, daughter of the late Jacob Cohen. They have one son, Al- 
exander M. 

Kunz, John B., was born in Hessen Darmstadt, Germany, in December, 1851, 
came to America and located in New York city, in September, 1869, later went to 
Springfield, Mass., and in 1871 came to Troy, where he has since resided. Here he, 
with two others, was employed by McLeod & Reardon, in the manufacture of gal- 
vanized iron cornices, being the first in the city to do a regular business in that line. 
Mr. Kunz continued in that industry as foreman until 1880, when he became propri- 
etor of his present restaurant on Federal street, succeeding Augustus Kolbe. He 
has been active as a Republican, casting his first vote for Gen. U. S. Grant for presi- 
dent in 1876. He is a member of King Solomon's Primitive Lodge No. 91, F. & A. 
M., Rhein Lodge No. 248, I. O. O. F., and he was one of the originators and is a 
trustee of the German Hall Association, and for sixteen years was a member of the 
Troy Fire Department, being captain of Ranken Steamer, No. 2. 



176 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Stuart, Rev. Francis N., was born in Albany, February 8, 1863, and is a son of 
John Stuart, who came from Ireland to this country in 1820, and settled in New 
York city, later moving to Troy, where he was a contractor and builder, having 
erected some of the first public buildings in Albany. He was alderman for several 
terms and died in 1880. His mother was Mary Delhanty, also a native of Ireland, 
who died in 1892. Father Francis Stuart received his education in Montreal and in 
the Niagara University and then entered St. Joseph's Seminary, where he was or- 
dained to the priesthood in 1889. Since that time he has been stationed at St. Jo- 
seph's church, Albany, St. Mary's church, Oneonta, and came to St. Francis church 
in Troy m July, 1890, where he is assistant to Father Leonard, and is a member of 
the examining board of the Parochial schools. 

Donnelly, Michael W., son of Richard and Catherine (Flenn) Donnelly, was born 
May 6, 1856, in Cambridge, Washington county, N. Y., where he received an aca- 
demic education. He learned the trade of stonecutter at Springfield, Mass., and fol- 
lowed it until 1881, when he came to Lansingburgh, Rensselaer county, and bought a 
restaurant, which he conducted until 1884, when he became traveling salesman for 
M. Sheehan, wholesale liquor dealer of Troy. He later became salesman for Tappan 
& Toole and in 1891 entered into partnership with Robinson & MacLellan, wholesale 
liquor dealers, the firm name being Robinson, MacLellan & Co. Mr. Robinson died 
in August, 1893, and the name of the firm was changed to MacLellan & Donnelly. 
July 11, 1896, Mr. MacLellan died and Mr. Donnelly has since been manager of the 
business, conducting it under the firm name of MacLellan & Donnelly. Mr. Don- 
nelly is a member of Glens Falls Lodge No. 81, B. P. O. E. September 28, 1892, he 
married Catherine Healy of Bennington, Vt., and they have two children: Richard 
Vincent and Marie Grace. 

Hutton, Samuel E., son of William and Bridget (McGowan) Hutton, was born in 
Troy, June 25, 1855, was graduated from the Christian Brothers' Academy in June, 
1872, and immediately obtained a position as bookkeeper at Kellogg's foundry on 
Ida Hill, where he remained three years. In 1876 he went to New York city and 
was for iour years bookkeeper for his uncle, Michael O'Brien, wholesale produce 
dealer. He returned to Troy in 1880 and was employed by his father, who was for 
thirty years a liveryman, until 1885, when he was appointed registrar of vital statis- 
tics, which position he held until 1888, when he engaged in the cigar business with 
William H. Fennell, at No. 86 Third street. In 1890 he was appointed tax clerk 
•in the office of the State comptroller at Albany, but resigned to accept the deputy 
county clerkship under Francis Riley. He held this position during 1894 and 1895, 
when he then became bookkeeper for Fitzgerald Brothers. He opened his restau- 
rant at No. 69 Third street, May 13, 1896. Mr. Hutton is and has been a member of 
the F. W. Farnam Steamer Company since 1873, and was formerly a trustee; he is a 
member and was recording secretary of the Robert Emmett Association and a mem- 
ber of Troy Lodge No. 141, B. P. O. Elks, and of the Troy Council, Knights of 
Columbus. He is well known as an expert penman and engros.ser and is the posses- 
sor of remarkable vocal talent, which he has frequently used in amateur theatricals, 
playing the roll of comic singer. Many benefits given for worthy charitable objects 
have had his gratuitous services. June 25, 1883, he married Frances V., daughter o^ 
Edward and Mary McCormick of Troy. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 177 

Wolf, John F., jr., born in Saxony, Germany, June 22, 1851, came to Troy with 
his parents in 1857. He was educated in the public schools and in 1875 started in 
business for himself at No. 5 Franklin Square, where he is still conducting a hotel 
and restaurant. He is a Mason, a member of Apollo Commandery No. 15, K. T., 
and has also received the thirty-second degree in Albany Sovereign Consistory of 
the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. In 1875 he married Susanna Pfeil, and they 
have five children: Alma L., Frederick P., Gretchen E., Louise W. and Leopold W. 

Schlosser, August, son of Jacob and Eliza Schlosser, was born in Rhenish Bavaria, 
Germany, September 14, 1848, was educated in the public schools and came to America 
in 1866, settling in Tewksbury, Mass., where he learned the trade of cabinet maker. 
He moved to Boston in 1868 and followed his trade there until 1878, when, coming 
to Troy, he engaged in the restaurant business with his brother Jacob, whose in- 
terest he purchased in 1887. He is a member and was for one year president of the 
Troy Turn Verein ; he is a charter member of the German Hall Association building 
and was its president one year, and has been a trustee since its organization. He 
was the originator of the German Hall Association building and was chairman of 
the building committee. He is a member of Apollo I^odge No. 13, F. & A. M. and 
of the German Sangerbund and Mannerchor Singing Society; he has been president 
of the German Bowling Club since 1888. In 1874 he married Elizabeth Schwartz of 
Boston, and they have five children: Annie M., August C, Elizabeth C, Henry O., 
and Frederick A. Mr. Schlosser is one of the representative Germans of Troy, and 
has always taken a deep interest in all worthy movements. 

Estabrook, Ezra Robinson, was born in Stratton, Vt. , September 6, 1824. The 
father of the subject of this sketch, Da^d Estabrook, was a lineal descendant of 
Rev. Jo.seph Estabrook, born in Middlesex, England, who emigrated to this country 
in 1660, and served as pastor of the Concord (Mass.) church from 1696 to 1711, the 
date of his death. Many members of the family were clergymen. His mother, 
Anner Bramard, was a descendant of Daniel Brainard, who arrived in this country 
from England in 1649. Daniel Brainard was one of twenty-seven young men who 
founded the town of Haddam, Conn, m 166?, his estate reverting to, and remaining 
in the possession of his descendants until the present time, a period of over two hun- 
dred years David and John, grandsons of David Brainard, were noted missionaries, 
and the famed patriot and preacher of the late civil war, Rev. Thomas Brainard of 
Philadelphia, was also a descendant. In 1834 David Estabrook became a resident 
of Bennington, Vt., removing therefrom to Hoosick Falls, N. Y., in 1838, where Ezra 
Robinson Estabrook has since resided. Although he worked on a farm from the age 
of fifteen to eighteen in summer, he found opportunities to seek knowledge from 
useful books, and in winter he attended school, qualifying himself as a teacher. He 
taught school in the town of Hoosick during the years 1843 to 1846 inclusive. In 
1844 his experiments with daguerreotypes led to the establishment of the business, 
which developed into modern photography, and it is still continued. In 1850 Mr. 
Estabrook entered into the insurance business, and by diligence and the application 
of honorable business methods has attained an enviable position in the insurance 
world. His agency is the largest in Rensselaer county outside of Troy. Years ago 
the necessity of a water supply system for Hoosick Falls became apparent to him. 
Obstacles were many to the introduction of a water supply, but they were sur- 



178 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

mounted, and his persistent efforts resulted in the organization of the Hoosick Falls 
Water Supply Company. Mr. Estabrook was elected secretary and superintendent, 
which offices he has continued to fill. To Mr. Estabrook is due all credit for the present 
excellent water supply system in Hoosick Falls. Since early in life Mr. Estabrook 
has been an active member of the Presbyterian church, at present being an elder, 
and for twenty-nine consecutive years he served as superintendent of the Sunday school. 
In 1849 Mr. Estabrook was elected town clerk, re-elected in 1850, and again in 1863, 
1867 and 1868. In 1844 Mr. Estabrook married Lucy Taylor, member of a Vermont 
family of distinction, who died August 13, 1890. Of this union there were three sons, 
Ezra Brainard, Willie Harlan, and Frank Herbert, the latter two surviving. In 
September, 1891, Mr. Estabrook married Harriet M. Taylor, a sister of his first wife. 
Ezra Robinson Estabrook is one of the most respected and influential citizens of 
HoosickFalls. Of strict integrity, prominent in social, business and religious circles, 
and active and liberal in developing the business interests of his town. He assumes 
responsibilities, then zealously and conscientiously performs the duties pertaining 
to them. 

Broughton, Amos, has had charge of the railroad station over thirty years in 
Tiashoke and has been a resident here since 1857. From the first he engaged in 
railroad business and associated with an uncle, dealer in produce, etc. Until 
recently he was postmaster since the establishment of the office in 1873. He was 
born at Red Creek, Wayne county, N. Y., in 1839, son of Amos Broughton, who was 
born in this town and who died at Red Creek, N. Y., at the age of forty-nine. His 
ancestors were among the earliest settlers of the town of Hoosick. Mr. Broughton 
married Mary Hitchcock, daughter of Daniel L. Hitchcock, whose ancestors were 
among the earliest settlers of Pittstown, N. Y. Amos, jr, is a Republican and an 
active politician, but not an office seeker. 

Story, C. B., the secretary and superintendent of the Hoosick Railway Company, 
incorporated in 1893, was the organizer, and has been directly instrumental in bring- 
ing several new industries to Hoosick Falls. Like a true type of the aggressive and 
enterprising American, he has led a very active life. He was born at Cambridge, 
Vt., and as his father, Elijah Story, was a farmer, his boyhood was spent on a farm. 
After spending some time at a Normal school he was employed by the International 
Telegraph Company at St. Johnsbury, Vt. , thence to New York two years as an in- 
spector of private lines in the Gold Stock Telegraph Company. Later he worked 
for the Edison Illuminating Company, as foreman of the "wiring;" then went on 
the road and put up the second Edison dynamo for lighting outside of New York 
city, in 1882 going as far south as New Orleans, wiring and putting in electric plants 
and to Wilhamsport, Pa. In 1883 he entered the employ of P. B. Shaw, and organ- 
ized electric lii?;ht companies throughout the States of Pennsylvania and Ohio. He 
was employed in 1884 by the Brush-Swan Company of New York, traveling through- 
out Maine installing isolating plants. The same year he went into business for him- 
self at Brunswick, Me., when he rebuilt and equipped a water power and light com- 
pany, taking controlling interest. Prior to his business here he was superintendent 
of the Giant Electric Motor Company at Portland, Me. 

Colgan, Artliur, is acknowledged among the personal landmarks of Hoosick Falls 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 179 

by reason of long residence, apart from his sterling worth as a citizen. Born in 
Ireland, County Sligo, March 17, 1820, in fact St. Patrick's Day, he came to America 
in 1848, without appreciable capital save his chest of carpenter's tools. But he has 
skill, industry, good health and an unsullied name. He first settled in Troy, and in 
1850 removed to Schaghticoke and in 1856 made Hoosick Falls his permanent home. 
He was a master of the wood working trade, and became a contracting builder. He 
married in Ireland m 1846 Alice Naughton, his faithful companion for almost half a 
century. She died in 1893, leaving one son and five daughters. Mr. Colgan is a 
Democrat in politics, of somewhat quaint and original personality, the oldest resi- 
dent member of the Roman Catholic church, and so lightly upon him sit his seventy- 
five years that he writes a good legible hand without the use of spectacles. 

Finkle, Harrison, was born in Columbia county, January 7, 1847. He was a son 
of Calvin and Elanor (Dunbar) Finkle, he born in Dutchess county and she in Albany 
county. The father of Calvin was John Finkle of Dutchess county, where he lived 
and died. The father of Mr. Finkle was a farmer. He died in October, 1875, and 
his wife died in May, 1878. Mr. Finkle was reared in Columbia county until twelve 
years of age, and was in Albany county until 1878. He was educated in common 
and select schools and followed teaching for four years. In 1878 he came to Green- 
bush and engaged in the sale of Helderberg blue stone and has ever since continued 
the business. September 30, 1868, Mr. Finkle was married to Anna C. Brate of 
Albany, but was reared in Westerlo, Albany county. To Mr. and Mrs. Finkle have 
been born two children: Katie M. and Flossie B. Mr. Finkle is a member of Green- 
bush Lodge No. 337, F. & A. M., of the A. O. U. W., the L. O. Lodge No. 177 of 
Albany, N. Y., of the A. P. A., and is also a member of the C. C. B. C. No. 1, of 
Rensselaer county. 

Kerigan, Elizabeth. — James Jordan was born in Ireland and came to the United 
States in 1793. He came to Boston, then to Vermont, and then came to Greenbush 
and owned considerable of the land which is in Greeubush. He owned quite a good 
many houses which he rented. He was first to introduce ditching on farms in this 
section, and was a husbandman in England when a young man, and was wealthy in 
his time. His wife was Charity Fuller of Massachusetts, by whom were born six 
children: Mary, wife of James Kerigan, deceased; Robert and Brabazon, twins, de- 
ceased; Elenor, who owns a fine residence on the corner of Second avenue and 
Academy street. She has quite a reputation as maker of wax fruits, and has often 
taken the premiums at various fairs. She resides with her sister, Mrs. Kerigan and 
niece, Elizabeth; James, deceased; Elizabeth. Mr. Jordon died April 9, 1842, at the 
age of seventy-six, and his wife died January 31, 1870, at the age of eighty-one. Mr. 
Kerigan was born in Rathagan, county of Kildare, Ireland. To Mr. and Mrs. Keri- 
gan were born three children, of whom one daughter is now living: Elizabeth. She 
resides with her mother in Greenbush, her father having been dead for some years. 

Hotaling, F. W., was born in Greenbush in the house he resides in, March 24, 1859. 
He was a son of Nicholas, a son of Christopher, whose father spent his life in New 
York State, his grandfather coming from Holland. The grandfather of Mr. Hotal- 
ing, Bernard, was born in Coeymans, but spent most of his life in Sand Lake. The 
father of Mr. Hotaling came to Greenbush in 1845 and here lived and died. He was 



180 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

a carriage maker and followed that trade until the last seven years of his life when 
he lived a retired life. He was trustee of the village in early years. His wife was 
Maria Balding of Greenbush and they had two sons and one daughter. Mrs. 
Hotaling died in 1863 and Mr. Hotaling married Anna Bateman and had two daugh- 
ters and one son. Mr. Hotaling died August 10, 1891. F. W. Hotaling was reared 
and educated in Greenbush and at the age of sixteen began to learn the carriage 
making trade, and was in business with his father until 1883, since which he has 
carried on the business alone and has been successful. He now owns the homestead 
and the place where he carries on the business. He is a member of Greenbush 
Lodge No. 337, F. & A. M.. and also of Greenbush Chapter No. 274, R. A. M., and 
the Farmers' and Mechanics' Lodge-No. 157, the Rebeccas, and is also a member of 
the Ring and Fire Company No. 1 of Greenbush. 

Boyce, Elias B , was born in Schodack, Rensselaer county, N. Y., November 5, 
1837. He was the twelfth son of Ananias and Sarah Boyce. Ananias Boyce was a 
native of Dutchess county and Sarah, his wife, was born in Nassau, Rensselaer 
county, N. Y. Ananias Boyce came to Schodack with his parents from Dutchess 
county when he was young farming being their life work. Ananias Boyce died in 
1865, and Sarah, his wife, died in 1872, he in his eighty-third year and she in her 
eightieth year. Elias B. was brought up on the farm in Schodack until he attained 
the age of thirteen years, when he removed with his parents to the town of Wilton, 
Saratoga county, N. Y. , where his father purchased a farm. He remained working 
with his brothers upon this farm until he was eighteen years of age, when he re- 
turned to Rensselaer county and commenced the study of medicine with his brother. 
Dr. Arlington Boyce, who resided at that time at West Sand Lake. Elias B. grad- 
uated at the Albany Medical College December 28, 1858. He practiced his profes- 
sion in West Sand Lake for nine years when he removed to Valatie, Columbia 
county, N. Y., on account of poor health. In 1872 he located at Averill Park and 
enjoyed a large and lucrative practice. February 5. 1860, he married Harriet C, 
daughter of William R. and Sarah Nichols, William R. being a native of Connecticut 
and Sarah, his wife, born in Kinderhook, Columbia county. N. Y To Elias B. and 
Harriet C. Boyce was born one son, Williani E. Boyce, who died at the age of nine- 
teen years. Elias B. Boyce, M. D., has served as health officer of his town for a 
term of nine years and was elected supervisor for the town of Sand Lake on March' 
3, 1896, to serve for the term of two years. He is a member of Schodack Union 
Lodge No. 87, F. & A. M., and also a member of Interlochen Lodge No. 641, I. O. 
O. F. , and also a member of the Medical Society of Rensselaer County and a fellow 
of the Medical Association of the State of New York. 

Stapleton, Mrs. Timothy. — In the death of Timothy Stapleton, in 1894, Hoosick 
Falls lost one of its most useful men. He had served the public well officially as 
assessor, trustee and otherwise. He came to Hoosick Falls with his father, John 
Stapleton, in 1850, having previou.sly .spent two years in Troy, learning the machinist 
trade; he became an employee of the Walter Wood Co. ; all of his business life was 
spent there with the exception of two years during the war, which was spent in the 
quartermaster's department at Wa.shmgton. He was born in County Tipperary, 
Ireland, in 1837, and came to America when fourteen years old. In 1864 he married 
Eleanor Smith, daughter of Patrick Smith of this place, by whom he had eight chil- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 181 

dren. Two of that number are not living. Mr. Stapleton was a home lover, and 
idolized by his family. He espoused the temperance cause and was an ardent ad- 
vocate of the same. 

Clum, Martillus, born in the house where he now resides, September 18, 1856, is 
the son of Jacob and Catherine (Brust) Clum, who had four children: Paulina Miller, 
Jacob H., Orcelia Bulson, Martillus, and four deceased, Silus, Ozro, Dexter and 
Libbie, all born on the homestead. Jacob followed farming, and is public-spirited. 
He is interested in education and school work, also all affairs of the town and 
county, and is charitable and a supporter of the church. Martillus worked with his 
father until his marriage, January 10, 1878, to Laura C, daughter of Jacob Van 
Arnum and has one child, Martha. His wife died April 3, 1890. He is interested in 
all affairs of town and county, also in school and education. 

Rigney, Thomas, born in Ireland, and came to Greenbush with his parents, 
Thomas and Mary Rigney, who lived and died in Greenbush, he at the age of 100 
years and she died of old age. Thomas Rigney was a hotelkeeper in Greenbush and 
built the Western Hotel about forty years ago and was proprietor until death. He 
kept the cattle yards and was also in the manufacture of brick which is now carried 
on by his sons, James and Thomas. He made his own property. He was married 
August 13, 1861, to Ann Ryan, born in Ireland and daughter of James and Mary 
Ryan of Ireland and came to Greenbush about 1840 and here lived and died. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Rigney were born nine children: James (deceased), Mary (deceased), 
Catherine F. , Annie J., Mary X., James J., Thomas A., Margaret G. and Rose L. 
Mr. Rigney died March 25, 1882, and the hotel has since been kept by the family. 

Teson, Charles, the subject of this sketch, was born in Troy, November 18, 1830. 
For several years he was in the employ of the New York and Troy steamboat Co. as 
stewards. Was later steward of the Steamboat Empire of Troy which was wrecked 
on the morning of July 16, 1853, a few miles south of Poughkeepsie, by which dis- 
aster several lives were lost. Since that time and for nearly eight years he was in 
charge of the Rensselaer & Saratoga Railroad bridge as collector of tolls. Mr. Teson 
was initiated in Apollo Lodge No. 13, F. & A. M., May 27, 1852 and since that time 
has received all the grades in Masonry, up to and including the 32d degree. He was 
a charter member of Bloss Council No. 14, R. & S. M., and principal conductor of 
the works from 1859 to and including 1862 and was elected thrice illustrious master 
December 18, 1863. Was appointed district deputy for the then 6th Masonic Dis- 
trict for the year 1860. Mr. Teson was worshipful master of Apollo Lodge No. 13, 
during the years 1859 and I860, was appointed tiler for the Masonic bodies of Troy, 
June 6, 1865, which office he has held for the past thirty-one j-ears, and still occupies 
that position, and is the oldest living past master in Troy. In 1850 he married 
Amelia Brightman, of Poultney, Vt. She died June 27, 1874. June 8, 1880, he was 
again married to Mrs. Anna M. Freeman. He has one son by his first wife. 

Hansen, Nicholas, born in the Province of Rhine, Prussia, January 4, 1824, is the 
son of Mathew and Catherine Hansen, natives of Prussia. Nicholas came to this 
country about 1854 and for fifteen years was a farm laborer, after which he took up 
land for himself. January 21, 1856. he married Margaret (died May 28, 1893), 
daughter of William Zenner, and has three children, Herbert A., John, Philip and 



182 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

one deceased, Nicholas, died October 26, 1873. Nicholas is public spirited. He is 
interested in school, churches, and all affairs of his town and county. He is a self- 
made man. He commenced with nothing and now has one of the finest farms in 
the country. His son, Herbert A., lives with his father and takes a great interest in 
all public spirited enterpri.ses and affairs of the town and county. Nicholas served 
five years in the Prusian army. He enlisted in 1846, and was in the Prussian Baden 
war, and has his honorable discharge. 

Allen, Isaac A., is of English descent, and was born in Westford, Otsego county, 
N. Y., April 27, 1843. Two years later his parents removed to New York where the 
family resided until the death of his father, William Allen, in 1850. Mrs. Allen, the 
mother, with her children then removed to Cherry Valley, N. Y. Mr. Allen received 
his education primarily in the ward schools of New York and later in the old Cherry 
Valley Academy, a noted institution of learning at that time In 1865 Mr. Allen in 
company with a brother, James W. Allen, came to Hoosick Falls, and became asso- 
ciated with the Walter A. Wood M. & R. M. Co. He was foreman of the painting 
and packing department for a period of seven years. Later he traveled in the inter- 
est of the company in Ohio, West Virginia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Penn- 
sylvania until 1878 when he was recalled to take the position of yard foreman. 
In 1882 Mr. Allen became one of the firm of Parsons, Redmond & Allen, but with- 
drew from that firm in 1884; since that time he has been identified with the extra 
department of the Wood Co. In 1869 Mr. Allen was married to Mary Fay Hinsdill 
of Bennington, Vt., who was a sister of Mrs. J. Russell Parsons. The death of Mrs. 
Allen occurred in 1884. Two sons, Russell J. Allen and Harry Fay Allen, also a 
daughter, Caroline A. Allen, survive her. Mr. Allen has al.ways been one of the 
most active members of St. Mark's Episcopal church. He became a communicant of 
Grace church, Cherrj^ Valley, under Rev. Dr. Nicholls at the age of sixteen and was 
elected a vestryman of that parish before twenty years old. He has been a vestry- 
man of St. Mark's parish for more than a quarter of a century, and for many years 
as at present the clerk of the vestry. He is also prominent in Masonic circles and 
well known throughout the State as an enthusiastic member of the order. He has 
served two terms as master of Van Rensselaer Lodge No. 400; also four terms as 
high priest of Raymond Chapter, No. 248, Royal Arch Masons, and is a member of 
and secretary of the Masonic Veteran Association of Hoosick Falls and vicinity. In 
1885 Mr. Allen was appointed district deputy grand master for the 12th Masonic Dis- 
tjict, comprising the counties of Rensselaer, Albany, Schenectady and Columbia — 
the largest district in the State. This position was held by him during four succes- 
sive terms. In politics Mr. Allen has always been a staunch, uncomj)romising Dem- 
ocrat. He was elected unanimou.sly in 1879 to the office of village president and has 
been appointed to other positions of trust. 

Jordon, William, was born in Westphalia, Germany, September 5, 1845, son of 
Joseph and vSophia Jordan. He was educated in their schools, and afterwards learned 
the trade of brushmaker. In 1865 he came to the LTnited States and located in Lan- 
singburgh, N. Y., where he plies his vocation. April 4, 1868, he married Caroline 
Bebernitz, of this place, formerly of Germany, by whom he had seven children, four 
of whom are now living: Fred, Frank G., Harry J. and Eugene. Mr. Jordon is a 
member of Phoenix Lodge No. 58, F. & A. M., in which he has held the position of 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 183 

secretary for twenty years. He is also a member of Phoenix Chapter No. 133, R. 
A. M., and has been its secretary fifteen years; of Bloss Council No. 14, R. & S. M., 
of Apollo Commandery No. 15, K. T. He has served as trustee of the village in the 
First ward from 1886 to 1888. The ancestry of the family is German on both sides. 

Downey, William, was born in Cropseyville, town of Brunswick, February 29, 
1852. He is the youngest of two sons and two daughters, born to Samuel and Car- 
oline (Honsinger) Downey. The father was a laborer and died when William was 
an infant. The mother was born, lived and died in Cropseyville. Her death oc- 
curred in about 1860. Mr. Downey at eight years of age began life's battles for him- 
self, first doing chores and anything he could to gain a meal or a night's lodging, 
going from one house to another. He was later employed by his uncle in Pittstown 
who was a farmer, hotel keeper and butcher. With his uncle he remained for 
eighteen years, managing all his uncle's out of door work, buying all the cattle and 
butchering them and attending to the hotel business during his uncle's absence. In 
1887 he engaged in the hotel business at Clum's Corners in his native town on his 
own account; there he remained seven years, when he removed to North Adams, 
Mass., but remained there but one month, when he returned to Brunswick and con- 
ducted a hotel in Rock Hollow two years. In March, 1887, he removed to Poesten- 
kill where he purchased his present hotel property. Since his residence here Mr. 
Downey has remodeled his hotel, added to the hotel building and made many essen- 
tial improvements, making his house and barns highly suitable to all the require- 
ments of a country village hotel. He served his town as tax collecter, and is a mem- 
ber of the Odd Fellows, Poestenkill Lodge No. 704, having been transferred from 
the Mechanicville Lodge of which he had been amember for over ten years. In 1874 
he married Hattie A. Newcomb of Pittstown, daughter of William and Betsey A. 
(Chase) Newcomb. They have four children: Carrie, wife of Edgar Wager of 
Poestenkill; Foneta, Ermah, and Alta. 

Cottrell, George N., was born in the town of Poestenkill on the farm he now owns, 
March 9, 1856. Major George, the father, was also born on this farm. May 6, 1812, 
and spent his whole life time on the homestead, which was left to him by the will of 
his father. He was a lumber manufacturer and farmer all his lifetime. He filled 
the office of justice of the peace for several years, overseer of the poor, commissioner 
of highways, and was assessor for about twenty years, and was also major of the 
State militia. His wife was Bridget Sheary, who was a native of Ireland. Their 
children are Mary A., George N., James B., Mrs. Sarah M. Feathers, Mrs. Louise 
C. French, John W. and Calvin E. He died in January, 1891, and his wife died in 
August, 1893. Mr. Cottrell has spent his life on the homestead, dairying being his 
chief occupation, and is a thorough and practical farmer. He was collector for two 
terms, and was elected and served two terms on the Board of Supervisors. In 1892 
he married Lulu Barber, a daughter of Charles Barber of Poestenkill. 

Fairweather, Alexander, was born in Schaghticoke, January 27, 1844. He is the 
son of David Fairweather, who was born in Scotland and came to the United States 
in 1824, settled in Schaghticoke and later moved to West Milton, Saratoga county. 
N. Y., where he settled on a farm and died in 1881. His mother, Sarah Gilchrist, 
was also born in Scotland and died in 1878. Alexander receiving a district school 



184 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

and academic education, accepted a clerkship in Ballston, N. Y.. where he remained 
eight years and came to Troy for two years and then returned to Ballston. Later 
he came again to Troy and was a salesman for P. M. Marston in a store where the 
State Street M E. church now stands. Then for three years he conducted a retail 
grocery business on River street, under the firm name of Fairweather & Williams; 
selling this business to M. H. Williams, Mr. Fairweather went into the wholesale 
commission and grocery business at 380 River street. In 1876 he sold out the busi- 
ness and took a position as traveling salesman with Grace, Page & Co. . and three 
years later acted in the same capacity with Wing Brothers & Hart of Albany, N.Y., 
and was with that concern twelve years, and since January 1, 1895, has been traveling 
for a New York house. He is a trustee of the Universalist church and has been 
superintendent of the Sunday school of that church. He has taken great interest in 
the Commercial Travellers' Accident Association at Utica, N. Y., and is now second 
vice-president of that association. He married Mrs. Mary Ogden of Troy, N. Y., a 
daughter of the late James Ogden, who died in 1856. They have one son. Dr. Harry 
Ogden, a graduate of Albany Medical College, who is now located at Saratoga 
Springs, N. Y. 

Derrick, Lewis W., was born in the village of Lansingburgh, February 6, 1838. 
He was educated in the common schools and has had a variety of occupations. He 
has been a railroad man, a fireman, and an engineer on the Troy and Boston Rail- 
road. March 1, 1881, he was appointed by the Board of Fire Commissioners as 
superintendent of the Fire Department of Lansingburgh, which position he has 
since filled with satisfaction. December 25, 1866, at Whitehall, Washington county, 
he married Alice E. Jillson of that place. They have four children: Carrie A., J. 
Edward, Helen E. and Clarence L. J. Edward married Frances R. Wood of this 
place; he is superintendent of the Glens Falls, Sand Hill and Fort Edward Electric 
Railroad. The other children at this date reside at home. The father of Mr. 
Derrick, John S., was born in the town of Brunswick; he was educated in the schools 
of his day and was a farmer by occupation. He married Helen Weaver, of Lansing- 
burgh, by whom four children were born: Lewis W., John, who died at the age of 
twenty-two years, Samuel and Adam, twins. Samuel died at the age of thirty-six. 
Mr. Derrick died April 14, 1867, and his wife died in 1873. He is a member of 
Phoenix Lodge No. 58, F. & A. M., and also of Phoenix Chapter No. 133, R. A. M. 
The ancestry of the family is German and Dutch. 

McEachron, J. H., the leading watchmaker, jeweler and optician of Hoosick Falls, 
conducts what is perhaps the oldest established business in town, at No. 11 John 
street. He was for three years a partner of the late H. H. Parsons, the pioneer 
jeweler, and after Mr. Parsons's decease took as partner Charjes A. Robson, who 
had been an employee of the house for five years, and was six years a partner. Mr. 
McEachron carries a very large stock and also a good line of musical instruments. 
He sustains a high reputation as an eye specialist in the fitting of glasses, having 
had marked success in many difficult and complicated cases during the past ten 
years. His father, David H. McEachron, is a jeweler at Argyle, Washington county, 
and was a resident of Oquawka, 111., at the date of Mr. McEachron's birth in 1858. 
The family have been long time residents of Washington county in the vicinity of 
Argyle. They are of Scotch ancestry, as the name would indicate. Mr. McEachron 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 185 

learned the trade of his father at Argyle. He has taken a prominent place in 
Hoosick affairs, especially so in the Presbyterian church and in the local society of 
Y. P. S. C. E. Mrs. McEachron was Miss Dora Peters, youngest daughter of C. 
Edward Peters of this place. They were married in 1884, and have four children. 

Shea, Jeremiah, who represented the Prudential Insurance Company in Hoosick 
Falls and vicinity, was the son of an old resident here, Thomas Shea, a native of 
Ireland. Mr. Shea had charge of this agency from 1891, and previous to that time 
was employed by the Wood Company as moulder. When a boy Mr. Shea exhibited 
unusual intellectual attainments and after graduatmg from the public schools here 
he attended Troy Business College. He was a member of the R. C. church and for 
twenty years was a member of the Father Matthew Temperance Society, of which 
organization he officiated as president and financial secretary. In 1887 he married 
Alice Kearney of Hoosick, by whom he had four children. Mr. Shea died Septem- 
ber 3*8, 1896. 

Craver, P. H., was born in East Greenbush, N. Y., May 20, 1828. He is the son 
of Jacob and Catherine (Shaver) Craver, both of Rensselaer county. He was born 
on the farm now owned by Mr. Craver, and which was settled by the great-grand- 
father of our subject. Johannes Craver came from Germany to New York city 
prior to the Revolution, thence made his way to the farm in East Greenbush, which 
has passed down to Jacob and Rebecca (Spoor) Craver, Jacob and Catherine, and 
then to P. H. Craver. Johannes and son, Jonathan, joined the American army and 
fought in the Revolutionary war. Jacob Craver spent his life on the farm. He 
died March 26, 1886, and his wife July 25, 1872. P. H. Craver has always resided 
on the Craver homestead except four years which he spent near Albia, North Green- 
bush. In 1868 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Barney U. and Eva (Hayner) 
Sharp of Wynantskill, by whom he had two children: Chester B., at home; and 
Willie H., who died aged four j'ears. 

Jordan, Abraham, was born at East Greenbush, N. Y., in 1842, son of John and 
Sarah Ann (Smith) Jordan, who came from England in 1837 and 1841, respectively, 
having been married prior to coming here. In 1880 Abraham Jordan married Bertha 
M.. daughter of Joseph and Mary Ann (Gregorj') Stickley of Bath, by whom he had 
four children: Bertha L., Rodney V., Abraham L. and John R. Mrs. Jordan's 
parents came from Gloucestershire, England, about 1872 or 1873; for a time her 
father was an engineer at the west end of the Hoosac Tunnel, but is now in the em- 
ploy of the N. Y. C. & H. R. Railroad as an engineer. Mr. Jordan when a young 
man worked for twelve years at the painter's trade, and in 1875 settled on the farm 
where he and his brother carried on general farming and gardening until 1893, when 
our subject bought out his brother's interest, and has since carried on the business 
alone. He also runs a milk dairy for East Albany. He makes a specialty of fruit 
culture, having one of the finest peach orchards in the county. He is a member of 
Greenbush Lodge No. 337, F. & A. M. 

Woodford, O. D., was born in Canastota, N. Y., March 7, 1869. He was educated 
at Pompey and Cazenovia Seminary. He then went into the undertaking business 
in Pompey, but in 1891 came to Castleton and established his present business, in 
which he has been remarkably successful under his able management. In addition 



186 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

to the undertaking business he conducts a first-class upholstery and furniture estab- 
lishment. In 1893 Mr. Woodford married Bertha Sherman. Mr. Woodford's parents 
were Melvin and Catherine Woodford. The latter died when he was quite young. 
Mr. Woodford is an enterprising and successful business man and a member of the 
Masonic fraternity. 

Dykeman, Garrett, was born in Paterson, N. J., June 6, 1843. He was a son of 
Richard and Catherine (Lochies) Dykeman, both born in New Jersey, and both fam- 
ilies of Holland descent. Mr. Dykeman was master machinist of Thomas Rodgers's 
Locomotive Works in Paterson, N. J. He died in 1847 and his wife died in 1884. 
Garrett Dykeman was reared and educated in Paterson, N. J., and at the age of 
nine years began to work in the silk mills for John Ryle. He worked until sixteen 
years old and then came to Greenbush and learned the machinist trade He 
worked at it for nine years and then took an engine and has been in the employ of 
the Hudson River Railroad for about thirty-seven years. He spent one year in 
South Alabama and one year in California. Mr. Dykeman is at present police com- 
missioner. In 1873 he married Sarah E. Foreman, a native of England who came 
to Greenbush with her parents, George and Rebeckah Foreman, when a child. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Dykeman were born five children : G. Louis, Caroline D. (deceased). 
John F., William F. (deceased), and Alice. Mr. Dykeman is a member of Green- 
bush Lodge No. 337, F. & A. M., and also of B. of L. E. and A. O. U. W. 

Griffin & Rockefeller, undertakers.— Mr. Rockefeller was born in Greenbush, Jan- 
uary 28, 1864. He was a son of Norman and Maria L. (Yergeson) Rockefeller, he 
born in Kinderhook, and she in Castleton. Mr. Yergeson was her stepfather, but 
her real name was Wellington, one of the first settlers of the town. The father of 
Mr. Rockefeller was an engineer for the B. & A. R. R. ; he was with them for twenty- 
five years, but formerly was a carpenter; he died March 6, 1895, and his wife lives 
in Bath. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Rockefeller is William T. Rockefeller, 
who lives in Albany. Mr. Rockefeller was reared and educated in Greenbush, and 
attended the Albany Business College, from which he was graduated in 1886. Will- 
iam E. Griffin, his uncle an undertaker, came to Greenbush and engaged in the un- 
dertaking business in 1870; he died June 20, 1893, and Mr. Rockefeller in partner- 
ship with bis wife, Elizabeth Griffin, are now carrying on the business. February 6, 
1886, he married Josephine Canon, by whom two children have been born : Edward 
G., born May 23, 1890; and Elizabeth W., born March 8, 1895. Mr. Rockefeller is a 
member of Greenbush Lodge No. 337, F. & A. M.. and Greenbush Chapter No. 274, 
R. A. M. His father and uncle were also members of the same lodge. He is a 
member of Rensselaer Lodge No. 240, A. O. U. W., and of the Select Knights of East 
Albany No. 87. He has been inspector of election for five years. 

Marshall, Philo P., was born in Germantown, Columbia county, N. Y., November 
4, 1842. He was the son of Alonzo and Margaret (Staats) Marshall of Germantown, 
where she died when Philo P. Marshall was an infant. Mr. Marshall came to Green- 
bush in 1846 where he was employed by the Boston & Albany R. R., and remained 
with that company until his death. Philo was reared and educated in Greenbush, 
and was elected school trustee for several years. He was at the battles of Gettys- 
burg. Malvern Hill, Antietam, and Seven Days battle of the Wilderness. He was 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 187 

ill all the battles with the army of the Potomac. Mr. Marshall has a medal issued 
by the State of New York which was given to all soldiers that served m the battle 
of Gettysburg from the State of N. Y. He returned to Greenbush and acted as 
fireman for the Boston & Albany R. R., and was promoted engineer in 1870, and 
still holds that position. December 8, 1864, he married Jane E. Potts, a native of 
Columbia county, N. Y., and a daughter of William and Lucinda (Moore) Potts. Mr. 
Potts died in Columbia connty and his wife now resides in Winona, Minn. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Marshall were born two children: Minnie A., wife of George H. Mayer of 
Greenbush, having one daughter, Helen M. ; and William B., a telegraph operator 
for the Boston & Albany R. R. 

Baily, Edmund, was born in Sand Lake, May 29, 1808, and was a son of Silas and 
Olive (Sweetland) Baily, he a native of Stephentown and she of Sand Lake. The 
grandfather, Samuel Baily, was a Revolutionary soldier. He settled on Baily Hill, 
Stephentown, being one of the first settlers in that part of the town, whence he 
went to Whitestown, where he died. Silas Baily was a farmer at Paris; from there 
he went to Sand Lake, thence to East Nassau, and spent his last days in Stephen- 
town, where he died in 1841. Mrs. Baily died about 1846. The great-grandfather 
of Edmund, Samuel Baily, came from England. In 1841 Edmund married Nancy, 
daughter of Jonathan and Rachael (Chapman) Turner. The father of Jonathan 
Turner was a minister in the Baptist church, and a pioneer of Nassau. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Baily have been born si.K children : Louisa, wife of Justice Hunt ; Mary, wife 
of Thomas Greenman; Slias J., farmer of Nassau; Emily, wife of Erving Allen; 
Lydia A., widow of John Jones, who died in 1892; and Rachael, who died in in- 
fancy. Edmund worked in a factory in Stephentown until about thirty years of age, 
when he engaged in farming, which he followed until 1894. In 1835 he bought 100 
acres of land, and now owns 135 acres. He is a Democrat in politics, was elected 
justice of the peace, but did not qualify, and has been poormaster. 

Brown, Stephen J., was born in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., March 22, 1861. His father, 
Rev. Stephen D. Brown, D. D., was at difi^erent times pastor of the State Street and 
Fifth Avenue M. E. churches in Troy, and at the time of his death, which occurred 
in 1875, was presiding elder of the New York district. His mother, Lucy (Herrick) 
Brown of Burlington, Vt , died in 1866. Judge Stephen S. Brown of the Vermont State 
Court was his grandfather. Stephen received his education in the public schools of 
New York city, and entered the employ of Louis De Groff & Son, wholesale grocers 
of that city, afterwards accepting a position with the well known jewelry firm of 
Aiken, Lambert & Co. In 1880 he came to Troy and went to work as shipper for 
Taylor & Staley, and later was employed by Morey & Lee. He purchased an in- 
terest in the Globe Ventilator Co. in 1888, and has since been a member of that com- 
pany. Mr. Brown is a steward of the State Street M. E. church and treasurer of its 
fund. He married Clara A. Morey in 1888. 

Quigley, Thomas P., was born in Troy, N. Y., March 22, 1853. His parents were 
Michael Quigley of Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland, and Mary A. Collins of 
Abersychan, Monmouthshire, Wales. They came to this country in June, 1842, and 
resided in Troy until the death of the former in 1860 and the latter in 1893. Thomas, 
the fifth son of a family of seven, entered the old Ninth Ward School as a pupil in 



188 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

1860. R. W. Hewitt, who retired in March, 1890, after thirty-six years' faithful 
service as a teacher, was then the principal of this school. In 1867 he passed from 
the grammar department to the Troy High School from which school he graduated 
with honor in 1871. In 1869, while still a pupil at the High School, he was elected 
assistant clerk of the Board of Education. He attended to the duties of his office 
and at the same time kept up with his class at school by reciting his lessons daily to 
the late David Beattie, who then held the position of superintendent, also that of 
principal of the High vSchool. He held this position until 1872, when the board, 
which consisted of twenty-six members, was legislated out of office and a new one 
of thirteen members was created. For one year he was employed as salesman by 
his brother, P. J. Ouigley, proprietor of a shoe store at 170 River street. In the fall 
of 1873 he was engaged by the managers of the Troy Catholic Male Orphan Asylum 
to teach in the parochial school, and in the following year bj' the Board of Education 
as assistant teacher in a branch school organized for the purpose of relieving the 
overcrowded condition of the Ninth Ward School. This branch school was known 
as Ninth Ward School No. 2. In 1875 Mr. Quigley was made principal of this 
branch school and in 1878 was promoted to the principalship of Ninth Ward School 
No. 1, which was considered one of the most difficult schools in the city to manage. 
This position he held for several years, giving entire satisfaction to the School 
Board and the patrons of the school. In 1885 he was transferred to School No. 13, 
his present position. It will thus be seen that Mr. Quigley has been connected with 
the schools of Troy as pupil and teacher for a period of thirty-hve years. 

Fitch, Benjamin F., was born in Oswego Center, N. Y., in 1851. His father, 
Henry P. Fitch, was born at New London, N. Y., and died at Oswego Center in 
March, 1894. His mother, Emeline M. (Peckham) Fitch, died in 1884. Benjamin 
received his education in Oswego and at Eastman's Business College in Poughkeep- 
sie. He came to Troy in 1886 and entered the office of Fellows & Co. as bookkeeper 
and since 1887 has been bookkeeper for the firm of Holmes & Ide. In 1875 he mar- 
ried Larissa Smith of Oswego, by whom he has two sons and two daughters. 

Kinloch, Dr. Everett S., son of Alexander G. and Mary S. (Reed) Kinloch, was 
born in Troy, July 6, 1866. His father was born in Montreal, Canada, in 1836, came 
to Troy when a boy and became a painter and later engaged in various business 
enterprises, particularly in that of real estate. He has four sons living. Harvey 
S., station agent at Frankfort, N. Y., Dr. Everett S. , of Troy, Dr. D. Reed, of L^tica, 
and Raymond A., of Troy. Dr. Everett S. Kinloch was educated in the public and 
high schools of his native city, read medicine with Dr. J. H. Bissell, and was grad- 
uated from the Albany Medical College in April, 1895, receiving the two highest 
pri' cs .■'?r scholarship. Since then he has been in active practice in Troy. He is 
a member of the Medical Society of Troy and Vicinity, and of Apollo Lodge No. 13, 
F. & A. M. He was lecturer on physiology before the Troy Y. M. C. A. during the 
winters of 1895-96 and 1896-97. In March, 1889, he married Mary F., daughter of 
Walton S. Swartwout of Troy, and they have two children : Mabel F. and Donald. 

Potter, Darius E., was born in Brandon, Vt., July 21, 1834. He is a descendant 
in direct line of Robert Potter, who settled in Rhode Island in 1620 or 1625. His 
father, Joseph Warren Potter, was born in Clarendon, Vt. , in 1801, and was a moulder 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 189 

by trade and afterwards a farmer. He died in December, 1849, and his mother, 
Lucy (Fiske) Potter, was born in Danby, Vt, in 1800 and died in January, 1879. 
Darius E. comes of a family of six children, of whom four are now living: Mellissa 
P. Brewster of Iowa; Polly E. Tower of Iowa; and Noel, of Clarendon, Vt. Mr. 
Potter was educated at the public schools and came to Troy at the age of fifteen and 
learned the moulder's trade. He worked for Wager & Dater and their successors 
for nine years. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. F, 1st United States Sharpshooters, and 
served for two years, and on account of poor health was discharged. He afterwards 
followed his trade, but on account of army life exposure was obliged to give it up. 
He is a Knight Templar and member of Oriental Temple of the Mystic Shrine, and 
a life member of all the Masonic bodies, and is also a member of the Veteran Masonic 
Association. In 1895 he founded the chapter of the Eastern Star, and was president 
of the Moulder's Union for five years. December 29, 1864, he married Theda 
Davidson of Chester, Vt. 

Salmon, Thomas H., M. D., was born in Stratford-on-Avon, England, in 1835. His 
grandfather, Nicolas Salmon, gained considerable reputation as a teacher and writer 
and was the author of several Latin and French text-books which for years were 
used in the English colleges. His father was a man of literary ability and scholarly 
attainments. Dr. Salmon received his education in England and was for some time 
a surgeon in the British Mercantile Marine. In 1876, after his marriage to Annie 
E. Frost, he came to Lansingburgh where he has resided since. Of five children, 
but two reached maturity — Frank H., a young man of exceptional promise, who was 
first employed in the Powers Bank and later with the Metropolitan Trust Company 
of New York; and Thomas W., who is following his father's profession. Frank H. 
Salmon died August 1, 1896, and two days after Mrs. Salmon's death occurred. The 
doctor is a member of several medical societies and of the New York State Pharma- 
ceutical Society and is police surgeon of the village. 

Rourk, Margaret. — The late Patrick Rourk was born in the North of Ireland in 
1803. He was educated in the schools of his day, and came to the United States in 
the twenty-fourth year of his age and located in Troy. After a period of two years 
he came to Lansingburgh. He was a cooper by trade and conducted a large coop- 
erage for many years. In 1829 he married Catherine Cosgrom, of his native country, 
by whom eight children have been born: John, Anna, Thomas, Mary, Frank, Pat- 
rick, Catherine and Margaret. The four sons are dead, and Anna married Terrance 
Duffy, of New York city. Mary married John Ryan, of Lansingburgh. The two 
younger daughters are not married. Mr. Rourk gained a competency by industry 
and fair dealing. He died July 24, 1887, and his widow died August 14, 1888. 

Perry, Clarence A., was born in the town of Lansingburgh, July 7, 1857, and was 
educated in the public schools, Troy Conference Academy, also in Manchester, Vt., 
and has always followed the honorable occupation of farming. December 1, 1887, 
he married Ellen De Forrest Bailey of Plattsburgh, N. Y., and have two daughters: 
Lucy D. and Mary L. Mr. Perry's father, Aaron, was born on the homestead near 
Speigletown in 1818, and was educated in the schools of that day ; he too was a 
farmer. September 15, 1850, he married Maria Van Veghten of Old Schaghticoke, 
and had three children: Helen, Valentine and Clarence A., as above. Aaron Perry 



190 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

was a class leader, Sunday school superintendent, steward, and recording steward 
of the M. E. church. He died January 10, 1880, and his widow survives him at this 
date, 1896. C. A. Perry in his political choice is an ardent Republican (except in 
local matters). The Perry family are directly related 'o old Commodore Perry; an- 
cestry of family is of Dutch and New England origin. 

Patton, Alexander G., born near Troy, June 1, 1837, is a son of Thomas and 
Drusilla Patton. Thomas was a son of Alexander, who came from Scotland when a 
young man. Thomas when a young man was thrown on his own resources; he 
learned the currier's trade in Joseph Gary's tannery; when twenty-five years of 
age he married Drusilla, daughter of Benjamm Gorton of Troy, and had seven chil- 
dren: James G., Alexander G., George H., Annie J., Frank, Mary D. and Sarah; 
later in life Thomas followed farming and the leather trade until 1865, when he re- 
tired from active business. Alexander's early life was spent with his father. He 
had a common school education and also attended the Troy Academy. He started 
for himself when eighteen years of age as a clerk in Haight's leather store. Later 
he learned the leather currying trade and was associated with his father until the 
latter's death in 1890. He is now engaged in general farming. He is an active, 
public-spirited man and is interested in schools and education and is at present 
treasurer of the district. He is a liberal supporter of the Presbyterian church. He 
married, in 1862, Emma, daughter of Cephas Gorton of New York city, and in 1875, 
Sarah J. Ives of Poestenkill; and they have one child, Thomas, who is attending 
school in Troy. 

Converse, P. W., was born in District of Montreal, Canada. He is the senior 
member of the firm of Converse, Collins, Merrell & Co. This concern was founded 
in 1806 by Gardner &' Vail, and after several changes, Mr. Converse became con- 
nected with its management in 1860, and the present firm was organized in 1884. 
Of late Mr. Converse has been in poor health and retired from active business in 
the store. He is one of the oldest and most respected business men of Troy. 

Hastings, Nathan Main, jr., son of Nathan Main and Ruth R. (Stillman) Hastings, 
was born in Brunswick, Rensselaer county, January 7, 1S45, and was educated in 
the district schools of Brunswick and at the Cambridge (Washington county) Acad- 
emy. He worked on his father's farm until 1872, when he moved to Troy and 
formed a partnership with Edgar D. Main, in the grocery and pork business. Janu- 
ary 1, 1883, Mr. Hastings and Dr. Asa G. Stillman formed a partnership and en- 
gaged in the ice business, which Mr. Hastings still continues, under the firm name 
of Hastings & Co. He is a member of Apollo Lodge No. 13, F. & A. M., Apollo 
Chapter No. 48 R. A. M., Bloss Council No. 14, R. & S. M , Apollo Commandery 
No. 15, K. T., and Oriental Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Mr. Hastings is 
also a member of the Citizens' Association and Patrons of Industry and is secretary 
of the Troy Ice Dealers' Association ; is also a member of the Troy Vocal Society. 
September 28, 1870, he married Helen A. Robbins of Brunswick, who died May 29, 
1880, leaving one son, Joseph R. May 23, 1889, he married J. Adelaide Coon of 
Marcellus, N. Y. 

Spencer, Charles G., of Hoosick Falls, N. Y., was born m Nassau, Rensselaer 
county, in 1839. His father, Allen Spencer, was a native of Rhode Island, where 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 191 

he occupied a responsible position in a cotton mill; he afterwards removed to Nassau 
where he engaged in farming and was soon elected school trustee. The family 
came to Hoosick Falls in 1844 when Mr. Spencer was five years of age. After leav- 
ing the public schools of this village he was first employed in the Tremont Mills; 
then, after serving his apprenticeship as a machinist, he worked at his trade in 
Waterford, N. Y., and in New York city between the years 1857 and 1865; since then 
he has been continuously in the employment of the Walter A. Wood Mowing & 
Reaping Machine Company, first as a tool maker, taking contracts under the com- 
pany and hiring his own workmen ; and in 1879 as foreman of the machine shop ; and 
since 1893 as general superintendent of the works, a responsible position for which 
he is peculiarly fitted, being thoroughly conversant with the minutest details of the 
work of the various departments, besides possessing the tact and discrimination so 
requisite in the employment of workmen. He married in 1864 Caroline Bissell of 
Cohoes, N. Y. , daughter of James P. Bissell, who in 1843 carried on a cotton mill in 
Homer, Cortland county, N. Y., and afterward in Mechanicville, N. Y. ; later'he was 
superintendent of the Caledonia Mills in Hoosick Falls. Their only child, Mary, is 
completing her education at the Albany Normal College. Mr. Spencer is a Mason 
and member of Raymond Chapter, an attendant of the Presbyterian church; a lib- 
eral contributor to every good cause, and has held nearly every office in the gift of 
the village. 

Van Valkenburg, Garret, was born in the city of Troy, July 6, 1822. He was a 
son of Tunis and Alida (Vandenburg) Van Valkenburg, he a native of Kinderhook, 
Columbia county, and she of Greenbush. The Van Valkenburg family are descend- 
ants of Geronamus Van Valkenburg, who landed in New York in 1645. He went 
to Bevyrwick, Albany county, thence to Schodack. Tunis was born February 25, 
1795, and at the age of sixteen came from Columbia county to Greenbush and 
worked at the blacksmith trade until he was twenty-one years of age, and then 
worked on a farm for five years. In 1821 he married, and was two years in the gro- 
cery business in Troy. In 1824 he bought the farm now owned by F. H. Stone, and 
engaged in farming. He sold out here and purchased the farm now owned by Mr. 
Van Valkenburg. He died in 1870 and his wife died in 1866. In 1850 Mr. Van Valk- 
enburg married Sarah, daughter of Cornelius M. Vandenburg of Greenbush, by 
whom he has five children : Herbert, Morton, Alida, Caroline, and Tunis, who runs 
the farm. They have eighty-two acres and have a dairy of about fourteen cows. 
Mrs. Van Valkenburg died April 7, 1891. 

Sullivan, John J., was born in Albany, August, 10, 1858. He was the son of Cor- 
nelius and Mary (Crowley) Sullivan, both born in Ireland, and came to this country 
in 1849, located in New York city, but finally came to Albany where Mr. Sullivan 
worked at the carpenter's trade. He died October 18, 1888. His wife died April 20, 
1892. They had a family of seven sons and two daughters. John J. Sullivan was 
reared and educated in St. John's Parish and the Brothers' School. When ten years 
of age he was employed by Bell & Ledger as errand boy, and before he was yet 
eleven he was traveling salesman, the youngest on record. He supported the family, 
his father being sick. He continued with this firm as traveling salesman for four- 
teen years, he was then employed with Graham Martin of Albany for three years, 
and in 1885 started a general house furnishing store in Albany, and continued in that 



192 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

business until April 1, 1889, when he engaged in the undertaking business and has 
been very successful. Mr. Sullivan has a fine residence on the corner of Broadway 
and Fourth avenue, and has also property in East Albany. Mr. Sullivan was first 
married in 1884 to Mary Rochford by whom he had two children: Lottie and Thomas 
(both deceased). Mrs. Sullivan died March 19, 1891, and in June, 1893, he married 
Nellie Lynch of Greenbush, a daughter of John and Mary (Hannon) Lynch, both 
born in Ireland, came to the United States when children, and were here married 
in Greenbush where they now reside. They have had ten children : Francis J. is 
now chief of police in Greenbush. Mr. Sullivan together with his undertaking busi- 
ness has a well stocked livery stable. He is one of the best funeral directors in the 
State and is a graduate of three of the best embalming colleges in this country. He 
is perfectly honest and enjoys the respect and confidence of all who have the pleasure 
of his acquaintance. 

Petersen. Peter, was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, July 19, 1852. He was edu- 
cated in their schools, and afterwards learned the carriagemaker's trade. November 
2, 1879, he married Marthene Anderson of Odense, Denmark, and immediately 
came to the L^nited States, locating in Troy, N. Y., and in 1886 they came to Lans- 
ingburgh, where he began business on his own account, manufacturing carriages, 
wagons, and general repairing. They have three children: John C, Agnes C. and 
Julia. 

Johnston, De Witt C, one of the foremost merchants of Hoosick Falls, was born 
in Hoosick Falls, N. Y., October 15, 1866, and completed his education there, grad- 
uating from the High School in June, 1883, at sixteen years of age. He first engaged 
in business here with his father, Alonzo L. Johnston, a well-known merchant of this 
place. In the fall of 1894 he assumed full charge of the store, which contains a 
large and varied stock of dry goods and groceries, unsurpassed in its line, making 
.specialties of Gray Brothers', Packard & Field's and Emersons' Sons' shoes; agent 
for Hammerslough Brothers Tailoring Company, H. W. John's asbestos paints, and 
National Milling Company's " Sunlight" flour. He is a member of the Presbyterian 
church, of the Hoosick Club, of the Seth Parsons Steamer Company, of Van Rensse- 
laer Lodge No. 400, F. & A. M., and Apollo Commandery No. 15 of Troy, N.Y. 
He married in 1888 Lulu I. Kincaid, daughter of Judge George H. Kincaid of 
Hoosick Falls, N. Y. Two children have been born to them: Edith lone and 
Alonzo L. 

Sibley, Warren A., one of the most prominent and highlj^ respected citizens of 
Hoosick Falls, died at his home on Church street in that village on October 1, 1896, 
after a two weeks' illness of congestion of the brain. Mr. Sibley was born in Ben- 
nington, Vt., Oct. 30, 1825 and was a son of Jason and Eunice Sibley. Mr. Sibley's 
boyhood and early manhood were spent in his native place, and it was there, in the 
public schools, he received his education. June 27, 1847, at Bennington, occurred 
his marriage to Susan A. Rice of that place. Two children were born to them: 
Charles H. Sibley of Hoosick Falls, who survives, and a daughter who died in child- 
hood. An adopted son, Frank T. Sibley, also survives. In February, 1862, Mr. 
Sibley moved with his family to Hoosick Falls, N. Y., and August 13 of that year he 
enlisted for three years in Co. A, 125th Regiment N. Y. Vols. Mr. Sibley was an 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 193 

accomplished horseman and it was as a wagoner that he enlisted. The regiment 
was almost immediately ordered to the front, and at Harper's Ferry Mr. Sibley was 
taken prisoner. He was paroled and sent to Chicago, 111., where he was exchanged 
about six months later, when he rejoined his regiment and was with it in all the 
principal engagements of the war. He was honorably discharged May 4, 1865. He 
returned home and was immediately offered and accepted the position of superin- 
tendent of the works of the Hoosick Falls Gaslight Company, which position he has 
since held. Mr. Sibley was a trustee of the M. E. church, of which for over twenty- 
five years he was a faithful member. He was a veteran Mason and member of Van 
Rensselaer Lodge No. 400, F. & A. M. Mr. Sibley was a man of strong Christian 
character. Quiet and unobtrusive by nature, he neither sought nor could be pre- 
vailed upon to accept the public honors and distinctions which were frequently 
offered him, but preferred the rest and quietness of home and private life. The 
genial manner, cheerj^ smile and pleasant word with which he greeted everybody 
won him the love and respect of all who knew him, and his death is regretted by the 
entire community in which he lived. 

Cross, George E., born June 6, 1868, on the farm he owns in Schodack, is a son of 
George W. and Delilah (Drew) Cross. He was born in Stuyvesant, Columbia county, 
N. Y., and she was born in Schodack. He was a son of Peleg Cross, born in Charles- 
ton, R. I., and his wife was Sallie Congdon. They had a family of four sons and 
three daughters, of whom one son and two daughters are living. He came to Scho- 
dack in 1835, and here spent the remainder of his days. The father of George E. 
Cross was a farmer and had 158 acres of land. He was a member of the Grange. 
He died August 16, 1887, and his widow now lives on the farm. George E. Cross 
was reared on the farm, and educated in the common schools and Boys' Academy of 
Albany. He owns the homestead and follows general farming, and has ten acres of 
orchard. He was married December 17, 1890, to M. Frances Williams of Chatham 
Center, Columbia county, and daughter of Seymour and Christina (Cudd) Williams. 
Both died in Columbia county. Mr. and Mrs. Cross have two children: Maud C. and 
Mary C. Mr. Cross is a Republican and has been inspector of elections, and trustee 
of school district two years. 

Link, William H., is a son of Thomas B. and Aceneth (McChesney) Link. He was 
born in the town of Greenbush, March 17, 1844. His early life was spent with his 
father in the different occupations of farming. When about twenty-nine years of 
age he started in business for himself as a farmer, which he has followed to the 
present time. December 15, 1870, he married Hester A., a daughter of Derrick V. and 
Caroline (Wheeler) Adams, a native of Brunswick. William H. is interested in school 
and educational work, and also in town and county affairs. He is excise commis- 
sioner at present, and is also active in temperance work. 

Morrison. William, was born in Milburn, N. J., April 3, 1857, and was educated 
there and at Newark, where his parents moved when he was eight years of age. In 
1877 the family moved to Brooklyn. February 2, 1881, he married Emma Fuller of 
Florida, Montgomery county, N. Y., and had three children: Louina, Sarah and 
William. Soon after his marriage Mr. Morrison came to Lansingburgh and became 
a manufacturer of brushes, and after some changes began the manufacture of com- 
y 



194 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

posite goods, brushes and mirrors, and invented a machine for the manufacture of 
these goods. January 1, 1893, the firm became known as Powers Bros., with William 
and John Morrison as managers. John married Millicent W. Moore, of New York 
city, and they have two children: John, jr., and Millicent. William is a member of 
Phoenix Lodge No. 58, F. & A. M., of Phoenix Chapter No. 133, R. A. M., of Bloss 
Council No. 14, R. & S. M., of Apollo Commandery No. 15, K. T., and of Oriental 
Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. John is a member of Tu.scan Lodge No. 704, 
F. & A. M., and of Orient Chapter, R. A. M., of Brooklyn. 

Witbeck, C. William, was born in Greenbush, Rensselaer county, N. Y., February 
27, 1845. His parents removed to Troy when he was a child, where he was educated 
in the public schools. November 7, 1861, he enlisted in Co. K, 93d Inf. N. Y. Vols., 
as a musician, and December 10, 1863, re-enlisted in the same regiment as a veteran. 
The regiment participated in twenty-five general engagements and lost sixty per 
cent, of its members in the battle of the Wilderness. Mr. Witbeck was honorably 
discharged June 39, 1865, with the rank of first sergeant and brevet captain. He 
was married twice ; first, May 23, 1870, to Mary L. Waldradt of Troy. N. Y. She 
died January 13, 1877, leaving one son, Selden M. Mr. Witbeck then married, May 
13, 1880, Ella S. Tyler of Troy, by whom he has one son, Albert T. Mr. Witbeck 
has been a general merchant for ten years, but is now a traveling salesman. He is 
a member of Griswold Post No. 338, G. A. R., Troy; also a member of Phoenix 
Lodge No. 58, F. & A. M., of Lansingburgh, N. Y. ; of the 2d Corps Club; of the 
3d Army Corps Union; of the Society of the Army of the Potomac; one of the in. 
corporators of the Sans Souci Club ; has been village clerk for seven years ; presi- 
dent of the village two years; also a fire and water commissioner. Mr. Witbeck's 
father, Tobias, was born in the town of Schodack. N. Y., March 20, 1818. He mar- 
ried Jane Burke, by whom he had ten children. He died August 12, 1893, and his 
wife June 30, 1876. The family is of English, Irish and Holland Dutch descent. 

Rising, George A., is one of the oldest residents of Hoosick who was born in the 
town, a type of personal landmarks who are becoming somewhat rare. He was 
born near Eagle Bridge in 1827 and never lived elsewhere. His father was Ebene- 
zer Rising of Connecticut birth, but most of whose life was passed in Hoosick. Mr. 
Rising was brought up on a farm, but when a young man learned the builder's trade 
and has occupied his mature years in that business, and owing to the inheritance of 
a good constitution and correct habits does not yet consider himself retired from 
active life. He married in 1850 Susan R. Higley of this place, and their children 
are Daniel W. Rising, a box manufacturer of North Adams; Sarah A., wife of 
George Boynton, a manufacturing pharmacist of Waukegan, 111. ; Estella, wife of 
Hiram Allen of Bennington, Vt. ; Mary M., wife of James Glenn, a grocer of Hoo- 
sick Falls; G. Frank Rising, of Easton, Rising & Worden ; Emma, wife of Porter 
Huey, a lawyer of Kane, Pa. 

Fagan & Craig, the firm of, is composed of William Fagan and Arthur E. Craig. 
Mr. Fagan was born in Greenbush, June 6, 1833. He was a .son of John and Mar- 
graret Fagan, born in Ireland and came to Greenbush in 1830, where he lived and 
died. Mr. Fagan was educated in Greenbush, and was teamster for some time. He 
was with the New York Central Railroad for some time, and in 1887 engaged in the 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 195 

mercantile business, and in 1893 formed a partnership with Arthur E. Craig. Mr. 
Pagan's wife was Charlotte Wornes, by whom five children have been born, one of 
which is living, Emma. Mr. Craig was born in Greenbush, May 16, 1866, and was 
there educated. He started out as clerk for Joseph Ferry with whom he was for 
nine years, and then went into the grocery business. January 1, 1895, he bought 
the building owned by William Lansing, at the corner of Broadway and Second 
avenue. They are one of the substantial firms of the town. Mr. Craig is a member 
of the A. O. U. W. In August, 1887, he married Bertine A. Denison of East Green- 
bush, by whom has been born one son, Berton vS. 

Verbeck, W. Wallace, was born in the town of Easton, Washington county, N. Y., 
June 10, 1841. His parents moved to the town of Schaghticoke, Rensselaer county, 
N. Y., when he was eight years old. He obtained his education in the public 
schools, and has always followed the honorable occupation of farming. He is now 
agent and salesman for the Page Wire Fence Co. of Adrian, Mich. He has married 
twice, first, January 11, 1865, to Abbie Garrison of the town of Schaghticoke; they 
had one daughter, Jessie M., who married E. J. Skitf of Easton; they have two chil- 
dren, George I. and Henry G. Mrs. Verbeck died March 11, 1872. For his second 
wife, on January 13, 1876, he married Mary E. Badgley of the town of Half Moon, 
Saratoga county, N. Y. ; they have two children, Alice M. and Herbert R. Mr. Ver- 
beck's father, John, was born in the town of Easton, Washington county, N. Y., 
July 18, 1814. He married Mary A. Groesbeck of Schaghticoke, N. Y. Ten children 
were born to them: W. Wallace; Adelbert V. (married Alice E. Holley of Lena, 111., 
February 11, 1893); an infant not named; MaryL., George I. (married first Theresa 
Blair of Kansas, who died in June, 1879; second, Belle A. Walker, Kansas, March 
21, 1881); Sidney H. (married Mary E. Wallis of Philadelphia, June 27, 1882); Chaun- 
cey L. (married Carrie M. Ackart of Easton, February 22, 1882); Charles H. (ma- 
rled Viola Acker of Lena, 111., September 24, 1885); John W. ; and Emma I. (married 
Arthur Heimstreet, March 29, 1887). Mr. Verbeck died August 1, 1883 Mr. Ver- 
becks grandfather, William Verbeck, was born in Connecticut, August 20, 1779, and 
died May 27, 1847; became to the town of Easton, Washington county, when he 
was sixteen years old with a cow and fifty dollars in money, his portion from his 
father; he was twice married, first, to Susanna Quackenbush, born March 16, 1777, 
died January 5, 1839 ; second, to Sarah Simmons, her sister, born June 20, 1785 (no 
children). By his first wife his children were Eliza, born October 9, 1805; S. Ada- 
line, born September 1, 1807, died August 22, 1896; Sidney, born September 18, 1809; 
Mariah, born June 1, 1812; John, as above; Christian, born October 14, 1816; and 
William, born June 20, 1820. Mrs. W. Wallace Verbeck's father, Thomas B. Badgley, 
was born in the town of Half Moon, Saratoga county, N. Y., July 3, 1813. He mar ■ 
ried Elizabeth Lawrence of Stillwater; they had seven children: Mary E., Kather- 
ine, Harriet A., Cornelia, Frank, Alice W., and Hannah. Mr. Badgley died July 3, 
1888, and his wife died April 13, 1877. Mr. Verbeck's great-grandfather came from 
Norway. The ancestry of the family is Norman and Dutch. 

Reed, Colonel Leonard V., was born in Pittstown, N. Y., in 1798. He was a son 
of Joseph and Mary (Baylis) Reed. He came from Dutchess county to Pittstown, 
early in life, where he died. She was born in Pitt.stown, where she lived and died 
in 1843. He kept a hotel here for many years. The place was Reedville, and Reed's 



196 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Hollow was named in honor of Joseph Reed. Colonel Reed owned stages in his early 
days in partnership with his brother, John B. Reed. This was when the stages ran 
to Troy and Albany. He owned several farms, and was a wealthy man. He owned 
a grist mill, a saw mill and also a flax mill. His wife was Ann E. Plume of Albany, 
and her father w-as Garrett Plume of Newark, N. J. To Colonel and Mrs. Reed were 
born four children: Mary E., who owned the homestead; Joseph, proprietor of the 
American House at Lansingburg; Evertsen E., who lived at the homestead ; Leon- 
ard L, who died when seven 3'ears old. Colonel Reed was colonel in the State mi- 
litia. He died in 1881 at the age of eighty-three years. 

Morri.son, Andrew- J., was born in Argyle, Washington county, N. Y., October 3, 
1828. The family moved to West Troy in 1837, where he was educated in the dis- 
trict schools. He always had a taste for military life, and after a runaway from 
home, he joined Captain Stephenson's Regiment of 1st California Vols., and later 
Frisbie's company (Albany, N. Y.) of Colonel Butler's Dragoons of Philadelphia; 
the company was accepted in the regular army for the war with Mexico, but Mr. 
Morrison was too young to be sworn into the service. Captain Butler died soon 
after joining our army in Mexico, and Mr. Morrison accompanied the escort of the 
body to New Orleans; he then joined Gen. Narcisso De Lopez's command in an ex- 
pedition against Spain in Cuba, where General De Lopez, three years later, was cap- 
tured and garroted. After this he joined General Walker in Nicaraugua, Central 
America; this expedition was highly successful; years later General Walker was 
captured and shot. We next find Mr. Morrison with General Garibaldi in Italy; he 
was there a captain and afterwards a major on Gen. Gall's staff. When the Rebellion 
broke out at home he at once resigned his commission and returned to his native 
country. September 2, 1861, he organized the Northern Black Horse Cavalry, known 
as the 2nd N. Y. Vol. Cavalry; was mustered as colonel in November, 1861, and 
mustered out of the service in March, 1862. He then voluntered as aid on Gen. L 
N. Palmer's staff, serving in the Peninsula campaign. June 25, 1862, he was shot 
in the hand. September 16, 1862, he was commissioned colonel of the 26th N. J. 
Nine Months Inft. Vols. November 4, 1863, he was commissioned colonel of the 3d 
N. J. Cavalry Vols. , and was honorably discharged August 23, 1864. In January. 
1862, in Philadelphia, Pa., he married Almira Vaughn of West Troy, N. Y., who, 
from injuries received on December 2, 1894, at her winter home in St. Augustine, 
Fla., by a hammock falling with her, died December 29 at her home in West Troy. 
Mr. Morrison is a member of Griswold Post No. 338, G. A. R. , Troy; he is past 
commander of Willard Post, and is now in the postal service of the United States. 

Parmenter, Franklin Jay, was born in Pittstown, Rensselaer count}', N. Y. , August 
28, 1829. He is a son of Dr. Azel Fitch and Lavinia (Ray) Parmenter, the former a 
native of Chester, Mass., and the latter of Wilton, Saratoga county, N. Y. His 
mother died in 1849 and his father in 1858. Franklin Jay attended the district 
schools and in 1846 entered the academy at Hoosick Falls, and in 1848 entered the 
Troy Conference Academy at Poultney, Vt., where he completed his academic edu- 
cation. In April, 1849, he came to Troy and began the study of law in the office of 
McConihe & Parmenter (the latter a brother of the subject), on the corner of Con- 
gress and First streets. In the spring of 1850 he opened a select school and taught 
the languages and higher English studies. He was admitted to the bar May 4, 1852, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 197 

and since that time has been in continuous practice. He was police justice of the 
city of Troy from 1860 to 1864. He contributed §2,000 towards the expenses of 
raising the 169th N. Y. Vols., and made man}^ speeches in favor of a vigorous pros- 
ecution of the war. In 1869 Union College conferred upon him the degree of M. A. 
Mr. Parmenter is the author of many poems; the best known is the Welcome to 
Dickens, published by the Harpers and republished in England with illustrations. 
June 16, 1886, the Troy Conference Academy held their semi-centennial meeting 
and Mr. Parmenter was the poet of the occasion, and his poem was received with 
much applause. He is an accomplished scholar and rapid, graceful and easy writer. 
In 1872 he married Lorinda Silliman. Their son, Frank Silliman Parmenter, is now 
a student in the Harvard Law School. 

Weaver, Edwin C, was born in Lansingburgh, January 2, 1852. He was educated 
in the public schools and Lansingburgh Academy, and has always carried on the 
meat business in a first class order. June 3, 1875, he was married to Susan Taylor, 
of Troy, by whom five children have been born : Edwin N., George M., and Clarence ; 
two died, Emma K. and Chester H. Mr. Weaver's father, Nicholas was born De- 
cember 12, 1796. He was a boatman by occupation, first as cook, then as deck hand, 
and then as captain. He was a boat owner and dealt largely in lumber in company 
with his brother Charles. They had lumber yards in Montgomery, Jefferson and 
Rutger streets, in New York city. He married twice; first, February 7, 1831, to 
Harriet Homan of Long Island, by whom four children were born: James H., Car- 
oline, Albert, and Homan. Mrs. Weaver died in 1836. For his second wife, on May 
21, 1838, he married Phebe A. Homan, a sister of his first wife, by whom seven chil- 
dren have been born: Harrison, Frederick, Hattie A., Charles N., Edwin C, Fil- 
more and Louise. He was a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 58, F. & A. M., for 
fifty-eight years, was made a Royal Arch Mason in Apollo Chapter No. 48 of Troy 
in 1838. He w^as a charter member of Phoenix Chapter No. 183 R. A. M. He died 
June 20, 1878. His father, Lewis, was born February 25, 1769. He married Eliza- 
beth Derrick, by whom nine children were born : Elizabeth, Margaret, Helen, 
Nicholas, William, Henry, Charles, No. 1, deceased; and Charles, No. 2, who sur- 
vives at this day. John M. Weaver died April 12, 1861. The ancestry of the family 
is Dutch on both sides. 

Comeskey, James, was born in the North of Ireland in April, 1835. He was ed- 
ucated in their schools and came to the L^nited States in 1855 and located in Lansing- 
burgh. He was a sawer in the brush factory for several years. He has a fine prop- 
erty on Third aveflue. When he was twenty-one years of age he married Elizabeth 
Graham of his native place. They have five children: Eliza, Robert C, Thomas J., 
Stephen and Ella. The father of Mr. Comeskey was Stephen ; he married Elizabeth 
McMurray, by whom five children were born: James, Robert, Mary J., John, and 
David. David was a soldier in the late war; he re-enlisted in the cavalry volunteers 
of this State, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. He died of 
hardship endured m the war in 1867. 

Becker, Christian H., was born in Germany, September 14, 1842, and was educated 
in their schools. October 21, 1863, he came to the United States and located in New 
York city, and in 1868 came to Troy. He has been a grocery merchant in Troy, 



198 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Green Island and Lansingburgh. He has married twice, first to Dora Schulat of 
Green Island. They had two children: Julia D. and Henry G. April 30, 1881, he 
married second Mrs. Louise Cook, born Maschke, formerly of Germany, and had 
one son. Christian J. Mrs. Becker died May 26, 1895. His father, J. Mathias, was 
born December 24, 1814, at the old homestead. He married SoaphiaM. Kaabe. She 
died March 18, 1891, and J. Mathias Becker survives at this date, 1896. He is a 
member of the Mount Zion Lodge No. 311, F. & A. M. of Troy, and is also a mem- 
ber of the Rheine Lodge No. 248 I. O. O. F. and of the Ancient Order of Druids. 
The ancestry of the family is German on both sides. 

Pinckney, James E., was born in Albany, N. Y., A^jril 22, 1861. His father, John 
W. Pinckney, was born in Coeymans, Albany county, and for many years has been 
weigher and measurer in the city of Albany. His mother, Mary J, (Cady) Pinckney, 
was born in Bennington, Vt. James E. received his education in the public schools 
of Albany and entered the piano store of Fred H. Cluett, and was later in the same 
business in Boston. He came back to Albany and engaged in the grocery business 
with his father under the firm name of J. W. Pinckney & Son. Two years later he 
accepted the position of assistant secretary of the R. R. Y. M. C. A. in Albany, and 
afterwards went to Plattsburg where he was general secretary of the association. 
In 1890 he accepted the same position in Troy where he has been since. He belongs 
to Mount Zion Lodge, F. & A. M., the Knights of Honor, and the Independent Order 
of Foresters. He was president of the Ejjworth League of the State Street M. E. 
church. He was married to Stella M. Schermerhorn, of Schodack Landing, N. Y., 
in February, 1884. 

Williamson, Isaac Hasbrouck, was born in Lansingville, N. Y., in 1860. He is the 
son of the Rev. R. D. Williamson, who came to Troy from Paterson, N. J., in 1871, 
and has been pastor of the First LTnited Presbyterian church of Troy since that time. 
His mother, Phebe L. Cruikshank, was born in Troy. Her father was Robert 
Cruikshank, one of the oldest settlers of the county. He attended public school and 
afterwards took a course in the Troy Business College. He then took a position with 
the Bussey & McLeod Stove Co., Troy, and had charge of the nickel plate depart- 
ment of that concern. After two years' experience in the knit goods business, he 
entered the office of Tom S. Wotkyns as bookkeeper, and in 1893 was made a part- 
ner in the concern, the firm name being Tom S. Wotkyns & Co., wholesale and 
retail coal business. He is a member of the Laureate Boat Club and the Pafraets 
Dael Club. In 1888 he married Miss Fannie Lee, of Troy, N. Y., by whom he has 
one son, Robert D. 

Phelan, John, was born in Ireland m 1849 and came to the United States in 1868, 
and learned the carpenter's trade, at which he remained until 1877, and since that 
time he has been in the contracting and building business. Among some of the 
buildings he has helped to erect are the House of the Good Shepherd, St. Patrick's 
church in the city of Cohoes, and a parochial residence for the Church of the Visita- 
tion in the village of Schuylerville, N. Y. , and many other prominent buildings and 
residences in Troy and vicinity. 

Spenard, Alexander, was born in Troy, N. Y., May 24, 1860. He received his edu- 
cation in the p\iblic schools of Troy, after which he learned the moulder's trade, and 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 190 

later made cigars. He then went into the tailoring business which he conducted for 
eighteen years.- He was elected a member of the Farnam Steamer Co. in 1887, of 
which he was as.sistant captain for two years. He was the founder of the Lafayette 
Club, was a member of the first assembly of Troy, and was vice-president of the 
Celery Club in 1883. He married Esther Childs of Troy, April 29, 1883, by whom he 
had five children. At present he is carrying on the liquor business at 31 Adams 
street, Troy. 

Rising, Harold C, was born in Troy, February 28, 1872. He is the only surviving 
son of Charles H. and Emma (Seller) Rising He received his early education at 
the Troy Academy and the Graylock Institute at South Williamstown, Mass. ; later 
he entered Phillips Academy at Andover, Mass., where he prepared for Yale Col- 
lege. In 1891 he began the study of law in the office of Seymour Van Santvoord. 
He was admitted to the bar September 13, 1894, at Saratoga. He became managing 
clerk for Mr. Van Santvoord in 1892, and when the firm of Van Santvoord & Well- 
ington was formed he continued in the same capacity. He is a member of the Troy 
Citizens Corps. 

Laibach, Charles, born in Hesse, Germany, December 30, 1827, and is the son of 
Joseph and Catherine (Herlich) Laibach, who were farmers of Germany where they 
died, he in 1858 and she in 1847. Charles emigrated to America in 1856 and was a 
musician in New York city one year, having been educated in music in the Father- 
land. In 1857 he came to Poe.stenkill and engaged in farming. In 1856 he maiTied 
Mary Quandt of Germany and they have three children: Joseph H., a farmer on the 
home farm; John F. , a carpenter; and Mary Ann, at home. Mrs. Laibach died 
August 14, 1893. In 1876 Mr. Laibach came to Sand Lake, bought ninety-six acres 
of land and has .since carried on general farming, making a specialty of small fruit. 

Miller, George C, deceased, was born in Newark, N. J., October 6, 1858. He was 
a son of Christian and Elizabeth (Muiller) Miller, both natives of Germany, who 
emigrated to Am^erica when young and settled in New Jersey. Mr. Miller is pro- 
prietor of a large shoe manufacturing establishment at Newark. Mrs. Miller died 
in 1888. George C. was reared and educated in Newark. He commenced his 
business career with his father in the shoe business, and in 1885 he engaged in the 
sale of shoes, having one of the largest and finest retail stores in Newark. This 
business he continued until the summer of 1895; not enjoying good health he came 
to Sand Lake and purchased the paper mill. He had only just embarked in the 
new business when he was killed by a runaway horse. His death occurred October 
2, 1895. In 1887 he married Catherine, daughter of William C. and Elizabeth 
Brown; he was a native of Connecticut and she of New York. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Miller have been born two sons and two daughters: Ruth, Kenneth, George C. and 
Catherine. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Miller has carried on the business 
of manufacturing tissue paper. She gives employment to from twelve to fifteen 
people. 

Holser, Charles, was born in Sand Lake, December 11, 1851. He was a son of 
Jacob and Barbary (Gallei) Holser, both natives of Germany, and came to America 
about 1843. They stopped in Vermont for a short time, but soon settled in Sand 
Lake, where Mr. Holser did a big business in butchering and selling veal. Charles 



200 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

commenced business with his father and has been a very successful man financially. 
He owns several hundred acres of land, a large interest in the Albany and Sand 
Lake Plank Road, a saw mill in East Greenbush, where he does a big business in 
lumber, and is also a dealer in wood. He has a spile yard on the river, and carries 
on an extensive farm business and deals largely in thoroughbred horses. He is now 
the owner of Jumbo Wilkes. He owns the Maple Grove Hotel and has property in 
Troy. Mr. Holser has been married twice ; first, in 1875, to Mary Hinke, by whom 
he has one daughter, Annie. Mrs. Holser died in 1877, and he married, second, 
Betsey, daughter of Hiram and Margaret A. Finch, who owned the farm where Mr. 
Holser now resides. By this marriage Mr. Holser has three sons: Charles H., John 
and Albert. For the last four years Mr. Holser has been supervisor of his town. 
He is a member of Diamond Rock Lodge No. 565, I. O. O. F. of Lansingburgh. 

Kenyon, John H., of the firm of Dill & Kenyon, of Buskirk Bridge, was born at 
Tiashoke in 1866, .son of Franklin Hamilton. But his mother having died when he 
was an infant he was adopted by his grandfather, taking his name by order of court. 
His grandfather, Henry Kenyon, died in 1887. He was a farmer and John was 
reared on the farm in Washington county, where he lived until 1891, when he began 
mercantile life at the present location. The firm was previously Rich & Dill, which 
carried a large stock of general goods. He married, in 1888, Mary Ida Herrington, 
daughter of the late B. F. Herrington. Four children are the issue of this marriage: 
Mildred Wynona, Benjamin Herrington, Zillah Sylvia and Orlo. Mr. Kenyon is a 
Republican and a Mason of high degree. 

Gaffney, Peter, is a public spirited, enthusiastic citizen who has ever been mindful 
of the welfare of Hoosick Falls. During his term of office as village trustee, electric 
lights were put in, and he was also instrumental in causing the first knitting mill to 
be established here, the Hoosick Falls Hosiery Co. He has been foremost m any 
advancement of local affairs of the town, of which he has been a resident since in- 
fancy. He was born at New Haven, Conn, m 1855, where his father, Thomas Gaff- 
ney, was engaged in the grocery business until he came to Hoosick Falls in 1856. 
Here he was in the Wood Co.'s employ, and Peter began his associations there as an 
errand boy. At seventeen years of age he went into the machine shop and acquired 
the machinist trade, and was die-maker nearly twenty years. For three years he 
was partner of Frank Riley in the livery business. Mr. Gafiiney is a member of the 
R. C. church and was four years captain of the Fire Department ; also a member of 
the Order of Elks. Mr. Gaffney has never married; his aged mother lives withhim ; 
she was Mary Newcombe of Irish ancestry. 

Baucus, J. Bryan, was born in Clifton Park, Saratoga county, N. Y., March 30, 
1855. His parents moved to Schaghticoke when he was a child. He was educated 
in district schools, in Burr and Burton Seminary, Manchester, Vt., and Troy Busi- 
ness College. He has always been one of the town's successful farmers. He is 
secretary, treasurer and manager of Schaghticoke Union Creamery. He was pres- 
ident of the village two years, he has been a member of the Board of Education sev- 
eral years. In August, 1894, he was elected president of the Board of Education of 
the Union Free school of Schaghticoke. December 18, 1878, he married Sarah E. 
Stover, of Pittstown. They had seven children: Ilai M., Edith S., Piatt B., John J., 



FAMILY SKETCHES. . 201 

Kate S., Raymond and Harriet E. Edith S. died at the age of three years. Ray- 
' mond died in infancy. Harriet E. died at the age of eight months. Mrs. Baucus 
died March 7, 1894. Mr. Baucus's father, John A., was born in this town January 
5, 1808. He married Elizabeth B. Banker of this town. They had four children : 
J. Warren and Harriet E. died in infancy; J. Bryan, and Jessie, who married 
Franklin Harwood; she died September 13, 1884. Mr. Baucus's father died June 
23. 1884, and his wife April 19, 1890; he was trustee of the Presbyterian church of 
Schaghticoke for many years and at the time of his death. J. Bryan Baucus suc- 
ceeded to the position. 

Doig, John S., was born in Salem, Washington county, N. Y., November 7, 1843. 
He was educated in the district schools, and has always been a farmer. He enlisted 
twice, first September 4, 1861, in Co. A, 7th N. Y. Cavalry, and was honorably dis- 
charged March 31, 1863. August 6, 1863, he enlisted in Co. H, 133d N. Y. Vols., and 
participated in all the battles with his regiment until Chancellorsville ; in this battle 
he was shot in the head and right arm, which completely disabled him; he was hon- 
orably discharged with his regiment at the close of the war. This regiment after 
the battle of Gettysburg was transferred from the Army of the Potomac, to the 
Army of the Cumberland. They were with General Sherman in his glorious march 
to the sea. March 17, 1869, he married Elizabeth Hunt of Greenwich, Washington 
county, N. Y. They have one daughter, Anna M. Abeel, living in South Glens 
Falls, N. Y. She has two sons, Elmer and Raymond. Mr. Doig's father, John B., 
was born at the old home in Salem, June 7, 1804. He married Margaret Steel of the 
same place; they had five children that grew to maturity; Robert, Mary, John S., 
Andrew and James, who was a soldier in the 112th N. Y. Vols. ; he was killed at the 
battle of Cold Harbor in 1864. Mr. Doig died in 1880 and his wife in 1850. Mrs. 
Doig's father, Edward Hunt, was born in the town of Pittstown, March 12, 1812. 
He was educated in the district schools, and in his latter days was a farmer. He 
married Almira Pratt, of Cambridge, Washington county, N. Y. They had six chil- 
dren that grew to be men and women: Helen, Mary, Elizabeth, Delia, Adeline, and 
Edward. Mr. Hunt died January 1, 1893, and his wife July 15, 1888. Mr. Doig is a 
member of A. M. Cook Post of Greenwich, No. 326, G. A. R. The ancestry of the 
family is Scotch, English, and Irish. 

Weatherwax, John, was born in the town of Lansingburgh, N. Y., September 4, 
1841. His education was obtained in the public schools, and he was a farmer by 
occupation. May 33, 1861, he married Louisa M. Cooper of the then village of Lan- 
singburgh ; they have seven children: John A., William M., Freeman C. , Arthur T., 
Albert E., Charles E., and Louisa M. John A. married Agnes Kerkpatrick, and 
William M. married Harriet Carpenter of Chicago. The four oldest sons are in the 
service of the Chicago Street Railway, and William M. is superintendent of the Chi- 
cago Street Railway barns. Mr. Weatherwax's father, John A., was born in the 
town of Lansingburgh, January 24, 1794. He was educated in the schools of his 
day, and was also a farmer. March 6, 1817, he married Catherine Avery of his na- 
tive town; they had eight children: Eleanor, Andrew, Hannah M., Eliza, Elizabeth, 
Amy C, Caroline, and John. He died January 18, 1879. and his wife died February 
30, 1881. Mrs. Weatherwax's father, William Cooper, was born in Bristol, England, 
May 27, 1808, and came to the L'nited States when a young man in 1838. He mar- 



202 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. ' 

ried Jane James, formerly of Monmouthshire, England; they had four children: 
Louisa M., John T., William K., and William J., No. 2. Mr. Cooper died Novem-' 
ber 6, 1874, and his wife survives. He is a member of Phoenix Lodge of Lansing- 
burgh No. 58, F. & A. M., and of Phoenix Chapter, R. A. M. The ancestry of the 
family is German, English, and Welch. 

Abele, Luke G., was born in the city of Albany, December 17, 1858, and is a son 
of Luke and Anna Abele, natives of Germany. He settled in Albany county about 
1855 and engaged in the cooper business. She died in 1895. Luke G. was reared 
and educated in the city of Albany, and in 1883 he married Annie, daughter of Jacob 
Schaller of Albany, who now works part of Mr. Abele's farm. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Abele were born five children: Katie, John, Ann, Harry, and Thressa. .Mr. Abele 
is a cooper by trade and was engaged in the business in Albany for several years, 
with his father and brothers. In 1894 he bought a farm of 173 acres in East Green- 
bush, where he now carries on general farming, and will also engage in the cooper 
business on the farm very soon. 

Cushman, Robert T. was born in Pittstown, N. Y., July 24, 1812, son of Stephen 
and Emma (Thomas) Cushman, natives of Fishkill, N. Y, and Nantucket, Mass., 
repectively. The grandfather of our subject, William Cushman, was born in Brat- 
tlesborough, Vt., and emigrated to Dutchess county. N. Y.. when a young man, 
where he married Jemima Ladue, and afterwards removed to Schaghticoke, and 
finally to Pittstown, where they died. Stephen Cushman was a blacksmith by trade, 
and spent his life in Pittstown. Robert T. was reared as a blacksmith, and later 
learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for about twenty years. In 1855 he 
purchased the farm of 100 acres where he now resides. He was a Whig in politics 
in early life, but has been a Republican since the organization of that party. He 
was postmaster at Raymertown about two years and highway' commissioner three 
years, also overseer of the poor for two j^ears. January 21, 1852, he married Sarah 
E. Beard, who was born in Pittstown, October 9, 1828, daughter of Isaac and Amy 
(Thompson) Beard, by whom he had two children: John B.,born September 13, 1864; 
and Stephen I., born in 1868 and died in 1871. John B. was reared on a farm and 
educated in Lansingburgh academy. He has charge of the homestead. He is a 
Republican in politics, and is serving his fourth term as town clerk. November 11, 
1886, he married Mary E. Larrabee, daughter of George W. and Martha (Abbott) 
Larrabee of Pittstown, by whom he had three children: Sarah M., Ella F. and 
Laura. 

Kimmey, Jacob, was born in Albany county, N. Y., April 13, 1813. He is a son 
of Jacob and Jane (Winne), both born in Albany county, he a son of Jacob, a native 
of Holland, who came to Albany county and there died; his father was a miller b)'^ 
trade and also a farmer; he died in Albany county. Mr. Kimmey was reared on a 
farm and educated in the common schools. In 1844 he came to Schodack and bought 
a farm of 159 acres to which he has added eighteen acres. He also owns another 
farm in East Greenbush of 190 acres of land. Mr. Kimmey was also a miller. He 
was married in 1839 to Sarah Coonley by whom he has had four children : Ellen (de- 
ceased), Edward (deceased), James (deceased), and Anna J., wife of Charles Van De 
Carr of Schodack. They have one child, Sarah E. Mrs. Kimmey died December?, 



Family sketches. 20:j 

1893, aged seventy-six years. Jacob Kimmey has traveled in England, France, 
Italy, Holland, Germany, and has twice been to California. 

Twogood, Charles, was born in the town of Pittstown, Rensselaer county, N. Y., 
in February, 1823, a son of Joseph C. and Lucy (Eddj^) Twogood. His grandfather, 
John Twogood, was a son of one of two brothers who emigrated from England and 
settled in Connecticut some time before the Revolution. Soon after the Revolution 
he came to Pittstown where he married Mercy Cole, by whom he had two sons and 
five daughters. Joseph Cole Twogood was the eldest of the sons. He was brought 
up a farmer and followed it during his life. Both the grandfather and the father 
died in the same house, the old homestead now owned and occupied by the heirs 
of Charles Twogood. The father died in November, 1860; the mother, November 
13, 1873. They are buried in Oakwood Cemetery at Troy. They had eleven children, 
two of whom died in infancy. The names of those who reached adult age are: 
John E., Sherman, Eveline, Charles, Lucinda, Ann, Tisdale, Robert and Louisa. 
All are deceased except Eveline, Lucinda and Tisdale. His mother's grandfather. 
Devotion Eddy, was one of the earliest settlers in Pittstown, taking up 400 acres of 
land in the southwest part, including the lands now owned and occupied by the 
heirs of Charles H. Barry. The Eddy family for many years was a prominent fam- 
ily of Pittstown. General Eddy was an uncle. Eveline (Twogood) Brenenstuhl is 
still living in Pittstown; Lucinda (Twogood) Spafford resides at Chicago, 111., and 
Tisdale in Missouri. Charles Twogood was reared on the old homestead. His edu- 
cation was received in the common school of his neighborhood. His time at home 
was spent in working on his father's farm. In 1860 he went to Missouri, where he 
engaged in the business of store-keeping with much success. Owing to the climatei 
which he could not endure, he returned to his native home after an absence of two 
years. After his return he purchased the old farm and surrounding land to the 
amount of 1 acres and erected a flax mill on the bank of a creek running through 
the farm. On the 28th of September, 1869, he was married to Kate A. Brenenstuhl, 
daughter of Job E. and Lucy (Mills) Brenenstuhl of Oneida county. Job E. Brenen- 
stuhl was' born in Pittstown and is a son of Jacob Brenenstuhl, born in Pittstown, 
whose father was one of the earliest settlers of Pittstown. After the marriage of 
Charles Twogood to Kate A. Brenenstuhl two children were born: Alice and Edith 
L. Alice was educated at Lansingburgh Academy and was on June 11, 1891, mar- 
ried to Jesse T. Durham, a lawyer of Oneida, Madison county. Edith L., who was 
educated at Fort Edward Collegiate Institute, is still living at home. On the 23d of 
November, 1873, Charles Twogood died at the old homestead, leaving a wife and 
two children and many friends to mourn for him; he was very highly esteemed. In 
politics he was a Republican. During the year 1885 Kate A. Twogood was again 
married to Albert Lawton of Pittstown. They have since lived on the old Two- 
good homestead, working the farm and looking after its interests. 

Brooksby, James, was born in Scotland in 1812, and came to America with his 
parents, William and Jane Brooksby, in 1824. The family consisted of seven sons 
and three daughters and located in Albany. James served apprenticeship in floral 
culture with John Wilson, in the floral business in Albany, N. Y. He then engaged 
as manager of a nursery for Wilson, Thornburn & Teller of East Greenbush. In 
1857 he went in the nursery business on his own account, and in 1870 embarked in 



i04 LANDMARKS OP RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

the floral business, which he is still carrying on. He was married to Harriet Waller 
of England, who came to America about 1824. They have three children: Mary, 
Jane and James. James was a .soldier in the late war in the 10th Albany Regiment, 
and was in the battles of the Wilderness and Port Hud.son, and was a lieutenant 
under Colonel McCJuade of Albany. Mary is the wife of George Keller, and Jane is 
the widow of George M. Smith, who was killed by a railroad accident in 180G; he 
was a locomotive engineer, and left one son, Elmer G. Smith, who is manager of the 
floral business for Mr. Brooksby. Mr. Smith has been receiver of taxes and held 
other local offices. 

Bink, Zachariah, was born in Nassau, N. Y., July 3, 1827, and is a son of Henry 
and Catherine (Linck) Bink, he a native of Nassau and she of Columbia county. 
The grandparents, Peter and Catherine Bink, were farmers of Nassau, where they 
lived and died. Henry Bink came from Nassau to East Greenbush about 1831 and 
settled on the farm now owned by Zachariah. He died April 14, 1868, and his wife 
died December 28, 1883. Zachariah has always been a farmer and has 100 acres of 
land, which he himself farmed until 1890 when he retired, but still resides on the 
farm. October 22, 1849, he married Sarah M., daughter of Cornelius and Susan M. 
(Carner) Sliter, he a native of Sand Lake and she of East Greenbush. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Bink have been born two children: Henry, who married Mary Sweet and runs 
the home farm, and Harriet, who married G. W. Gaylord, a general mechanic. 

Brougham, De Witt C, was born in Albany county, N Y. , September 19, 1852. 
He was a .son of Aaron and Catherine Brougham, he born at Princetown, and she 
at Stuyvesant, N. Y. ; they came to Albany county at a very early date ; Mr. Brougham 
died in 1869, and his widow lived with Mr. Brougham. De Witt C. Brougham was 
reared and educated in Albany county. He followed farming and in 1883 came to 
Bath, N. Y., and has been superintendent of the McNorton property, which he has 
since purchased, in all thirty-eight acres in Bath and Greenbush. He owns four 
residences on Third street. In 1878 he married Clara Dane of Albany county, and 
have had four children: Minnie and De Witt, and Kittie and Hattie, deceased. 
Mr. Brougham is a self-made man. He has been very successful and is now one of 
the wealthiest men in Bath. He is very enterprising and is ever willing to assist 
others in getting a start in the world. 

Cone, Henry, was born in (ireene county, N. Y., March 31, 1834. He is a son of 
William and Elizabeth (Brando) Cone, both of whom were born in Greene county, he 
a son of William A. Cone, who came from England and settled in Greene county, 
where his father lived and died. The father of Henry Cone came to Rensselaer 
about 1850; he was a miller by trade and died in 1859, and his wife died in 1858. 
Henry Cone was educated in Albany county and also in Greene county. At the age 
of eighteen he learned the carpenter trade, and has since continued in that business. 
He has been a resident of Bath for about thirty-six years, and was married in 1854 to 
Frances Morris of Albany, by whom he has had seven children, of whom two are 
now living: Abram, engineer at the Weed & Parson's printing office at Albany; 
George B., engineer on the Boston «& Albany Railroad, lives in Bath. Mrs. Cone 
died in 1889, and Mr. Cone married Lydia Stoul, his present wife. Mr. Cone has 
been treasurer of the village of Bath for ten years in succession, and is the present 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 205 

incumbent, collector cf North Greenbush for three years, chairman of the Town Cen- 
tral Committee for ten years, and was elected supervisor of the town in 1891 ; he 
held that position for four years. He is a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 41, L O. 
O. F., of Albany, and of Riverside Lodge No. 47, K. of P. in Bath, also of Rensse- 
laer Lodge, A. O. \J. W. , of Greenbush. 

Cary, Charles, was born in Ireland in 1838, and is a son of Robert and Jane (Pels- 
worth) Cary. His father died in Ireland when Mr. Cary was a small boy; he was a 
captain in the British army. Mrs. Cary came to America and died in the city of 
Washington. Charles Cary came to New York city in 1847 and commenced as farm 
laborer and has been successful as a farmer, and now has a good farm of 150 acres 
of land in East Greenbush, where he carries on general farming and dairying. He 
was assessor for six years- and refused a renomination. January 21, 1857, Mr. Cary 
married Catherine Kennedy, by whom have been born the following children: 
Joseph, who was superintendent of Hilton Bridge, was killed, February 24, 1896, at 
the age of thirty five; Francis T., a machinist of Troy; Mary E., who died in 1886 at 
the age of twenty-nine years; May, Emma G., Charles K., Katie and Dellie, who 
died in 1888. 

Dandaraw, Roswell A., was born in Greenbush, December 7, 1859. He is a son 
of Anthony M. and Mary J. (Wemple) Dandaraw, he a native of St. John's, Canada, 
and she was born in Albany, November 12, 1831. The grandfather of Roswell A. 
Dandaraw was Mitchell Dandaraw, born at Bay St. Paul, Canada, and came to 
Albany in 1835 and in 1846 to Greenbush; he was a farmer by occupation and kept a 
hotel in Greenbush, on Boston Island; he died in 1873 at the age of eighty-four, and 
his wife died at the same place at the age of eighty-three. The great-grandfather 
of Mr. Dandaraw was Mitchell Dandaraw who lived and died at Bay St. Paul, Can- 
ada. The father of Mr. Dandaraw was born at St. John, Canada, June 18, 1821 ;,he 
was a carpenter by trade, and was with the Hudson River Railroad for thirty-five 
years; he was trustee of the village of Greenbush in 1869, and also village asssessor; 
Mn Dandaraw was the oldest living member of F. & M. Lodge No. 157, I. O. O F. ; 
he died July 8, 1896. Roswell A. Dandaraw was educated in Bath schools and Ful- 
som's Business College of Albany, and was graduated in 1878. He kept a boot and 
shoe store in Greenbush for three years, and then was firing on the Hudson River 
Railroad for three years; was with the B & A. Railroad freight office from 1884 to 
1891, and was then travelling for the Albany Venetian Blind Company from Phila- 
delphia to Atlanta, Ga; he was with them two years and in the mean time attended 
a medical college at Washington, D. C, for a short time and was afterwards gradu- 
ated from the U. S. College of Embalming. October 10, 1892, he engaged in the 
undertaking business and has been very successful. He is a member of F. & M. 
Lodge No. 157 I. O. O. F., Greenbush Lodge No. 337 F. & A. M., Greenbush Chapter 
No. 274 R. A. M., and of K O. T. M. East Albany Tent No. 386. November 17, 
1885, he was married to Maggie B. Purves, daughter of Thomas Purves, division 
master mechanic for the B. & A. Railroad. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Dan- 
daraw, was James Wemple, who was born Pittsfield, Mass., and spent most of his 
days in Albany as machinist. His wife was Lydia Noble, born in Pittsfield, Mass., 
who died in Greenbush at the age of eighty-four, and Mr. Wemple died in Albany at 
the age of fifty-four. 



206 LANDMARKS OP RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Dings, James L., born in East Greenbush, October 24, 1859, is the son of William 
H. and Catharine (Lansing) Dings, she a daughter of Martinus Lansing who was 
born in 1800 in Schodack and son of one of the early settlers of the town ; Mr. Lan- 
sing was a member of assembly in 1842 ; he was a farmer and a man well known 
throughout the county. The father of William H. was Adam Dings who spent most 
of his life in Rensselaer county and died in East Greenbush. The father of James 
L. was a farmer until 1870 when he came to Bath and was in the grocery business 
until 1887; he was a Democrat in politics and held minor town ofifices. James L. 
Dmgs was reared in East Greenbush until 1870 when he came to Bath. He was with 
his father until the spring of 1887; in 1888 he started a bakery and has a very suc- 
cessful business, employing nine hands. He is located on the corner of Wash- 
ington street and Pollard avenue, and besides the residence where he lives he owns 
three houses and lots in Bath-on-the-Hudson. Mr. Dings was also engaged in 
the manufacture of forges and in the manufacture of harness. He was married in 
1888 to Emma L. Welling, by whom he has one son, Justus H. Mr. Dings is a Dem- 
ocrat and has been town clerk three terms and clerk of the village three terms. The 
wife of James L. Dings, Emma L. Welling, was educated in Albany graded schools 
and is a natural elocutionist and studied elocution under Samuel Wells of Albany; 
she traveled throughout New York State and was one year in Ann Arbor, Mich. ; 
her health failing she retired from the profession. Mr. Dings was educated in Bath- 
on-the-Hudson and graduated from Albany Business College in 1875. 

De Freest, Gilbert, was born in North Greenbush, April 28, 1826, and is a son of 
David and Marian (Hilton) De Freest, he a native of Greenbush and she of North 
Greenbush. The parents of David were David and Susanna De Freest, farmers of 
North Greenbush. The father of David, Jacob De Freest, was a Revolutionary sol- 
dier. The father of Gilbert spent most of his life in the hotel business, and his last 
days were spent on the farm now owned by Gilbert, where he and his wife died. 
Gilbert was reared in Blooming Grove and at the age of fifteen was reared on a 
farm; he has been a successful man, and has a farm of 121 acres of land and does 
general farming. 

Fenton, Charles, was born in Greenbush, N. Y., March 2, 1818. He was a son of 
Thomas and Mary (Chandler) Fenton. She was born in New Bedford, Mass., and 
ht was a native of Rhode Island, a cousin of Reuben E. Fenton, formerly governor 
of the btate. His grandfather settled in Washmgton county and was a soldier in the 
Revolutionary war, he died in Cambridge, N. Y. The father of Mr. Fenton came to 
Greenbush previous to 1800, and here lived and died about 1860. The maternal 
grandfather of Mr. Fenton was Jeremiah Chandler, an old captain of a whale ship; 
he came to Greenbush from New Bedford at a very early day. where he lived and 
died. Mr. Fenton was reared and educated in Greenbush and was on a farm until 
about twenty-one years of age. He then engaged his services to the company 
who took the contract of building the B. & A. Railroad, and has spent most of 
his life with that company. He was superintendent of the trains with Alfred 
Snyder across the Hudson River Bridge, for about nine years. He spent a few 
years in the country at farming, then returned and took service with the H. R. 
Railroad Co., and had charge of a signal until 1895. Mr. Fenton is now one 
of the oldest railroad men in New York State; he has been trustee of the village, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 207 

and is a member of Greenbush Lodge No. 337, F. & A. M., and was formerly a 
charter member of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Lodge I. O. O. F. In 1845 he mar- 
ried Lorain Knight, daughter of Ebenezer Knight, who died in Rutland, Vt. His 
wife was Mary Barton, daughter of Elkanah Barton of Revolutionary fame. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Fenton were born four children: Charles S., an engineer for the Hud- 
son River Bridge Co. ; Jessie R., who is employed in Cluetts' music store of Troy; 
Mary E. (deceased); and Frank K. Mr. and Mrs. Fenton celebrated their golden 
wedding in 1895. 

Guilfoil, James, was born in Montreal, Canada, November 18, 1865. He is a son of 
William and Ann (Doran) Guilfoil, both born in Ireland and came to Canada and 
then to Greenbush where they both reside. Mr. Guilfoil was educated in public 
schools and engaged as clerk for S. P. & G. T. Diamond, and was with them for 
about four years, when they dissolved and Mr. Guilfoil continued with S. P. until 
1893, when he purchased the store and has since continued in business. At one time 
he was clerk of the school board. 

Keller, George, was born in the town of Brunswick, August 16, 1824, and is a son 
of John and Olive (Bolsom) Keller, he a native of Dutchess county and she of Bruns- 
wick. The grandfather, John Keller, was a farmer of Dutchess county. John 
Keller, the father, was a farmer of Brunswick, whence he went to Saratoga county 
and from there to Washington county, and spent his last days in Troy. George was 
on the farm until fifteen years of age, when he went on the canal, and in 1848 went 
on the railroad as fireman and was promoted to engineer, and after forty years of 
service he retired in 1892. In 1854 he married Mary, daughter of James Brooksbey. 
Mr. Keller has one son, George A., who is accountant for the Delaware and Hudson 
Canal Company. He married Elouisa Hitchcock of Albany, and has two sons: 
George W. , and Frank H. He is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive En- 
gineers. 

Hamm, Mrs. Helen (Phillips), is a daughter of Andrew and Julia (Sliter) Phillips, 
he a native of Greenbush, born in 1809; and she of Sand Lake, born in 1815. The 
grandparents were James and Dorathea (Weatherwax) Phillips, he an English Yan- 
kee and she a Hollander. The parents of Dorathea Weatherwax settled on a farm 
of 300 acres in the Weatherwax neighborhood. Andrew Phillips was put on the 
farm at the age of fourteen and given full charge at sixteen years of age. He was 
a successful man from the beginning, cleared the farm, paid for it, and made many 
other improvements. He died in 1880, and Mrs. Phillips died in 1883. In 1869 Helen 
married Thaddeus A., son ol Henry Hamm, of North Greenbush. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Hamm two sons have been born; Warden H., born March 6, 1870, and drowned in 
the Hudson River in 1877, and Merrill L., born March 27, 1875. He had been blind 
from birth and was educated at the Blind Institute, Batavia. where he took a seven 
years' course; he is a professional piano player and tuner. Mr. and Mrs. Hamm 
were engaged in farming for three years in Poestenkill, and in 1880 took charge of 
the homestead farm of eighty-eight acres, where they make a specialty of small 
fruits, and have five acres of berries. 

Lansing, Jacob T. , was born in Amsterdam', December 25, 1837, and is a son of 
Peter and Sophia (Francisco) Lansing, he a native of Albany county and she of Am- 



'208 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

sterdam. Mr. Lansing was a mlilwright and built all the largest mills between 
Albany and Buffalo, and retired at the age of sixty years; he died in 1888 and his 
wife died in 1881. The grandparents, Tunis and Maria (Vandenburg) Lansing, were 
farmers of Watervliet, Albany county. In 1850 Mr. Lansing married Mary J., 
daughter of Jacob T. and Jane (Mark) Lansing. The parents of Jane Mark were 
Isaac and Margaret (Haswell) Mark. To Mr. and Mrs. Lansing were born three 
children: Charles E., traveling salesman ; George H., inspector of public buildings; 
and Jennie L. Mr. Lansing commenced his business career in the mercantile trade 
in New York city at the age of seventeen, and after about six years removed his 
business to Albany and engaged in the dry goods business, from which he retired in 
1874, and engaged in the cloth department of John L. Myers, remaining with him seven 
years. Mr. Lansing has a fruit farm of about five acres and cultivates all kinds of 
fruit. 

Miller, Stephen, was born in East Greenbush, March 19, 1821, and is a son of John 
S. and Catherine (Van Buren) Miller. Mr. Miller was a practicing physician in East 
Greenbush for many years, where he died April 26, 1854; his wife died many years 
before. Stephen was educated in East Greenbush Academy, and in 1848 married 
Annie M., daughter of Michael O'Keefe, and have had six children, all of whom 
dijed in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Miller reared one adopted son, William S. Miller, 
who married Mary A., daughter of Ruben Van Buren, a successful farmer of East 
Greenbush, and have four children: Elida, Frank L. R., Stephen D. W., and Floyd 
V. B. William S. has always been a farmer and now manages I\Ir. Miller's farm. 
Mr. Miller has 150 acres of land and makes a specialty of dairying. He has been 
assessor and road commissioner, and was for a number of years overseer of the poor. 
His son William is a member of the National Farmers' Alliance. 

Newkirk, Lorenzo, was born in Otsego county, September 20, 1841, and is a son of 
John and Edith (Steel) Newkirk, he a native of Otsego county and she of Albany 
, county. He was a farmer by occupation, and died in November, 1893, and his wife 
died in September, 1894. The grandparents of Lorenzo were David and New- 
kirk, both natives of Otsego county, where they lived and died. Lorenzo came from 
Otsego county to Rensselaer county when sixteen years of age and commenced work 
as a farm hand. He then rented a farm for seven years, and in 1873 bought fifty- 
five acres where he now resides, and has done dairying in connection with fruit 
growing, of which he makes a specialty. He was elected justice of the peace in 1896. 
In 1866 he married Wealthy, daughter of George and Cornelia (Moore) Brown of 
Otsego county. To Mr. and Mrs. Newkirk have been born seven children : Orlando, 
Frank, Edwin, Erwin, Dean, Grace and Nellie. 

O'Keefe, John, was born in Columbia county in 1820, and is a son of Michael and 
Sarah (Van Alstine) O'Keefe. Mr. O'Keefe was a native of Ireland and came to 
America in 1811 and settled in Kinderhook, whence he came to Greenbush m 1840, 
where he died March 23, 1881, and his wife died in 1857; he had three children: 
Margaret, John and Anna Maria; the latter is the wife of Stephen Miller. The 
maternal grandfather, Abram Van Alstine, was a farmer of Columbia county. John 
O'Keefe was always a farmer, at which he has been very successful. He has a fine 
farm of 164 acres of land. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 209 

Phillips, David, was born in Greenbush, October 29 1817, and is a son of David 
and Martha (Morehouse) Phillips, both natives of Dutchess county. Mr. Phillips was 
reared on the farm m what is now North Greenbush, and in 1838 married Bathsheba, 
daughter of Jonas S. and Mary (Wheeler) Manville, he a native of Charleston, Sara- 
toga county, and she of Troy. Mrs. Phillips was born in Troy. Mr. Manville was 
a farmer of Greenbush, and his father, Adrian Manville, was a farmer of Saratoga 
county. To Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have been born two children: Mary L., born in 
North Greenbush, wife of Clark A. Phillips, of East Greenbush, and have five chil- 
dren: Jessie L., David J., Dellie L., Eda M., and Mamie E. ; and Emma E., born in 
North Greenbush, wife of A. D. Traver, of East Greenbush, and has two daugh- 
ters: Minnie E., wife of Frank Pockman of Schodack, and Jennie A., wife of C. W. 
Van Buren of Ulica, N. Y. Mr. Phillips located on the farm he now owns in 1853, 
and carried on general farming and dairying. He has been highway commissioner for 
three years, assessor for three years, and supervisor of East Greenbush for four years. 
Mr. and Mrs. Phillips are both members of the M. E. church, of which he is the 
treasurer and one of the trustees. 

Pockman, Spencer B., was born in East Greenbush, March 21, 1851, and is a son 
of John N. and Almira (Snook) Pockman, he a native of Kinderhook and she of Sand 
Lake. The grandfather, Jacob Pockman, was a farmer of Kinderhook, whence he 
removed to Schodack where he died. John N. Pockman was born in Kinderhook, 
and settled in East Greenbush in about 1840; he returned to the village in 1872, 
where he died June 10, 1896, at the age of seventy-three. Mrs. Pockman still sur- 
vives, aged seventy three. Mr. Pockman had two farms, one of fifty-six acres and 
the other of ninety-six acres. Spencer B.. was reared on the farm and always fol- 
lowed farming on the homestead farm, taking charge of the home farm when his 
father retired in 1872. He received his education in the schools of Nassau, Albany and 
Sand Lake. In 1872 he married Roselthia, daughter of Eslick and Sarah (De Freest) 
Kimball, by whom one daughter has been born. Flora G., born October 7, 1873. Mr. 
Pockman has been collector and excise commissioner, and is a member of the Farmers 
Alliance. 

Snook, Jacob H., was born in Sand Lake, July 13, 1846, and is a son of William 
and Harriet (Pitcher) Snook, he a native of Sand Lake and she of Poestenkill. The 
grandfather, Cornelius Snook, was also born in Sand Lake. His father, Tunis 
Snook, was born in Holland and was brought to Sand Lake by his parents. He was 
a minister and preached under trees in Sand Lake. They took up land which was 
kept in the family until 1877, when the father of Jacob H. sold the homestead and 
removed to East Greenbush and purchased the farm now owned by Jacob H. He 
died in 1894. Tunis Snook was for seven years in the Revolutionary war. Jacob H. 
was educated at Fort Edward Academy and in 1876 married Matilda L. daughter of 
Stephen and Caroline Becker of Schodack. To Mr. and Mrs. Snook has been born 
one daughter, Jennie H. B., wife of Stephen L Miller, of Castleton. Mr. Snook has 
100 acres of land and does general farming, making a specialty of dairying. He has 
held the office of collector and inspector. 

Smith, Charlotte A., widow of Albert Smith, who was a successful farmer and busi- 
ness man, and one of the prominent men of East Greenbush, is a daughter of Stephen 



210 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

and Catherine (Snook) Kimball, he a native of Rhode Island and she of Sand Lake. 
He commenced his business career in Saratoga county, where he married, first, Char- 
lotte Anthony, and had one son, William H., who died at the age twenty-nine. He 
came to Rensselaer county about 1840, and married his second wife, Catherine Snook, 
who died December 15, 1865, and for his third wife Mr. Kimball married Kate E, 
Bullock. When Mr. Kimball came to Rensselaer county he engaged in farming in 
East Greenbush, and was for over twenty years secretary, treasurer and general 
manager of the Rensselaer & Columbia County Turnpike Co. He spent his last 
twenty years with Mrs. Charlotte A. Smith, taking charge of her farm after the 
death of Mr. Smith. Mr. Kimball died in 1887. Mrs. Smith and a sister, Sarah 
A. Kimball, are the only survivors of the family. Mr. Kimball was for several years 
deputy sheriff, and was a stirring business man and very popular in the county. 
Albert H. Smith was born in 1837 and died in 1866. He was a son of Nehemiah and 
Patience (Harris) Smith, the former born in Rhode Island in 1794. The grandpa- 
rents of Albert Smith were Jesse and Rachel (Farnum) Smith, of Providence, where 
they lived and died. Nehemiah Smith came to East Greenbush and engaged in 
farming and speculating, in which he was very successful. He died in Jul)', 1864, 
and his wife died in August, 1864. He owned about 400 acres of land in Greenbush 
and about 400 acres in Albany count}', and nearly all of the stock of the Schenectady 
Turnpike Road. After the death of her father, Stephen Kimball, Mrs. Charlotte A. 
Smith was secretary and treasurer of the Turnpike Road, and now owns a farm of 
245 acres, which she rents. 

Aird, Andrew, was born in Scotland, March 25, 1834. He came to this country in 

1854, with his father and mother. He went into the sewing machine repair business 
in 1860, and continued in the same business until 1868. He was instrumental in the 
development of the sewing machine, making it useful in the collar and shirt business, 
assisting in bringing it up to its present state of perfection. He went into the jewelry 
business in 1875; since that time he has built up one of the largest trades in that 
line in the city. He is a prominent member of the Presbyterian church, of which 
he has been an elder for twenty-three years. In 1858 he married Agnes F'erguson, 
who came from Scotland. 

Harder, George W., M. D., was born in Stockport, Columbia county, N. Y., in 

1855. His ancestors originally came from Holland. He is the son of Robert Har- 
der, a wagon manufacturer of Stockport. His mother, Catherine (Shufelt) Harder, 
was born in Ghent, N. Y. George W. received his medical education at the New 
York Homoeopathic Medical College, from which he graduated April 20, 1890, and 
opened practice in Stockport and came to Troy, N. Y. , in the fall of 1892. He be- 
longs to the HomcEopathic Medical Association of the State of New York, and is 
examining physician for the Sons of St. George. April 20, 1892, he married Miss 
Mary A. Lee of Tro^^, by whom he has had one son and two daughters: Rita, de- 
ceased; Catherine Gertrude, and George Lee, deceased. 

Bolton, Edward, was born in County Docnegal, Ireland, April 26, 1880. His 
father, James Bolton, came to this country in 1832 and settled in Troy and was a 
prominent contractor of that time; he died in 1890 at the age of eighty-three. His 
mother was Mary (Slevin) Bolton, and died in 1846. Edward was educated at 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 211 

private schools and entered Oak Grove Academy ; after graduating from there he 
learned the trade of brickmason at which he worked until 1858, when he went into 
the coal business and he remained in the same business until he retired in the spring 
of 1895. He was assessor for several years and has been treasurer of St., Peter's 
church for thirty-seven years. He was an active member of the old militia of Troy 
for twelve years. In 1852 he married Bridget E. Curley of Troy; she died. He has 
two sons and two daughters livmg and lost fourteen children. In June, 1896, he 
was appointed by the Board of Health as registrar of vital statistics. 

Demers, William H., was born in Troy, N. Y., March 25, 1864. His father is 
David H. Demers, a native of Troy and a printer by trade. His ancestors date 
back to General Schuyler of the Revolutionary family. His mother, Juliette (Broad) 
Demers, whose parents were of English descent, was born in New Lebanon, N. Y. 
William H. received his education in the public schools of Troy, entered the office 
of C. Edward Loth of that city and remained about seven years, and then entered 
the office of Fuller & Wheeler, architects of Alban}', during which time he was 
married to Alice E. Whitehead of Brooklyn, N. Y., November 6, 1889; the following 
year he opened an office in Troy. He has designed many of the finest residences 
and principal buildings of Troy and vicinity. He is a member of Phoenix Lodge, 
F. & A. M., and Phoenix Chapter, R. A. M. 

Fielding, Harry P., was born December 25, 1863, in West Troy, N. Y. He is the 
son of John B. Fielding, who came from Leeds, England, in 1852 and settled in 
West Troy; for many years he was a harnessmaker of Troy, but has retired from 
business. His mother is Mary (Payne) Fielding, who came from Leeds, England. 
Harry P. received a common school education, and the balance of his education at 
the business college and private schools. He is a well known architect of Troy and 
has drawn the plans for many of the public buildings of that city. He is the archi- 
tect of the new Masonic^ temple of Cohoes. He is a member of Mt. Zion F. & A. M. 
and B. P. O. of E. 

Graser, Charles F., was born in 1841 in Germany where he learned the trade of a 
confectioner. He was left an orphan at an early age and came to this country in 
1859 and went to work in a confectionery in Brooklyn, N. Y., where he remained for 
one year; he removed to Albany in 1860 and worked in Bnare's celebrated cater- 
ing and confectionery establishment of that city, and six years later came to Troy 
and opened a fancy bakery and confectionery at 63 Congress street, where he still 
is in business and is known throughout Troy and vicinity as a first class caterer and 
confectioner. He married Margaret Toolan of Albany, by whom he has two sons 
and two daughters; both of the sons are assisting in their father's business. 

Greene, Chauncey O., was born in the village of Weedsport, town of Brutus, 
Cayuga county, N. Y., April 2, 1825. His father was a descendant on the paternal 
side of the Greenes who settled in Rhode Island about 1635, and his father's mother 
was a descendant from the brother of Hendrick Hudson who settled in New Eng- 
land. His ancestors on the maternal side (the Folgers of Massachusetts) were rela- 
tives of Benjamin Franklin. His father was William Greene who was born in Wor- 
cester county, Mass., in 1787, his parents having moved there from Rhode Island, 
and followed his trade, that of stone mason. He assisted in building the stone work 



2l2 LANDMARlCS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

of Auburn prison at Auburn, N. Y., and subsequently moved to Peru, Clinton 
county, N. Y. In 1826 he moved to Danby, Vt. ; in 1837 he lived in North Bridge- 
water, now Brockton, Mass., where he died in 1862. The mother of Chauncey O. 
(Phoebe (Barker) Greene) was a member of the Society of Friends (or Quakers) until 
her marriage; she was born in 1789 and died in 1866 at North Bridgewater (now city 
of Brockton, Mass.). Chauncey O. received his education in the free schools of New 
York and Vermont. In 1839 he went to reside with his uncle, Chauncey Greene, in 
East Dorset, Bennington county, Vt. His uncle Chauncey conducted stove manu- 
facturing and general machine work. Chauncey C, having considerable knowledge 
of the stove business, came to Troy in 1844; he secured with N. Starbuck & Son em- 
ployment at stove moulding. After six months he went to work for Choller & Jones 
of West Troy, N. Y. He returned to Vermont and went to school during the winter 
of 1844 and returned to Troy the following year and again commenced work at stove 
moulding. His health having partially failed he was compelled to give up moulding, 
and was given the position of time keeper and assistant superintendent of the works 
when only twenty-one years of age. When only twenty-two years of age he was 
made superintendent in full charge of the moulding department — two hundred men. 
In 1849 he went to Brockville, Ontario, but returned to Troy in 1850 and entered the 
employ of Wager, Pratt & Co. as superintendent of their stove foundry on Sixth 
street in Troy. In 1857 Chauncey O. leased the property of Smith & Sheldon (the 
succes.sors of Wager, Richmond & Smith) and manufactured the work by contract. 
In 1858 he acquired a quarter interest in the concern, which went under the firm 
name of Smith, Sheldon & Co. In 1861 Sheldon and Greene purchased the interest of 
their senior partner, Henry Smith, and the firm name became Sheldon & Greene, 
continuing as such until dissolved in 1874, when he retired. During several years 
thereafter he conducted in Troy a wholesale and retail business as stove manufac- 
turer. His old firm (Sheldon & Greene) was burned out of business in the great fire 
of 1862, but in four months the business was running again. After the Chicago fire, 
which occurred in 1871, the firm was forced to give up business. He traveled on the 
road for seven successive years, then returned to Troy and engaged in the life and 
accident insurance business, in which he is engaged at present. He was alderman 
of the Third ward for three terms and was nominated and elected without opposition. 
He was president of the Young Men's Association, and was the last president of the 
old Board of Trade. He has been a trustee of the Troy Academy for twenty-five 
years, and served many years as trustee and treasurer of the First Unitarian Society 
of Troy. He was married November 6, 1847, to Elizabeth Eggleston of Danby, Vt. 
He has one son, James Wager Greene, who is superintendent of the Polar Cold 
Storage System of Newark, N. J., and one daughter, Mrs. A. Gould Millard of Troy. 

Haynes, William, was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1851. He is the son of Winslow 
Haynes and Catherine (Pillion) Haynes. His father died in 1854, and his mother died 
in 1869. ■ William was educated in the public schools and the Christian Brothers' 
Academy of Troy and after clerking in a store a short time learned the carpenter's 
and joiner's trade and worked at that trade ten years, when with John S. Bulmer he 
formed the firm of Bulmer & Haynes, contractors and builders; since that time they 
have erected many of the public buildings of Troy as well as a large number of 
the beautiful residences in Troy and vicinity. He was a member of the School Board 



FAMILY SKETCHES, 213 

for six years and for nine years was trustee of St. Mary's Cemetery Association. 
He has been president of the Boss Carpenter's Association for three years, and a 
member of the E. Dolan Association twenty years. He has one daughter, Mary 
Philamena. 

Hayes, Edward J. , was born in New York city in 1853. He received his education in 
Troy and entered the employ of the' Burden Iron Works, and later with Hannibal 
Green, spring manufacturer, where he learned his trade. He left Troy in 1872 and 
worked in New Haven, Conn., Cleveland and Coshocton, Ohio, and Chicago, 111.; 
he returned to Troy in 1888 and formed a partnership with P. W. Delee, in the man- 
ufacture of carriage springs. In 1892 he bought out Mr. Delee and since that date 
has been sole proprietor of the concern. He was married to Lottie McCain of 
Coshocton, Ohio, m 1879; they have four children: Lilian, Edward, Maggie, Ethel 

Huntington, John H., was born in Rome, N. Y., January 1, 1830. His ancestors 
were all from the New England States. His father was born in Shaftsburj', Vt., and 
was a farmer. He moved to Oneida county in 1826 and later came to Troy where he 
died in 1872. His mother, Sophronia (Henry) Huntington, was born in Bennington, 
Vt. , and died in Rome, N. Y. , November, 1840. John H. received his education in 
private and select schools and afterwards helped his father on the farm. He came 
to Troy in 1848 and engaged with M. L. Huntington, his uncle, in the fruit and pro- 
duce business ; in 1860 he went into the belting business. He was m the city cham- 
berlain's office until 1864 when he took a position as bookkeeper in the First National 
Bank where he remained for four years; when he took up the fire insurance busi- 
ness, and in 1881 took a position with the Troy Gas Co., where he is occupied at 
present. He has represented the Fifth Ward in the Board of Aldermen. He is a 
member of the I. O. O. F. His first wife was Harriet T. Hubbard of Troy, who 
died in 1873. He was married in June, 1876, to Elizabeth H. Fosdick, who died in 
November, 1887. He has one son (John H.) and a daughter. 

Hardy, William D.. was born in King.ston, Ontario, Canada, February 22, 1852. 
His father, Joseph Hardy, was born in the North of Ireland and came to Canada 
when a young man; he was a steamboat engineer on the St. Lawrence river and 
Lake Ontario, and died in 1885. His mother, Catherine (Downing) Hardy, was born 
in Scotland, and died in 1855. Mr. Hardy received his education in the public schools 
of Kingston. He came to Troy in 1871 and entered the employ of A. F. Clark in 
the clothing and merchant tailoring business, where he remained until Mr. Clark 
went out of business in 1872. He then took a position with the firm of John S. Tobey 
& Co., jobbers in clothing, as salesman on the road and in the store, and was with 
that concern until the spring of 1877 when he went into the clothing business at 267 
River street, second floor. In 1878 he formed a copartnership with John L. Manny 
under the firm name of Manny & Hardy, in the merchant tailoring business, now 
located at 36 Third street. On June 9, 1875, he married Miss Ruth A. Horton, 
daughter of Leonard M. Horton, formerly justice of the peace, and a descendant of 
the Hortons, early settlers of Sand Lake. He has three daughters and one son. 

Boocock, John, was born in England in 1851. He is the son of Joseph and Ann 
(Jackson) Boocock, of Yorkshire, England. His father died in 1891, and his mother 
is still living. He came to the United States in 1881 and settled in Troy; he then 



214 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

worked at his trade of carpenter and builder with Charles Duncan, the contractor 
about three months, then entered the employ of Thorn & Spencer, and was with that 
firm until they dissolved partnership in 1886, and he continued as foreman for Mr. 
Thorn until his death, which occurred in 1889, and m 1895 he started in business 
for himself. He is an exempt fireman of the Beeman Park Hose Co. No. 9. He 
married Catherine Winspear in England in 1885. They have one son and a daugh- 
ter. 

Bulmer, John S., was born in the county of Durham, England, in 1848. He came 
to this country with his parents and settled in New York city and one year later 
came to Troy. He received his education in the public schools and learned the car- 
penter's trade, at which he worked sixteen years. He then with William Haynes 
formed the firm of Bulmer & Haynes, contractors and builders, on the corner of 
Hill and Jefferson streets. Some of the finest buildings of Troy and vicinity have 
been erected by them, among them is the Young Women's Association building, the 
Russell Sage Memorial building, the Rowe Memorial building, and St. Joseph's 
Home. Mr. Bulmer was married to Ellen Costello of Troy, who died in 1882. He 
has two sons, William and John, jr. 

Allen, Rev. Arthur H., was born in New York city, October 20, 1851. He is the 
son of Richard L. and Sally O. Allen, both born in Massachusetts. His father was 
a merchant in New York city many years, and died in 1869: his mother died in 1892. 
Mr. Allen prepared for college on Staten Island, entered Yale in 1869, and was grad- 
uated in 1873; he was instructor for one year at the University of California at Oakland; 
he then entered Princeton Theological Seminary and graduated in 1877. He accepted 
a call to Islip, L. I., in 1878, and was ordained April 15, 1879, his pastorate continuing 
there until January, 1885. He was installed in the Woodside Presbyterian church 
of Troy, February 12, 1885. He has been clerk of the Presbytery of Troy for ten 
years, and is corresponding secretary of the Rensselaer County Bible Society. He 
is a member of the Committee of Public Safety. He married, January 16, 1889, 
Agnes G. Crosby, daughter of Rev. Howard Crosby, D.D., of New York, who died 
March 18, 1891; they have one daughter, Agnes G. C. Allen. 

Abrams, Capt. Thomas D., was born in Rochester, Ulster county, N. Y. His 
father, Harvey Abrams, was born in Orange county, and was a farmer; he died in 
1S65. His mother, Elizabeth (De Witt) Abrams, was a relative of De Witt Clinton; 
she died in 1866. Thomas D. was educated in the district school; he went to school 
three months in the year and worked on the farm the balance of the time; he left 
home when nineteen and for a time clerked in a store in Eddyville, N. Y., and later 
went as a clerk in the transportation office of the D. & H. Canal Co. in New York. 
He then went as purser on the Thomas Cornell, running from New York to Rondout, 
afterwards was captain of the Thomas Powell, and five year.s later came to Troy and 
was one of the organizers of the Citizens' Line of steamboats. He is a director in 
the Mutual Bank. In 1880 he was married to Mrs. Marcia A. Harford of New York 
city. 

Harvey, David H., son of William and Susan (Shannon) Harvey, was born in 
Lansingburgh, N. Y., in 1856. His father died in 1885 After leaving school Mr. 
Harvey entered the employ of his uncle, Robert Harvey, in the wholesale salt fish 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 215 

business, and after the death of his uncle in 1884 he formed a copartnership with 
C. G. Eddy under the firm name of Harvey & Eddy. He is a charter member of 
the Y. M. C. A., and belongs to King Solomon Lodge, F. & A. M., and all the 
Masonic bodies of Troy. In 1882 he was married to Miss Emeline Elder of that city. 

Connor, William, was born in Troy, October 1, 1856. He is a son of John and 
Mary Connor. William was educated in the common schools, succeeded to the 
business of manufacturing printer's ink, paints and colors in 1877, since which date 
the growth of the enterprise has been steady and important; the present spacious 
works, 677-681 River street, first occupied January 1, 1889, comprise a large three- 
story building containing all the latest machinery for the manufacture of paint, and 
employs about fifty people in the extensive factory. Mr. Connor is a practical 
manufacturer with an experience in the paint trade for many years, and has estab- 
lished branch offices at 9 Peck Slip, New York, 243 Lake street, Chicago, 409-41 1 North 
Twelfth street, St. Louis, and Toronto, Ont. Mr. Connor is held in the highest 
estimation for his progressive and liberal business methods, as well as his sterling 
personal worth. 

Helliwell, Thomas B., was born in Newburgh, N.Y., July 25, 1849. His father, 
Edward Helliwell, was born in England and came to the United States when a 
young man and settled in New York city, where he worked at his trade, that of a 
tanner and currier, and after came to Troy and worked for Elias Plum. Previous 
to the late war he started in business in Albany, and at the outbreak of the war he 
bought a tannery in Brunswick. He supplied the government with leather almost 
to the close of the war. He started in the currier's business in Troy, which he con- 
tinued until his death, which occurred in 1891. His mother, Sarah (Booth) Helliwell, 
was born in England and died in Troy in 1881. Thomas B. was taken into the con- 
cern with his father when he was twenty-one years of age, and since 1891 has bten 
sole proprietor. He is a fur skin dresser and dyer. He is a 32° Mason. December 
21, 1880, he married Romaetta Willsey of Albany county. 

Felton, William A., was born in Troy in 1836. Nathaniel Felton, his venerable 
ancestor of Massachusetts, came to Salem, Mass., in 1633. When seventeen years 
of age he settled in New Salem, Mass., afterwards called Felton Hill and later called 
Danvers. His great-great- grandfather, Benjamin Felton, was born in Salem, Mass., 
in 1739, and at the age of sixteen was sent with others to Canada to repel the French 
and Indians and did not succeed in returning for five years. He was a lieutenant 
at the close of the Revolutionary war, and was in the battles of Bunker Hill, White 
Plains, Trenton, and others, and commanded a body of cavalry in the Shay insur- 
rection in the winters of 1786 and 1787. In 1793 he retired on his farm in Brookfield, 
Mass. Skelton Felton, the grandfather, was born November 13, 1784. He was a 
school teacher for many years and an officer in the war of 1812; he died in Lansing- 
burgh in 1851. The father, Amory Felton, was born in Brookfield, Mass., in 1813, 
and came to Troy when a young man; he was a merchant for a number of years; 
he was a patentee for portable grain mills and a stock company was formed to man- 
ufacture them ; he later bought an interest in the Empire Foundry, where he soon 
became discontented and sold out to Swett, Quimby & Bennett. He married Nancy 
Boynton of Bennington. Yt., in January, 1849, by whom he had four children. He 



21 G LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

died in Troy March 3, 1851. William A., is the manager of the Empire Stove and 
Machinery Foundry, and has remained in the concern forty years; he always lived 
in Troy until 1895, when he moved to Lansingburgh ; he is a member of the Apollo 
Lodge F. & A. M. ; he served for seven years in the National Guard and held the 
position of first sergeant in Company G, at the time of his discharge; he is one of 
the original members of the Osgood Steamer Company; he \Vas formerly a member 
of the Troy Yacht Club, and the East Side Club. In October, 1859, he married 
Mary A. Faxon of Hoosick Falls; they had two children 

Gleason, John H., was born in Schenectady, N. Y., September 22, 1841. He received 
a public school education and came to Troy in 1856 to live with his sister, and later 
learned the carriage maker's trade with Daniel Lucey and finished with Culkin & 
Donohue and was later in the business for himself where he remained for fifteen 
years. Mr. Gleason is president of the Northern New York Asphalt Paving Co. 
He was deputy sheriff several years and was boiler inspector for two years. He held 
the position of postmaster of the New York Assembly one year. He has held nu- 
merous municipal offices, having been a member of the School Board for nine years, 
and assistant superintendent of the water department for the past nine years. He 
married in 1870 Margaret Inwood of Troy, N. Y. , by whom he had two sons, John 
E. and Robert I. 

Knibbs, James, was born in England, October 5, 1827, and is a son of Joseph and 
Anna (Bennett) Knibbs, who came to this country in 1840 and settled in Albany. 
His father was for thirty years janitor of the Albany Medical College. He died in 
1874 and his wife died in 1884. James was educated in the common schools and came 
to Troy in 1848 and learned the machinist's trade in Starbuck Bros, shop in Troy, 
and worked at his trade until 1860, when he became connected with the Arba Reed 
Steamer Compan3^ He took charge of the engine until 1883, when he was appointed 
superintendent of the Troy Fire Alarm telegraph, which position he has since held. 
He is a member of Mount Zion Lodge F. & A. M., of which he is a past master, of 
Apollo Chapter, Bloss Council, Apollo Commandery, and is also a member of the 
Masonic Veteran Association, and is the present treasurer. He has held all the of- 
fices in Athenian Lodge of Odd Fellows and in the Encampment and is the present 
treasurer of both bodies. In 1850 he married Rhoda A. Harvey of Troy who died 
in 1876. His present wife is Emma Laws of Cohoes, whom he married in 1879. Mr. 
Knibbs has one son and one daughter by his first wife, viz. : William H., who is in 
the drug business at Stillwater, and Mrs. Frank B. Marks, of Elmira, N. Y. 

Vail, Samuel M., was born in Troy, N. Y., June 7. 1832, and was the eldest son of 
Townsend M. and Martha (Card) Vail, who were among the most esteemed residents 
of this city. Townsend M. Vail was practically a life-long citizen of Troy and for 
many years a prominent fiour merchant on the southwest corner of River and Con- 
gress streets. In 1856 Samuel M. Vail, who had received a liberal education in the 
schools of his native city, was admitted as a partner of his father under the firm 
name of Townsend M. Vail & Son, succeeding the old firm of Vail & Hayner. He 
carried a successful business for several years and finally retired, and died in Troy 
on the 24th of April, 1889. Mr. Vail was a trustee of the Troy Savings Bank in 
1869, second vice-president in 1879, and first vice-president in 1886. He was for 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 217 

many years a director in the old Troy and Boston Railroad Company, and was also 
interested in other railroad enterprises. He was one of the directors of the Con- 
gress street bridge from the organization of the company until his death, and was 
also a director in the Troy Gaslight Company and a foundation member of the Troy 
Club. He was long a trustee of the Second Street Presbyterian church and one of the 
building committee during the erection of music hall. In 1858 Mr. Vail was married 
to Miss Frances Hart, daughter of the late Hon. Richard P. Hart, of Troy, who sur- 
vives him. They had three children : Thomas Vail, of Troy ; Fanny Hart, wife of 
Sidney G. Ashmore, of Schenectady, N. Y. ; and Martha Card Vail, of Troy. 

Donnelly, James W., was born in Ireland and received a good education — in fact so 
good that at the early age of sixteen he passed the necessary examinations, obtaining 
a teachers' certificate, and for about three years taught in the national schools of his 
native country, and in 1865 went to London, where be remained four years, being a 
member of the firm of Clayton, Quinn & Co. , contractors and builders. In 1869 he came 
to America and settled in Troy, where he first engaged in the retail stationery bu.siness 
on King street with James Doud, under the firm name of Doud & Donnelly. In 1870 he 
sold his interest to Mr. Doud and became bookkeeper and manager for Thomas H. 
O'Brien, wholesale wine and liquor dealer at 458 River street. Mr. O'Brien retired in 
1871 and Mr. Donnelly succeeded to the business, becoming associated with his brother, 
Thomas J., under the firm name of Donnelly Brothers, which firm name has since 
been retained. In May, 1893, Thomas J. Donnelly withhrew and since then James 
W. has been the sole owner of both the business and the building in which the busi- 
ness is conducted, the latter being purchased by the firm in 1879. Mr. Donnelly 
makes a specialty of a French wine for altar and sacramental uses, for which he has 
been sole agent for the United States and Canada since 1877, having sub-agencies 
in Kingston, Ontario; Columbus, Ohio; and Dubuque, Iowa. This wine is made 
expressly for sacramental use. He is a director in the Manufacturers' National 
Bank, a member of the Robert Emmett Association, and has been bass singer in St. 
Peter's church continuously since 1869, 

Lee, William, was born in Ireland in 1844 and came to this country with his 
mother and two brothers and three sisters and settled in Washington county. His 
mother died in 1881. He received a common school education and in 1854 came to 
Troy and was employed as a driver for one summer. He then went to school for 
three winters, after which he entered the auction store of Ackley & Marston, where 
he remained for one year. He started his trucking business when sixteen years of 
age, and lost everything, horses, trucks, trunk, large sum of mone}^ and all his 
clothes in the big fire of 1862, but started in business again, increasing from time to 
time. He is the only teamster in business in Troy at the present time, that was in 
business when he started. He is a stockholder in the Wilber Shirt Company, and 
also in the Adams Laundry Machine Company. He is a member of Apollo Lodge 
F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter and Bloss Council, and the Masonic Veterans' Associa- 
tion. In September, 1863, he married Pamelia M. Van Schaick, daughter of the 
late Capt. Cornelius Van Schaick. They have one daughter, Amelia Lee Richard- 
son, of New York city; her husband is agent for the Hoosac Tunnel Line. 

Mann, Herbert R., w^s born in Troy, N. Y-, in 1860. He is the son of David and 

bb 



218 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Mary E. (Roome) Mann. His father was a very prominent citizen of Troy, and was 
engaged in the forwarding business between Troy and Philadelphia for many years. 
He was also a director in the Mutual National Bank and died in 1890. His mother 
died in 1895. He graduated from the Troy High School in 1878, and entered the store 
of H. B. Nims & Co., where he remained until 1883, when he formed a copartnership 
with Mr. Burtis in the stove manufacturing business under the firm name of Burtis & 
Mann. He bought Mr. Burtis's interest in 1891 and sold the business in 189B to 
James Van Hagen & Son. In February, 1894, he embarked with H. F. Hastings in 
the book and stationery business at 266 River street, they buying the old e.stablished 
business of Smyth & Co. He is a member of the senior company of the Troy Citizens 
Corps, the Laureate Boat Club, the Odd Fellows, and all the Masonic bodies of Troy. 
On January 29, 1884, he married Miss V. Adelaide Spicer, daughter of the la*e 
Theron Spicer, a former prominent lumber dealer of Troy. They have four daughters. 

Manning, John G., was born in Troy, N. Y., September 26, 1860. His father, 
Bernard Manning, was born in Ireland and came to the United States with his 
parents when young and settled in Troy ; he was a moulder and one of the founders of 
the Co-operative Stove Works and died in 1878. His mother, Mary A. Galligan, 
was born in Troy where she still resides. John G. received his education in the pub 
lie schools of Troy and graduated from the Troy High School in the class of 1878; he 
then went to work for W. A. Chapman in the saddlery hardware business, and in 
1884 Mr. Chapman sold out to Manning, Patterson & Co. Mr. Patterson withdrew 
from the concern in 1890 and since that time the firm name has been John G. Manning 
& Co. He is a member of the Troy Citizens Corps; he served eleven years in the 
Sixth Separate Company and is now sergeant in the senior branch of the Troy Citi- 
zens Corps; he is a member of the Laureate Boat Club of which he is treasurer and 
one of the trustees. He was married to Minnie Geer of Troy, April 11, 1888. 

Meredith, George L., M. D., was born in Keeseville, Essex county, N. Y., October 
30, 1857. He is the son of Rev. Samuel Meredith, who came from Ireland in 1846, 
and died December 16, 1894. His mother, Ellen (Boomer), was born in Ireland and 
died in 1880. He received his education at the public and high schools and after- 
wards entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York city, graduating 
in 1888. He then opened an office in Troy where he has since been located. He 
belongs to the Rensselaer County Medical Society and the Medical Association of 
Troy and Vicinity. He is a medical examiner for the ^tna, Connecticut General, 
and the John Hancock Life Insurance Companies and the Royal Arcanum. He mar- 
ried Miss Elizabeth Yetto of Troy, and has three children. In July, 1896, he was 
nominated for the office of coroner by the Republican party. 

Magee, Daniel, M. D., was born in Thurman, Warren county, N. Y. He is the 
son of Patrick and Ellen (McDonald) Magee. His father died in 1875 and his mother 
in 1850. Dr. Magee, after studying with Dr. Harcourt of Staten Island, went to 
the Burlington College at Burlington, Vt , and afterwards entered Dartmouth Col- 
lege, from which he graduated in 1866. He then began practice in Chestertown, 
N. Y., where he remained for three years, when he came to Troy (1873), where he 
has since practiced. He is a member of the Medical Association of Troy and 
Vicinity, New York State Medical Society and the Rensselaer County Medical Asso- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 219 

ciation. He belongs to Warrensburgh Lodge, F. & A. M., the Knights of Pythias, 
and the B. P. O. E. In 1875 he was married to Hattie Carey of Troy, by whom he 
has one daughter. 

Noack, Bernhardt J., was born in Zittau, Saxony, in 1850 and came to this country 
in 1868. He received his architectural education in Germany, where he also learned 
the carpenter and mason trade at which he worked for five years, and upon arriving 
in this country worked as ma.son in New York city; he then went into an architect's 
office for two years in New York city, and in 1871 came to Troy and entered the 
office of M. F. Cummings, where he remained until 1892, when he opened an office 
for himself at 257 Broadway. He has had charge of the construction of a number 
of breweries and malt houses of Troy and vicinity, and a great many of the stores 
and residences about that city and vicinity have been designed by him. He is a 
member of Apollo Lodge, F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter, R. A. M., Knights of 
Pythias, and Odd Fellows. He also belongs to the Turn Verein and Saengerbund 
and Maennerchor Societies. He was married to Julia Baumeister of Troy, who died 
in 1884. His present wife is Louise M. (Frank) Noack of Albany, to whom he was 
married April 22, 1896. He resides and keeps his office at 105 Fourth street, Troy. 

Nichols, Calvin E., M. D., was born in Elizabethtown, N. Y., April 8, 1845. 
His ancestors, on both paternal and maternal sides, were of old New Eng- 
land stock. His grandfather, Ezra Nichols, was a Revolutionary soldier. His 
father, Edmund D. Nichols, was born in Elizabethtown and died in 1870. His 
mother is Mary (Gates) Nichols, who is still living. He received an academic educa- 
tion and entered the medical department of the University of the State of Vermont, 
from which he was graduated in 1858, and commenced practice the 25th of June, 
1868, in Port Henry, N. Y. In 1872 he entered Bellevue Hospital Medical College 
of New York city, taking special courses in the study of medicine, taking another in 
1873. He came to Troy in 1875, where he has been in continuous practice since, 
with the exception of fourteen months that he spent in traveling in Europe and this 
country. He served for a short time in the 1st Minnesota Regiment during the 
Civil war; he served as attending physician in the Troy Hospital for ten years, and 
is -senior consulting physician at the present time. He is a member of the American 
Medical Association, the New York State Medical Association, the Rensselaer 
County Medical vSociety and the Medical Association of Troy and Vicinity. He is a 
32 degree Mason, belonging to King Solomon Lodge No 91, Apollo Chapter No. 48, 
Bloss Council JNo. 14, Apollo Commandery, Albany Consistory, and Oriental Tem- 
ple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. In 1891 he was married to Miss Gertrude Pine of 
Troy. He has one son, Le Roy Eugene. 

Purcell, John J., was born in Ireland, March 22, 1858; his parents are John C. 
and Johanna (Williams) Purcell. John J. was born while his mother was on a visit 
to the old country. He received his education in the Christian Brothers' Academy 
and the High School, after which he learned the plumbing trade. He with his 
brother started in the plumbing business in 1882 at 411 and 413 Second street. In 
1883 he was elected alderman of the Twelfth ward and served until 1891, when he 
was elected general assessor, and in 1893 was appointed plumbing inspector, which 
position he now holds. He was manager of the Y. M. C. L. A., of which for several 



220 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

years he was treasurer; he is a member of the A. O. H. No. 1, and of Branch 6, 
Emerald Association. November 28, 1888, he was married to Miss Annie Donovan 
of Troy, by whom he has two .sons and one daughter. 

Ross, Adam, was born in Scotland, May 20, 1839, and came to this country in 1855 
and settled in Troy. He was a stonecutter by trade and worked at his trade in New 
York and Troy. In 1869 he started in business for himself, under the firm name of 
Cornell & Ross, for three years. Mr. Ross fitted the granite for the crematory in 
Oakwood Avenue Cemetery. The firm name is now Adam Ross & Son, of 2748 to 
2750 Sixth avenue. He is a member of the Caledonian Club of Troy, a member of 
the Oakwook Avenue Presbyterian church, and is a trustee of the Samaritan Hos- 
pital. In 1865 he married Agnes Connell of Troy, and they have ten children: 
Charles, a member of the firm ; William, a pattern maker; Kate, George A., a drug- 
gist at Hoosick Falls; Belle, John, Jessie, Lillian, Adam A. and Agnes. Mr. Ross 
is an uncle of Robert Ross, who was killed in the election disturbances of 1894. 

Rickerson, Seward, was born in Greene county, N.Y. , in 1855. His great grand- 
father was in the Revolutionary war. His father, Lyman Rickerson, was a farmer 
of Greene county; later he came to Troy, where he now resides with his sons, Le 
Roy and Seward. His mother, Laura (Bagley) Rickerson, died in 1889. Seward 
received his education in the public schools of Greene county and came to Troy in 
1878, entered the saddlery hardware store of M. G. Curtis as clerk, and in 1885 was 
taken into the concern as a partner, the firm becoming Curtis & Rickerson, which 
continued until 1891, when with W. D. O'Brien he formed the Troy Harness Manu- 
facturing Co.", jobbers of saddler3^ hardware, blankets, robes, etc. He married in 
1883 Miss Lillie Collins, daughter of William Collins of Troy, by whom he has three 
daughters. 

Smith, Victor W., was born in Troy, July 25, 1862, and his father, John C. Smith, 
came from England in 1837 and was the son of a gentleman farmer; he was a carver 
and designer by trade, and died July 29, 1887. His mother was Hannah B. (Robi- 
nett) Smith of Wilmington, Del., and a descendant of very prominent old French 
settlers. Victor W. was educated in the public schools of Troy and in the Troy 
Business College, and his musical education was received under the tutorship of E. 
J. Maschke, and was the first orchestra leader of Maschke's Cadet Band. He has 
been musical director of the Griswold Opera House for eight years. He is a teacher 
of the violin, banjo and guitar, and has a very large class. May 9, 1886. he married 
Mary E. Johnson, of West Troy. Mr. Smith was the first person to introduce the 
mandolin into the city of Troy, which he did in 1885. 

Stoll, Gottlob F., was born in New York city in 1863. His father, Christian G., 
wns born in Stuttgart, Wiirtemburg, Germany, and came to this country in 1852, 
settling in New York; he was a bricklayer by trade; he came to Troy in 1865 and 
has been a contractor and builder in this citj^ for many years. His mother, Mary K. 
(Oesterle), Stoll, died in Troy in 1893. Gottlob F. was educated in the public .schools 
of Troy and worked in the tailoring establishment of Ametrano & Cook as office boy 
for two years, and then entered the office of the Clinton Foundry as stock clerk, 
where he remained for about two years. He afterwards worked for W. & L. E. 
Gurley and in the»grocery store of Rudolph Beckman. He then learned architecture 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 221 

in the office of M. F. Cummings &• Son, where he remained for eight years He is 
a member of Apollo Lodge No. 18, F. & A. M., of Apollo Chapter No. 48, Bless 
Council No. 14, and of Apollo Commandery No. 15. He was a charter member and 
first president of Jiinglings Verein-der German Evang. St. Paul's church. 

Strait, Thomas M., was born in Covington, Ky., February 1, 1856. His father, 
Hiram Strait, was born in Rensselaer county, and in his younger days had charge 
of an academy in New York city ; later he engaged in the trunk manufacturing busi- 
ness in Cincinnati, Ohio. His mother, Hannah (Malone) Strait, was born in Nash- 
ville, Tenn. Thomas M. attended the public schools and graduated from the high 
school ; he went to work for a florist in Cincinnati and in 1871 took a position with 
W. & L. E. Gurley. He was with that concern until 1885, when he went into busi- 
ness himself, opening the Danbury hat store on Fulton street, Troy. He belongs 
to the B P. O. of E. 

Stein, Christian Adolph, was born in Troy, N. Y., December 18, 1863. His father. 
Christian Stein, and mother, Henrietta (Meyer) Stein, were born in Germany and 
came when young. He received his education in the public schools of Troy; his 
musical ed^ucation was also received in Troy. He has been a teacher of the organ 
and piano for fifteen years and many of the best musicians of Troy were formerly 
his pupils. He has been connected with the Vocal Society as accompanist for many 
years; also a member of the Choral Club since its organization ; and second basso 
of the Excelsior quartette. For the past twelve years he has been organist and 
choirmaster of St. Paul's church. He married Miss Grace La Rose of Albany, May 
12, 1896. 

Vandercook, Charles E., was born in Cohoes in 1850. His father, Mathew G. Van- 
dercook, was a prominent farmer of Saratoga county, N. Y. ; he died in 1889. His 
mother, Elizabeth (Hines) Vandercook, died in 1866. He received a common schflltil 
and academic education and entered the Grant fanning mill and cradle factory at 
Melrose where he remained one year. In 1872 he started in the lumber and box 
manufacturing business at 6 and 8 Front street, Troy, where he has built up an ex- 
tensive business, employing sometimes over a hundred men. He is a member of 
Apollo Lodge F. & A. M., Bloss Council, Apollo Chapter, and the Mystic Shrine. 
In 188 ) he married Marie T. Rylee, daughter of George Rylee, by whom he has three 
children: Le Roy, Bertha and Lewis. 

Webster, Stephen H., M.D., was born in Troy. N. Y., October 27, 1865. His father 
was Jasper Weljscer, who was a bridge builder by trade; he came to Troy in 1855; 
he built all the bridges on the Troy and Boston Railroad. His mother is Emily De 
Sylva (Cushing) Webster. Stephen Webster received a public and high school edu- 
cation and was graduated from the Albany Medical College in 1886, afterwards en- 
tering the Polyclinic Institute of New York city. In 1889 he went to Europe and 
studied medicine in Prague, Vienna and Berlin, returning to Troy in 1890 and 
opened an office at 811, afterwards removing t.^ 817 River street. He belongs to 
the Rensselaer County Medical Society of which he was vice-president one year. 
He was married, November 12, 1895, to Miss Mabel Carpenter of Ea.st Greenwich, 
R. I. He is a member of King Solomon's Primitive Lodge, No. 91, Apollo Chapter, 
No. 48, Bloss Council No. 14, Apollo Commandery No. 15, and Oriental Temple, No- 
bles of the Mystic Shrine. 



222 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Wales, Edwin R., was born in Cherry Valley, N. Y., in 1849. His father, Philip 
Wales, came to this country about 1847 and settled in Cherry Valley; he was a cabi- 
netmaker by trade and died in 1851. His mother, Eliza Keable was born in Eng- 
land and died at Troy in 1885. Edwin R. received his education in the public 
schools of Cherry Valley and came to Troy in 1862 and was a clerk for Snyder & 
Co., grocers, later clerked in the drug stores of Dr. Fowler in Hoosick Falls and in 
Troy for J. W. Jones and Hawley & Co. He then learned the painter's trade and 
went to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1772, but returned to Troy again in 1873 and started in 
the painting and decorating business in 1877 under the firm name of HoUen & 
Wales, which continued until 1889, when he formed a partnership with W. F. Crain 
in the paper hanging and decorating business and in 1892 sold out and has since 
been engaged alone. He is a thirty-second degree Mason; he is a stockholder and 
director in the Troy Steam Laundering Co., and was assistant captain of the Trojan 
Hooks in 1886, captain from 1887 and 1892, and treasurer in 1893. He married in 
1889 Mary S. Lent of Troy, by whom he has one son and one daughter. 

Waldron, George E., was born in Troy, May 17, 1847. His father, Ephraini D. 
Waldron, was born in Half Moon, Saratoga county, in 1818, and was one of the pio- 
neer sloop captains on the Hudson River, and started in the lumber business in Troy 
in 1855 under the firm name of Cottrell & Waldron, which was succeeded by E. D. 
Waldron in 1857, and m 1864 his two sons, William H. and Gecrge E., were taken 
into the concern under the firm name of E. D. Waldron & Sons, which continued 
until the death of William H. in October, 1882, when the firm became E. D. Waldron 
Sz Son. E. D. Waldron died April 11, 1894; his mother, Sarah Ann (Watson) Wal- 
dron, is still living in Troy. George E. was educated in the public schools of Troy 
and in the seminary at Fulton, N. Y., and became connected with the lumber busi- 
ness with his father in 1864, and since the death of his father has been sole proprie- 
tor of the business, which still retains the name of E. D. Waldron & Son. He is also 
manager of the Globe Ventilator Company. He is a member of King Solomon Lodge 
No. 48 F. & A. M., of the Apollo Chapter, Bloss Council, Apollo Cammandery, and 
Oriental Temple of the Mystic Shrine, and is also a member of the Troy Yacht Club 
and the Ionic Club. In 1868 he married Minnie A. Daniels, of Troy, and has one 
daughter. Mabel D. 

Young, jr., William H., was born in Troy, N. Y., June 23, 1855. He received his 
education in the ward schools of that city and Scramm's boarding school at Sand 
Luke. He learned the marble worker's trade with his father, and in 1884 started in 
business for himself at the corner of Hoosick and Eighth streets, Troy, where he is 
still located, and does all kind of art and monument work ; he has erected many fine 
monuments in the cemeteries of Troy and vicinity and the Berry vault at Raymer- 
town, which is one of the finest in the county; also constructed the Goldstone arch 
at the Mount Ida Cemetery. He is a member of the Citizens Association. He mar- 
ried June 1, 1882, Grace Eddy of Troy. Their children are Emma and Harry. 

Haram, Charles Webster, M. D., was born in the town of North Greenbush, Rens- 
selaer county, April 19, 1869. He is a son of Henry Hamm, who is a native of Sar- 
atoga county, born in August, 1815; he was one of two sons and one daughter, born 
to John Henry; he is a mason by trade and while a young man he spent some time 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 223 

in Florida and other parts of the South ; the greater portion of hislifehasbeen spent 
in the town of North Greenbush ; for a number of j^ears he has devoted his attention 
to gardening; his wife was Mary A. Miller; to them were born thirteen children, of 
whom five sons and two daughters are now living. Dr. Charles Webster's early 
education was in the common district schools and later he attended the Troy Acad- 
emy, from there he went to Lansingburgh Academy, and began the study of medi- 
cine when eighteen years of age under Dr. M. A. Wheeler, then of Albia. with whom 
he registered. He later entered the Albany Medical College and was graduated 
from that institution with the class of 1893. While attending college he was the his- 
torian of his class. His first practice of his profession for himself was in the city of 
Troy, the same year he was graduated. In January, 1894, he removed to the village 
of Poestenkill and entered the office of Dr. Hull as a partner, which partnership 
terminated eleven months later with the death of the latter. He then had the entire 
practice to attend to, which he not only retained but increased. He enjoys an ex- 
tensive practice in his own and four other adjoining towns, and yet retains some of 
his Troy practice. Dr. Hamir is a member of the Medical Society of the County of 
Rensselaer, and the Troy City and Vicinity Society. He is a member of the order 
of Odd Fellows, Poestenkill Lodge No. 704; he is also a medical examiner for sev- 
eral insurance companies. June 6, 1894, he married Miss Ella L. De Freest; she 
was born in Greenbush and is a daughter of Edwin aud Louisa (Bas.s) De Freest; 
they have one child, Herbert De Freest. 

Buckley, Joseph, in his eventful political life has been a faithful servant of his 
townsmen, and in an official capacity he has won for himself an enviable record. 
He was elected justice of the peace in 1871 and held the office until he resigned, and 
for years was trustee of the Hoosick Falls Union Free School until his resignation 
to accept the supervisorship to which he was re-elected. He has filled the presi- 
dential chair of the village and served as village treasurer again and again. Tlie 
Democratic party may point with pride to so able a member. He was born in Ire* 
land in 1846 of parents in humble circumstances, who came to Troy when Joseph 
was but si.K years old. At an early age he was apprenticed to O. G. Clark, a builder. 
When but twenty years of age he secured a contract for the building of a large cot- 
ton mill in Vermont. He came to Hposick Falls in 1869, where he became the most 
active and successful builder and contractor of his day, as the very many public 
buildings here and in other places will attest. Among other buildings erected by 
him are the St. Mary's Catholic church here, the Walter A. Wood Works after being 
destroyed by fire, the Catholic church at North Adams, the Congregational church 
at Bennington, and a Catholic church at Williamstown, Mass. In 1876 he entered 
in the business of grocer and coal dealer on Elm street where he still remains. He 
married Margaret Clifford of West Troy and has two sons: Joseph, jr., associated 
with his father since 1895; and William, a student. 

Benedict. Mrs. L., is the widow of the late Lyman Benedict, whose death in 1876 
was a source of universal regret. He was a man of decided character and possessed 
tho.se noble and generous qualities which have .served to embalm his memory in the 
hearts of both young and old. He was a liberal supporter of the Presbyterian 
church, where his memory still lingers as a benediction. He was born in 1805, son 
of a farmer who died when Mr. Benedict was small, leaving a large family. They 



224 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

were very poor but the mother, heroine that she was, maintained a home, keeping 
the flock together. Mr. Benedict learned the mason trade and came to Hoosick 
Falls about 1830, engaging in building and contracting, and most of the factories 
and many brick houses were erected under his supervision. He was also an exten- 
sive contractor on the Fitchburgh Railroad and i:s bridges. He was a member of 
the Wood Machine Co. from its organization, and erected in 1874 a handsome resi- 
dence. He allied himself in 1839 to one of the first families of this place by his mar- 
riage to Caroline E. Bishop. She is of English ancestry, a daughter of the late 
William Bishop, who was also born here. Her grandfather, Nathaniel Bishop, was 
one of the first settlers here. 

Crape, Crist, was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, June 20, 1848. He is a son 
of Joseph and Margaret (Snyder) Crape, who came to America in 1850 and settled at 
Glass House where Mr. Crape was employed in the glass factory. He afterward en- 
gaged in farming which he followed until the fall of 1862, when he enlisted in Co. D, 
10th N. Y. Vols. He returned to his home in August, 1863, and died about ten days 
after. Mrs. Crape died in 1891. February 1, 1868, Crist was married to Henrietta, 
daughter of Henry and Harriet Warger, who came fronl" Germany in about 1840. 
Mr. Warger was a mason by trade, and lived and died in Sand Lake. Mr.s. Warger 
died in 1883, after which Mr. Warger resided with Crist until his death, which oc- 
curred in 1893. To Mr. and Mrs. Crape have been born four children, all of whom 
are at home; they are Libbie, Maggie, Charles, and Harry. Mr. Crape commenced 
his business career as a peddler, and then for .several years was in the lumber busi- 
ness at Sand Lake, and in 1880 bought the Central Hotel which he has greatly en- 
larged and improved and where guests will always receive the best of accommoda 
tion. Mr. Crape has been assessor for four years and supervisor for one year. He 
takes a great interest in schools and has been for ten or twelve years trustee of the 
Sand Lake school. He is a member of Schodack Union Lodge No. 87, F. & A. M., 
Interlachen Lodge No. 541, I. O. O. F., of Rensselaer Encampment, No. 96, and also 
P. of L or Wynantskill. 

Easton, C. W. , the original member of the firm of P^aston, Rising & Worden of 
Hoosick Falls, began business life as first clerk in a news-room at North Adams, 
Mass., where he was born in 1845, a son of a shoe dealer, and where his education 
was completed. After three years in the news-room he entered the post-office at 
Pittsfield, Mass., remaining one year, then returning to North Adams as clerk in a 
general store. In 1806 he went to South Adams and opened a confectionery store, 
which he conducted for three years. He then spent five years on the Hoosac tun- 
nel, having charge of the central shaft store. He came here in 1875 and established 
a fire insurance business, also a coal trade which he conducted five years when in 
1879 he was joined by George F. Rising, and later by L. E. Worden, the firm name 
now being Easton, Rising & Worden; this firm has grown to be one of the oldest 
as well as the most prominent one in the place. Mr. Easton married in 1867 Mary 
C, daughter of H. H. Clark, a prominent cotton manufacturer of South Adams. Of 
the eleven children that were born to them only four daughters are now living. Mr. 
Easton is a director in the First National Bank of Hoosick Falls, al.so president of 
the Industrial Building and Manufacturing Company ; he is a Republican, but not 
an aspirant for public office ; he is a leading member of the M. E. church, trustee and 
treasurer, also stipermtendent of the Sunday school. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 225 

Bi'own, Willet A., was born in the city of Brooklyn, June 13, 1847. He was a son 
of Thomas S. and Wilhelmina (Burtchell) Brown, he a native of Connecticut and 
she of Brooklyn. Mr. Brown was a blacksmith by trade and carried on the business 
in Albany and Greenbush, coming to Albany in about 1847. He was a member of 
Greenbush Lodge I. O. O. F. ; he died in 1893, and Mrs. Brown died in 1854. Willet 
A. was reared and educated in Greenbush. In 1869 he married Lucy, daughter of 
John N. and Caroline (Wheeler) White, he a native of Boston. Mr. White died in 
1864 and Mrs. White died in 1859; he was engaged in the manufacture of shoes in 
New York city. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born five children : Willet L., Edgar 
W., Mabel W., Virginia P., and Lena V. Mr. Brown commenced his business 
career as cabin boy on the Hudson River, next as a brakeman on the Hudson River 
Railroad, and then went to Troy as ticket inspector and in 1870 he was promoted to 
passenger conductor. In 1881 Mr. Brown came to Sand Lake and purchased the 
Crooked Lake Hotel, of which he is still proprietor. He has in connection with the 
house a farm of thirty-six acres. He has one of the most delightful locations in the 
State for summer homes. 

Feathers, John W., was born in Sand Lake, November 27, 1844. He is a son of 
George and Betsey (Peck) Feathers, he a native of Brunswick and she of Sand 
Lake; the parents of George Feathers wei-e Adam and Catherine (Bonesteel) 
Feathers; he was born in Middletown, May 9, 1789, and she in Brunswick, January 
29. 1797 ; . the father of Adam, George Feathers, was born in Sharon, May 5, 1761 ; 
his wife, Elizabeth Jacobs, was born at Little Hoosick, April 12, 1766; the father of 
John W. was born December 23, 1817. In 1838 he married Betsey Peck, and died 
November 27, 1893. Mrs. Feathers still survives him and is eighty-one j'ears of age. 
He was a farmer and poormaster for about twelve years, and was assessor for about 
eighteen years ; he was very active in the M. E. church and was class leader for 
fifty-three years. John W. has always given his attention to farming and garden- 
ing. In 1878 Mr. Feathers married Eunice M., a daughter of Barton and Almina 
(Flint) Horton, both natives of Poestenkill; the grandfather was Plait Horton. Mr. 
and Mrs Feathers have two children: Charles Wesley and Sylvester B. 

Gillespie, Nelson, of the well-known firm of Gillespie Bros., is one of the most 
prominent, influential and highly respected citizens of Hoosick Falls. He was born at 
Johnstown, Fulton county, N. Y. , in 1843, son of Joseph and Fanny Hogeboom-Gil- 
lespie, nativ^es of Greenbush, N. Y. He is of Scotch and Dutch ancestry and inherits 
the sterling qualities which distinguish the best of both races. His thirteenth year, 
which was the commencement of his successful mercantile life, was also the last 
opportunity given him as a pupil in school. For eighteen years he was department 
manager with the firm of G. V. S. Quackenbush & Co. Troy, and came to Hoosick 
Falls in February, 1886, having been for the three previous years a member of the 
firm of Gillespie Bros., dry goods, then located on John street. Now their extensive 
establishment occupies double stores in Chenej^ Block, Main street. Mr. Gillespie 
was always interested m historic research and is corre.sponding secretary of the 
local historical society. He is independent in politics; a communicant and vestry- 
man in St. Mark's church, and a past master of Apollo Lodge, F. & A. M., Troy, N. 
Y. In 1886 he wrote and published a brief history of the lodge, and is engaged in 
the work of compiling an enlarged centennial edition. 



226 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

McLaren, John and Robert. — In 1851, in company with his brother David, John 
McLaren emigrated from Scotland to America and settled in West Troy, and in 1854 
Robert and his parents, John and Mary, joined them. John commenced work in the 
West Troy Woolen Mills. Robert went to Pittsfield, Mass., where he worked in the 
mills, thence to North Adams where he was eleven years boss dyer. John was engaged 
at different places in the mills and in 1865 came to West Sand Lake and became one of 
the firm of Kidder, Aiken & McLaren in the manufacture of knit woolen goods. 
The firm was changed to Aiken & McLaren, and finally the building was burned. 
In 1881 Robert joined his brother and the establishment was rebuilt and has since 
been run under the name of J. & R. McLaren. John McLaren was born in Scotland 
in 1830 and died in West Sand Lake in December, 1894; his widow, Elizabeth Lester, 
a native of Stephentown, and three children, J. Howard, David G. and Ella M. , 
survive him. Robert McLaren was born in Scotland in 1834 and died in West Sand 
Lake in September, 1889; his widow, Sarah Bickley, of Lee, Mass., and three chil- 
pren, John R., Ida B. and Robert L., reside at West Sand Lake. Robert was a 
member of Lafayette Lodge, North Adams, F. & A. M. On January 1, 1895, J. 
Howard and his cousin John R. took charge of the business. They manufacture a 
fine quality of knit underwear and overshirts and employ about seventy hands. 

MuUin, Andrew, when sixteen years of age learned the cigarmakers' trade, which 
he followed until 1873 when he started in business for himself. In 1875 he married 
Sarah Henrietta Allen and has one child, Florence Henrietta. In 1876 he moved to 
Eagle Mills and carried on a cigar manufactory. In 1884 he entered the employ of 
the Planter Hoe Co. Since 1886 he has lived more retired. In 1878 he was elected 
town clerk, which office he has held to the present time with the exception of three 
years. He was postmaster during Harrison's term from 1888 to June, 1893, when he 
was appointed deputy postmaster, which he holds at the present time. He is active 
in the Church of Christ, of which he has been trustee, deacon and clerk. He 
is active in education and is now treasurer of the district. He is a member of 
Apollo Lodge No. 13, F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter No. 48, and Apollo Commandery 
No. 15. He was made a Mason in 1873, and was formerly a member of Rensselaer 
Lodge, I, O. O. F., and Crusade Lodge, K. of P., in which lodge he has held all the 
offices. He was active in temperance work, and has been notary public for the past 
seventeen years. 

Moses, Charles J., was born in Petersburgh, June 28, 1834. He is a son of 
Dr. Hiram and Abeline (Worthington) Moses. Hiram was a son of Thomas, a na- 
tive of Norfolk, Conn. Dr. Hiram was a graduate of Yale and afterwards took a 
course in medicine at Castleton. Vt. In 1825 he practiced medicine with his brother 
at Hoosick Falls. One year later he moved to Petersbugh, where he spent the 
remainder of his days. He married Abeline Worthington, and their children are 
Dr. Hiram, Aaron, Thomas, Charles J., Albert A. and Solon. Charles J. had a 
common school education, and when about twenty years of age he went West and 
spent five years on the lakes and in Western States. He then enlisted in the sloop 
of war Hartford and visited China, Japan and other foreign countries. He was 
mustered out in December. 1861, since which time he as followed farming and the 
hotel business. May 1, 1863, he married Mary Etta Hewitt, and their children are 
Jennie, Solon and Frank. His wife died April 30, 1891. Later he married Mary, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 227 

daughter of George Perdiger of Poestenkill, N. Y. Aaron Worthington married 
Abigail Ross, and their children are Sardinia, Sallie, Pauline, John, Abeline, Aaron 
F., David R., William C, Ambrose and Winfield S. Thomas Moses married Abigail 
(Brown) Moses, and their children are Solomon, Thomas J., Ralph, Benjamin, Hirami, 
Betsey, Julia, Eunice, Abigail and Ruth. 

Coverly, James Montford, was born in Boston, Mass. He is the son of James W. 
Coverly, who was born in Sanbornton, N. H., and for thirty years has been superin- 
tendent in the large dry goods house of Jordan, Marsh & Co. J. M. Coverly was 
educated in the public schools of Boston and went as clerk in the office of Bradford 
& Anthony, where he remained for several years, when he took a position in the 
office of the Standard Clothing Company, with whom he was connected for twelve 
years, when he came to Troy and with Mr. Wells formed the large clothing house 
of Wells & Coverly. 

Consalus, John, was born in West Charlton, Saratoga county, N. Y., in 1828. His 
great-grandfather settled in Charlton during the Revolutionary war and was killed 
by the Indians. His father, Emanuel Consalus, was born in West Charlton and be- 
sides being a farmer was a dealer in real estate and died in 1884. His mother was 
Catherine Worden, who died in 1887 at the age of eighty-three. John was educated 
in the common schools and the Amsterdam Academy and when twenty-two years of 
age assisted his father in buying cattle, sheep, wool, etc., and in 1862 came to Troy 
and with his brother started the firm of J. & D. A. Consalus, wool dealers; twelve 
years later he bought his brother's interest in the concern and since 1888 has done a 
brokerage business in wool; his office is at 351 River street. He was town collector 
of Charlton and while living there represented his district for two terms in the 
Board of Supervisors. He belongs to the American Protective Tariff Association of 
New York, also a member of the Royal Arcanum. In 1865 he was married to J^iia 
McDowell of Canada, by whom he has two sons and two daughters: John E. , D. 
Arthur, Charlotte F. and Edna N. 

Cahill, John F , was born in Cambridge, N. Y. , in 1854. He is the son of John 
and Margaret (Flannery) Cahill, who came from Ireland in 1849, and settled in 
Washington county, where they remained until 1858, when the mother and children 
came to Troy, John Cahill having died in 1857. Mrs. Cahill died in 1895. John F. 
was educated at the Brothers' Academy and went as an apprentice to the Clinton 
foundry to learn the moulder's trade. He was a member of the Iron Moulders' 
Union No. 2, and represented them at their convention, and was president of the 
organization two terms. He worked at his trade for nine years, and took the posi- 
tion of superintendent of the Troy Electric Light Company. In 1889 he was made 
superintendent and still remains in that position. He was a member of the School 
Board from 1876 to 1882, and from 1885 to 1891, and president of the School Board in 
1891. He is alderman from the First ward, and for the past two years has been 
president of the Common Council. He married Miss Belle E. Maloney in 1888. 

Craver, Sylvester J., was born in East Greenbush, January 27, 1832 He is a son 
of John W. and Catherine (Cooper) Craver, a native of East Greenbush and she of 
Poestenkill. The grandparents, William and Elizabeth (Koon) Craver, came from 
Dutchess county and settled in Greenbush in pioneer days. The maternal grand- 



228 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

parents, Christopher and Catherine Cooper, were farmers of Poestenkill where they 
lived and died. John W. Craver was a farmer of East. Greenbush ; he was assessor 
for a number of years ; he died in 1888 and his wife died in 1878. Sylvester J. Craver 
was educated at the academy at Sand Lake and taught school for a while. In 1858 
he married Esther, daughter of Daniel M. and Abigail (Moul) Haywood. Mr. Hay- 
wood was a native of Dutchess county and spent his life on the farm now owned by 
Mr. Craver. To Mr. and Mrs. Craver have been born three children: Elmer H., coal 
dealer of Troy; he married Carrie M. Lawson ; Abbie, wife of Edward Graham, 
clerk and bookkeeper for the electric works of Schenectady, and Mary E., who died 
at the age of two years. Mr. Craver has a farm of 135 acres in North Greenbush 
where he has carried on general farming since 1858. He makes a specialty of dairy 
and fruit growing. 

De Forest, George Thompson, was born in North Greenbush, December 24, 1866; 
he is a son of De Witt Clinton and Mary Thompson De Forest. The father died in 
1891. Mrs. De Forest resides at De Freestville and is seventy-two years of age. 
The father of De Witt was Col. John De Forest, of the war of 1812; his parents were 
David and Rachael Vanderheyden of Albany ; John married Ann Knickerbacker, 
of Schaghticoke. David settled in De Freestville in 1755, where he died in 1833; 
he built the De Freestville Hotel, was a large land owner; was largelj^ instrumental 
in the organization and building of the Reformed church, giving the ground for both 
the church and parsonage, and was an elder in the church for a number of years; and 
was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The maternal grandparents of Mr. De Forest 
were James and Rhoda (Whalen) Thompson ; he was born at Stillwater, November 
20, 1775, and she was born in 1773; he died December 19, 1845; he was a lawyer by 
profession and judge of the Court of Common Pleas from 1818 to 1833 ; he was appointed 
Regent of the University in 1822; he was educated at Stillwater and was graduated 
from the academy, now Union College, Schenectady, and was admitted to the bar in 
1797. The father of James was John Thomp.son, born in 1748 and died in 1823; he 
married Frances McFarlane and settled in Stillwater about 1763; he was a farmer 
and soldier of the Revolutionary war, and was at the battle of Bemis Heights ; he 
was a member of* assembly and first judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Saratoga 
county, and held that position until incapacitated by old age ; he was a member of 
the Constitutional Convention in 1801, and was also a member of the sixth, tenth, 
and thirteenth Congresses. George T. De Forest was educated in Ballston and Union 
College and made a specialty of civil engineering ; he was bridge engineer on the 
Kansas City, Fort Scott and Memphis Railroad, and was with the Phoenix Bridge 
Company of Pennsylvania. He is now at De Freestville managing the farm and 
business of his mother. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. 

Drake, Charles F., was born in Troy in 1851. His grandfather, Samuel Drake, 
was born in Ulster county and came to Troy when young ; he was a captain in the 
Mexican war. His father, Francis Drake, founder of the business in which the sub- 
ject of the sketch is engaged, was born in 1838 and died in 1876. His mother was 
Mary (Wheeler) Drake, of Troy, daughter of Capt. John Wheeler. After a common 
school education, Charles F. entered the store of his father on River street in the 
saddlery business. After the death of his father in 1876 the business was carried on 
by Winnie, Burdict & Co., which was succeeded by Winnie & Drake and in 1890 Mr. 



FAMILY SKETCHES 229 

Drake purchased Mr. Winnie's interest and since that time has conducted the busi- 
ness himself, which is now one of the largest stores of the kind in the State 

De Freest, Isaac, was born September 12, 1840. He is the son of William and 
Anna Maria (Wendell) De Freest, both of Greenbush, where they lived and died; 
they had four boys, Samuel V. A., Isaac W., Charles W. and Madison V. ; the grand- 
parents were Philip and Kezia De Freest; the great-grandfather of Isaac De Freest 
came from Holland and was a pioneer of Greenbush, settling at De Freestville 
William De Freest spent his life on a farm in North Greenbush where he' died in 
May, 1876. Mrs. De Freest died in 1863. Isaac De Freest was reared on the farm, 
and farming and fruit growing has been his occupation ; he now gives his attention 
principally to the cultivation of small fruits. In 1868 Mr. De Freest married Kezia, 
daughter of Philip V. and Jane (Van Allen) Winne, farmers of Albany county; the 
maternal grandparents of Mrs. De Freest were John and Jane Van Allen of Albany 
county. He has been collector of the town for four years, and in 1896 was elected 
supervisor of North Greenbush, and is the present incumbent. 

Enos, Edgar A., D.D., is of New England colonial ancestry, being a lineal de- 
scendant on the paternal side of John Enos of Westerly, R. I., 1680, and on the ma- 
ternal side of Henry Stevens, of Stonington, Conn., 1666. He was prepared for 
college at the Whitestown Seminary, Whitesboro, N. Y.^ and entered Hamilton Col- 
lege in 1870, graduating with the class of 1874. In 1875 he was instructor in Latin 
and mathematics in the Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute. In 1876 he 
entered Union Theological Seminary, New York city from which he was graduated 
in 1878; for several years thereafter he was connected with the Hasbrouck Institute, 
Jersey City, as instructor in history, rhetoric and elocution. On Trinity Sunday, 
1881, he was ordered deacon by Bishop Horatio Potter in St. Paul's chapel. Trinity 
parish. New York, and on the 12th of January, 1882, he was ordered priest by the 
same bishop, in the Church of the Transfiguration, New York. His first service in 
orders was in the Church of the Heavenly Rest in New York under the direction of the 
late Rev. Dr. Robert S. Howland. After this service he was the rector successively 
of All Saints, Larchmont Manor, N. Y., Christ's church, Towanda, Pa., and St. 
John's church, Bridgeport, Conn., and in April, 1887, he entered on the rectorship 
of St. Paul's parish, Troy, N. Y. In 1892 the degree of Doctor of Divinity was con- 
ferred upon him by St. Stephen's College, Annandale. He is married and has three 
children ; his wife is a datighter of the late General F. W. Hopkins of Rutland, Vt. 

Fry, Edwin A., was born in Hartwick, Otsego county, N. Y., July 14, 1838. His 
grandfather was a captain in the Revolutionary war and his great-grandfather 
served in the Revolutionary and French and Indian wars. His father, William Fry, 
was born in Rhode Island, and served in the war of 1812; he died in 1872. Edwin 
A. received his education in Sherburne Academy and Albany Normal School, and 
commenced teaching in West Troy. He afterwards taught in Cohoes, Green Island, 
and has been teaching in Troy twenty-four years. He enlisted in the Civil war and 
served until its close. He is a past commander of Post Griswold G. A. R., and a 
member of Apollo Lodge F. & A. M. His first wife was Catherine A. Hackett of 
West Troy who died in 1886. His present wife was Gertrude A. Cressey also of 
West Troy; they have two daughters? 



230 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Ferguson, William, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1838, and came to this 
country with his parents the same year. He received his education in the public 
schools of Troy and afterwards learned the plumber's trade. He was in the L"''nited 
States navy during the war. In 186G he with Fergus Dodds formed the firm of 
Dodds & Ferguson in the plumbing business which continued until 1880 when he 
bought Mr. Dodds's interest in the concern and has since carried on the business 
himself. He belongs to the Royal Arcanum and Post Griswold G. A. R. In 1869 
he married Helen Arthur, of Cohoes, N. Y. , who died December 23, 1895. He has 
three daughters 

Graham, Thomas H., was born in the city of Albany, October 18, 1866, and is a 
son of John and Margaret (Close) Graham, both natives of the North of Ireland, both 
born in 1840 and came to the United States and settled in Albany, where Mrs. Gra- 
ham died in 1879, and Mr. Graham now resides with Thomas H. His grandparents 
were Robert and Margaret (Smiths Graham, farmers of Scotland, where they were 
born and i-eared ; they moved to the North of Ireland, where he died in 1848, and 
she died at Cohoes, N. Y., in 1867. After the death of his father, John Graham was 
reared in Scotland by his grandparents, John and Elenor (Hogan) Graham; he was 
a farmer by occupation. Thomas H. was reared and educated in Albany and mar- 
ried, April 27, 1892, to Jane Garner, daughter of Christopher and Sarah Garner of 
East Greenbush. To Mr. and Mrs. Graham were born two children: Martha and 
Walter. From the age of fifteen to twenty-one Mr. Graham was with Mr. Garner, 
brother of his wife, in the dairy business. In 1892 he purchased the Austin farm of 
seventy-five acres in East Greenbush. He runs a dairy of about forty-five cows. 

Hall, Richard F., was born in Troy, N. Y., September 24, 1833. He is a son of 
Daniel and Anjinette (Fitch) Hall. His father was born in Westminster, Vt., and 
was the son of Judge Lot Hall of the Supreme Court of Vermont. He graduated 
from Middleboro College and came to Troy in 1804, where he entered the office of 
Judge Amasa Paine, and afterwards became his partner and practiced law until his 
death, which occurred December 10, 1868. His mother died in 1884. R. F. Hall 
received his education in private schools in Troy until 1849 when he entered Phillips 
Academy at Andover, Mass., and prepared for college and entered Harvard in 1850 
and was graduated in 1854. He then engaged in the lumber business under the firm 
name of Culver & Hall at West Troy, and after five years bought Mr. Culver's in- 
terest and the firm was known as Hall, Russell & Co., and continued in business 
until August, 1875. In 1879 he was made superintendent of the West Troy Gas 
Light Company which position he occupied for nine years. He always took a great 
deal of interest in the fire department and became a member on July 17, 1855, of the 
Washington Volunteer Fire Company, and was captain of the company in 1857 and 
1858, and again from 1860 to 1866, when he was made chief of the fire department 
of Troy, and held that office until March, 1869. He was made fire commissioner in 
1872, serving two terms of six years each. He was appointed water commissioner 
in 1870, in which capacity he is still acting. He is a member of the American Gas 
Light Association, a director in the West Troy National Bank, trustee and secretary 
of the Troy Orphan Asylum, served twelve years in the National Guard and is a 
member of St. John's Episcopal church. He was married to Miss Sarah Helen 
Belding, February 2, 1860, who is the daughter of Wells Belding of Troy. 



FAMILY SKETCHES, 231 

Klock, Daniel, jr., was born in Seward, N, Y., November 27, 1836; he is of Ger- 
man descent; his father, Dani-el Klock, was born in Montgomery county, N. Y., in 
1817 and died in 1876. His mother, Catherine (France) Klock, daughter of Henry 
France, lived to be sixty-five years old. Daniel, jr., attended the district school 
until sixteen j-ears of age after which he worked on his father's farm for some time 
and entered the Richmondville Seminary in Schoharie county, N. Y., where he re- 
mained one year. He then went back with his father until he was twenty-three and 
came to Troy and dealt in farm produce, brrrowing the money to carry on the busi- 
ness with. He later took an agency for a sewing machine. In December, 1865, he 
purchased from F. A. Plumb the rubber store at 190 River street, a small establish- 
ment doing from ten to twelve thousand dollars business per year. He only in- 
creased business as he increased his capital; from a small retail trade his business 
has increased and he is doing the largest business in the State outside of the city of 
New York. Mr. Klock is the president of the iXational Bank of Troy and is treas- 
urer of the Troy Methodist Conference and trustee of the State M. E. church. He 
was president of the Rensselaer County Musical Association for twenty years. In 
1893 he was married to Miss Mmnie Vasey of Troy. In politics he is a staunch Re- 
publican. He is a member of the Masonic order, having attained the degree of 
Knight Templar. 

Keaugh, Bryant, was born in Ireland and came to America when a voung man, 
and commenced work on a farm. He married Mary Burk of Ireland, by whom seven 
children have been born, five now living: John, who runs the home farm; Mary, 
Ella, Eliza, Jane and Martha. Mr. Keaugh has about eighty acres of land near Green- 
bush, and is engaged in general farming. He is a Democrat ip politics. 

Link, Thomas B., born in the town of Brunswick, June 19, 1817, is the son of 
Helmus and Esther Link, she a daughter of Thomas Betts. Helmus followed farpi- 
ing. He was a public-spirited man and was actively interested in churches and 
schools. He was a self-made man and was respected by all his neighbors. Hel- 
mus's children were Thomas B., Burwell B., Edward, Azubah, Rachel and Martha. 
Thomas B. received his early education in the common schools which he attended 
winters and worked summers. When eighteen years of age he started in life as a 
farm laborer and received §100 for his first year's work. He is active in schools and 
education. June 22, 1838, he married Sarah Aseneth McChesney and his children 
were Maria Augusta, John Thomas, Jane Frances, Harriet Arazina, William Henry, 
Martha Ann, Mary Alice, Helmus Eugene, Esther Floetta and Emma Josephine, 
His second wife was Emaline Ives, but they had no children. On November 17, 
1884, he married Sarah Jane Rodgers and their children are Lottie May, Roscoe 
Conklin and Mabel Elizabeth. 

Link, Burwell B., born in the town of Brunswick, July 2, 1825, is a son of Helmus 
and Esther (Betts) lyink; Helmus had eleven children: Thomas B., Maria, Jere- 
miah, Catherine, Edward, Burrill B., Martha, Azubah, William, Rachel, Alonzo. 
Helmus started in life as a farm laborer and in the latter part of his life purchased 
land. He was interested in schools and churches and all affairs of his town and 
county; he was a soldier in the war of 1812. Burwell B. married Fannie C. , daugh- 
ter of Jacob and Jane (Finkle) Coonradt, and had five children: Bv.rrett, Arba, 



232 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Stanley, Allen and Nellie. When twenty-eight years of age he started in life as a 
dairy and general farmer on the homestead, which he carried on to the time of his 
death. He was public-spirited and interested in public enterprises such as schools 
and churches. Mr. Link died February 27, 1896. He was a member of the Presby- 
terian church. 

Manny, John L., was born in St. John's, Quebec, Canada, November 11, 1852. His 
ancestors on his father's side were Norman French, and on the maternal side Scotch. 
His father, John B. Manny, was born in St. John's, and his occupation was that of a 
wood carver, and was with his brother in that business until 1870 ; he then moved to 
Lynn, Ontario, Canada, to superintend a large last manufactory in that city, and 
later came to Troy and retired from active business. His mother, Mary Agnes 
(Munro) Manny, was born in Kilmarnock, Scotland, and came to Canada when but 
an infant with her parents. Her father was Major James Munro of the British army, 
who died in 1856. John L. Manny was educated in the academy at St. John's and 
was graduated from St. John's College in 1866. He then went to Montreal to enter 
the dry goods store of Henry Morgan & Co., the largest store of the kind in Canada, 
and was with that concern three years. He came to Troy in 1870 and became con- 
nected with the clothing house of W. H. Lawton at 292 River street; three years 
later he went to Ilion and took the management of a merchant tailoring establish- 
ment; he returned to Troy in 1879 and formed a co-partnership with William D. 
Hardy and have since conducted one of the fashionable tailoring establishments in 
Troy under the firm name of Manny & Hardy. He is a director in the First Na- 
tional Bank of Troy. He is a member of the Riverside Club of Lansingburgh, 
honorary president of the Franco Republican Club, president of the L' Iroquois Club, 
and was for six years a trustee m the St. Jean Baptist church of Troy. He is also 
vice-commodore and trustee of the Troy Yacht Club. He was married in August, 
1873, to Louisa Jane Perreault of Troy. He has two sons; the eldest, J. Edwin, is 
connected with the store, and Everett M., who is now attending the Lansingburgh 
AcadeiPiy. 

Meeker, C. Alonzo, was born in Northampton, Fulton county, N. Y., in 1833. 
His grandfather on the pater'ial side was a native of Connecticut and moved to Ver- 
mont where he was engaged in farming until 1850 when he moved to Michigan. 
His grandfather on the maternal side was Judge Macomberof Essex county, and his 
mother was a first cousin to General Israel Putnam. His father was the Rev. Cyrus 
Meeker, who was born in Vermont, was a Methodist preacher and was for many 
years a member of the Troy Conference; he died at Buskirk, N. Y., in 1893, and was 
ninety-three years old. His mother, Mary Macomber, was born in Keeseville, Essex 
county, and died at Ballston, N. Y., in 1846. C. Alonzo received his education in the 
public schools and academy at Shelbourn, Vt., and learned the carpenter's trade and 
later he worked at Glens Falls, and came to Rensselaer county where he remained 
until 1857 when he went to Illinois for two years. He then came to Troy, and in 
1863, with a Mr. Shanahan, organized the contracting and building establishment 
of Shanahan & Meeker. Mr. Shanahan died in 1871 and Mr. Meeker has continued 
the business alone. Among the buildings for which he has done the carpenter work 
is the Troy Savings Bank, St. Paul's chapel, William H. Frear's residence, the Gris- 
wold Opera House and the Unitarian church and many others. He has represented 



FAMILY SKETCHES. , 233 

the Second ward in the Board of Aldermen and has also been supervisor. He be- 
longs to King Solomon's Lodge, F. & A. M., Raymond Chapter of Hoo.sick Falls, 
and has taken both the Egyptian and Scottish Rites up to and including the ninety- 
fifth degree. He married in 1859, Mary E. Ostrander, of Hoosick Falls. He has one 
daughter, Mrs. William J. Herbage, of Round Lake, N. Y. 

Mannix, Francis P., was born in Ireland in 1842, and is a son of Patrick Mannix, 
who came to America in 1852, settling in Troy. He was in the employ of the Pitts- 
burgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, for a while, and was in the railroad office 
in Fort Wayne, Ind., for a while; he returned and spent his last days with Francis 
P., where he died in 1874. Mrs. Mannix died in Ireland in 1847. Francis P. was 
reared in Troy and educated at St. Jcseph's Academy, and in 1865 married Mar- 
garet, daughter of Dennis and Margaret Brennan, of Albany, by whom nine children 
have been born, of whom four are living; Genevieve, Catherine, John and Edward. 
Frank died in February, 1896, at the age of nineteen years. Mr. Mannix commenced 
the milk busmess in Greenbush in 1864, and in 1870 he bought 100 acres of land on 
which he erected a fine residence. He kept seventy cows for a while and now keeps 
about thirty-five. He is a Democrat in politics and has been highway commissioner 
for about nine years 

Orr, Frederick W., was born July 8, 1848. His father, David Orr, was born in 
Belfast, Ireland, March 1, 1810, and came to this country in 1811 and settled with his 
father in Columbiaville, N. Y. , where they engaged m the manufacture of cotton for 
a number of years. David Orr then moved to Albany and learned the mason's trade, 
and was boss mason on the Albany Cathedral and the lower part of the State House 
and other large buildings. He remained in Albany until 1866, and then moved to New 
York. He was a director in the State Bank of Albany. He died November 23, 1892. 
His mother was Julia A. (Pierson) Orr, who was born in Newark, N. J., on December 
12, 1821. Frederick W. attended the Albany Academy, and was fitted for college at 
Elizabeth, N. J., and in November, 1867, entered the freshman class of Princeton 
College, leaving there after two years. He then became a member of the firm of 
Orrs & Co., in the paper manufacturing business in Troy, and has since devoted his 
attention thereto. He is a trustee of the Emma Willard Seminary, and of the Park 
Presbyterian church, and has been president of the board for ten years. In politics 
he is a Republican. 

Peckham, William H., was born in Troy, February 15, 1852. His ancestors were 
among the earliest settlers of the country, his grandfather having taken part in the 
Revolutionary war. His father, Reuben Peckham, was born in Pittstown, N. Y., 
and was a paper manufacturer up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1887. 
His mother, Mary (Mackey) Peckham, was born in Troy where she now resides. 
William was educated in the public schools and was graduated from the high school 
in 1869 and went into the employ of J. M. Warren & Co. as clerk, and later entered 
the paper mill of his father. In 1874 he bought an interest in the dry goods firm of 
Converse, Peckham & Co., where he remained until 1885, when he entered the paper 
mill of Manning & Peckham, where he is at present. He was supervisor of the Fifth 
ward for three years and represented that ward in the Board of Aldermen two years 
and has been a fire commissioner since 1893. He belongs to all the Masonic bodies 

dd 



234 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

of Troy and is director in the Union Bank. lu 1874 he was married to Miss Emma 
A. Peck of Troy. 

Parks, John W., born in the village of Sand Lake, July 16, 1829, is the son of Jona- 
than and Almira (Hunt), he a native of Sand Lake and she of Stephentown. The 
grandparents were Whiting and Hannah (Taber) Parks; they were natives of 
Dutchess county, came to Sand Lake about 1790 and here engaged in farming where 
they lived and died, she about 1836 and he in 1860. The father was reared on a farm 
and at the age of seventeen years commenced work at the wagon making trade and 
carried on a wagon factory at Sand Lake for ten years; then he engaged in farming 
in Sand Lake; he died in 1878 and the mother in 1843. Mr. Parks married second 
Mary J. Parks who died in 1885. John W. Parks was reared on a farm where he re- 
mamed till the age of twenty-five and then engaged in farming; he has made a 
specialty of sweet milk and small fruit and vegetables and makes a specialty of Chester 
White, Cheshire and Black Berkshire hogs, and fine butter for special customers. 
He married in Sand Lake in 1854, Lucinda, daughter of George and Lucinda Horton 
of Sand Lake. They have five children: Myron H., a farmer at Johnston; George 
W. , general agent of books, Brooklyn; Joseph H., at Johnston, hardware and 
plumber; Grace, dressmaker, wife of William Brown; Edith, at home. He has been 
road commissioner. 

Peck, Arthur Middleton, born in Sand Lake, N. Y., February 2, 1848, is the son of 
Joel B. and Parmelia H. (Horton) Peck, both natives of Sand Lake. The parents of 
Joel B. , Marcus and Margaret (Gardner) Peck, were also natives of Sand Lake and here 
lived and died. The parents of Marcus, Isaac and Hannah (Munson) Peck, were among 
the first settlers of Sand Lake coming from Connecticut. Joel Peck was a farmer 
and lumberman ; in politics he was a Republican, was a number of years justice of 
the peace and six years supervisor of Sand Lake ; during the war he took an active 
interest in getting recruits Mr. and Mrs. Peck were active and consistent memibers 
of the Presbyterian church of which Mr. Peck was about fifty years an elder. He 
died August 18, 1891; Mrs. Peck died January 11, 1887. Arthur M. Peck worked 
with his father in the lumber business beginning at the age of fifteen, and at twenty- 
one years of age engaged in the mercantile business at Sand Lake which he con- 
tinued until 1895 when he sold out; he now gives most of his attention to the Mutual 
Insurance Co. of Poestenkill, Sand Lake, Berlin and Stephentown, which was organ- 
ized in 1878 with Mr. Peck as secretary and he has held the office ever since. He 
has also been for three years secretary of the Albany and Sand Lake Plank Road 
Co. In 1870 Mr. Peck married Lillias E., daughter of Harrison and Louisa (Dunkin) 
Lester, he a native of Massachusetts, and she of England. Mrs. Lester came to 
America in 1840 with her mother, her father having died in England, The parents 
of Mr Lester, Meriman and Margaret (Walker) Lester, were early .settlers of Nassau. 
The father of Mr. Lester, Guy Lester, of Chatham, Columbia county, N.Y., a native 
of Vermont, was all through the Revolutionary war and was with Washington when 
he crossed the Delaware River in December, 1776. He died in Nassau. Mr. Lester 
has been a successful business man ; he commenced in the turning business, then in 
mercantile business at Sand Lake. He now owns a controlling interest in the 
Albany & Sand Lake Plank Road Co., and is general superintendent of the road. 
Since 1862 Mr. Lester has resided at Sand Lake. Mr. Peck is a Republican in poll- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 235 

tics and has held the office of supervisor two years. He is active in the Presbyterian 
church of which he is an elder. 

Potter, Stephen M., was born in Brunswick August 29, 1870. He was a son of 
Charles M. and Adelia (Coons) Potter. Charles M. started in life dependent on his 
own resources. By occupation a farmer, which he followed throughout his life time 
and through his exertion has one of the finest houses in town. His children were 
Kate, Harry, Medore C, Eunice, Stephen M., and John Howard. He was public 
spirited and did all he could for the promotion of the town and county. He died 
November 29, 1889. Stephen M. spent his early life on his father's farm, and his 
early education was obtained in the district school. He graduated from Troy Busi- 
ness College April 15, 1892. He married Jessie, daughter of James Mambert. 
Stephen in 1889 was employed in Springfield, Mass., and also in the Agawam Paper 
Co., where he remained for three years. In 1894 he was in the mercantile business 
in Troy, and is now a farmer. 

Richmond, Mrs. Z. A. — Few families bear a more familiar name, or one more 
strongly associated with older times in the county of Rensselaer, than that of Rich- 
mond. Volney Richmond, late iron manufacturer, banker, county sheriff, etc., was 
born in this country and of lifelong prominence in its affairs. Dean Richmond, 
who in 1869 married Miss Zoe Armstrong, was born at Tro}?^ in 1850 during his 
father's incumbency of the shrievalty, and died while yet a comparatively young 
man, July 28, 1891, leaving two sons and one daughter: Volney, J. Edward and 
Lucy Townsend ; the latter died in 1896. 

Stone, Thomas H., was born in Troy, N. Y. , October 9, 1848. His father, Jacob 
Stone, was born in Vermont and was a stair builder by trade and died in 1888. His 
mother, Elizabeth C. (Meade) Stone, was born in Vermont and is now living in 
Troy. Thomas H. received a public school education and went to the western part 
of New York State and returned to Troy in the spring of 1869 and worked for the 
firm of Clapp & Wilder in the gent's furnishing goods business until 1873, when he 
entered the laundry business as an employee of Lucius Stone, an uncle, which con- 
tinued until spring of 1881 when the firm of Stone, Blair & Co. was formed; in 1891 
he became sole owner, and in 1892 the firm of Gardner, Stone & Co. was formed; 
they run a manufacturers' laundry and also have a custom department employing on 
the average about 300 hands. He was married in 1873 to Lottie Chandler of Troy, 
who died in 1879. His present wife was Anna Brown, to whom he was married in 
1881. His children are Irvin D., Ethel C, an art student at Yale, and Wmifred. 

Spenard, Charles A. , was born in Tro)^ in August, 1862. He is a son of Joseph M. 
and Julia (Jarvis) Spenard. He was educated in the public schools and at the age of 
eleven was at the bundle desk in Frear's store ; one year later he entered the employ 
of Elias Corben as an apprentice where he served his apprenticeship as a tailor; he 
then worked at his trade for David Bastable. Montague & Co., Julius Saul and 
others for a period of ten years, and in March, 1884, commenced business for him- 
self in the Ingraham building corner of Fifth avenue and Grand street; and after 
closing business there and in other locations, in 1893 he removed to his present tail- 
oring establishment at No. 24 Third street. He belongs to the Troy Yacht Club, 
Riverside Club, and is president of the Iroquois French Republican Club, of Troy 



236 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

and vicinity. He married, April 12, 1886, Mis.s Marj' Francis Moldone, by whom he 
has had two daughters, Frances and Emilie, and one son, who died at the age of 
four years and six months. 

Springer, George Martin, born on the farm where he now resides, March 17, 1833, 
is the son of Jacob, jr., and Mary (Smith) Springer; Jacob, sr., son of Hendrick, who 
was one of the early settlers, was captured by the Indians when fourteen years of 
age in 1755 and carried to Canada where he was held captive for four years when he 
escaped. Jacob, sr.'s children were Henry, Lodewick, Fannie, Jacob, jr., George, 
Maria, Martin and Catherine. The children of Jacob, jr., were Maria, Paul, Jacob 
H., George M., Charles, Daniel and John. Jacob, jr., was a public spirited man and 
was much interested in schools and churches of which he was a liberal supporter and 
was much respected by all his neighbors. George M. spent his life on the farm and 
was associated with his father in business until 1855 when his father died. From 
1855 to 1860 George M. and Jacob H. ran the farm, since which time it has been run 
by George M. George M. is actively interested in education and school work and 
for the past thirty-five years has been school trustee ; also in church and religious 
work. January 11, 1860, he married Lucia, daughter of Jonas and Christina McChes- 
ney, and has two children, Lewis H., who is a graduate of the Rensselaer Polytechnic 
Institute of Troy; Willard E., who married Alice L. Ives, December 14, 1887, and 
now resides in Troy. 

Snook, William A., was born in the town of Sand Lake, in December, 1839; the 
great-grandfather came from Dutchess county, N. Y. , to Sand Lake about the time 
of "the Revolutionary war; he reared two sons and two daughters. Tunius, the 
grandfather, was born in Sand Lake in about 1788, where he spent his life as a 
farmer; his wife was Catherine Snyder; to them were born si.K children: Cornelius, 
John, Catherine, Hannah, Charity and Susan ; they both lived to be ninety-two 
years of age. Cornelius, the father, was born in Sand Lake and spent his whole 
life on his father's homestead, which he came in possession of at his death. His 
wife was Anna Uline, who was born in Sand Lake and daughter of John and Maria 
Uline; their children were Rachel (deceased), William A., John U., Adaline, David, 
Caroline (deceased) and Harriet. He died in 1868 and his wife died in 1880. Will- 
iam A. Snook remained with his father until twenty-two years of age, when he em- 
barked for himself on a farm in West Sand Lake in partnership with his uncle, 
where he remained for four years. In 1865 he married Mary Sliter, daughter of 
William and Eliza (Bellinger) Sliter, and removed to his present farm of 120 acres in 
Poestenkill, where he has since resided. He has officiated as justice for twenty-four 
consecutive years, which office he now holds. He is an active member of the Patrons 
of Industry of West Sand Lake Lodge of about 200 members. He is of German an- 
cestry. In politics he is a staunch Democrat. 

Smith, James Watson, born in the town of Brunswick, October 24, 1842, is the 
son of Edward and Julia Smith ; Edward a son of Peter and Elizabeth Smith, and 
Peter son of William Smith, who came from Columbia county, N.Y., with his family 
and settled on the Van Rensselaer tract. William had two children, Peter and 
William, jr. ; they followed general and pioneer farming. Peter had three children ; 
Edward, William P. and George. By occupation George was a carpenter. He was 
a veteran of the late Rebellion in the 169th Regment, Co. D. William and Edward 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 237 

followed farming. Edward has three children: Catherine E., James W. and Carrie. 
James W. married Martha, daughter of Michael Earl and has one child, Julia, wife 
of Jacob M. Springer. Edward is public-spirited. He is actively interested in 
schools and churches, also town and county affairs. James Watson Smith's life has 
been spent on the farm, also deals in live stock. He is much interested in all affairs 
of the town and county and is active in school and educational interests. 

Springer, Paul, born in the town of Brunswick, February 2, 1826, is the son of 
Jacob and Mary (Smith) Springer, who had seven children, Maria, Paul, Jacob H. 
(died in April, 1896), George M., Charles, Daniel and John. Jacob was a native of 
Brunswick and a son of Jacob, sr., who was taken captive by Indians when fourteen 
years of age and carried to Canada, where he remained four years before he es- 
caped. Martin, brother of Jacob, jr., was a member of assembly in 1832. Jacob, 
jr., was a public-spirited man and took an active part in all affairs of his town. 
Paul in early life worked on the farm with his father. When about twenty-one 
years of age he taught school three terms. December 18, 1850, he married Eveline 
Barringer and has two children: Henry F. (married Millie Colehamer and they 
have one child, Frank P.), and Etta, wife of H. Wilber Hayner, who have one child, 
Edith. Paul is active in town affairs. He has been supervisor, justice of sessions, 
ju.stice of the peace, highway commissioner and trustee of schools twenty-eight 
years. 

Sheer, Jacob, son of John and Rosina (Sperber) Sheer, was born in Sand Lake, 
April 7, 1845, and has always resided in the town and is now one of its most suc- 
cessful farmers. He has a farm of 110 acres and makes a specialty of berry culture 
besides his farming. Mr. Sheer runs threshing machinery during the season. His 
first eight years' of business on his own account was at hay pressing. In 1872 Mr. 
Sheer married Margaret E., daughter of Christopher and Catharine (Watteni5augh) 
Welker; they have two sons, Irving C. and Elmer J. Mr. Sheer is a Democrat and 
has been three terms collector ; they support the M. E. church and are both mem- 
bers of the P. of I., West Sand Lake 

Sheer, John, was born in Germany in 1811. He is a son of Peter and Mary (Hehn) 
Sheer, who lived and died in Germany. Mr. Sheer came to America in 1837 and 
settled in Sand Lake and purchased a farm of seventy acres which he paid for and 
carried until 1890, when being too advaned in age for active business, he sold and 
retired but still resides on the farm. In 1839 he married Rosina Sperber, who emi- 
grated from Germany to Sand Lake in 1838. Mr. and Mrs. Sheer have eight chil- 
dren, four of whom survive and reside in Sand Lake: Mrs. Margaret Granger, Mrs. 
Mahala Beaker, Mrs. Mary Hayner, and Jacob. 

Worden, Hon. L. E., a man of social as well as political prominence at Hoosick 
Falls, has devoted much of his life to the service of his country. In the- battlefield 
or in the legislature his power and activity have been manifested. Before fifteen 
years old he enlisted in Company B, 16th N. Y. Heavy Artillery and saw two years' 
service, participating in some of the greatest battles but remaining unhurt. He has 
since represented the town in the Board of Supervisors twice, and twice represented 
the First district in the Assembly. While there he introduced a bill prohibiting the 
making of shirts, collars and cuffs in the penal institutions of the State, which be- 



238 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

came a law. Though he was born at Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1849, he was reared 
in Lloyd, Ulster county, N. Y., son of manufacturer of agricultural implements. His 
early enlistment limited the period of his education, and after the war he learned 
the carpenter's trade. He became an able builder at Bath-on-the-Hudson, and came 
here in 1880. In 188:5 he joined the well known firm of Easton & Rising, now Easton, 
Rising & Worden, leading dealers in lumber, coal and wood. They also deal in a 
varied line of hardware, bicycles and agricultural implements, besides the building, 
which is an important branch of the enterprise. 

Adams, Jacob V., born where he now resides, May 18, 1822, is the son of Jacob 
and Nancy Adams, and he a son of Elisha, who came from Connecticut with his 
father. Elisha married Alida Vanderheyden, and had a family of ten children : he 
was a farmer as well as his son, Jacob V.; his children were Hester A., Elisha, 
Alderman, Elizabeth, Jacob V. and Mary A. ; he was a public spirited man, interested 
in church work as well as town and county affairs; he was assessor, overseer of the 
poor, etc. ; he died May 7, 1857. Jacob V. has followed farming. In 1849 he married 
Harriet, daughter of John J. Goodell, and has three children, Charles, Jennie and 
Fred. His second wife was Candace Densmore, daughter of Oliver Farbell, and has 
one child, Albert L. Jacob V. has been active in town and county affairs; he was 
assessor twelve years, highway commissioner six years, and much interested in ed- 
ucation and school work. 

Abbott, Elisha P., was born in the town of Brunswick, July 25, 1828. He is a 
son of Jonas and Harriet (St. John) Abbott, and Jonas was a son of Judd, who came 
from Long Island. Judd's children were Jonas, Uriah, Ira, Debora Ann, Jerusha, 
Sally, Judd, Mathias, Roxy and Harry. Judd followed pioneer and general farming, 
and was a hard working and industrious man. His son Jonas was a farmer by oc- 
cupation and lived near where Elisha P. Abbott now lives. His children are Ruth 
C, Lydia M., Melissa C, Amelia and Elisha P. Elisha's life has been spent on the 
farm, a'nd when about twenty-five years old he married Juliette, daughter of John 
and Elizabeth (McChesney) Dater, and has two children: Julia Frances and Willard 
D., who married Lillie Bonesteel and resides on the home farm. Elisha P. is active 
in school, church, and all town and county affairs. He was highway commissioner 
for nine years. In politics he is a Republican and is an attendant of the Presbyterian 
church. 

Betts, Joseph B., born near where he now resides August 12, 1821, is the son of 
Thomas and Catherine (Wheeler) Betts. Thomas was a son of Nathan who came 
from Norwalk, Conn., with his family about 1785 and kept a hotel near where Rich- 
ard Derrick now lives; they had three children, Thomas, Burwell and Nathan. 
Thomas followed farming; his children were Esther, Edward, Azubah, Marj- A., 
Jane Ann, Joseph B. ; Thomas was a Quaker and took great interest in religious 
work, also was active in town and county affairs; he was overseer of the poor, asses- 
sor, etc. In early life Joseph B. attended the district school winters and farmed 
summers, which occupation he has followed to the present time. He has been over- 
seer of the poor three terms. October 26, 1841, he married Sarah E. Clum and has 
five children, Thomas A., Maria A., Clarence E., Caroline (). and Frances O. 

Barber, jr., George, was born in East Poestenkill in 1848. Israel Barber, his 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 239 

great-grandfather, was a native of Rhode Island, born in 1761 ; his wife Permelia 
was born in 1767; they removed to Poestenkill in the early part of this century and 
settled where Barberville now is; here he cleared him a farm and made a home in 
the wilderness; their family consisted of eight sons and four daughters: Israel, 
Nathan, Thomas, Benjamin, David, William, Martin, John, Rhoda, Permelia, Eliza- 
beth, and Lucy; he died April 1, 1813,and his wife died August 7, 1818. Benjamin, 
his grandfather, was born in Rhode Island in 1808 and came to Poestenkill with his 
father; he became a tavern keeper and merchant in Barberville, where he spent all 
his business life; his wife was Selisa Sayles, who was born in 1809; they reared two 
sons and two daughters; he died in July, 1864, and his wife died in April, 1857. 
George, the father of our subject, was born in Poestenkill in 1827, and while a young man 
followed teaching ; later he settled in East Poestenkill and engaged in the general 
mercantile business, which he followed a number of years and then resumed teach- 
ing, which he followed principally the balance of his life ; he filled the office of jus- 
tice of the peace for many years, being first elected to that office soon after he be- 
came twenty-one years of age, and was still justice at the time of his death in 1893 ; 
he was also assessor for a number of years; he was a member of the Masonic fra- 
ternity; his wife was Alzina, a daughter of Roswell and Harriet Brunson, who was 
born in Poestenkill; their children are George, jr., and Alzonzo; his wife survives 
him and resides in Poestenkill. George, jr., was educated in the common schools 
and the Poughkeepsie Business College, from which he was graduated when twenty 
years of age. The following year he engaged in the general mercantile business in 
East Poestenkill in a store belonging to his father. With the exception of one year, 
which he spent in Troy as a clerk in a store, he has conducted this business ever 
since. For a number of years he was extensively engaged in the manufacture of 
shirts by contract, doing work for Troy and New York parties. After the death of 
his father he was appointed to fill his unexpired term of justice, and after that he 
was elected to that office and is now filling the same. He is a member of the Ma- 
sonic fraternity. King Solomon Lodge of Troy. He has held the office of clerk of 
his district for a number of years. In 1867 Mr. Barber married Augusta R., daugh- 
ter of Martin Niles, who was born in the town of Berlin. Their children are Mrs. 
Hattie Herrington of Poestenkill, and Harry. Mr. Barber has held the office of 
postmaster several terms and is now assistant postmaster, with office in his store. 

Cottrell, William C, was born in the town of Greenfield, Saratoga count}-, October 
23, 1858, and is a son of James who was born in Poestenkill in February, 1814. 
Samuel Cottrell, the great-grandfather of William C. , was a resident of Roxbury, 
Mass., and though not a soldier he rendered great active service to the Revolution- 
ary army and participated in some of the skirmishes; it is said he hauled the first 
load of earth used in building the embankment at Bunker Hill; a portion of his 
house was used as a barricade. John Cottrell, the grandfather of William C, settled 
in Poestenkill about 1809. He cleared the farm and made him a home, did an ex- 
tensive lumber business and owned an interest in a saw mill; in 1810 he married 
Sarah Davitt; they reared five sons and four daughters; he was born December 15, 
1776, and died August 10, 1842; his wife was born in 1788 and died September 8, 
1869; their children were George, born May 6, 1812; James, born February 13, 1814; 
Mary J., born January 13, 1817; Sally A., born November 14, 1818; John C, born 



240 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

January 26, 1821; William L., born October 26, 1823; Amasa, born June 6, 1825; 
Eleanor M., born July 26, 1831. The early life of James, the father of William C, 
was devoted to farming and lumbering ; he kept a store a short time during the late 
war; he has served his town as highway commissioner, collector and held other offii.es; 
his wife was Betsey A. Simmons, born in Poestenkill and daughter of Jacob Sim- 
mons; to them were born children as follows: Mary, born September 28, 1837, died 
January 29, 1889; John J., born July 29, 1839, died April 6, 1843; Lewis J. and Lois 
J. (twins), born Sept. 11, 1843; Sally A., born Sept. 1, 1848, died July 3, 1857; Will- 
iam C, born Oct. 23, 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Cottrell are now residing near the village 
of Poestenkill ; he oversees his own farm and is very active. William C. Cottrell re- 
ceived a common school education and began life for himself when twenty-two as a 
farmer, which business he has followed successfully to the present time. In 1880 he 
purchased his present farm of 100 acres and conducted a milk and dairy bu.siness for 
some years. In 1893 he engaged in the general mercantile business in Poestenkill 
village, in connection with which he superintends bis farm. In March, 1895, he re- 
'ceived his appointment as postmaster of Poestenkill. In politics he is a Democrat 
and served his town as collector for three years. He is a member of the Odd Fel- 
lows, Lodge No. 704, af which he has been secretary. In 1887 he married Mary E. 
Snow, who was born in Batchellorville, Saratoga county, and daughter of Winslow 
E. and Cordelia M. (Jones) Snow; to this union were born three children: Bessie, 
born November 30, 1889 (died December, 1895), Raymond W., born June 14, 1891 
(died March, 1892), and Ervvin Judson, born August 6, 1895. 

Carner, Frank H. — Mr. C. was born September 13, 1856, in the town of East 
Greenbush, and is a son of John G. Carner and Sarah Harvey, who were engaged in 
farming. Mr. C. at the age of sixteen entered " The People's Academy " at Morris- 
ville, Vt., from which he graduated, after which he engaged as manager of a flour- 
ing mill business, in which he continued ten years. December 25, 1879, he married 
Miss Cleora V. Cross, daughter of James and Abigail Cross of Sterling, Vt. In 1885 
he moved to Brunswick and has resided there since, in the eastern part of the town, 
where he has one of the finest dwellings in that section. Mr. C. is interested in re- 
ligious, educational and other matters that are for the town's best interest. He has 
held various town offices and is now serving his third term as assessor. Mr. C. is 
prominently connected with the Masonic fraternity, being an active member of Mt. 
Vernon Lodge and Tucker Chapter of Morrisville, Mt. Zion Commandery K. T., 
Montpelier, and Order of Highpriesthood at Burlington, Vt., having been at the 
head of most of these organizations. During the year 1884 Mr. C. held the office of 
grand king of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Vermont. Mrs. C. is also 
a prominent member of the order of the Eastern Star, having been associate grand 
matron for Vermont in 1884. 

Clum, Sanford, born in Brunswick, December 28, 1848, is the son of Conrad and 
Rebecca Clum. Conrad was a pioneer and general farmer; he was much interested 
in temperance work as well as churches and schools; he was charitable, social and 
highly respected by all his friends and neighbors. Sanford's early education was a 
common school one. He afterwards graduated from Eastman's Business College at 
Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He is a farmer and associated with his father until he died, 
June 12, 1876. He married Etta, a daughter of Abraham Bulson, and has three 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 241 

children, Friend M., Cora E., and Waldo S. Conrad's children were Isaac, John H., 
Ira, David, Alviah, Charles M., Henrietta, Sanford, Jacob, Ella, Willie and Myron. 

Clum, Orlin J., born in the town of Brunswick, July 11, 1845, is the son of James 
D. and Christina (Brust) Blum. James M. was a blacksmith and was interested m 
all public enterprises, such as schools and churches, also town and county affairs; 
he was constable and deputy sheriff; August 5, 1865, he enlisted as a drum major 
under Col. Brust. Orlin J. started to learn the blacksmith trade when sixteen years 
of age which he has followed to the present time. He was associated with his father 
until he died, August 21, 1875, at fifty-seven years of age. June oO, 1868, he married 
Josephine, daughter of Nelson Rifenburgh, and has one child, Edna. He was 
formerly active in town and county affairs. He has been collector aud excise com- 
missioner. 

Collison, Francis C, was born on the farm where he now resides, April 3, 1840. 
He was a son of Francis C. and Betsey (Collins) Collison, he a son of Francis C. and 
Mary Collison, who came here and took up the homestead and followed pioneer 
farming. Their children are Jane Keis Orcutt, Mary McChesnej^ Francis C, 
James, John L. , Eliza Chase, and Catherine Coons. He was public spirited and 
actively interested in all public enterprises. The children of Francis C. are Francis 
C. (deceased), Robert (deceased), Francis C. and Mary Elizabeth (deceased). Francis 
C. attended district school and Poestenkill Academy. He was associated with his 
father until his death, which occurred October 17, 1883. Since then he has carried 
on farming. January 11, 1866, he married Lottie McChesney, who died, and No- 
vember 27, 1872, he married Harriet F. Link. He is public spirited and is interested 
in all worthy enterprises, such as schools, churches, and town and county affairs. 
Mrs. Collison is a member of the Presbyterian church. 

Ives, jr., Garrett, was born in the town of Wynantskill in 18G0, and is the son»of 
Garrett, sr. Lazarus Ives, the great-great-grandsire of Garrett, jr., was born in 
Wales in 1733; he was one of three brothers, Lazarus, John and Benjamin, who came 
to America when young men; the former settled in the town of Sand Lake; he 
reared two sons (Lazarus and Christopher) and three daughters; he died in 1812; his 
wife, Lydia Gremes, died in 1824 at the age of eighty-three. Christopher was born 
in the town of Sand Lake in 1764; he was a farmer and his sons were Jacob, Abijah. 
Ransom, Truman and John; he also reared several daughters; he died in 1830. 
Jacob was born in the town of Poestenkill in 1789; he was a farmer and lumberman ; 
he was a great wrestler when a young man ; in 1848 he removed to the western part 
of the State, in 1851 removed to Illinois, were he died in 1853; his wife was Olive 
Ouackenbush; she died in 1849. Garrett, sr., was born in Poestenkill, May, 1825; 
in early live he was in the charcoal business; he later engaged in the meat business 
and was drover for some years. About I860 he purchased the Union Hotel in the 
village of Poestenkill, which he conducted as a temperance house; in connection with 
this he conducted a grocery store; he was later interested extensively in the lumber- 
ing business and for four years owned an interest in a sawmill; he was then for 
eight years engaged in the dairying and milk business; in his later years he has 
devoted his attention to his seventy-five acre farm near the village; in 1865 he was 
one of the building committee who erected the present Lutheran church in the vil- 



242 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

lage of Poestenkill, and was the heaviest cash contributor toward the building; in 
1846 he was married to Miss Emily Streeter, who was born in Wilmington, Vt., in 
June, 1825; she is a daughter of Eri and Lucy C. (Sykes) Streeter; their children are 
Mrs. Mary E. Colehamer, Sydney V., Mrs. Ella C. McChesney and Garrett, jr. Salem 
Streeter, the grandfather of Mrs. Ives, was a soldier and died on his way home from 
the war; his wife, Margaret Rogers, and son, Eri, survived him ; his maternal grand- 
parents were Samuel and Lucy (Leonard) Sykes ; the mother of Lucy, who was Lucy, 
lived to be 100 years old. Garrett Ives, jr., remained at his father's home till 
twenty-one ; he received his education in the common schools and Troy Business 
College, from which he was graduated ; he then engaged in farming and milk busi- 
ness for himself, selling his milk in Troy ; he owns a farm of eighty acres, and in 
1891 he removed to the farm of his father-in-law, which he has since conducted ; he 
is a successful breeder of Jersey cattle and keejjs a dairy of twenty cows, selling his 
cream \o the Brunswick Creamery Association of which he is president. In politics 
Mr. Ives is a Republican, now .serving his third year as assessor. He is a promjnent 
member of the order of Odd Fellows, Poestenkill Lodge No. 704, of which he has 
been secretary and is now chaplain ; he is a member of the Patrons of Industry, is 
trustee of the Lutheran Evangelical church of Poestenkill, and treasurer of the 
Christian Endeavor Society of which he and his wife are members. In 1881 he mar- 
ried Miss Alice Clickner, daughter of Jacob and Lydia A (Ives) Clickner; they have 
one child, Eva C. 

Hunt, Eugene Mortimer, was born in Washington county, N \^. , in 1800. He is a 
son of Thomas Hunt, who was born in England in 1838; he was one of seven sons 
born to Russell Hunt, who was a blacksmith and who lived and died in England; 
the sons all came to America ; the mother made ladies' shoes in England and also 
afterwards came to America; she lived in Fort Ann, Washington county, and re- 
sided with her sou Thomas, with whom she spent her last days and died at the age 
of ninety-eight. Thomas, the father of Mr. Hunt, came to America about 1855 and 
settled in Fort Ann, Washington county. He was a tailor by trade, which bu.si- 
ness he followed for a number of years; he then removed to Troy, where he en- 
gaged for a short time in the liquor business, and then removed to Fort Ann and 
resumed his tailoring, which he followed until the time of his death in 1895; he was 
constable for seven years and poormaster for five years; his wife was Elizabeth 
Batey, who was born in Port Kent, N. Y. ; she was a daughter of George and Ann 
Batey ; the latter lived to be eighty-eight years of age ; their children were Eugene 
M., Jennie, Minnie, Thomas, jr., and Nelson; the mother now resides at Glens 
Falls, N. Y. Eugene M. Hunt began life for himself at the age of si.xtecn. He en- 
tered the employ of the Delaware and Hudson Railroad Company as brakeman, re- 
maining there for seven years. He then engaged in the retail liquor business in 
Troy, where he remained in active business until April, 1895, when he removed to 
the village of Poestenkill and purchased his present hotel property which he has 
since conducted and enjoys a good trade. While in the city of Troy he manifested 
an active interest in the political affairs of the city and was elected to the office of 
alderman of the Second ward for one term. In 1890 he married Mrs. Lena (Moore) 
Furlong; she was born in Poestenkill and was a daughter of Henry Moore; they 
have one child, Martin William. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 243 

Sheary, Michael F., was born m Troy, N. Y., March 26, 1806. His father is Law- 
rence Sheary of Troy, for many years connected with Rusher & Co. in the brewery. 
Michael F. was graduated from the Troy High School in 1884. He then entered 
the Manufacturer's Bank where he stayed for ten years, working his way from a 
clerk to head bookkeeper. He was appointed postmaster of Tro}^ by President 
Cleveland, May 29, 1894. He was the first to occupy the new Government building, 
which had been erected at the cost of $500,000. He is a member of the Troy Citizens 
Corps and the Laureate Boat Club, and a director m and auditor for the Boutwell 
Milling and Grain Company. Mr. Sheary was also one of the organizers of the 
Pioneer Building and Loan Association and served as auditor thereof for three years. 

Bonesteel, Howard F. , M. D., was born in Troy in 1868. He is the son of Dr. 
William M. Bonesteel, who was born in Brunswick, and came to Troy about 1860 
and began practice in 1863. He has been county and jail physician. His mother, 
Frances (Fox) Bonesteel, is the daughter of the late Rev. Robert Fox, a prominent 
divine of the State. Dr. Bonesteel was educated at the public and high schools of 
Troy, was graduated from the Albany Medical College in 1889, and later spent three 
months in the Post-graduate School in New York city, then opened practice in Troy 
in 1890. He is a member of the New York State Medical Society of Troy and 
Vicinity. He has been city physician for the lower district four years. July, 1890, 
he married Miss Hattie McCormick of Indian Lake, Hamilton county, N. Y., by 
whom he has two sons, Elmer and Ralph. 

Buchanan, jr., Archibald, M. D., was born in Albany, N. Y., April 3, 1866. His 
father, Archibald Buchanan, sr., was born in Scotland, came to this country and 
settled in Albany in 1862, afterwards removing to Troy. During the war he served 
as first lieutenant in the 125th N. Y. Vols. His mother, Janet (Muir) Buchanan, was 
born in Glasgow, Scotland. Dr. Buchanan attended the common schools, worked 
for a number of years, and then entered Albany Medical College from which he \fas 
graduated in 1895. He opened an office at 128 Third street where he since has been 
succes.sfuUy engaged in the practice of his profession. He is a member of Rensse- 
laer County Medical Society, of which he is secretary. He was married in April, 
1896, to Miss Hattie E. Mack of Troy. 

Brown, Elias A., M. D., was born in Mannsville, Jefferson county, N. Y., January 
31, 1864. He received a common school education and was graduated from the 
academy at Sandy Creek, afterwards entering the Medical Department of the Uni- 
versity of the City of New York, from which he was graduated in 1892. He then 
came to Troy and began the practice of his profession; he is now located at 1649 
Fifth avenue corner of State street, where he since has been successfully engaged. 
He belongs to the Rensselaer County Medical Society, and the Medical Association 
of Troy and Vicinit}'. 

Smith, Adam R., was born in Troy, N. Y., October 20, 1826, of Massachusetts 
parentage and puritan descent. He is the son of Adam and Ruth (Reed) Smith, 
both natives of Massachusetts and residents of South Reading (now Wakefield); they 
became residents of Troy in 1816; here Mr. Smith became a manufacturer of mill- 
stones, at which he prospered; both died in Troy. Adam R. was educated in a pri- 
vate school in Troy and for a period in New York city, and in the years 1842 and 



244 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

1843 in the Troy Polytechnic Institute. He became discount clerk in the Com- 
mercial Bank in Troy, January, 1846. He was made treasurer of the Troy Savings 
Bank in 1851, but went back to the Commercial Bank the same year as teller. He 
was made teller of the Union Bank in 1858 and cashier in 18T0. Of all the persons 
in Trov connected with banks in any official capacity since 1846, he is, since the 
death of William Gay, the only one who still continues in office. Prior to the Re- 
bellion he was a Democrat, but since that time he has been identified with the Re- 
publican party. Mr. Smith was made trustee and treasurer of the Oakwood Cem- 
etery Association in 1868, and in 1870 was made president, which office he still holds. 
He has been an official of that association longer than any other person except John 
Hobart Warren, whose election antedates Mr. Smith's by seven years. Mr. Warren 
resigned in 1894, leaving Mr. Smith the oldest official. 

Myers, Charles G., D. D. S., was born in North Grecnbush, November 15, 1868, 
and is a son of John S. and Sarah (Gordinier) Myers, l)(»tli of Brunswick, Rensselaer 
count J'. His father is a farmer of North Greenbush, where he has resided since 1852. 
The great grandfather of Dr. Myers on the paternal side came from Holland to Rens- 
selaer county at an early day; his son Lodewick was born, lived and died in this 
county; he had eleven children, five sons and six daughters. John S. was the third 
son, born April 5, 1824; he stayed on his father's farm until his twenty-eighth year, 
at which time he married and moved to North Greenbush. On the maternal side 
Dr. Myers can trace his ancestrj^ back to his great-great-grandfather, Hendrick 
Gordinier, who came from Holland and was one of the first settlers of Rensselaer 
county; he was a miller and blacksmith ; he received a grant of land of 800 acres 
from Patroon Van Rensselaer, for whom he worked; during the Revolutionary war 
he raised a company (1776) of which he was captain, and served in Col. Philip Schuy- 
ler's regiment. His son, Henry Gordinier, married a Miss Vanderheyden, one of 
the first families of Troy, by whom he had five children John, the youngest, was 
the grandfather of our subject, and was a farmer as had been his forefathers; he 
married Elizabeth Bonesteel of Gra'ton in 1832, by whom he had eight children, 
Sarah being the eldest daughter. Dr. M^'ers was educated in the Troj' Academy 
and entered the University of Maryland at Baltimore, from which he was graduated 
in dentistry in 1890. He came to Troy the same year and practiced dentistry with 
George Woolsey, under the firm name of Myers & Woolsey, and in 1892 Woolsey 
retired from the firm. In 1892 Dr. Myers remoyed from No. 44 Third street to No. 
92 Fourth street, where he is now located. He is a member of the Third Di.strict 
Dental Society, and is also a member of Apollo Lodge F. & A. M., and is a member 
of the East Side Club, the Trojan Wheelmen's Club, and of the League of American 
Wheelmen. In June, 1895, he married Maria Myers, daughter of James H. and 
Harriet Peckham Myers of Troy. 

McCulloch, William A., has been a resident of the town since 1832. He was born 
February 14, 1810, and is a son of Hathorn McCulloch, who emigrated from Scot- 
land in 1803 and died in 1859. Mr. McCulloch resides upon a portion of a tract of 
land situated about one mile and a half from the village of Greenbush upon which, 
during the war of 1812, extensive barracks were erected, making it the chief military 
station near the northern frontier during that contest with the mother country, and, 
measurably, historic ground. The tract was purchased from the United States gov- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 245 

ernment in the year 1831, by Hathorn McCulloch above mentioned, after whose 
decease the portion not disposed of during his hfetime to William A. McCulloch, was 
divided between his grandchildren, William H. Kirtlandand Mrs. Augusta G. Genet. 
Mrs. Genet is the wife of George C. Genet, a son of Edmond C. Genet, minister 
plenipotentiary of the French Republic to the United States in 1793, who lived for 
many years and until his death in this town. Mr. and Mrs. Genet make use of their 
portion of the tract as a summer residence, while Mr. McCulUjch, since his retirement 
from active business pursuits, occupies his portion continuously. Mr. McCulloch 
was reared and educated in the city of Albany. In 1841 he married Caroline M., 
daughter of William Aiken, one of the founders of the village of Greenbush. To them 
were born three children : William H., a lawyer by profession, died in New Mexico. 
His surviving sons, Aiken and Walter B., are both residents of East Greenbush. 

Connolly, Prof. Edward J., was born in Albany, April 13, 1831. His father, John 
Connolly, was born in New York and was a manufacturer of carriage trimmings, 
and removed to Troy in 1839 and later started a saddlery hardware store on Broad- 
way; he possessed a fine tenor voice and directed the choir of St. Mary's and after- 
wards at St. Peter's churches; he died in 1873. His mother, Emilie Berault, was 
born in New York and died in 1887. Edward J. received his education in the public 
schools and Troy Academy, and when about ten years of age began to take lessons 
on the piano, and commenced his career as organist of St. Mary's church at the age 
of thirteen. When twenty-one years of age he went to New York and was the or- 
ganist at St. Ann's for a number of years. Afterwards he was choirmaster and or- 
ganist of the old Broadway Tabernacle, the Reformed church (corner Fifth avenue 
and Twenty-first street) the Fifth Avenue Baptist church, and organist and pianist 
of the Plarmonic Society of New York city. In 1873 he returned to Troy and for a 
short time was in business with his father, but returned to New York in 1879. He 
was the first and only musical director of the Troy Vocal Society ; he still holds that 
position which he has filled for twenty consecutive yeans. He has been organist and 
choirmaster of Christ church since his return to Troy in 1891, In 1869 he was mar- 
ried to Alice M. Harrison of New York city, where she was at that time a prominent 
soprano. They have three daughters and two sons. 

Steenberg, Col. George Taylor, was born in Middletown, Saratoga county. His 
father, Jonathan Steenberg, was a tailor by trade, and later a carpenter and builder; 
he died in Cohoes in 1883. His mother, Jane Taylor Steenberg, was born in Sara- 
toga county and died March 10, 1880. Col. George T. Steenberg was educated in the 
public schools at Waterford and Middletown, Saratoga county. He came to Troy Sep- 
tember 1, 1851, and served three years as an apprentice in learning the trade of barber 
with Thomas Rath. In 1855 he started in business for himself in Rand's Hall, cor- 
ner of Third and Congress streets, remaining three years. In 1858 he Jeased the 
stock and fixtures of Thomas Rath, 8 Third street, for a term of years and after- 
wards bought the property where he carried on the barber business until 1884. He 
then engaged in the grocery businels at the corner of Broadway and Fifth avenue. 
He returned to his old business at the Troy House for two years, then took a lease 
for a number of years of the Mansion House barber shop and bath rooms on Broad- 
way. He joined the old Troy Citizens Corps, February 33, 1853, as a private. Au- 
gust 4, 1858, he was appointed and commissioned by Gov. John A. King as surgeon's 



246 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

mate on the staff of Col. Henry A. Mercer, commanding the 24th Regt. N. G. S. 
N. Y. June 10, 1859, he was promoted to quartermaster by Gov. E. D. Morgan ; 
elected major of the 24th Regiment June 4, 1860; elected lieuteuant-colonel of the 
24th Regiment August 2, 18G7; commissioned by Gov. Reuben E. Fenton; elected 
colonel of the 24th Regiment January fi, 1869, commissioned with rank by Gov. John 
T. Hoffman ; resigned in 1874. April 15, 1878, he was elected a captain of the old 
Troy City Artillery (afterwards known as the Fourth Battery, N. G. S. N. Y.) He 
was connected over thirty years with the National Guard of the State of New York, 
and at the present time is a member of the Old Guard, Senior Company, Troy Citi- 
zen's Corps. He served his time in the Fire Department of Troy, having belonged 
to the General Wool Hose and Arba Reed Steamer companies. He represented the 
Arba Reed Steamer Co No. 1 in the board of trustees of the Troy Fire Department 
in 1879. He is also active in Odd Fellowship, being past grand of Trojan Lodge 
No 27, L O. O. F. He was deputy sheriff under sheriffs James McKeon, Eben C. 
Reynolds and C. Y. Collins. February 11, 1856, he married Julia H., daughter of 
Harvey Mosher. His children are George C, Walter S. and Delia G. Steenberg. 

Boetcher, John, was born in the province of Brandenburg, Germany, March 11, 
1841, and through his father, who followed the business of gardening, he became 
early in life acquainted with his present vocation. In 1865 he emigrated to this 
country, making Cincinnati, Ohio, his tirst stopping place. Here he perfected his 
studies in landscape gardening and all branches of cemetery work, under the late 
Adolph Strauch, superintendent and landscape gardener of Spring Grove Cemetery, 
Cincinnati. In 1871 Mr. Boetcher came to Troy and a.ssumed the duties of superin-. 
tendent of Oakwood Cemetery. About a year after his arrival in Troy he married 
Miss Johanna, daughter of the late Henry Miller of Troy, and they have two sons 
and two daughters, of whom Anna, the eldest, is married to Otto Lehman. The 
surroundings of Oakwood Cemetery were by nature far from attractive, but the 
artistic skill of Mr. Boetcher has created beauties which make it an open temple of 
art. Mr. Boetcher is a member of the different Masonic bodies of Troy and belongs 
to several German organizations. 

Van Hoesen, Earnest N., was born near South Schodack, September 7, 1858. He 
was educated in public schools and at Claverack. Until 1887 he was interested in 
the farming at home. In that year he came to Castleton as a clerk in the for- 
warding business with Rudd &' Yan Bleet. In 1891 he bought out Van Bleet and 
the firm was Budd &- Van Hoesen, until the spring of 1895 when the present firm of 
Van Hoesen & Morey was formed. In June, 1894, Mr. Van Hoesen married Lotta Van 
Denburgh, a native of the town of Schodack. Mr. \'an Hoesen's parents were John 
I. and Catherine E. (Smith) Van Hoesen. On both sides his ancestors were Holland- 
ers. By superior business and ability Mr. Van Hoesen has advanced to the head of 
one of the best forwarding houses on the Hudson, and his name is respected every- 
where. 

f 

Miller, John, was born in the town of Schodack, June 5, 1831, and has been inter- 
ested in farming all his lifetime. In 1869 he purchased the freighting business from 
Downer & Harder, which he still conducts under the firm name of John Miller & 
Son. In 1851 Mr. Miller married Matilda Austrander; they have one son, Stephen 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 247 

I. Miller, and his grandfather was John Miller, and his great grandfather was a 
Revolutionary soldier. His mother was Christina Lasher. John Miller & Son own 
the barge Chicago, which has a capacity of 347 tons, and they handle 'about 40, 000 
tons of freight annually. 

Schermerhorn, W. M., was born in the town of Schodack, September VA, 1869. 
He was educated at the Albany Academy and Eastman's Commercial College, 
Poughkeepsie, N. Y., from which he has a diploma. He first began business as a 
clerk in the Albany Hardware and Iron Co. Upon the death of his father, January 
31, 1893, he came into the business of Schermerhorn & Gardner, he and his brother 
Werdena J. Schermerhorn succeeding their father in that widely known establish- 
ment. On June 25, 1895, Mr. Schermerhorn married Annie Chichester of Chatham 
Center. He is a Mason and a member of both the Blue Lodge and Chapter. His 
parents were W. H. Schermerhorn and Lauretta (Baine) Schermerhorn. His grand- 
father, Jacob Schermerhorn was one of the early settlers in Schodack from Saratoga 
county. 

Schermerhorn, Nicholas N., was a carpenter by trade in his younger days at Scho- 
dack Landing. He then went into the grocery business in Castleton, and after 
seven years started the manufacture of bricks and continued so for about four years, 
when he embarked in the coal business and has conducted it ever since. In 1876 he 
built the lower dock in Castleton which he still owns and manages. He is also agent 
for all the Hudson steamers, and was formerly for the Eagle, Lotta, and Favorite. 
Mr. Schermerhorn was director in the Castleton National Bank, and was its vice- 
president for two years. He in 1853 married Lucy J. vStearns; their children are 
J. Stearns Schermerhorn, Mrs. J. W. McKnight, Mrs. Van Vleet Smith, and Mrs. C. 
D. Rodgers. Mr. Schermerhorn's parents were Abraham D. and Magdaline (Kittie) 
Schermerhorn, both of Holland descent. 

Franklin, Charles, was born in England, October 20, 1858, and came to America 
with his parents in 1869. They settled in Schodack and have resided here ever 
since. Charles Franklin followed farming for a while then embarked in the meat 
business, and for seven years has conducted a business of his own. His residence 
and shop is at Schodack Landing. He is an enterj^rising and prosperous business 
man. His parents, who are both living, are William and Elizabeth Franklin. 

Davenport, G. J., was born in the town of Dryden, Tomi)kins county, October 1, 
1849. He followed farming for a time there and then came to Schodack where he 
pursued the same occupation for some time. He then went into the meat business 
in which he was successful and prosecuted it until the summer of 1895 when he sold 
out. He has since started a hardware and notion store in his old stand. He is an 
active and enterprising business man and worthy of all success. He is a member of 
the Society of Odd Fellows. His parents were Warren and Eliza (Snyder) Daven- 
port. His grandfather, John G. Davenport, was a native of Washington county. 
Mr. Davenport is a Republican in politics but is liberal minded in this as on all 
other questions. In 1877 he married Anna C. Fallansbee, who died in June, 1893, 
leaving no children. 

Delavan, R. H., was born in New Lebanon, October 19, 1851, and worked for a 
few years on a farm. At the age of fourteen he began to learn his trade at Lebanon 



248 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Springs. In 1878 he embarked in business for him.self at Maiden Bridge and re- 
mained there ten years, when he established himself in Castleton, where he still con- 
ducts the harness and horse furnishing of this part of the county. In 1873 Mr. Del- 
avan married Alice Membcrt and they have five children, three sons and two daugh- 
ters, namely: Arthur, Walter, Ralf Nellie and Edith. Mr. Delavan's parents were 
Jeremiah and Judy (Criggs) Delavan. Mr. Delavan is a successful and enterprising 
business man who has been the architect of his own fortune and who stands well 
with his fellow citizens. 

Clark, Peter C, was born iu Chatham, Columbia county, N. Y., Sept. 7, 18;J1. He 
was a son of Robert B. and Catherine (Hare) Clark, he born in Chatham, and she in 
Schoharie county, N. Y. The grandfather of Mr. Clark was Ruloff Clark, an early 
settler of Chatham where he died; he was a Free Mason. The father of Mr. Clark 
was a Free Mason and a blacksmith. He spent his last days in Warren county, N. Y. 
Peter Clark was reared in Brockport, N. Y , and educated in the common schools. 
He is a blacksmith by trade, which trade he followed for twenty years; his health 
failing he went into the mercantile business in Castleton on a turnpike. He kept 
the Rens.selaerwyick Hotel at Castleton for ten years; previous to that time he was 
proprietor of a hotel at East Greeubush for six years. He is at present in the mer- 
cantile business. Mr. Clark was captain of Company C, 72d Regt. Vermont National 
Guards under Col. Miller and Col. J. R. Davis. 

Hover, Joseph L. , was born in Schodack, April 35, 1802 He was a son of Theo- 
dore and Francis (Cryne) Hover, she born in Castleton, N. Y., and he in Greene 
county. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Hover was Mr. Cryne, who was an 
early settler of Castleton, where he died. The grandfather of Mr. Hover was Lewis 
Hover, who also lived in Schodack, where he died in 1882. The father of Mr. 
Hover was a farmer of Schodack. He died November 9, 1894, and his wife died in 
June, 1889. Mr. Hover was reared and educated in Schodack and attended the 
Albany Business College. He first followed threshing, and in 1889 went to Niver- 
ville, N. Y. , and was baggage master for the B. & A., and in six months was given 
charge of the station at Schodack, which position he has held ever since. Mr. Hover 
has been inspector of election. He is a member of Sunnyside Lodge No. 731, F. & 
A. M December 10, 1884, he was married to Hattie E. Winnie, born in Albany, by 
whom two children have been born : Winne, born September 9, 1885; Lillian, born 
September 8, 1888. Mr. Hover owns the homestead of 116 acres of land. 

Miller, Charles L., was born in Schodack in 1852. He was a son of Henry and 
Jane E. (Roraback) Miller, both born in Schodack, he a son of Abram Miller, one 
of the early settlers of .Schodack. The maternal grandfather was Simeon G. Rora- 
back, who was al.so an early settler of Schodack. His father was a farmer. Mr 
Miller died and his widow lives in Schodack. Mr. Miller was reared and educated in 
Schodack. He went to South Schodack and was in the plum business and also in the 
packing of apples for a New York firm. He came to Schodack in March, 1889 and 
established a feed store. He was a buyer of hay and straw for Boston merchants. 
Mr. Miller was town clerk for two years. In 1880 he was married to Maggie Scher- 
merhorn, of Schodack, by whom four children have been born: Roy S. , Edna R., 
Leah J., and Mabel M. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 249 

Lansing, Jacob P., was born in Schodack, January 1, 1828. He is the son of Gar- 
rett and Magdaline (Potts) Lansing, he born in Schodack, the son of Everest O. 
The grandfather of Mr. Lansing Hved and died in Schodack. His father was a 
farmer. He was supervisor, town clerk, and a prominent man in his town. He 
died in 1864. His wife died in 1867. Jacob Lansing was reared and educated in his 
native town and East Greenbush. He follows farming, but was in Castleton for ten 
years in the freighting business. He owns a place known as the Simeon Ostrander 
farm and once known as the Bomi^barick farm, meaning " Tree Hill." Mr. Lansing 
has been supervisor for two years, and assessor for eight years, and now holds that 
office. He was married September 10, 1857, to Pauline D. Ostrander, daughter of 
Simeon, mentioned in this work. To Mr. Lansing and wife were born four children : 
Anna (deceased), Lucy A., Maxwell T., and Cornelia. 

Lewis, Oscar J., was born in Schodack, N. Y., December 15, 1848, in the house in 
which he now resides. He is a son of Jacob W. and Martha A. (Cryne) Lewis. He 
was born in Schodack and his wife in the same town. He is a son of William Lewis, 
a native of Schodack. William Lewis was a native of Holland, and came to Scho- 
dack in a very early day previous to the Revolutionary war. William Lewis made 
the shoes for the soldiers of the war of 1812. The father of Oscar J. Lewis was a 
farmer and in 1847 bought the hotel which Oscar J. Lewis now occupies and here 
lived and died in 1869; his widow is still living. He was justice of the peace 
several years and collector, and in 1835 was member of assembly. Oscar J. Lewis 
was reared and educated in Schodack, and was a speculator in farm produce for 
twelve years, shipping to New York and Cuba, and is now a farmer. He owns 130 
acres of land and follows general farming. He was town clerk in 1873, and has been 
collector of the town, and is now town clerk. He is a member of Schodack Union 
Lodge No. 87, F. & A. M., and past master. He was married December 15, 1870, to 
Emma C. Rector, daughter of Nicholas S. Rector, son of David Rector, an early 
settler of Schodack. He is a life member of the State Agricultural Society, and for 
a number of years has been one of the executive committee, having immediate 
charge of the poultry department, which has more than doubled its entries during 
his administration. 

Mesick, Smith V. H., was born in Schodack .^n the farm he now owns, August 
11, 1871. He is a son of Jacob I. and Dorcas A. (Roraback) Mesick, both born in 
Schodack, he a son of John Mesick, a son of Jacob Mesick, one of the early settlers 
of Schodack, where they all lived and died. The father of Mr. Mesick died in 1886, 
and his widow is still living. Mr. Mesick was reared on the farm he now owns and 
was educated in public schools and Fort Plain Institute. He is a farmer and owns 
123 acres of land. Mr Mesick is inspector of election. January 1, 1896, he was 
married to Catherine Whitman, a native of Schodack, and daughter of Peter D. 
Whitman, of Schodack. 

Gowey, William J., was born in Ren.sselaer county, N. Y., February 18, 1829. He 
is a son of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Warner), both of whom were born in Rensse- 
laer county, N. Y. The grandfather of Mr. Gowey was William Gowey, one of the 
earliest settlers of the county. Mr. Gowey was reared and educated in North Green- 
bush and came to Schodack in 1874 and settled on the farm known as the John W. 



250 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Lewis farm. Mr. Gowey was married in 1853 to Edora E. Lewis, by whom he has 
had seven children: Frank, Warner, Irving, William, Laura, Jesse, and Samuel. 
Jesse and Samuel work on the farm. 

Coonley, Gerry, was born in Greene county, October 13, 1845, and is a son of John 
and Hamet (Wolf) Coonley, both born in New Baltimore, Greene county. He was 
born August 16, 1811, and she was born in 1818. The grandfather was General L 
Coonley, who lived and died in New Baltimore. His wife was Hannah Miner, born 
in Connecticut and came to New Baltimore when a girl, married and had three sons 
and three daughters, who now live a retired life. He is a Democrat in politics and 
has been commissioner. His brother, Gerry Coonley, was a member of assembly. 
The mother of Mr. Coonley died March 2'S, 1895. Gerry Coonley was reared on a 
farm and educated in New Baltimore and is a farmer by trade. In 1870 he came to 
Schodack and bought a farm of 112 acres and has about 2,000 trees and makes a 
specialty of apples. In 1869 he married Ida Lampicr of Greene county and they have 
two children: Henry and Charles. 

Hankie, Mrs. F. — Rhinehart Guntrum was born in Germany, Feljruary 16, 1S16, 
and came to North Greenbush in 1846, where he worked by the day and month until 
1860, when he purchased the farm of seventy-one acres where he now resides, and 
where he has made many improvements. In 1847 he married Anna D. Harbeck, 
of Germany, by whom he had seven children: Catherine, John, Rachel, Andrew, 
Dean, Christ, and Elizabeth, who married Frankel Hankie, of Schodack, and they 
have four children: Arthur, Dora, Eva, and Frank R. Mrs. Guntrum died January 
39, 1892. 

Reynolds, Joseph, was born in Stephentown, February 8, 1848. He married An- 
geline Lathrop, daughter of Joel and Carohne (Strong) Lathrop of New Hebron, 
Conn. Mr. Lathrop came to Stephentown in 1826. He was a successful farmer, 
millman and general inspector. He died in Lansingburgh in 1873, and Mrs. Lathrop 
died in 1858. To Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have been born five children: Rodger J., 
Joel H., Millett E., Elisha L., and Charles. Rodger died March 19, 1860. Mr. 
Reynolds began his business career as teacher and was then in the mercantile busi 
ness, and then rented a farm. In 1875 he bought the farm of 130 acres, still owned 
by Mrs. Reynold.s. Mr. Reynolds was clerk and road commissioner. 

Clifford Allen B., was born in Stephentown, April 31, 1839. He is a son of 
David and Laura (Knappin) Clifford, he a native of Stephentown, and she of Schagh- 
ticoke. The maternal grandfather was Samuel Knappin, brother of Josiah Knappin. 
The paternal grandparents were Christopher and Weithy (Herring) Knappin. They 
were natives of Rhode Island, who came to Stephentown when young, but removed 
to'Vienna, Oneida county, where he died at the age of ninety-five. He was a Rev- 
olutionary soldier. The father of Mr. Clifford was a farmer of Stephentown, where 
he died in 1859 at the age of forty-four. Mrs. Clifford died in November, 1889. Mr. 
Clifford has always followed farming and speculating in Stephentown, except four 
years teaming Illinois. In 1860 he settled on the farm of 249 acres where he still re- 
sides. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. H, Seventh New York Cavalry and served seven 
months. In 1859 he married Naomi, daughter of vStephen and Sally (Hoag) Finch, 
he a native of Schodack and she of Nassau. He spent his life on the farm in Steph- 



Family sketches. 251 

entown, where he died in 1845, and Mrs. Finch died in 1884. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Clifford were born three sons and two daughters, all of whom are married; they are 
Willis C. , Josephine, Oscar, Benoni and Lucy. Mr. Clifford has been poomnaster 
for years. He is a member of Post Coleman No. 545, G. A. R., Unity Lodge No. 
9, F. & A. M.. and of Mt. Whitney Lodge No. 547 I. O. O. F. 

Borst, George D. — Borst & Lock, proprietors of Nassau Mills, which they pur- 
chased in the spring of 1895 and are doing a successful business. Mr. Borst was 
born in Middlebury, Schoharie county, N. Y. His father, grandfather, and great- 
grandfather were millers. He spent one year in Ulster county and was also engaged 
by Becker & Co. of Central Bridge, N. Y. Mr. Borst was married in 1891 to Etta A. 
Hills of Albany, by whom one son has been born. Ray W. Lock was born in Al- 
bany. He married Millie Hills, sister of Mrs. Borst. They have two children : Roy 
and Marion. The father of Mr. Borst was William Borst and his wife was Margaret 
Bouck, both born in Middlebury, N. Y. His grandfather was Peter and a very eai'ly 
settler of Middlebury, N. Y., and the great-grandfather, Peter, also at one time 
owned the Middlebury Mills. 

Ostrom, Henry, was born in Nassau on the farm his grandfather, Paul Ostrom, 
settled in 1805 and spent his last days in Saratoga county. The parents of Henry 
were Cyrus and Susan (Becker) Ostrom, both born in Rhiuebeck, N. Y. He was 
born February 12, 1803, and she was born in 1806. He was a farmer by occupation. 
Henry was educated in Nassau Academy. In 1870 he was married to Georgena 
Harder of Kinderhook, N.Y The)- have three children: Harry, Lillie, and Jessie. 
The family trace their ancestry to three brothers coming from Holland, two of 
whom settled on the west side of the North River, and one of the great-grand- 
fathers of Henry settled at Rhinebeck, N. Y. 

Clark, Willis, was born in East Nassau, N. Y. , September 10, 1845. He is a son 
of William and Clarrissa (Horton), he was a native of Connecticut, and she of ^and 
Lake, a daughter of Solomon Horton, one of the early settlers of Sand Lake, 
where he lived and died. The paternal grandfather was Horace Clark who 
lived in Connecticut, but died in Nassau with his son the father of Willis. The 
father of Willis came to Sand Lake and there learned the blacksmith trade. He had 
four brothers that were blacksmiths and all their sons were blacksmiths. Mr. Clark 
moved to East Nassau and worked at his trade for about thirty-five years. He 
finally came to Nassau and here died in 1871 from an injury caused by a rusty nail 
entering above his knee. His wife died in 1874. Willis was educated in the com- 
mon schools and began work at his trade at the age of sixteen with his father and 
continued until the death of the latter. He then formed a partnership with Medasc 
Lemire and have since continued in business. In 1871 he married Anna Yalentine 
of Nassau, by whom five children have been born: Ira, Emmet, Elma, Allie, and 
Nina. 

Saunders, James H., was born in the county of Cornwall, England, December '28, 
1823, and at eleven years of age came to New York city with a cousin, William 
Saunders, leaving his parents, James and Grace Saunders, who died in England. 
James H. was educated in New York city academy and began life copying in a law- 
yer's office, but soon learned the shoemaker's trade and traveled in different States 



562 Landmarks 01" rensselaer cotNTV. 

and finally came to Sand Lake, then came to Nassau in 1845, where he has since 
lived. He was married in 1846 to Ann M. Whitbeck, daughter of Brewer and Han- 
nah (Valentine) Whitbeck, who lived and died in Nassau. Mr. Saunders has been a 
farmer and speculator and at present owns over 'M)0 acres of land and has made his 
own property. 

Miller, William A., was born at Miller Corners, N. Y., March 37, 1844. He is a 
son of Henry and Elizabeth Miller. The father of William A. was a farmer. He 
died in 1850 and his wife died at East Nassau. William A. was reared on a farm 
until twelve years of age, when his mother and family went to Mendola. Lasalle 
county, Ills., and were there four years when became to North Nassau and lived 
with Phileman Deveraux for two years. He then went on the Hudson River as 
fireman on the towboat Austin, and then returned to Illinois and was with a railroad 
company for one year, and then went to jobbing for two years. He married Ellen 
M. Perry of Lake county. 111., by whom was born three children: Edgar D., Maud, 
and Chester. Edgar D. married Miss Filmore of East Nassau and has two children: 
Andrew and Ethel. Maud is the wife of Thomas Brown of Stephentown and has 
two sons: Lester and Roy. He is a member of the Mount Whitney Lodge I. O. O. F. 
No. 647, of which he is a charter member. His wife died January 30, 1890. Mr. 
Miller was engaged in the manufacture of shirts, collars, and cuffs at East Nassau for 
about fifteen years and also carried mail from Hoag's to Brainard Station for about 
three years. He owned a saw mill and a grist mill at two different places in East 
Nassau. Mr. Miller owns 106 acres of land known as the Coonradt farm on which 
he located in 1892. 

Kirby, Giles, was born in Nassau Valley May 18, 1827. He is a son of Henry and 
Mana (Becker) Kirby. He was born in Columbia county and she in Kinderhook. 
The father of Giles when a boy learned the blacksmith trade and came to Lyon's 
Pond and then to the Valley of Nassau and spent his last days on the farm Giles 
now owns. He died January 28, 1892, and his wife died in 1865. He was justice for 
about twenty-six years, when he resigned, and was justice of sessions one term. 
The grandfather of Giles was Thomas Kirby, who came from Connecticut to Colum- 
bia county where he lived and died. The maternal grandfather was Hammon 
Becker, who lived most of his life in Columbia county, but died in Orleans county, 
N. V. Giles was reared a blacksmith and worked in Nassau village until 1865, when 
he purchased a farm of 116 acres where he has since lived. In 1850 he married 
Mercy C. Mullett of Hancock county. Me. They have had five children: Emma, a 
teacher; Henry S., who has a position in the capitol; Frank is a druggist in Nassau; 
Ella, a music teacher; and Ervie decease!. Mr. Kirby has been three times super- 
visor, and was supervisor when Thomas Ealor was taken to prison and was one of 
the committee when Ford kept the county house. He was deputy sheriff three terms 
and also at one time collector. 

Tillson, Henry A , was born in New York city, August 10, 186;>. He is a son of 
Henry and Annie (Scott) Tillson. He was born in England October 5, 1822, and she 
was a native of Scotland and daughter of John Scott. The parents of Henry were 
Robert and Sarah (Gibson) Tillson, who lived and died in England. Beside Henry 
A., Mr. and Mrs. Tillson have three children: Laura, wife of a Boston boat captain 



Family sketches. 253 

on Lake George; John H., is guide and manager of W. Durant's establishment at 
Pine Knot Camp; and Lucy is the widow of James Roland, deceased. Mr. Tillson 
is a great traveler and has been in the employ of some of the best families in the 
United States and other countries. He went to West India and was employed on a 
large plantation. He then came to Halifax where he was gardener to Governor House. 
In 1854 he came to the States and was for seven years in the employ of the Astor 
family, and then gardener on Long Island for Morgan and Sanford, and has also 
been with Frank Leslie and Durant. In 1880 Mr. Tillson came to Averill Park and 
ran the Park House until 1889, when he purchased the Sand Lake Hotel of which he 
is still proprietor. Mr. Tillson is a member of the Reinbech Lodge No. 432 F. & A. 
M. In 1893 he married Mary E. Luffer of Albany. He is a member of the Scho- 
dack U. Lodge No. 87 F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter No. 15, Bloss Council No. 14, 
Apollo Commandery No. 15, and Interlachan Lodge No. 641 I. O. O. F. 

Strait, George W., born in East Nassau, June 21, 1851, is the son of W. and Emilv 
(Cole), he a native of Stephentown born in 1811, and she a native of Lebanon. The 
grandfather was Shaderick Strait, a native of Rhode Island, and he and his 
brother, Meschach Strait, came from Rhode Island to Stephentown, N. Y., about 1800 
and there lived and died. The father of George W. was reared in Stephentown and 
at the age of sixteen began teaching and afterwards studied medicine and gradu- 
ated from Pittstield Medical College, and practiced in Dutchess county a short time, 
in Philadelphia one year and New York city about five years, but most of his life in 
East Nassau, about forty-five years. He had a very large practice and devoted but 
little time to politics. He died October 21, 1889, and his wife died May 2, 1855. 
George W. was reared on a farm and educated in East Nassau and learned the car- 
penter's trade which he followed a few years and bought the farm he now owns of 
110 acres and follows mixed farming. He has twice been married, first to Anna 
Layden, by whom he has one daugher, Mary E., at home. Mrs. Strait died July, 
1877, and Mr. Strait in 1885 married Rozelia A. Cook, by whom he has two children: 
Ethel A., and Rozelia A. Mrs. Strait died March 5, 1893. Mr. Strait is a Republi- 
can. The family are Baptists and attend and support the church at East Nassau. 
Dr. Strait, father of George \V., by a previous marriage to Mary Harris had three 
children: Hannah E., deceased, Harry 1)., Mary J. 

Sliter, Willard F., born in Sand Lake, March 7, 1847, is the son of Silas and Fannie 
(Foster) Sliter, both natives of Sand Lake, he born Nov. 14, 1822, and she Nov. 28. 1822. 
The parents of Silas Sliter were Clement and Ruth (Welmot) Sliter, he a native of New 
Concord, N. Y., and born March 25, 1772, and she born at Waterbury, Conn., Sep- 
tember 30, 1776. They came to Sliter's Corners, now Sand Lake, previous to 1800, 
and purchased a large tract of land. The parents of Clement were William and 
Mary (Ray) Sliter, he a native of Holland and she of Connecticut. They were also 
pioneers of Sand Lake. The great-grandparents of Willard F. , Seth and Hannah 
(Merrick) Briggs, lived and died in Vermont. Silas Sliter made farming his life 
work. Besides Willard F. he has one daughter, Ella, wife of Walter Boker, in Iron 
Works, Columbus, Ohio. They have three children: Harriet, Annie and Charles. 
Mr. Sliter died May 14, 1877. He was a Republican in politics and held the office of 
collector and a number of j'ears assessor. He was also constable and for a long 
time deputy sheriff. Mr. Sliter was educated at Seranis school and Brookside In- 



254 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

stitute. He was six years in New York city, and has been overseer of the estate of 
James K. Averill for twenty years. He now has charge of the freight ofHce at 
Averill Park. Mr. Sliter has been constable for years. He is a member of the 
Oneida Valley Lodge No. 282 F. & A. M., and Order of the United Friends of New 
York city. 

Coleman, Pierce, born in Germany, December 25, 1840, is the son of Jacob and 
Catherine Coleman, who were farmers of Germany where they lived and died. 
Pierce was reared and educated in his native country and came to America when 
about nineteen years of age stopping for a time in New York city. PVom there he 
removed to Nassau and in 1870 came to Sand Lake and purchased the farm of sev- 
enty-seven acres where he has since carried on general farming. Mr. Coleman and 
family adhere to the religion of their parents, the Roman Catholic. In 1865 he mar- 
ried Caroline Ruhl of (Germany, and they have these children: Katie, Frank, John, 
Lydia, Carrie and Emma. 

T^iell, John, was born in Prussia, April 5, 1838. He is a son of Casper and Anna 
(King) Luell, who lived and died in Germany. Mr. Luell was reared and educated 
in Prussia, and served three years in the army as cavalry man. He came to America 
in 1863 and settled in Poestenkill where he remained for five years. In 1879 Mr. 
Luell came to Sand Lake and purchased a farm of 175 acres, where he has since 
been engaged in farming. He married Antona Leibacli, a sister of Charles Leibach. 
They have six sons and two daughters: Fred L., John E., Joseph H., Minnie W., 
Johnnie F.. Anna C, Charles, and Walter. 

White, Frank H., one of Hoosick Falls's most esteemed and leading business men, 
was born at Bennington, Vt., in 1854 of English ancestry and son of Salem White, 
now sixty-nine years of age. His maternal great-grandfather, Lemuel Fuller, came 
with the " Mayflower." He was educated at his native place, and at sixteen left the 
farm and began work in a meat market. This was the beginning of the vocation he 
has followed so successfully, and has ever since been engaged in the work. He now 
has a most extensive market, corner of John and Church streets, dealing in the 
choicest beef, mutton, pork and poultry, with game and vegetables in their season. 
He also opened an extensive carriage repository in 1890, being agent for the Water- 
town Spring Wagon Co. He is a Republican but not an a.spirant for political ad- 
vancement. Both himself and wife are worthy and efficient members of St. Mark's 
Episcopal church. She was Ida E., daughter of Nathaniel Gardner of this place, 
'^hey were married in 1874 and had one son, Guy Herbert, who died in 1884 aged 
seven years, and in whose memory St. Mark's church has a memorial candlestick 
placed by his bereaved mother. 

Byars, James G., is a prominent citizen of Hoosick Falls who came to America in 
1865 from Scotland where he was born in 1839 and where he was educated. He is a 
son of Hugh Byars, and by trade a cotton spinner, locating in Lawrence, Mass., 
thence to North Adams in 1876 as superintendent in a woolen mill. He came here 
in 1871, establishing a bottling business and conducting a general store at North 
Hoosick. Mr. Byars also deals in real estate and built a handsome block on Church 
street in 1889. He is a Rei)ublican, a member of the Masonic order and of the Epis- 
copal church, and a man of firm convictions and shrewd business capabilities. He 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 255 

has two sons who are associated with him in the bottling business devoted entirely 
to temperance dnnk. 

Stevens, Frank L., general superintendent of the Walloomsac Paper Co. , and elder 
son of S. S. Stevens, was born at North Hoosick, October 28, 1864. Carefully ed- 
ucated at Peekskill and at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, he completed in 1884 the 
full course at the latter institution, graduating a practical machinist and mechanical 
engineer. Mr. Stevens has since 1884 been associated with the paper manufacturing 
industry at North Hoosick and Walloomsac and has had a general- supervision since 
1892. In 1889 he married Miss Fredericka Wallich of Detroit, Mich., and has one 
daughter, Lois. Of unbounded personal popularity Mr. Stevens is a member of all 
the local clubs and societies. In 1884 he became a charter member of the Thirty- 
second Separate Co., N. Y. National Guard, was during the next year promoted to 
the first lieutenancy, and in 1893 made captain, a position for which he is eminently 
fitted and which he fills with grace and efficiency. A Republican in politics, he was 
appointed postmaster at North Hoosick in 1890. 

Ross, George A., of George A. Ross & Co., leading druggists and apothecaries of 
Hoosick Falls, has been a resident of this place about six years, and has already 
taken a prominent place among up to date business men and society. He was born 
at Troy in 1870 and was a clerk in a drug store before reaching fifteen years of age. 
He came to Hoosick Falls in 1889 and became an assistant of Henry W. Stone and 
in March, 1895, purchased the business, Mr. Stone retiring. Mr. Ross is a graduate 
of the Albany College of Pharmacy and by his personal ability and industry did much 
to make the house a most prominent and successful one in its line. 

Gardner, David E., a retired farmer of Hoosick Falls, is a descendant of a Quaker 
family and one of four children of Daniel Gardner also a farmer. His grandfather, 
John Gardner, came from Rhode Island. He was born at Petersburgh and was ed- 
ucated in the district schools there, and has only one brother living. Nelson /. of 
Pittstown ; the two sisters who died were Alice A. , and Hannah L. David has always 
followed the vocation of farming, and was in every way a successful farmer, retiring 
in 1875. Though a sturdy Republican he has never entered the political field or that 
of matrimony. 

Kautz, John, the River street grocer, has been a resident of Hoosick Falls fifteen 
years. In 1882 he established the business as a general store, handling groceries, 
shoes, crockery and house-furnishings Hi^ father was a flax merchant at Grafton, 
N. Y., and he was born at that place in 1848. When sixteen he went into business 
on his own account and is in everj- way self made. He is a member of the M. E. 
church, and like the great majority of Americans whose ancestry is German, casts 
his vote and his political allegiance with the Republican party. In 1880 he married 
Miss Sarah J. Eldred, of Potter Hill. 

Waddell, Archibald R., merchant tailor, continues at Hoosick Falls the business 
establi-shed by his father, the late James Waddell, thirty years ago. James Waddell 
died October 16, 1895, mourned by a large circle of friends. He was of high rank as 
a Mason, had served for many years as village treasurer, and was in every way a 
valuable citizen and a man whom to know was to honor. He was born near Belfast, 
Ireland, and had been a resident here since 1866. Archibald Waddell was born here 



256 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

October 13, 1878, and learned the business of his late father, with whom he was as- 
sociated as a partner. He is a member of the crack military company known as the 
Thirty second Separate. 

Babcock, W. F. — Few I'amilics of this locality can Ijoastof a more venerable genea- 
logical tree than that of the house of Babcock, and in fact the paternal lineage of 
Mr. Babcock may be traced without a break to that pregnant date, 1620. W. Frank 
Babcock of Hoosick was born in this town in 1858. His father was the late Nelson 
P. Babcock, born^n 1813 and died in 1893, a lifelong resident. Frank as a boy had 
a .stong penchant for the art preservative and as an amateur printer he started a local 
paper called the "Centennial' in 1876, of which he was himself the editorial staff and 
publishing department. In 1880 he embarked in mercantile life and now operates 
a large and complete general store with his own name as the firm style. That he is 
successful and popular goes without saying. 

Richmond, E. A., of Richmond Sz James, general merchants at Hoosick, represents 
an old Rhode Island family who were among the first settlers of Hoosick. Born in 
this town in 1853, his father, P. W. Richmond of West Hoosick, was also born here, 
and has lived so much of a long and useful life within its borders. E. A. Richmond 
remained upon the homestead farm of his birth until twenty-three years old, then 
engaged in mercantile business at Hoosick, where we find him enjoying a large and 
well deserved patronage. In 1891 he married Miss Mattie, daughter of J. P. Arm- 
strong of Hoosick, and they have four children. At about the same date Mr. R. C. 
James became a partner in the store business. Mr. James was also born in Hoosick 
in 1859, a grandson of Col. Randall James of the Rhode Island militia. 

Allen, James W., has been ^ resident of Hoosick Falls since 1865, when he came 
with Rev. Nicholls, his rector and personal friend of Cheny Valley, N. Y., as organ- 
ist of St. Mark's Episcopal church, in which capacity he officiated for twenty-five 
3'ears. He had previously rendered similar service for a period of ten years at 
Cherry Valley, his former home, having returned there with his mother after the 
death of his father, William Allen, in 1850 at New York city. His father, though 
engaged in milk delivery at the time of his death, had been formerly a farmer in 
Westford, Otsego county, where James was born in 1839. The latter was educated 
at New York and Cherry Valley. He became an expert mechanic and musician and 
was known as a cabinet organ maker. He has been connected with the Wood 
Works as painter for thirty years, but music teaching is his more natural vocation 
and he taught organ playing here many years In 1868 he married Sarah, daughter 
of David Timmerman of Canajoharie, a farmer and cabinet maker of that place. 
Her mother's father. Colonel Rolf, in the war of the Revolution, was one of the ear- 
liest .settlers of Canajoharie, and he built the first hotel and the first mill at that 
place. Mr. Allen has one son, William D. Allen, aged twenty-four years, who is 
engaged with him as contracting painter. 

O'Neil, John J., an energetic business man, is a native of Hoosick Falls where he 
in 1893 opened a drug store at No. 15 John street, establishing a good business. lie 
is a Deniocrat but nut a political aspirant. He is of Irish ancestry, born in 1867, son 
of John O'Neil, who has been a resident here more than forty years, Mr. O'Neil 
had been three years an assistant of Dr. Skinner previous to his graduation at the 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 257 

Albany College of Pharmacy. He was also eight years with Henry W. Stone, who 
for a number of years conducted a drug store on John street. He is a member of the 
R. C. church. 

Corey, B. F., a resident of Hoosick since 1866, is a retired carpenter, a vocation he 
followed throughout his active business life as did his father, Philip W. Corey, be- 
fore him. The latter came from Rhode Island to Cambridge where B. F. Corey was 
born in 1827. Before his residence here he lived in Easton, Washington county, 
where he married Ruby Jane Willis, who bore him two children: Jesse, at present 
engaged as agent for the D. M. Osborne Company of Auburn; and Ella. 

Allen, George W., a native of Buskirk's Bridge is of English ancestry, born in 18:39. 
He has always resided here and been engaged in harness making, except two years 
at Eagle Bridge as clerk in the post office. His father, James J. Allen, was also a 
harness maker and served as justice of the peace here for many years. His grand- 
father, Eben Allen, was expelled from the Quaker church for becoming a Revolu- 
tionary soldier. George is an ardent Democrat, has served one year as justice of the 
peace, and ten years as notary public. Mr. Allen is an able writer and acts as cor- 
respondent for various papers. He married Amy Surdam of North Hoosick, and 
has three children living. One daughter, Carrie, wife of William Reinhart, is de- 
ceased. 

Snyder, Prof. D. Horatio, was born in West Sand Lake November 12, 1862. He 
attended district and select schools in West Sand Lake for many years and later at- 
tended the Troy Academy, and took there a special course preparatory to becoming 
a teacher, returned to West Sand Lake, and -for many years taught in the district 
schools at the latter place and vicinity. He went to Hoosick Falls in 1887, and was 
appointed principal of the Classic Street Academy, which position he filled in a highly 
satisfactory manner for three and a half years. He was then promoted to fill a 
vacancy as teacher of several branches in the high school, and to have complete su- 
pervision of the music in all of the public schools in this place. This position he is 
still filling in a most satisfactory and painstaking manner. During his term of office 
in the position, the 1,500 public school pupils there have taken an unprecedented 
interest in the study of music, and wonderful strides have been made in that im ■ 
portant branch. Prof. Snyder is also a graduate of the American Institute of Normal 
Methods of Vocal Music, and also received a certificate from the Metropolitan Con- 
servatory in pianoforte. He is also chairman of the committee of specialties of pub- 
lic school music of the New York Sta^te Musical Association. He is of a genial and 
friendly disposition, and has a vast circle of friends in the musical world. For the 
past six years he has acted as director of the quartette choir of St. Luke's church in 
Cambridge. 

Pruyn, Jesse A., was born in Hoosac, N. Y., February 11, LSOS. He was a son of 
Daniel F. and Salotta Sharp. He was born in Hoosick, and she in Ohio. The 
grandfather of Jesse A. was Francis Pruyn, who spent his days in Hoosick. The 
father of Jesse A. was a carpenter and builder. He was a Republican, but not an 
aspirant for office. He resided at Hoosick Falls. Jesse A. was born and educated 
in Hoosick and Troy Business College and graduated in 1876. He was first employed 
in a wholesale grocery house at Glens Falls, N. Y. , and was there two years, and 



258 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

afterwards assistant bookkeeper at the same place with Finch & Pruyn He then 
went to New York city and was a commission merchant in fruits for eight years, 
and in 181)4 bought of E. J. Fort his tiour, feed, grain, coal, hay, straw, lime, cement, 
etc. , business. He then started business in Johusonville which he has since continued. 
He was married in 1880 to Mettie ^M. Durfee of South Cambridge, N. Y. He was a 
Republican in politics. The family attended and supported the Presbyterian 
church. 

Humphrey, .Olin J., was born in Pittstown, N. Y., August 8, 1865. He was a son 
of John C. and Elizabeth (Hoag) Humphrey, both born in Pittstown. The grand- 
father of Mr. Humphrey was Ira P. Humphrey, a native of Pittstown and a son of 
one of the .earliest settlers of the town. Mr. Humphrey's father was a farmer and 
owned ninety-six acres of land. He was a member of Victor Lodge No. 680 F. & A. 
M. He died in 1894 aged fifty-eight, and his widow died in 1871. Mr. Humphrey 
was reared on a farm and educated in common schools. He followed farming and 
owns sixty-four acres of land. June 28, 1895, he was married to Anna L. Lawton of 
Pittstown, N. Y. 

Hoag, Shandanette, was born in Pittstown, N. Y., August 14, 1865. He was a son 
of Jonathan Hoag. He was educated in common schools. Fort Edward Institute, 
Albany Normal and Troy Business College. He was at home until 1894, when he en- 
gaged in the mercantile business at Tomhannock. October 22, 1889, he married 
Minnie F. Durfee of Cambridge, Washington county, N. Y., by whom he has one 
child, Gladys, born October 14, 1892. Mr. Hoag is a member of Victor Lodge No. 
680 F. & A. M. Mr. Hoag has been excise commissioner of the town. 

Francisco, Henry, born in Pittstown, N. Y., April 16, 1827, is a son of MichiU and 
Lavina Felkins Francisco. The grandfather of Henry was Abram Francisco, who 
spent most of his days in Pittstown. The father of Henry was a farmer by occupa- 
tion and was constable several terms. He died September 25, 1855. Henry was 
reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He follows farming and 
owns eighty-one acres of land. He was married first, November 30, 1853, to L. Mar- 
garet Snyder, of Brunswick, N. Y., and had one child, Augustus, deceased. Mrs. 
Francisco died June 12, 1855, and January 28, 1857, he married Lucy A. Coonradt of 
Brunswick, daughter of William and Sarah Coonradt of Brunswick, where she died 
and he died in Poestenkill, N. Y. To Mr. and Mrs. Francisco were born four sons 
and two daughters. The sons died young and the daughters are Ida M., wife of 
Isaac M. Hunt of Tomhannock; they have a son, William Willard; Nellie, wife of 
Howard Hoag of Pittstown; they have one child, Mildred. Mr. and Mrs. Francisco 
are members of the Lutheran church and their daughters are Methodists as also are 
their husbands. 

Akin, Orrin, born in Pittstown, N. Y., June 5, 1840, is a son of William, a son of 
Benjamin. The father of Orrin was born in Pittstown March 16, 1809. He was 
reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He has followed farming 
and owned at one time b60 acres of land, and was one of the prominent farmers of 
the town. He was married in 1828, to Abigail Johnson of Troy, N. Y., and daughter 
of John Johnson who lived and died in Waterford. To Mr. and Mrs. Akin were 
born six children of whom four are living. William deceased; Eliza J., wife of Jon- 



Family sketches. 259 

athan Hoag; David of Brunswick; Shandanette, deceased; Orrin ; Analine, wife of 
Christopher Yates. William Akin was reared on a farm and educated in the com- 
mon schools. He followed farming and owns 225 acres of land, on which he came 
with his parents when thirteen years of age. He has been excise commissioner for 
six years. He and family attend the M. E. church. He was married December 24, 
1862, to Caroline Akin, a daughter of Humphrey Akin, a son of Humphrey, and a 
brother of Benjamin. To Mr. and Mrs. Akin were born eight children: Lottie, 
born November 14, 1867, deceased; Arzelia, born October 25, 1869; Harry S., born 
Novembers, 1871; Humphrey D., born June 1, 1874; Maud, born August 26, 1876; 
George B., born February 25, 1881; Orrin, born November 28, 1882; Nettie, born 
November 22, 1888. Mr. Akin is a member of Victor Lodge No. 680 F. & A. M. 

Myers, James, born in Ireland in 1834, came to Pittstown in 1851 and engaged in 
farming, and owned at his death forty-eight acres of land. His wife was Catherine 
Day, born in Ireland. They had seven children : Maggie, wife of Michell Fogarty 
of Melrose, N. Y. ; Katie at home ; Patrick B. ; Ellen, wife of James Haughney, and 
they have two children, James and Andrew; James A. at home; Eliza A. at home. 
The family sold the homestead and bought the farm they now own in 1888 of 123 
acres of land and follow general farming. Mr. Meyers died August 12, 1871. 

Snyder, Martin, born in Pittstown, 1820, is a son of Christopher and Elizabeth 
(Stoves) Snyder, natives of Pittstown. The father of Christopher, also Christopher 
Snyder, spent his life in Pittstown where he died The father of Martin was reared 
on the farm and made farming his life work, at which he was eminently successful. 
He represented his town as supervisor and was also justice of peace several years. 
Martin Snyder was reared on the farm and has always been engaged in farming, 
being one of the most prominent in his business in the town. He has a farm of 238 

acres and real estate in Buffalo. 

« 

Herrington, Merrit,was born in Pittstown Maj' 3, 1816, and died on the farm April 
3, 1886. His life occupation was farming and his widow still resides on the farm of 
117 acres of land they own. Mr. Herrington carried on general farming. In 1839 
Mr. Herrington married Catherine A., a sister of Martin Snyder, by whom they had 
four children : Elizabeth, who died aged thirty-three years; Anna T., wife of Peter 

D. Eychleshimer, farmer of Florida; Harriet, widow of George C. Penoj-er, who died 
January 14, 1895, and was a farmer of North Chatham, Columbia county. He had 
one daughter, Edith S. Mr. Herrington was justice for nine years and assessor for 
several years. 

Pi.ser, Charles B., born in Pittstown November 9, 1873, is a son of Peter and Mary 
A. (Cline) (Bedell), he a native of Pittsto^vn, and she of Greene county. The grand- 
parents were Peter and Margaret A. (Eycleshimer). The father of Peter, Christian 
Piser, came from Germany and he and his brother Martin engaged in the milk busi- 
ness near Boston. They accumulated quite a property but lost it during the Revo- 
lutionary war. They then came to Pittstown and purchased land, getting a deed 
from King George. The land is now owned by Mr. Piser and brother Jacob. Peter 

E. Piser, father of Charles, spent his life at farming in Pittstown where he died. 
Mrs. Piser died October 20, 1881. Mr. Piser was reared on the farm and educated 
in Lansingburgh Academy and Troy Business Institute, graduating March 21, 1894. 



260 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COtJNTY. 

He is engaged in general farming, owning about 150 acres of land. In 1894 he mar- 
ried Mabel, daughter of E. B. and Eva J. (Nichols) Manchester, of Petersburgh. 
They have one daughter, Susan M. Mr. Pi.ser is a member of the M. E. church, and 
of Victor Lodge No. 680 F. & A. M. 

Ketcham, Lansing, born in Pittstown, March 25, 1850, is the son of Francis F. and 
Elizabeth (Lane) Ketcham. Mr. Ketcham was reared by an uncle on the farm in 
Pittstown. When a young man he went to Iowa where his mother and family re- 
sided, came back to Pittstown and married and returned to Iowa and was for seven 
years engaged in farmirg. In 1850 he returned to Pittstown, where he died in 1888. 
Mrs. Ketcham died in 1889. They gave support to the M. E. church. The maternal 
grandparents of Mr. Ketcham, Abijah and Irene (Ketcham) Lane, were natives of 
Pittstown. The father of Irene Ketcham was a pioneer of South Pittstown, where 
he lived and died. Abijah was a Revolutionary soldier. 

Snyder, Isaac, was born May 14, 1811. He was a son of Ludwig G. and Christina 
(File) Snyder, both natives of Brunswick. The grandfather, George Snyder, was 
born in Brunswick in pioneer times and there spent his days at farming. Ludwig 
Snyder came from Brunswick to Pittstown in 1814 and engaged in farming. He 
removed to Rochester where he died in 1872. Mrs. Snyder died in 1831. Mr. Sny- 
der had been a carpenter for twenty years. In 1862 he settled on a farm of 121 
acres which he now owns and carries on general farming. In 1884 Mr. Snyder 
married Elya Payne, daughter of Stephen Payne of Pittstown, by whom he had 
three children: Rebecca J., Mary E. and Elizabeth D., wife of Charles Mosse, a 
farmer of Pittstown. Mr. Snyder is a Democrat in politics. 

Eddy, H. S. — He was a son of Avery and Mary A. (Carpenter) and a descendant 
of vSamuel Eddy, who came to England in 1820 and settled in Rhode Island. Obe- 
diah Eddy was born in Rhode Island in 1645. Constant was born' in Rhode Island 
in 1734 and came to Pittstown at a very early day. He was general at the battle of 
Bennington in the Revolutionary war. He owned a large tract of land in Pittstown 
near Raymertown. The sons of General Eddy were John and Robert Eddy. Avery, 
son of Robert, was born in Pittstown, February 20, 1800. He married Mary A. Car- 
penter and spent most of his life at farming in Brunswick, where he died in 1872. 
Mrs. Eddy died May 6, 1872. He was an active Democrat in politics, and Lutheran 
in religion. Robert Eddy was a farmer of Pittstown, and died from the effect of a 
fall. Mr. Eddy was married October 15, 1874, to Emily, daughter of John E. and 
Emma J. (Eycleshimer) Hunter, who settled the farm now occupied b): Mr Eddy. 
Mr. Hunter died in 1872. Mrs. Hunter still survives and resides with her daughter. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Eddy had been born one son and three daughters: Hattie F. 
teacher, Amy, Minnie and John B. Mr. Eddy has 224 acres of land. 

Sherman, Nathaniel G., was born in Pittstown, November 5, 1843, and is a .son of 
Sanford T. and Ro.xania (Gilford) Sherman. He is a son of Stephen L. Sherman. 
The father of Nathaniel was a farmer and lived and died in Pittstown. He died 
November 22, 1889, and his wife died April, 1886. He was trustee of the school for 
twenty years. Nathaniel was educated in the common schools and was a farmer by 
occupation, and owns about 118 acres of land. March 15, 1871, he was married to 
Phebe M. Herrington, by whom three children have been born: Evaline, Emma A., 



t'AMILY SKETCHES. 261 

and Cora A. Mrs. Sherman died July 13, 1892, and December 22, 1S93, he again 
married Mrs. S. M. Butler, of South Carolina. 

Morse, Miss E. E.— Samuel M. Morse was born in Pittstown, N. Y., July 28, 1830, 
son of Samuel and Catherine (Thornton) Morse, natives of New Hampshire and 
Grafton, N. Y., respectively. Samuel Morse, sr., came to Pittstown about 1819, 
and here lived and died. He was a Republican in politics, and was constable and 
collector. Samuel Morse, jr., was reared on a farm and educated in the common 
schools. He is a farmer by occupation, owning 100 acres of land. In 1859 he mar- 
ried Mercena Cross, who was born in Hoosick, daughter of Joseph Cross, b}^ whom 
he had two children : Electa, who was educated in Lansingburgh Academy and Al- 
bany Normal, and is at present engaged in teachmg; and Elmer H., who was edu- 
cated at Albany Normal and Albany Business College, and is also a teacher. He 
married Eliza J. Reed, of Pittstown, N. Y. 

Faulkner, Charles T., was born in Tro3^ N. Y., September 4, 18G7. His father, 
Thomas Faulkner, was born in Troy, and has for many years carried on a large 
grocery business. His mother is Anna E. (Law) Faulkner. He received his educa- 
tion at the public and high school. He studied law with Patterson & Gamble, and 
was admitted to practice September, 1890. He was nominated by the Republican 
party in 1893, but declmed the nomination. He was appointed school commissioner 
bj' Mayor Whelan and in 1895 he was elected as president of the board. He is a 
member of the Pafraets Dael Club. 

O'Brien, Jarvis P., was born in Fort Edward, N. Y., May 24, 1864. His father, 
James O'Brien, came to this country in 1840 and settled in Fort Edward. Mr. 
O'Brien attended the Fort Edward Collegiate Institute from which he graduated in 
1887. In 1889 he entered the Columbian University at Washington, D. C, and grad- 
uated in 1892. He came to Ti-oy, in 1892, and took a clerkship with the law firnr of 
Smith & Wellington for one year as required by law, and was admitted to the bar in 
September, 1893. 

Green, Hannibal, was born in Sheldon, Yt., in 1811, and came to Troy in 1825 
where he secured a position as clerk in the office of Craft, Hart.& Pitcher in the iron 
and hardware business, and in 1832 on the withdrawal of Mr. Crafl the new firm of 
Nazro, Thurber & Green was formed. In 1865 Mr. Green erected a steel spring fac- 
tory and later erected an. iron warehouse and store on Broadway, and he retained 
sole control of same until a few years before his death, when his sons, M. C. & Ed- 
ward M. Green, were taken into the the firm. He was a Democrat, having been 
offered the nomination for mayor and other offices of trust. He was for many years 
president of the Troy City National Bank. He died March 29, 1875. 

McLeod, Sayre, was born in Phelps, N. Y., in 1866. His ancestors on the paternal 
side came from England at the time of the Revolutionary war and settled in South- 
hampton, L. I. His ancestors on his mother's side came from England in 1646. 
Joshua Sayre was a colonel in the Revolutionary war. His father was Augustus D. 
McLeod who lived in Ontario county. His mother was Mary Francis Sayre,of Phelps, 
N. Y. He graduated from St. John's School in Manlius, N. Y., in 1885. He then 
entered Harvard University, from which he graduated in the class of 1890, and came 
to Troy in August of the same year and became treasurer of the Bussy & McLeod 



262 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Stove Co., where he remained until March, 1896, when he began the study of law. 
He belongs to the Laureate Boat Club, the Troy Club, and the Harvard Club of New 
York city. October 17, 1895, he was married to Martha Meade Lane, daughter of 
John Tibbitts Lane. 

Edwards, jr., Edward, son of Edward and Mary A. (Campaigne) Edwards, was 
born in Troy, August 14, 1870, and received his education in the public and high 
schools, graduating in 1888. He was then for two years a clerk in his father's store, 
on the corner of Congress and Thirteenth streets. In the fall of 1890 he entered 
Williams College and was graduated in 1894 with the degree of A. B., Phi Beta 
Kappa rank, and was orator of his class. In September, 1894, he was made princi- 
pal of school No. 17 of Troy and remained there until March, 1895, when he was 
appointed principal of school No. 10. One year later he was transferred to the Troy 
High School, where he is now professor of Latin and German. Professor Edwards 
is a member of King Solomon's Lodge No. 91, F. & A. M., the Tro}' Vocal Society, 
the Troy Choral Club and the East Side Club. 

Bord, jr., George S., was born in Troy, Rensselaer county, N. Y., July 15, 18G1. 
His father, George S. Bord, was born in England and came to this country and 
settled. He was foreman of the teaming department of the Burden Iron "Works for 
thirty- eight years and was alderman from the Eighth ward and died in 1886. His 
mother is Mrs. Sarah (McKeon) Bord, of Troy, (ieorge S. Bord received his edu- 
cation in the public schools. He assisted his father for a time in the teaming busi- 
ness and later entered the livery of his uncle, T. McKeon, at 176 Third street as 
clerk. In 1892 he with his brother purchased the business. He was married to 
Margaret Murray of Troy in 1888, and has one daughter. 

Salisbury, Frederick W., was born in Troy, August 5, 1858. His father. Orison S. 
Salisbury, was a contractor and came to Troy in 1830 and died in 1833. His mother, 
Mary (Canfield) Salisbury, of Malone, N. Y., died in 1887. He received his educa- 
tion at the Troy Academy and went as manager of an art goods store, shortly after 
buying out the people he was working for. He is a well known dealer in these 
goods throughout the State. He is a brother of Assistant Chief H. C. Salisbury, of 
the Troy Fire Department. He belongs to all the Masonic bodies of Troy. He 
married Carrie A. Hurlburt, daughter of Capt. Lemuel Hurlburt, who was chief of 
detectives in Troy during the Civil war. 

Richmond, Herbert J., was born on Green Island, February 22, 1870. His father, 
Hiram T. Richmond, was a railroad man. His mother was Julia C. Jaquith who 
died when he was six months old. He was brought up by his grandparents, Isaac 
and Carolina A. Jaquith. His grandfather died in 1881. He still resides with his 
grandmother. After attending public schools and business college from which he 
got a diploma, he entered the employ of Gardner <!<: Meneeley as assistant bookkeeper, 
where he remained for two years. He was afterwards employed by Chauncey D. 
Bradt, Flack & Co., and later entered the employ of the Troy Telephone and Tele- 
graph Co., and was made secretary and treasurer of that company in 1895, was re- 
elected in 1896, He belongs to all the Masonic bodies of Troy. 

Gormley, David K., was born in Troy, N. Y. His father, John Gormley, came 
from Scotland in 1842, and located in Troy. He entered the meat business in 1867, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 263 

and in 1869 he retired from the business. His wife was Agnes Anderson, who died 
in 1885. David K. was educated in the public schools and in 1869, with his brother, 
took charge of the market formerly run by their father. He married Emma Carey 
of Troy. " 

Cleary, jr., Kyran, was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1856. His father, Kyran Cleary, 
was boVn in Ireland and came to the United States about 1840, and was a brewer. 
In 1853 he was elected alderman from the First ward and died in 1861. His mother 
is Margaret Cleary. Kyran, jr., received his education at the Christian Brothers' 
Academy and went to work with his brother in the brewery. He was stamp clerk 
during President Cleveland's first term in the Troy post-office. He was assistant 
corporation tax clerk in the comptroller's office in Albany, where he remained until 
June, 1894, when he was appointed assistant postmaster in the Troy post-office. He 
is a member of the Democratic General Committee and of the Young Men's Catholic 
Literary Club. He belongs to the Edward Murphy, Jr., Association, of which he is 
one of the trustees. 

Horan, James J., was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1865. His father, Thomas Horan, 
was born in Ireland and came to the United States in 1845 and .settled in Troy. 
For many years he was in the railroad construction business and later and up to the 
present time has carried on a lai-ge teaming business. His mother was Mrs. Cath- 
erine (Flattery) Horan, of Albany. James was educated at the Christian Brothers' 
Academy and went to work for the firm of Holland & Thompson, where he remained 
about five and a half years, afterwards he was with Chambers, Bottom & Co. one 
year and a half. He then formed a copartnership with James W. Daley and car- 
ried on the steam fitting and plumbing busmess under the firm name of Daley & 
Horan until 1891, when Mr. Daley retired and the firm name was changed to J. J. 
Horan & Co. 

Cordes, August E., was born in Hanover, Germany, September 6, 1840. He is a 
moulder by occupation. He entered the army in Germany in 1862 and served three 
years, serving also in the war in 1866 between Austria and Prussia. In 1867 he 
came to this country, and worked his way up in several cities in this country. He 
came to Hoosick Falls in 1869 and worked in Walter A. Wood's .shop. He married 
in 1869 Miss Lina C. Ridder, who was born in Worden Germany, June 4, 1842. He 
is an expert moulder and an authority on iron in every detail in manufacturing pro- 
cesses. He served t^'o years as trustee of the village, representing the Second 
ward, but never aspired to public office; a member of Rensselaer Lodge No. 400, 
F. & A. M., also of the Masonic Veteran Association, having been a Mason over 
twenty years. August E. Cordes, jr., born January 6, 1873, in Hoosick Falls, was 
educated in the public school of Hoosick Falls, and graduated in 1890, and has since 
resided there, with the exception of two years spent in the South. Ever since he 
graduated he devoted considerable time to journalistic work. While in Connecticut 
he corresponded for New York papers besides several Connecticut papers. In 1893 
he occupied a position as mailing clerk in the post-office at Hoosick Falls. He has 
been correspondent of the Troy Press for the last three years, and is recognized as a 
brilliant and able writer. 

Joslin, J. O., a well-to-do and influential farmer of the town of Hoosick, was born 



264 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

in this his native place in 1824. His father, Whitman Joslin, was a native of Wash- 
ington county, and his grandfather, Palten Joslin, came from Rhode Island. The 
family is of English ancestry ; the name in England was Jocelyn. Mr. Joslin has 
been justice of the peace eight years. He is a man of broad views, and exercises the 
most modern methods m his agricultural pursuits. He has a farm of 200 acres and 
makes a specialty of breeding fine merino sheep. In 1850 he married Margaret E. 
(irove, daughter of Henry D. Grove of Hoosick, a very important man of this town 
who died in 1844. He was a model farmer and was the first in this section to im- 
port Escurial Saxony sheep. He was one of the charter members and founders of 
the State Agricultural Society and an earnest advocate of education and all the en- 
terprises of the day. His death was mourned by a large circle of friends. 

Darroch's, John G., father, William Darroch, was a long time resident of Hoosick 
Falls, coming here in 1836, He was a cotton manufacturer and boss spinner in the 
Caledonia Cotton Mills. John Darroch was born at Bennington, Vt., but has spent 
most of his life here, universally respected. He engaged in the tinsmith business 
and carried a varied fine of stoves and hardware. He married Anna Eliza Joslin, 
daughter of the late Isaac M. Joslin of this place. She died in 1888, aged fifty-six 
years. In the winter succeeding her death Mr. Darroch placed a pulpit and lectern 
in St. Mark's church in memory of her who had been a beloved member of that 
denomination. In this church John G. has a record equaled by few of its members. 
He has been vestryman since 1860 and treasurer since 1866, and is a prime mover in 
its temporal and spiritual advancement. For thirty-four years he has been identified 
with the Masonic fraternity, and Master Lodge several years; he has also held 
various village offices 

Wiley, Robert J., was born in Ireland in 1852. He came to this country with his 
mother, Jane (Graham) Wiley, in 1861, and settled in Washington county, N. Y., 
where he attended the district school; later he moved to Rutland, where he worked 
in a marble-cutting establishment one year when he came to Troy and in 1875 went 
to work for Lee & Prendergast as a teamster and one year later purchased Mr. 
Prendergast's interest in the concern, and after the death of Mr. Lee in 1884 he 
bought out the heirs and has since carried on the business of general teaming. He 
belongs to Apollo Lodge F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter, and Bloss Council, and is also 
a prominent Odd Fellow, being a member of Rensselaer Lodge No. 53, Nesbot En- 
campment N. 110, and Canton Leon No. 8. He is a member of Premier Lodge K. of 
P. He married, December 20, 1882, Mary E. Patton, of Troy, N. Y. 

Simmons, Stephen, was born in Troy m 1834. He is the .son of John and Angeliue 
(Hull) Simmons. His father died in 1877 and his mother in 1871. Stephen received 
his education in the schools of Poestenkill, and worked on a farm until he was 
twenty-one when he entered the teaming business and came to Troy in 1869, where 
he was on the old Capital Police force for one year, after which he ran a meat market 
on the corner of Congress and Eighth streets. In 1885 he moved to Albia and since 
that time has carried on the ice business. He is one of the trustees of the Pawling 
Avenue M. E. church. In 1856 he was married to Louisa Cramer of Poestenkill, 
N. Y., by whom he has one son and one daughter. 

Fogarty, Rev. Michael M., was born in Ireland in 1855. He came to this country 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 265 

in 1873. He i-eceived his education in Ireland and this country and after being or- 
dained to the priesthood was stationed at various times at Schaghticoke, Mechanic- 
ville, Watervliet, and Hoosick Falls, and came to Troy in 1888 as assistant at St. 
Peter's church on Fifth avenue. He is connected with the House of the Good 
Shepherd. 

Gray, Levi H., was born in Salem, Washington county, N, Y. He is of Scotch 
descent, his early ancestors having settled in the country early in the seventeenth 
century. His grandfather was a colonel of the militia. His father, Levi Gray, was 
born in Salem, N. Y., and was a farmer, and also a captain in the State militia. He 
died in 1867. His mother, Samantha (Taylor) Gray, was born in Benson, Vt., and 
died in 1878. Levi H. Gray received his education in the common schools, and at 
the age of eighteen enlisted in Co. H, 123d N.Y. Vols. His brother, James C. Gray, 
was in the same company. Their first engagement after reaching the front was 
the battle of Chancellorsville; they were also in the battle of Gettysburg, and were 
with Sherman on his march to the sea. After receiving an honorable discharge he 
returned to Salem, his home, and learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked 
until 1877, when he came to Troy and went into the piano moving and general 
teaming business with his brother. The firm is C. B. & L. H. Gray. He belongs 
to the Salem Lodge No. 301, F. & A. M. He married Mrs. Elizabeth H. Wheeler 
in 1878. 

Bunce, Ensign S., was born in Brunswick in 1841. His father, Alanson S. Bunce, 
was born in Grafton and later removed to Stillwater, where he died in 1855. His 
mother, Catherine (Link) Bunce, was born in Brunswick and died in 1863. Ensign 
worked at farming several years after receiving his education and in 1870 bought 
out the milk route of William Gary & Brothers of Troy where he has been since. He 
is treasurer of the Oakwood Avenue Presbyterian church and a member of Post 
Griswold G. A. R. In 1868 he was married to Julia F. Adams of Brunswick, N: Y. 
He has four children: Fred, who is a bookkeeper in the Central National Bank, and 
Allen, who runs a milk route, and two daughters. 

Stickney, Charles L., was born in Troy, N. Y., May 11, 1837. His father, Charles 
Stickney, was born in New Hampshire and was for many years in the grain and feed 
business in Troy and died in 1872. His mother, Sarah M. (Crandall) Stickney, died 
in 1892. Charles received a public school education and entered the business of his 
father and carried on the business until some time after his father's death when he 
sold out to Mr. Lovejoy. He became a member of the Trojan Hook & Ladder 
Co. November 6, 1856, and has been an active member of that company since. He 
was assistant captain one year. He is the oldest active fireman in Troy. He be- 
longs to Apollo Lodge F. & A. M., and is a trustee of the Exempt Firemen's 
Association. 

Livingston, William, son of Charles and Catherine (Connolly) Livingston, was born 
in Rockcorry county, Monaghan, Ireland, October 24, 1857. He came to An;ierica 
in 1873, and spent several years in the dry goods business with the firm of A. T. 
Stewart & Co. in New York city. In 1880 he began his course of classical studies in 
the College of St. Francis Xavier, New York, and was graduated in 1883. In Sep- 
tember of the same year he began a course of theology in St. Joseph's Seminary, 
iiii 



266 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Troy, and was ordained priest in December, 1887. He was assigned to St. Stephen's 
church. New York, and in June, 1889, he was appointed director of St. Joseph's 
Seminary, Troy, and professor of English. He remained in Troy for seven years, 
and is at present in the new St. Joseph's Seminary at Dunwoodie, Yonkers, N. Y., 
filling the chairs of English, Church History and Liturgy. 

Thiessen, William M., was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1860. His ancestors on both 
sides were German. Hisfath?'-, Martin Thiessen, was born in Holland and came 
to the United States and settled in Troy about 1856 and was a carpenter by trade. 
For a number of years he was foreman at the Troy Fire Brick Works. He died in 
1895. His mother, Louisa (Tate) Thiessen, was born in Germany. William M. after 
receiving a public school education entered the Troy Business College and later took 
a position at the Central Bank as money clerk and was promoted from time to time 
until he became discount clerk. He left the bank in 1884 and entered the firm of 
Coon & Co. as bookkeeper and after the consolidation of the Cluett & Coon factories 
acted as paymaster for about two years when he was made superintendent of the 
collar and cuff stock department of the concern. He married, June, 1889, Isabel 
Mearns, of Troy. 

Stapleton, William B,, was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1836. His father, JohnStaple- 
ton, came to this country in 1848 and settled in Cambridge, N. Y. , and later lived in 
Baltimore. He died in Hoosick, N. Y. , in 1878. He received a common school ed- 
ucation and came to Troy in New York in 1861 and worked in Springfield, Mass. 
He returned to Troy in 1861 and worked for Thomas Collins. He was in business 
for himself and was burned out in 1862. He worked for Hannibal Green & Son and 
then started in the grocery business, where he continued until 1883, when he em- 
barked in the coal business, his .son taking charge of the grocery. He represented 
the Twelfth ward in the Board of Aldermen four years. He belongs to the Robert 
Emmit Association. He married in 1863 Mary Gribbins of Troy, N. Y., by whom 
he has four sons and three daughters. 

Cary, Edward R., C. E., was born in Troy, December 19, 1861, and was educated 
in the public and high schools of Troy. He entered the institute and was graduated 
in 1883 with the degree of C. E. , and was appointed instructor in geodesy the follow- 
ing September, and began giving the course in selection of timber in 1893. 

Mead, George H., son of John and Mary (Canfield) Mead, was born in Troy, June 
13, 1852. His father, a native of Ireland, came to America in 1837 and setttled in 
Troy, where he followed the business of carpenter and builder, and died in New York 
city in 1854. Mr. Mead was educated in the Troy public schools and Christian 
Brothers' Academy, and for twenty years followed the trade of cigarmaker, being 
for ten years foreman for William A. Lent & Co. In 1887 he opened his present 
restaurant on the corner of River and Federal streets, in partnership with John 
McLoughlin, to whose interest he succeeded two and one-half years ago. In 1895 he 
admitted Edward A. Crough, under the firm name of Mead & Crough. Mr. Mead 
has long been the Democratic leader in the First ward, which he has represented in 
the Common Council continuously since 1882. He was four times elected president 
of that body. He was vice-president of the National League of Democratic Clubs of 
the State of New York from 1888 to 1892, has served as delegate to numerous countv. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 267 

district and State conventions, and has been president of the Wine, Liquor and Beer 
Dealers' Association of Troy since 1891, was for three terms a member of the State 
executive board and is now vice-president of the State organization. He is promi- 
nently connected with several local organizations, is an exempt fireman and has 
been president of several cigarmakers' unions in this State and elsewhere. In 1881 
he married Miss Elizabeth Daignauldt of Troy. 

Ruoff, Jacob, son of Jacob and Lene (Messner) Ruofif, was born December 20, 
1860, in Wurtemburg, Germany, where he was educated in the public schools and 
learned the trade of carpenter. In 1878 he came to America and settled in New 
York city, where he followed his trade for about a year, when he came to Troy and 
obtained a situation in Jacob Schlosser's restaurant, where he remained three years. 
He then engaged in the restaurant business for himself and still continues. Mr. 
Ruoff is a member of the Ancient Order of United Druids, Rhein Lodge No. 248, 
I. O. O. F., the German Hall Association, the Troy Singing Club, the Camststadter 
Volksfest Verein, and the Exempt Firemen's Association. March 14, 1884. he married 
Augusta Mertens, of Westphalen, Germany, and thej? have four children: John, 
Jacob, jr., Lena and Bertha. 

Ruoff, George J., born in Bodelshauseu, Wurtemburg, Germany, April 19, 1869, 
received his early education in the public schools and worked on his father's farm 
until September 18, 1886, when he came to America and settled in Troy, where he 
was given employment in his brother's restaurant at No. 844 River street. In 1887 
he accepted a position with Hilke Brothers, restaurateurs, where he remained until 
March, 1894, when he and his brother John formed a partnership and engaged in the 
restaurant business at No. 351 Fulton street, where they still continue. Mr. Ruoff is 
a member of Guttenberg Lodge, Knights of Pythias, Troy Bicycle Club, Riverside 
Bowling Club, Camststadter Volksfest Verein and the Germania Hall Association. 
He married Mary Amelia Helser, of Saxony, Germany, June 3, 1896. 

Helser, August, was born in Lancha, Thiiringen, Germany, August 31, 1863, re- 
ceived his education in the Fatherland, and came to America in 1881, settling in 
Troy, where he was first employed in the confectionery establishment of Otto Kleer- 
mann for two years. He was in the Clinton foundry for one year and followed the 
business of butcher for a time and on May 1, 1886, he became a restaurateur on 
Fourth avenue; since 1891 he has been the proprietor of the Eldorado Hotel on the 
same street. He is president of the German Singing Society of Troy, a member 
of the Troy Turn Verein, and a charter member of the German Bowling Club. 

Lovelock, Edward A., born in Sheffield, Berk.shire county, Mass., August 19, 1862 
came to Troy with his parents in 1865 and was educated in the public schools, and 
in 1874 commenced to learn the cigarmakers trade with Herman Carl. He re- 
mained with Mr. Carl until 1879, when he was employed by George Rork, then pro- 
prietor of the restaurant at the corner of Church and State streets. In 1886 he suc- 
ceeded Mr. Rork and is now the proprietor of Hotel Lovelock. Mr. Lovelock is 
very active in the William S. Earl Boat Club and has been its captain for two years. 
He has been for many years a member of the board of managers of the Young 
Men's Catholic Literary As.sociation. 

Landrigan, Patrick J., born in Ireland in 1862, came to America with his parents 



208 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

in April. 1865, settling in New York city. In 1866 they moved to Troy, where he 
received a common school education. He entered the employ of the Troy Steel and 
Iron Company when ten years of age and remained there seventeen years. In 
August, 1888, he purchased and has since conducted an oyster and chop house at 
No. 90 Third street. Mr. Landrigan is a member of the Emerald Beneficial Asso- 
ciation and has been its president since 1892; he is also a member of the Ancient 
Order of Hibernians and the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association. He married 
Mary E. Graney, of Hoosick Falls, N. Y., in June, 1893, and they have two chil- 
dren: Raymond G. and Alfred W. 

Keeler, George, was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, March 13, 1868. He 
is a son of Conradt and Elizabeth (Cook) Keeler, who emigrated from Germany to 
Wynantskill, N. Y., in 1872. He then removed to Snyder's Corners. He has a 
farm of ninety-three acres and produces milk for the Troy market. The grand- 
parents of Mr. Keeler were John and Margaret (Anders) Keeler, who lived and died 
in Germany. Mr. Keeler has always been with his father on the farm, and in 1895 
took charge of the farm. In 1895 he married Hattie, daughter of William and 
Catherine Gowey of West Sand Lake 

Schuman, John George W., born in Hesse Cassel, Germany, April 25, 1850, is the 
son of Peter and Catherine Schuman, both of Germany, where he died in 1858, aged 
thirty-three years. Mrs. Schuman came to America in 1881 and now resides with 
her daughter at Sand Lake. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Schuman, Henry 
and Maggie Klaus, lived and died in Germany. Peter Schuman," a stonecutter, 
owned a quarry in Germany. Mr. Schuman commenced business for himself at the 
age of eight years; at the age of ten years was in the drug store at Waldeck. He 
next was engaged in brick yards summers and on a railroad winters. At the age of 
fourteen years he was overseer over forty men on railroad building, etc. He came 
to America in 1866 and was in the charcoal business on Berlin Mountain. He then 
worked on a farm by the month in North Greenbush. In 1883 Mr. Schuman bought 
seventy-one acres and in 1893 added sixty-si.\ acres. He keeps a dairy of thirty 
cows and grows small fruits. In 1870 Mr. Schuman married Maggie, daughter of 
Philip and Christina Wend, who came to America from Germany about 1852 and 
now resides in Sand Lake. To Mr. and Mrs. Schuman have been born two daugh- 
ters: Louisa K. and Cornelia C. 

Wiltse, G. L., was born in Greenbush, August 20, 1849. He was a son of John J. 
and Malinda (Wallace) Wiltse, both natives of Greenbush. He was a son of John 
Wiltse, a native of Dutchess county, a son of Henry Wiltse a native of Holland. 
He settled in Dutchess county and came to Greenbush at a very early day, where 
he died. The wife of John Wiltse was Rosmda Upham, daughter of Thomas Upham, 
a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and finally settled in Sand Lake where he lived 
and died. Henry Wiltse, the great-grandfather of Mr. Wiltse, was twice married. 
His second wife was Mrs. Underbill and died in Albany county. The father of Mr. 
Wiltse was a carpenter in early life and track boss on the B. & A. R R., and finally 
a teamster, and later was in the livery business. He was justice of the peace. He 
died March 20, 1884, and his wife died December 17, 1884. Mr. Wiltse was reared 
and educated in Greenbush, and was clerk in the Union store of Greenbush, and took 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 26U 

up the liverj' and teaming business at his father's old stand. Mr. Wiltse is loan 
commissioner and is a member of the Greenbush Lodge No. 337 F. & A. M. April 
16, 1871, he married Mary E. Feara of Greenbush. To Mr. and Mrs. Wiltse have 
been born seven children, four of whom are living: James L. was educated in Green- 
bush and the Albany Business College and is now bookkeeper for Welch & Gray; 
John J. was educated in the same schools as his brother and is now with his father; 
Cora M., at home; and Mattie, at home. 

Myers, John S., was born in the town of Brunswick, Rensselaer county, N. Y. 
He is the son of Ludwick and Elizabeth (Carpenter) Myers, both natives of Rensse- 
laer county. The grandfather, John Myers, was an early settler of Brunswick. He 
was a farmer and spent his last days in Schaghticoke. Ludwick Myers was also a 
farmer in Brunswick where he died in 1876. Mrs. Myers died in 1830. John Myers 
married for his second wife Jane Duston, who died in 1854. He graduated at Mill- 
ville and came to Greenbush in 1852. In 1849 he married Catharine, the daughter 
of Cornelius Debois, by whom he has had four children : John L., mentioned else- 
where; Henry L., delivery clerk for C. Wicks, Lansingburgh ; Charles G., dentist, 
Troy ; Harvy, clerk, Troy. Mr. Myers bought the farm in North Greenbush where 
he now lives in 1858, and is engaged in the milk business. 

Hegeman, William H., was born m West Sand Lake, February 20, 1828. He was 
a son of Jacob and Caroline (Carmicle) Hegeman, she of Sand Lake and he of Rhine- 
beck, Dutchess county. The grandfather, John Hegeman of Holland descent, 
came from Dutchess county to Sand Lake where he followed farming. Jacob Hege- 
man was reared on the farm and at the age of twenty-three he married and engaged 
in the hotel business at East Sand Lake for about ten years. He then followed 
farming, but in old age retired to West Sand Lake. He spent the last days of his 
life with Mr. Hegeman and daughter in Brunswick. Mrs. Hegeman died at West 
Sand Lake in 1874. He was supervisor and justice and was a candidate for member 
of assembly. Mr. Hegeman was educated in West Sand Lake and Rutland, Vt. 
He was graduated from the Broadway Medical College of New York city, and prac- 
ticed four years in Troy, being physician at the jail. He was then appointed under 
sheriff and clerk at the jail six years. In the mean time he studied law with Nelson 
Davenport and was admitted to the bar. He was next appointed coroner by Gov- 
ernor Seymour for two terms. He was engaged for two years in farming in 
Saratoga county, and sold out and came to North Greenbush, and bought 110 acres 
of land which he now owns. He has always done quite a business as auctioneer. 
In 1859 he married Esther, daughter of Joseph H. Byron, a merchant tailor of Troy, 
by whom he has seven children; Carrie, Harry, Susie, Vedder, Byron, Albert, and 
William. Mr. Hegeman organized the first base ball team in Troy. He was cap- 
tain and manager and played in all positions when necessary. He has been justice 
of the peace for a number of years. He is the oldest living member of Zion Lodge 
No. 311 F. & A. M. 

Ham, Henry V., was born in Saratoga, August 25, 1815. He was the son of John 
and Hanna (Johnson) Ham, he a native of Brunswick, and she of Greenbush. He 
went to Saratoga and engaged in farming, but removed to Greenbush and took a 
contract to clean off Green Island, and was drowned in 1885. Conrad Ham, the 



270 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

grandfather of Henry Ham, came from Dutchess county, N. Y., and was one of the 
pioneer settlers of the town of Brunswick; he died with his son in Troy. Henry 
Ham was educated in Troy and was married November 7, 1845, to Mary Miller, 
daughter of Timothy Miller of Oxford, England. To Mr. and Mrs. Ham have been 
born ten children: John H., Mary A., Thaddeus A., Wallace W. (born 1848 and died 
1881), Freeman J., Alice M., Nathan, Sylvia W. (died August, 1860), Lincoln G. (died 
May 9, 1864), and Charles W. Mr. Ham was a bricklayer for six years, he then 
bought a farm near Troy in North Greenbush and has been for fifty-eight years en- 
gaged in market gardening, general farming, and poultry business. 

Foust, Peter, was born in Prussia in 1827. He is a .son of Matis Foust, who came 
to Greenbush in 1840 and here lived and died. Mr. Foust came to Greenbush with 
his father and has followed teaming and now owns ten and one half acres of land in 
Greenbush. His wife was Frances Olenhei-ser, by whom three children have been 
born, one living: Mary, wife of Fred Mich. They have five children. Mr. Foust 
owns eight lots and a three-story building on Portstown street and also a good resi- 
dence on Sixth street. Mrs. Foust died in Greenbu.sh, N. Y. 

Murray, James H., was born in Greenbush, Februarys, 1860. He was a son of 
John and Margeret (Vaughn) Murray, both natives of Ireland and came to Green- 
bush at a very early day, where they lived and died. Mr. Murray was reared and 
educated in Greenbush and engaged with the B. & A. R. R. He was with them for 
fifteen years, and was baggagemaster at the time of his death, he being killed in 
the Chester disaster, August 30, 1893. He was well known and was respected by all 
who knew him. December 28, 1888, he was married to Annie Mathews, born in 
East Greenbush and daughter of Richard and Mary (Golden) Mathews, both born in 
Ireland and came to East Greenbush early in life. He was killed on the B. & A., 
for whom he worked for thirty years. His death occurred March 7, 1884, and his 
widow lives with Mrs. Murray. To Mr. and Mrs. Murray was born one son: James 
H., born October 5, 1893. 

Barrett, Patrick, was born in Ireland, February 15, 1825. He was a son of Rich- 
ard and Elizabeth Barrett, both natives of Ireland, and came to Albany about 1827, 
where they lived and died. Mr. Barrett was reared in Albany and educated in pub- 
lic schools. He was a brush maker and followed it for some years with Mr. Armour 
of Albany. He was also in the grocerj' business and was one of the timekeepers in 
Clinton prison for several years. He came to Greenbush in I860 and was engaged 
in the liquor business for some years. He was twice married. He was first mar- 
ried to Annie E. Allen, daughter of John and Mary Allen of Albany. They were 
natives of Ireland, and came to Albany while young and there married. He died 
in 1867, at the age of sixty-nine, and his wife died in 1888, at the age of ninetj'-nine. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Barrett was born one daughter: Mary E., wife of Dr. Francis E. 
Hale of Troy. She died October 30, 1863. Mrs. Barrett died in 1861. and Mr. Bar- 
rett married a sister of his first wife, Mary J. Allen, by whom was born three chil- 
dren: George Allen, deceased; Richard, deceased; and Anna E., educated in 
Greenbush public .schools, from which she graduated, and also was graduated from 
the Albany High School and resides at home. Mr. Barrett died August 30, 1879. 

Murphy, Edward J., was born in New York city, December 4, 1851. He was a son 



FAMILY SKETCHES 271 

of Edward and Margaret Murphy, both born in Ireland, and about 1845 came to New 
York city, and then came to Albany about 1855, and from there came to Greenbush 
and spent his last days. Mr. Murphy was reared and educated in Greenbush. He 
learned the plumber's trade in New York city and has followed that business in New 
York, Albany and Troy. Mr. Murphy's business is in Troy at present. 

Hidley, Jacob, was born in North Greenbush, August 21, 1842. He was a son of 
John G. and Hannah (Boise) Hidley, he of North Greenbush and she of Dutchess 
county. The grandfather, John Hidley, was a farmer of North Greenbush, where 
he died in 1886. Mrs. Hidley died in 1882. Mr. Hidley has always followed farm- 
ing. He was married in 1871 to Mary C. Finkle of North Greenbush, by whom he 
has had two children : Mary and George. 

Hidley, Peter W., was born on the old Hidley homestead in North Greenbush, 
September 27, 1849, where he still resides. He is a brother of Jacob Hidley. In 
1880 he married Lucy, daughter of John Bisdorph of Brunswick. He is a wagon- 
maker by trade. To Mr. and Mrs. Hidley were born two children : Berton and 
Charley. Mr. Hidley has seventy acr-is of farming land. 

De Graff, George, was born in Herkimer county. March 26, 1819. He was a son 
of Peter V. and Julein (Thomas), both of Glennville, Schenectady county, N. Y., 
where they married. He was a tailor by trade and carried on the business for 
twenty-two years m the toll gate house at West Canada Creek, on old Mohawk turn- 
pike, and attended the gate. He died in 1854. Mrs. De Graff died in 1821. The 
grandfather, John De Graff, was a farmer of Glennville. His parents came from 
Holland. Mr. De Graff was in Herkimer county when twelve years of age and lived 
with his sister. He commenced for himself as a farm hand and has always followed 
farming. He has been in the milk business for forty years, and has a farm of 110 
acres in North Greenbush. In 1838 he married Lydia, daughter of John Hovpr of 
Schoharie county, by whom he has four children: Hester, born December 19, 1838, 
and died in 1893; she was the wife of Stephen Van Allen ; Henry is employed at the 
New Hartford and New Haven depot ; William is in the milk depot at Yonkers, N. Y. ; 
and Jessie died in 1892 at the age of forty-five. Mr. De Graff was revenue collector 
during the war, receiving the appointment unasked for. 

Kipp, John, was born m Germany, November 10, 18"29. He is a son of Charley 
and Lydia Kipp, both natives of Germany, where they lived and died. John came 
to America in 1857. He commenced as farm hand, and by industry and careful 
management has secured him a fine home in North Greenbush and carried on gen- 
eral farming. In 1856 Mr. Kipp married Lydia Braker of Germany, who died in 
1888. She left one son, Frederick Kipp, born December 8, 1855. In 1882 he married 
Rita, daughter of Henry Leiberenz of North Greenbush. They have one daughter, 
Ella. Frederick has always been with his father and now has charge of the business 
on the home farm. 

Wilson, Frank, was born in Greenbush, August 25, 1860. He was a son of John 
W. and Elizabeth Clark, both natives of England, who came to Greenbush about 
1840 and here he resided until his death which occurred in December. 1891. He was 
foreman in the freight house of B. & A. R. R. They had four children: Alfred W., 
of Greenbush; Sarah, wife of Captain Atherton of Greenbush; Nellie, deceased; 



272 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

and Frank. Mr. \yilson was reared and educated in Greenbush and has been en- 
gaged with the B. & A. R. R. for about fifteen years, and at present is in the bot- 
tling business. Mr. Wilson is a member of Greenbush Lodge No. 337, F. & A. M., 
and an active member of the Hill Hook and Ladder Company, and also a member of 
the A. O. U. W. His brother Alfred is also a member of the Masonic order, a mem- 
ber of the Greenbush Chapter No. 274. R. A. M., and a member of the L O. O. F. 

McGinniss, J. W., was born in Schodack N. Y., August 15, 1844. He was a son 
of James and Morthy Hummeston a native of Connecticut. Mr. McGinniss came to 
the ITnited States when a young man and settled in Schodack on the farm where 
J. W. McGinniss was born. He then came to Greenbush where he died in 1889. Mr. 
McGinniss was reared on a farm and educated in East Greenbush. He followed 
farming, and enlisted in the New York Volunteer Infantry and served nine months. 
He was taken prisoner at Harper's Ferry. Mr. McGinniss went on the river for a 
short time and afterwards was with the B. & A. R. R. for one year and a half, and 
then followed farming until 1888.. He then came to Greenbush and has since been 
a coach driver in Albany. Mr. McGinniss erected three brick buildings and one 
frame building. He was married in Schodack to Bridgett Stackpole, a native of Ire- 
land. To Mr. and Mrs. McGinniss were born five sons: James W., Joseph H., 
Charles F., Welter and Edgar W. Mrs. McGinniss died May 29, 1890. 

Weatherwax, William J., was born in Schenectady county, N. Y., September 15, 
1845. He is a sgn of Philip and Margaret (Van Paten), he born on Weatherwax 
street, Valatie, N. Y., and she in Albany county. The Weatherwax family came to 
the L^nited States about 1G90 and settled in New York, and the Van Patens came to 
New York at about the same time. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Weatherwax 
was born in New York city, then known as New Amsterdam. His wife was a De Voo. 
The grandfather of Mr. Weatherwax spent most of his days in Kmderhook and 
finally went to Schenectady county and died at a place once known as Brook's Tav- 
ern. The father of Mr. Weatherwax now lives in Schenectady. He is a truck 
maker but is now retired. Mr. Weatherwax was reared and educated in Schenec- 
tady. He worked in a foundry as a moulder for Glut Bros, and that has been his 
business. In 1876 he came to Greenbush and has since lived on Riverside avenue. 
He is now working in Townsend's foundry of Albanj'. He was at one time a mem- 
ber of the I. O. O. F., and is now a member of the Iron Moulders' Union. His wife 
was Aloma Lape of Rensselaer county, and daughter of William Lape, a contractor 
of Greenbush. To Mr. and Mrs. Weatherwax were born three children: John, 
Jessie, and William. John was educated in Greenbush and is now in the grocery 
business in East Greenbush. He is in partnership with Harry J. Robinson, the firm 
known as Weatherwax & Robinson. 

Crannell, Stephen, was born in Greenbush, February 10, 1818. He was a son of 
Robert, born in 1793, and Catherine Miller, born in 1799. He was born in Albany 
and she in Sand Lake. He was a son of Nicholas, born April 12, 1760. He was a 
shoemaker by trade and lived and died in Albany. She was a daughter of Stephen 
Miller, one of the early settlers of Sand Lake, where he lived and died. The father 
of Mr. Crannell was one of the first settlers of Greenbush, and here died April 9, 
1831. His wife died February 16, 1896, at the age of ninety-seven years. Mr. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 273 

Crannell was reared and educated in Greenbush, N. Y. He learned the carpenter's 
trade and followed it until 1845. Since that time he has worked for the B. & A. R. 
R. In 1840 Mr. Crannell married Mary A. Jackson, by whom no children were born. 
She died in about 1863. In 1864 he married Matilda Pohlman of Albany, daughter 
of John S. Graves of Albany, a retired baker. To Mr. and Mrs. Crannell were born 
three children; Kate, at home; Tillie, wife of Frederick C. Bullent, son of Anthony 
C. Bullent. Mr. Fred Bullent is employed by the B. & A. R. R. ; Stephen G., em- 
ployed in Stevens's fruit store of Albany. Mr. Crannell was treasurer of the Working 
Men's Relief As.sociation of East Albany for nineteen years. 

Allen, George P., was born in Berlin, Rensselaer county, July 28, 1852. He is a 
son of Rufus R. and Eliza (Moul) Allen, he born in Berlin and she in Poestenkill. 
The grandfather of George S. was a native of Rhode Island and settled in Berlin 
when a young man, and died on the farm he settled at the age of seventy-five. The 
maternal grandfather was Peter Moul, a native of Dutchess county. His wife, Eva 
Figenheim, was born in New York city and when about twenty-one years old came 
to Dutchess county. Mr. Moul and wife both died on the farm settled in Poesten- 
kill, he at the age of fifty-one and she at the age of ninety-eight. The wife of George 
S. Allen was A. McKares. She died in Berlin, N. Y. The father of Mr. Allen was 
a farmer and merchant in Illinois, and also in the banking business in Joliet, 111. 
He came to Greenbush in 1879 and died in 1883 at the age of sixty-four. He was 
justice in Berlin for twelve years. His widow lives in Troy. Mr. Allen was reared 
and educated in Joliet, 111. He followed farming for several years and in about 1874 
returned to New York and settled in Schodack for three years, two years near Troy, 
and for seventeen years near East Greenbush, N. Y. He has been in the mercantile 
business for about four years and at present lives retired. Mr. Allen was river in- 
spector in 1893. He has been tax receiver for one year, assistant four years, excise 
commissioner, and has been supervisor for four years. February 6, 1878, he married 
Helen Alendorph of Schodack, by whom he has one child : Earl R. Mr. Allen is 
a member of the A. O. U. W. He has been delegate to the State Convention, and 
was then elected supervisor. 

Simmons, Thomas B., was born in Stephentown, May 2, 1815, and is a son of 

George S. and (Babcock) Simmons, he a native of Stephentown and she of 

Berlin. The grandfather, John Simmons, came from Dutchess county to Stephen- 
town, and died in Cortland county. George S. Simmons was a farmer of Stephen- 
town and was a soldier in the war of 1812. In 1812 he removed to Cortland, where 
he died in 1885 at the age of ninety-two years, and Mrs. Simmons died about 1860. 
He was a farmer and spent his last days in the village of Cortland. Thomas B. was 
reared in Stephentown, and in 1842 he married Caroline, daughter of Benjamin 
Dennison of Greenbush, by whom six children have been born: Edgar, who died at 
the age of thirty years; Marion, wife of John Resenburg, a farmer of Greenbush, 
deceased; Addie, at home; William, in the insurance business on Staten Island; 
John T., a dealer in stock ; and Oscar D. is in the medicine business with Dr. Harvy 
of Saratoga, and is now located in Chicago. Mr. Simmons was about thirty years in 
the grocery business and was deputy assessor and then deputy collector of revenue. 
He settled on the farm in 1854 and has been engaged in farming and stock dealing. 
He was supervisor for two years and was elected to the Assembly in 1876 and 1878, 



274 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

and is at present justice of the peace, and has also been justice of sessions for about 
three years. 

earner, John, was born in East Greenbush, June 8, 1852, and is a son of Christo- 
pher and Sarah S. (Lape) Carner, he a native of East Greenbush and she of Sand 
Lake. The grandparents, John and Jane (Goewey) Carner, spent their lives on the 
farm in East Greenbush. The great-grandfalher, John Carner, came from Germany, 
and he and his son Philip fought in the Revolutionary war. He afterward settled 
in East Greenbush and engaged in general farming. Christopher Carner spent his 
days on the farm in East Greenbush, where he and Mrs. Carner died. John was 
reared on a farm, has always followed farming, and now has three farms of 100, 
106, and 113 acres of land, respectively, all of which he is carrying on. He em- 
ploys about ten men and keeps about 135 cows and sixteen horses. He has been 
collector and highway commissioner. In 1880 he married Ametia G., daughter of 
Henry and Sarah Crehan, by whom three children have been born : Grace, Harry 
and Mildred. 

De Forest, Edmund, was born in North Greenbush, July 9, 1831, and is a son of 
Walter and Rachael (Sharp) De Forest, both natives of North Greenbush, where 
they followed general farming, and where Mrs. De Forest died, and Mr. De Forest 
spent his last days in Brunswick, and was deacon and elder of the Dutch Reform 
church. The grandparents, Derrick and Mary (Fondy) De Forest, spent their 
lives on a farm in North Greenbush. Edmund was a farmer in North Greenbush, 
where he now owns a tine farm, now occupied by his son. In 1S95 he bought a farm 
in East Greenbush, where he now resides. In 1853 he married Kassah, daughter of 
J. V. A. and Caroline (De Forest) De Forest of Poestenkill, by whom three chil- 
dren have been born: Minerva, Alonzo E., of Albany county; and Fremont R., a 
farmer of North Greenbush. 

Scharch, Anthony, was born in Bethlehem, Albany county, April 24, 1846, and is 
a son of John Y., a native of Germany, and who emigrated to America about 1835. 
He spent his life at farm work and was with Colonel De Forest as overseer for a 
great many years. He also rented a farm of Mr. De Forest in Albany county. He 
died in 1882 and his wife died in 1865. Anthony was also engaged with Mr. De 
Forest for a while, and then bought land in East Greenbush, where he carried on 
general farming and kept a dairy of about twenty cows. In 1868 he married Cath- 
erine Pasolt, by whom two children have been burn: Edmond T., who died at the 
age of seventeen years; and John A. is in the meat business at Greenbush. Mrs. 
Scharch died in 1872, and Mr. Scharch married Minnie Sinander, of North Green- 
bush, by whom he has one daughter, Annie. 

Van Ness, Jesse P., was born in the town of Stuyvesant, Columl)ia county, N. Y., 
September 15, 1837, and is a son of Philip and Elizabeth Ann (Ba.s.sett) Van Ness. 
He was a native of Stuyvesant and she of Schodack, and is the grandson of Jesse and 
Mariah (Van Alstine) Van Ness, and a great-grandson of Jesse V. Van Ne.ss, who 
was a farmer near Schodack, where he lived and died. Philip Van Ness is a farmer 
near Kinderhook. Jesse P. Van Ness was educated at Kinderhook and Schodack 
Academy and the Albany Normal School, and taught for three years. In 1864 he 
married Ella A., daughter of Levi and Anna Mariah (Wagner) Milham, a farmer of 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 275 

Stuyvesant. He had been in the grocery and manufacturing business. He has 
owned and run a farm in Stuyvesant, Saratoga and Blouming Grove. In 1877 he 
located on the farm he now owns near East Greenbush, where he is engaged in the 
culture of fruit. 

Dunn, George, was born in Ireland, October 20, 1837, and i« a son of John Dunn 
and a brother of Patrick Dunn. George Dunn was reared on a farm and educated 
in Ireland and emigrated to America in 1854, and in 1869 married Honora, daughter 
of John and Catherine (Coffee) Grady, both natives of Ireland, where Mr. Grady 
died, and Mrs. Grady spent her last days in Albany. Mr. Dunn has always followed 
farming, and has been engaged in the manufacture of brick. He furnished the brick 
and sand for the new State Capitol at Albany. He has a fine farm and runs a dairj' 
of about twenty-five cows. He has the finest apple orchard in the vicinity. Mr. 
Dunn has three children: Stanley, a farmer and milkman of East Greenbush; John 
H., on the home farm; and Ella, wife of Thomas P. Galliger, a railroad man of 
Greenbush. 

Morner, Conradt, was born in Germany, April 18, 1850, and is a son of John and 
Elizabeth Morner, natives of Germany, who emigrated to West Sand Lake in 1853, 
where he engaged m the tailoring business. He afterwards engaged in farming. 
He died in 1885, and his wife died in 1883. Conradt was educated at West Sand 
Lake, and in 1875 married Mary Ann, daughter of Philip and Barbary Oust, farmers 
of West Sand Lake. To Mr. and Mrs. Morner have been born four children: Jesse, 
Arthur, Edith and Blanche. In 1881 Mr. Morner purchased ninety-two acres of land 
in East Greenbush, on which he has a fine residence. He makes a specialty of dairy 
farming and keeps about twenty-six cows. 

Craver, Albus, was born m East Greenbush, Februai-y6, 1830, and is a son of John 
W. and Catherine Craver. A. Craver was reared on the old homestead wher^ he 
always resided. He has been a successful farmer and owns 114 acres of land, mak- 
ing a specialty of fine cream for the Albany market. In 1855 he married Elizabeth 
C, daughter of William H. and Mariah Tesory, of Albany county. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Craver have been born five children: Carrie, widow of Jesse De Graff; Erwin, 
a farmer on the homestead farm ; Allen, who died at the age of twenty-six ; Clarence, 
underwriter at Sand Lake, and Edith, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Craver 
are rearing a grandchild, Erwin De Graff, son of Jesse and Carrie De Graff. 

Traver, Albert P., was born in East Greenbush, October 8, 1834, and is a son of 
Alvaro R. and Phebe (Thomas) Traver, he a native of Dutchess county and she of 
Sand Lake. The grandparents, Henry I. and Sarah (Nies) Traver, both natives of 
Dutchess county, came to East Greenbush in 1800, where they lived and died. Al- 
varo spent his life at farming and died in 1890. Mrs. Traver died in 1849. Albert 
P. married Mariah Hidley, of North Greenbush, by whom three children have been 
born: Kittie, wife of Willis T. Younghams, of Sand Lake, deceased; Adella P., at 
home; and Adelmer H., a carpenter. Mr. Traver has always followed farming and 
owns 130 acres of land. He retired in 1894. He has been supervisor of East Green- 
bush for two years and has been deputy sheriff for a number of years. He is a 
member of Apollo Lodge No. 13 and Greenbush Lodge No. 337, F. & A. M., and is 
also a member of the Chapter, R. A. M., and of K. of P. of Sand Lake and Bath-on- 
the-Hudson. 



276 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Doran, Thomas A., born in Valley P'alls, December 18, 1861, is a son of James and 
Mary A. Burk, both born in Ireland ; he came to Valley Falls in 1854 and she about 
1856 and were here married. He first worked in a grist-mill until 1869, when he en- 
gaged in mercantile business and continued in business until his death, March 30, 
1894, and his widow lives in the village. Thomas A. was educated in Valley Falls 
and Villanova College of Delaware county, Pa. He remained with his father until 
his death and at present represents the business. Mr. Doran was married Novem- 
ber 18, 1883, to Isabella Thompson, daughter of James Thompson. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Doran were born these children: Arthur J., Edward, Leo, Isabella. Mr. Doran was 
appointed postmaster April 14, 1894. 

Robbins, Jason, born in Pittstown, N. Y., September 18, 184;?, is a son of Avery 
M. and Harriet (Ketchem) Robbins, he born in Grafton and she in Pittstown. she a 
daughter of John Ketchem, one of the early settlers The father of Jason was a 
farmer and came from Grafton, N.Y., about 1818, and died here in 1883, and his wife 
died in 1882. Jason was reared on a farm and educated in common schools. lie followed 
farming until he enlisted 1862 in Company K, 125th N.Y. Vols., and served two years 
and eleven months; was at Gettysburg, Harpers Ferry, Hristoe Station, Va. , and there 
wounded and taken prisoner and was a prisoner about thirteen months. Mr. Robbins 
was married in 1867 to Caroline L. Wilkes, whose maiden name was Finch, daughter 
of Lemuel S. Finch. To Mr. Robbins and wife were born three children: Hattie 
Walter, and Harold, all deceased. He is a member of Victor Lodge No. 680, F. & 
A. M. After retvirning from the army Mr. Robbins came to Valley Falls and has 
been employed at various occupations. Mr. Robbins is a member of G. A. R. at 
Hart's Falls, and also Rensselaer Veteran Association. 

O'Neil, Edward, born in Easton, W'ashington county, N. V., April 22, 1S61, is a 
son of Patrick and Margaret (Miskell) O'Neil, both natives of Ireland, whcj in 1850 
settled in Easton, N. Y., on a farm and there now reside. He owns a farm of about 
200 acres of land. Edward was reared on a farm and educated in common schools. 
He engaged at twenty-one years of age in hay and straw business and continued in 
business about four years and was proprietor of the Grove Hotel at Easton for two 
years, and in 1888 came to Valley Falls and bought the Valley Falls House of which 
he has since been proprietor. He was married November 25, 1885, to Katie A. Cox, 
a native of Saratoga county, N. Y., born May 13, 1867, a daughter of William and 
Sarah (Kelley) Cox, both born in Ireland, came to Mechauicsville, Saratoga county, 
about 1856 and removed to Easton, where Mrs. Cox died in June, 1887, and he 
resides in Easton, a farmer and owns 125 acres of land. To Mr. and Mr.s. O'Neil 
were born three daughters: Eveline, deceased, Sarah I., Stella M. 

Atkin, M. L., was born August 27, 1844. He is a .son of Col. Justice Atkin, a sou 
of Benjamin Atkin, a native of Ireland, who came to Pittstown by marked trees at 
a very early date and settled about one mile from Johnsonville on the banks of the 
Hoosick River, the homestead being owned by E. Atkin, his grandson, and father 
of M. L. Atkin, who was a farmer and merchant at Lansingburgh and Johnsonville, 
and also hotelkeeper at the homestead. His wife was Margaret Eycle.shimer of 
Pittstown, by whom was born nine sons and six daughters, twelve of whom are 
living. He died in 1S()7 and she died in 1894. Mr. Atkin was reared on a farm and 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 277 

educated in common schools and Fort Edward Institute. He followed farming until 
1877, and since that time he has lived a retired life. He went to the oil regions in 
Pennsylvania where he remained for sixteen years. He now owns thirty acres of 
land, also village property. He has been constable and deputy sheriff for twelve 
years, and is a member of Victor Lodge No. 680, F. & A. M. April 14, 1891, he 
married Helen Cass, of Pittstown, daughter of Lansing Van Woert and widow of 
Smith Cass. 

Miller, C. A., born in Millertown, November 9, 1862, is a grandson of Reuben 
Miller, by whom he was reared, his parents having died when he was young. He 
was educated in Johnsonville, N. Y. He began life in mercantile busmess in John- 
sonville in 1884 and continued in business about ten years, and was very successful. 
He also in 1890 bought the JX)hnsonville Bobbin Works of which he has since been 
proprietor, employing about six men. He is a member of Johnsonville Lodge No. 
411, I. O. O. F. 

Powers, John W., was born in Schaghticoke, N. Y., May 16, 1857. He is a son of 
Edward and Mary (Phalen) Powers, both natives of Ireland, who came to Schaght- 
icoke about 1843. Here Mrs. Powers died and Mr. Powers still resides as a farmer. 
John W. was reared on a farm and educated in common schools. He started in the 
hotel and saloon business at Valley Falls and continued in business for six years, and 
came to Johnsonville about 1888 and built the Powers Hotel, of which he has since 
been proprietor. In 1880 he married Bridget Cronin, a native of Pittstown, by 
whom he had seven children: Mary, Thomas, William, Christopher. John, Anna 
and James. 

Davis, Arnold, of Berlin, N. Y. , was the son of Arnold Davis, who was born at 
Charleston, R. I., December 12, 1780. He was the son of Joseph Davis, who was 
the son of John Davis, who was the son of Samuel Davis, who was a dh^ect 
descendant of William Davis, who emigrated from Scotland to Wales in 1639, where 
his son William was born in 1663, who emigrated to America in 168"), and settled 
first in Rhode Island and then in Virginia. Arnold, the father of Arnold, came to 
Petersburgh, now Berlin, with his father and settled in 1792. On the side of 
Arnold's mother, she was a daughter of Dea. John Greene, who was a son of Joseph 
Greene, who was a direct descendant of Joseph Greene, one of the early settlers of 
Newport, R. I. John Greene, the grandfather, was a soldier in the Revolutionary 
war and settled at Little Hoosick, now Berlin, in 1778. Arnold Davis was born 
February 10, 1824. The father, being a poor farmer, he never had the advantage of 
an education more than he obtained in the common schools. He has read much and 
has been a close observer of passing events. It may be said he belongs to the class 
known as the self-educated, or in other words the uneducated. In early life he de- 
signed to study for a profession, but circumstances were such that he was obliged to 
forego that pleasure. From 1850 to 1851 he served the town in the capacity of 
assessor, and was one of the men that were called to Troy in 1851 when the matter 
of equalization between the county, town and the city of Troy first came before 
the Board of Supervisors. In 1857 he ran for justice and was defeated by three 
votes by William J. Sheldon. In 1869 he made the enumeration for the United States 
census of Berlin and Stephentown, under Simeon B. Jewette of Clarkson, Monroe 



278 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

county. That fall he had command of 160 men of Douglass Guards. In 1875 he 
again made the enrollment of the Berlin State census. In September, 1852, he was 
in the State convention atTundale Hall, Albany, which nominated Horatio Seymour 
for governor. In 1867 he became identified with the I. O. G. T., receiving the first 
lodge deputies' commission of Lodge No. 646. In 1868 he received a State deputies' 
commission under the grand worthy chief templar. Rev. Silas Ball, and again under 
R. E, Sutton, M. D., and again under the Hon. A. S. Draper. He was in the 
Grand Lodge at Rochester, i\.lbany, Binghamton and Syracuse. When the first 
county lodge of Rensselaer county was organized in 1875, he was the first county 
chief and held that position two years. This lodge went down and was again 
organized in 1879. At Harmony Hall, Troj-, he was again elected chief and held 
that position two years. At Cleveland's first election he was in command of a 
Cleveland Club, which numbered 140. He has traveled and lectured on temperance 
to quite an extent. He has talked to the people politically, and has written to quite 
an extent for publication. The articles were published in the Rensselaer Courier in 
the winter of 1874 and 1875, the early history of Eastern Rensselaer county being 
his last production. 

Holton, Mrs. Sarah P., is the widow of the late John Holton, by whom she has one 
daughter, Fanny A., born in 1882. Mr. Holton died in 1887, aged sixty four. He 
was at the time of his death retired from active business, but was honored and 
esteemed by his fellowmen, enjoying wide popularity. He was an organsmith by 
trade, and an expert rifle shooter. He had traveled much over the country and won 
many prizes. In 1849 while in California he made considerable money mining. He 
was born in 1822 in Connecticut and came here in 1868. He was twice married, in 
1880 to Mrs. Sarah Kelley, his widow and the faithful companion of his later years. 
She was born at Saratoga, N. Y., and her maiden name was Sarah Frances Beach. 

Pine, \Y. J., a merchant of West Hoosick, has a general store containing a varied 
line of dry goods, boots and shoes, groceries, etc. The business was purchased in 
1889 of George Russell, and is the only one of its kind in the place. Mr. Pine was 
born in Pittstown ; his father, James Pine, was an early pioneer of the town and a 
successful farmer there. Mr. Pine married in 1874 Mattie Herrington, daughter of 
Ephraim Herrington of this place. She died in 1893. leaving one son, Frank E., aged 
sixteen. Mr. Pine possesses the spirit of enterprise, is honorable in his intercourse, 
and much respected by his townsmen. 

Fleming, Luke, is of Irish nativity, and came to Liverpool, England, when two 
years old. From there he emigrated to America when eighteen years of age, in 
1868, and settled in Troy, N. Y. There he spent fourteen years in a planing mill, 
then he came to Hoosick Falls in 1877 and engaged as machinist in the Wood Ma- 
chine Works. He was born in 1844, son of Luke Fleming, a farmer, and married in 
1878 Catherine Guldun of Troy. Both are members of the R. C. church. The chil- 
dren of this family are as follows: Willard, aged sixteen; Thomas, aged thirteen; 
Joseph, aged ten ; Celia, aged eight. Politically Mr. Fleming is an ardent Demo- 
crat. 

Carr, Ambrose, the well known and much respected grocer of Water street, Hoosick 
Falls, is a native of this place, born in 18G3 and was reared and educated here. After 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 279 

a course at Troy Business College he engaged as a painter in the Walter Wood shops. 
Later he was an employee of Joseph Buckley as salesman and bookkeeper. His 
seven years' experience here was no doubt an important factor in the development 
of his rare business ability, which makes him one of the most successful merchants 
of the day. He purchased the business of Francis Riley in 1893. In politics he is a 
Democrat. His first public office was that of school trustee, and he has now been a 
member of the Board of Education several years. He was town clerk in 1893 and 
proved a very efficient official. He is vice-president of the Rensselaer Club, also a 
member of the R. C. church. He now resides at the ancestral home where his 
father, Stephen Carr, settled forty years ago. The latter, a well preserved man of 
seventy years is of Irish birth. For thirty-three years he was employed by the 
Wood Company as a wood worker. 

Surdam, Kellion, a resident of Walloomsac, is of Holland Dutch ancestry. His 
great-grandfather, Anthony Surdam, came from Amsterdam, N. Y., and settled in 
the town of Hoosick before the Revolution. His father was David Surdam, a resi- 
dent of Hoosick, where Kellion Surdam was born in 1823. Mr. Surdam in 1895 was 
called upon to mourn the loss of the faithful partner of his youth, born Hannah S. 
Taber of Hoosick, whom he married in 1843 and by whom he had three sons and 
three daughters. He has always followed agricultural pursuits and owns a farm of 
205 acres near the site where raged the historic battle of Bennington. He has in his 
possession a cannon ball which was plowed up on the farm. 

Phillips, M. W., is the son of an old landmark. Hart Phillips, the oldest resident 
in Hoosick Falls. He was born in Massachusetts in 1800, of Scotch ancestrv, and 
has resided in Hoosick Falls for seventy-five years. He was a carpenter and manu- 
facturer of sash, doors and blinds, and built the Presbyterian church over sixty j'ears 
ago. Our subject was born at Newark, Wayne county, in 1855, but has spent most 
of his life here. He has clerked since 1874; bookkeeper seven years for Edgar A. 
Welch & Co. and eleven years for another market here. Mr. Phillips has been a 
member of the M. E. church since 1876 and secretary of the Sunday school fifteen 
years. He has the remarkable record of having attended every Sabbath for eleven 
consecutive years. In 1886 he married Mattie A. Hatch of Waterford, N. Y. They 
have three children. 

Gardner, L. N., is a descendant of an old Rhode Island family and .son of Thomas 
A. Gardner, a farmer and lifelong resident of Petersburgh, where L. N. Gardner 
was born in 1838. The latter was educated here and followed the pursuit of farm- 
ing. His wife was Orinda, daughter of Christopher Lavvton. Three children have 
been born to them: J. B. Gardner, Mary and Leroy. Mr. Gardner is a Republican 
but not an active politician. He is also a member of the Advent church. 

Byars, jr., J. G., is a young man held in high repute in both business and social 
circles of the town of Hoosick. He came to America in 1864 with his parents from 
Glasgow, Scotland, where he was born in 1863. He has been a resident of Hoosick 
twenty-six years, and the position he now occupies has been due to his own ability 
and industry, for Mr. Byars was a working boy who paved his own way to success. 
His bottling works, devoted to the making of .soda water, mineral waters and ginger 
ale, are extensive. He is a Republican and has been commissioner of excise. He is 



280 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

past master of the Masonic Lodge and exalted ruler of the B. P. O. Elks. Recently 
he purchased a large property of Hiland Carpenter at North Hoosick. 

Johnson, William A., is the last representative of the Johnson family of Johnson 
Hill. Hither his grandfather, Captain Rufus Johnson, of the Revolution, came from 
Rhode Island and settled more than a century and a half ago. There his father, 
Augustus Johnson, was born in 1800, and his mother, Martha (Keach) Johnson, was 
born on an adjoining farm in the same year. His father was an active politician of 
his day, and was closely identified with the local affairs of the town. William A. 
Johnson was al.so born at the ancestral home in 1830, where a new residence was 
erected for the reception of his bride in 1852. She was Melissa, daughter of Jacob 
Chase, an old resident of this locality. Mr. Johnson is the father of four children: 
Anna, wife of H. Welch, son of Josiah Welch, an early settler of Hoosick; Hattie, 
died aged eighteen years; Mary, died in infancy; and William A. Johnson, jr., of 
North Adams, superintendent of a shoe shop; also dealer in coal and wood. 

Perr}', Nathan S. , has been a resident of Hoosick Falls half a century. He learned 
the spinner's trade at Adams, Mass., where he was born in 1824, at which he worked 
ten years. After eight years as a carpenter, he went into the employ of the Walter 
Wood Co., where he remained nine years. In 1872 he established a grocery on 
Church street where he has since remained. He is a son of Lyman Perry, and mar- 
ried in 1847 Emeline Davis of Petersburgh. Two children were born to them- Rich- 
mond L. Perry, a painter; and Imogene, who resides at home. The family are 
members of the M. E. church. Politically Mr. Perry is a Republican. 

Smith, jr., William R., was one of the first mail carriers in Hoosick Falls upon the 
establishment of free delivery in 1891. He is the only son of William R. Smith, a 
fifty-two year resident in Hoosick Falls. The latter was born at Jackson, N. Y.. 
where he labored as a carpenter, also a farmer. For a number of years he traveled 
on the road taking views and pictures. He is a Democrat, and served in the ca- 
pacity of village trustee, also one of the organizers of the fire department. William, 
jr., was employed as a machinist in the Wood Machine Co. ten years before entering 
upon his present engagement. In 1886 he married Lelia Bennett of Cambridge, 
who bore him two children: Edith May, and Frank Adelbert. He is a valued 
member of the order of Odd Fellows. 

Boyd, Mrs. Douglas. — In 1895 at Sacandaga Park, Fulton county, N. Y., death 
came to one of Hoosick Falls most respected citizens, Douglas Boyd. A pulmonary 
difficulty compelled him to retire from his position as superintendent of the shirt fac- 
tory here in 1893. Thinking to improve his health he traveled much in California and 
elsewhere but to no avail. So passed away a man, as a Christian, sincere, consist- 
ent, being a valued member of the Presbyterian church, as an employer none more 
considerate and beloved. He left a widow, born Abbie Barringer, and one son, 
Roy, nine years of age. Douglas Boyd was born at Hudson, N. Y., in 1853 of Scotch 
parentage, inheriting the sturdy characteristics of that people. At an early age he 
received employment in the Miller, Hall & Hartwell large shirt factory, Troy, N. Y. 
During his six years there his employers discovered his rare ability. As their ap- 
preciation of his work they sent him to Hoosick Falls in 1883 to manage the branch 
of the factory there, where he earned the esteem and gratitude of his employers and 
love of employees, of whom there were about 200. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 281 

Calhoun, David, was born in Troy, November 5, 1857. His parents moved to the 
town of Brunswick when he was one year old. He was educated in the district 
school, and is a farmer by occupation. He is now general foreman of the Troy City 
Railroad Company, promoted to that position in 1891. He has been in their employ 
sixteen years, with the exception of a short time at Albia, introducing the bell punch 
and other improvements. He occupied positions with the present company when 
they used horses, and began by hooking the horses to the cars, after a while he was 
promoted to conductor, which position he held for seven years, and then became a 
starter, etc. March 14, 1892, he married Harriet Timmins of Lausingburgh, by 
whom two children have been born: Violet M. and Helen E. The father of Mr. 
Calhoun was William, born in the North of Ireland in 1821, and came to the United 
States when seventeen years of age and located near Troy. He married Mary 
DrafTfin of Troy, b}' whom five children have been born. William, Sarah, Caroline, 
David, and Robert. Mr. Calhoun died in 1882, and his wife died in Augu.st, 1891. 
He was elected trustee of the Third ward for two years. He is a member of the 
Jerusalem Lodge No. 355 F. & A. M., of Lansingburgh. 

Sharp, Alonzo, was born in North Greenbush, March 5, 1848, and is a .son of 
George J. and Charlotte (Vanderkarr) Sharp, a native of North Greenbush and she 
of Sand Lake. The grandparents were Jeremiah and Catherine Goewey, she a na- 
tive of East Greenbush and he of North Greenbush. They followed farming in 
North Greenbush, where he died. The great-grandfather of Mr. Sharp was Barney 
Sharp, a Revolutionary soldier, and was a pioneer of North Greenbush. The 
grandparents, Samuel and Rebecca (Philips) Vanderkarr were natives, she of Scho- 
dack and he of Sand Lake. The great-grandfather, Roswell Philips, was a pioneer 
of Schodack, and married Lena Simmons of East Greenbush. The parents of Sam- 
uel Aaron and Christina (Snyder) Vanderkarr, were pioneers of Sand Lake. George 
J. Sharp was reared in North Greenbush, where he followed farming until 1875, 
when he removed to East Greenbush and died, December 13, 1894, at the age of 
eighty-six. Mrs. Sharp still resides on the homestead at the age of eightj^-two. 
Alonzo was reared on the farm and has always followed farming. In 1882 he mar- 
ried Edna P. , daughter of Elisha P. and Delia (Thornton) McKean of East Green- 
bush. To Mr. and Mrs. Sharp were born two children : Edna C. and Stanley M. 
He is a member of the Schodack Union Lodge No. 337 F. & A. M. 

Romp, Frederick, was born in the Province of Hanover, Germany, July 28, 1850, 
son of Frederick and Rebecca (Gluessen) Romp. He received a collegiate education 
and came to the United States in 1870, locating in Troy N. Y., and in 1879 came to 
Lansingburgh, N. Y. He is a cattle dealer by occupation, also conducts a bottling 
business. In March, 1879, he married Carrie Flagler, of this place, by whom he had 
four children; Jessie, Frederick, Henry, and William. Mr. Romp is a member of 
Hudson River Lodge, No. 607, F. &. A. M., of Newburg, also a member of Hyland 
Chapter, No. 52, R. A. M. The ancestry of the family is German on both sides. 

Winkelman, Christian, was born in Germany in 1834. He was educated in their 

schools, and was a locksmith by trade. September 23, 1862, he married Alvira A. 

B. Lolk of his native place, by whom he had three children: D. Christian, Elizabeth 

M., who died in her sixth year, and Katherine. The family came to the United 

ij 



282 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

States in September, 1865, where he works as a machinist. The ancestry of the 
family is German on both sides. 

Beig, John, was born in Germany September 19, 1858. He was a son of Barnard 
and Rosa Beig, also of Germany. John came to this country April 16, 1871. He 
worked as a laborer in Brunswick for about five years, and then he purchased the 
farm where he now lives. September 7, 1873, he married Mary E. Cweig. He is 
interested in education and is at present the librarian of school. He has one daugh- 
ter named Anna Bertha Clara. John has one brother, Joseph, who is a resident of 
California, and two si.sters, Mina and Josephine, who reside in Troy. Anna Bertha 
Clara Beig married Henry Lansing, and has one child named John. 

Howe, Arthur V., born in the town of Brunswick, February 28, I860, is the son of 
Arthur H. and Mary Adalada (Virgil) Howe. He is a native of England and settled 
in Brunswick about 1850. By occupation he was a tailor and was located in Troy 
vmtil 1873, since which time he has been located in Chicago and New York. Mary 
Adalada is a daughter of Captain Ebenezer H. and Laura Virgil. Arthur V. re- 
ceived his early education near Troy. He spent four years at the Vermont Episco- 
pal Institute at Burlington, Vt. , also spent four years in New York studying paint- 
ing. In 1887 he married Elizabeth T., daughter of Francis Everett. His children 
were James, William, Eben, Chester, and Clark. He now follows general farming. 
He is public spirited and interested in all worthy enterprises. 

Shaver, John E., was born on the farm where he now resides, February 10, 1846. 
He is a son of David and Eveline Shaver, who had two children living, John and 
Augusta. Five children are deceased: Emma, Emerson, James Harry, Amelia France, 
and- Mary M. David was a son of Peter and Elizabeth, who were of the early set- 
tlers of the town. Their children were Magdelan, Eva, Eliza, Frederick, Jona- 
than, David H., Peter James, Christina, and Catherine. David H. followed farming, 
and was active in school, church, town, and county affairs. John E. in his early life 
attended school and helped his father on the farm. December 17, 1873, he married 
Addie P., daughter of Theron P. King, by whom he had two children, Belva May, 
and Chester J., deceased. John E. is public spirited, and is interested in all worth}' 
enterprises, such as schools, churches, etc. also in town and county affairs. 

Buckley. William H.. was born in the town of Schaghticoke, N. Y., January 26, 
1832. He was educated in the common schools, Greenwich Academy, and Poult- 
ney Seminary, Vt. March 15, 1859, he married Frances Talmage of his native town. 
They have five children, four sons and one daughter: Mary, Myron E., Theodore T., 
George M. and William J. Mary married Edward E. Nutting; they had one son, 
Minot G. Myron E. married Lydia Brundridge; they have three children: Leslie, 
Lura, and Marion. Theodore T. married Elizabeth Shaler of Schaghticoke; they 
have two children: Harold and Amelia. Mr. Buckley's father, Ezra, was born in 
Schaghticoke in the year 1802. He was educated in the schools of that early day, 
and was a farmer by occupation. He married Mary Burch of his native town ; they 
had five children: William H., Anna E., Amelia M., Sarah E., and Phebe A. Mr. 
Buckley died June 11, 1874. His father, Jabez, was born in Connecticut in 1758, and 
came to Schaghticoke in 1785. Mrs. Buckley's father, James Talmage, was born in 
this town in the year 1811. He married Mary E. Gifford; they had six children: 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 283 

Frances, Cornelia, Elizabeth, Mary, Henry, Isaac, and a boy who died in infancy. 
Mr. Talmage died in 1853, and his wife survives. He has served his townspeople as 
supervisor and collector, and has been assessor for seventeen years. Mrs. Buckley's 
grandfather, Isaac Talmage, lived on this street until he was eighty years old. The 
ancestry of the family is English and Welsh. 

Hull, Adelbert C was born in the town of Berlin, Rensselaer county, N. Y., Sep- 
tember 7, 1850; his education was obtained in the common schools. His parents 
moved to the town of Schaghticoke when he was ten years old ; he finished his edu- 
cation in Mechanicsville Academy; his early years were devoted to farming and he is 
now conducting a livery business at Valley Falls, N. Y. On December 3, 1873, he 
married Alida A. Van Veghton, a member of one of the old families of the town ; 
they have one son, George B., who is well educated; he has a variety of occupations; 
he resides at home with his parents now. Mr. Hull's father, Schuyler L. , was born 
at the old home in Berlin in the year 1817. He was educated in the schools of that 
day, and was a farmer by occupation ; he married Lucinda Green of his native town ; 
they had five children: Frances, George B., Adelbert C, Sarah and Eugene E. Mr. 
Hull died June 5, 1894; his widow survives at this date, 1896. Mr. Hull and wife 
were members of the M. E. church of Valley Falls. The ancestry of this family is 
Dutch on both sides. 

Aikin, Elizabeth. — Daniel S. Aikin was born in the town of Pittstown in the year 
1837. His preliminary education was obtained in the common schools, and after- 
wards in Fort Edward Institute. He taught school several years, was a farmer, 
and later in life he studied law. November 5, 1862, he married Elizabeth Buckley, 
of Schaghticoke; they had two children, Henry B. and Albert D. Henry B. was 
educated in the public schools, and is a farmer at home, and is also a good judge of 
horses. He married Anna M. Danforth of Cambridge, Washington county, N. Y. ; 
they have one daughter, Leah B. Albert D. is a minister in the M. E. church, and 
is now located in Carlson, Florida. He married Mary Wardlaw of East Point, Ga, ; 
they have two children, Albert D., jr., and the babj'^ not named. Mrs. Aikin's 
father, Henry Buckley, was born in the town of Easton, Washington county, N. Y., 
February 12, 1817. He married twice, first to Elizabeth Sanford; they had one 
daughter, Elizabeth. Mrs. Buckley died December 19, 1842. For his second wife, 
he married Caroline Sanford. Mr. Buckley died January 28, 1870, and his wife died 
April 30, 1895. Mr. Aikin died in 1877. The ancestry of the family is French and 
Irish. 

Cassey, John L., was born in the town of Easton, Washington county, N.Y., May 
12, 1861. He was educated in the district schools, and was a farmer by occupation 
until the spring of 1895, when he leased the Schaghticoke House for a term of five 
years, since which time he has conducted a hotel with success; he also carried on 
the livery business in connection therewith. February 17, 1892, he married Mary 
A. Miskell of his native town; they have two children, both daughters: Dora A. 
and Cecelia. Mr. Cassey's father, Timothy, was born in Ireland in 1814, and came 
to the United States when a young man and located in the town of Schaghticoke. 
He married Lena Attridge, formerly of his native county ; they had seven children, 
four sons and three daughters: Mary, John L., James, Daniel, Joseph M., Agnes and 



284 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Celia. Mary married Thomas Hogan ; they have five children: Mary, Catherine, 
Lena, Joseph, and Edward. Agnes died at the age of eleven years. Timothy Cassey 
died February 20, 1892, and his widow survives at this date, 1896. Mrs. Cassey's 
father, Edward Miskell, was born in Waterford county, Ireland, in 1841, and came 
to the United States when a young man and located in Easton. He married Mary 
Flaherty; they have one daughter, Mary A. Both father and mother are living 
now in 1896. The ancestry of the family is Irish on both sides. , 

Fish, Capt. Milton, was born in Galvestown, in the State of Louisiana, about 
eighty miles from Baton Rouge. On May, 25, 1819, his father left that State when 
Captain Milton was nine years old and located in the town of North East, Dutchess 
county, N. Y., where he attended school; his early life was .spent on the farm. In 
1832 the family moved to the town of Moreau, Saratoga county, N. Y., where he 
finished what education he had time to acquire. He taught school at the age of 
twenty. In his twenty-second year he went to sea, and a right thorough " sea dog 
was he," for he followed the salt water all told twenty years. He entered the em- 
ploy of John F. Trumbull as a sailor before the mast on the United States Bank ; he 
was in his employ eight years. Mr. Trumbull took much interest in the country boy 
and this was the turning point in his career. He made three voyages around Cape 
Horn, and was promoted by degrees. First he held the position of boat steerer. 
They went to the Crosette Island in the South Indian Ocean ; his next position was 
second mate and then the position of master of ship in the employ of another con- 
cern. This ship was in the passenger and general traffic to Honolulu and Narvian 
Islands, also in connection with the gold excitement in California in 1849 and 1850. 
In 1851-52 he fitted out a trading vessel at Stonington on his own account; here his 
good friend Trumbull was his right hand man again. His first trip was to the 
Azores Islands. He took up a land claim in Oregon and became land sick and went 
to sea again to Honolulu and Victoria; he also did a fine trade with the Esquimaux. 
He came to San Francisco, returning to this town and said good-bye to the sea for- 
ever. He had made a competency. He purchased this farm on the banks of the 
historic Hudson River, where he is enjoying life in sight of water, in peace with all 
men. His mother died when he was seven years old. 

Brewster, George W., was born in Schoharie county, N. Y., July 12, 1844. He 
was educated in the common schools of that county. He has always been a farmer 
by occupation, and came with his people to Schaghticoke in 1864. He married 
Christina Kinkern of his native county; they have five children: Lottie, George K. , 
Annie F., John G. and Estella. Annie F. married Romine Kniskern; they have one 
son. Mr. Brewster's father, Gilbert, was born in Albany county, N. Y., in 1807. 
He was educated in the common schools and was a farmer. He married Julia A. 
Button, formerly of the town of Schaghticoke; they had five children: Courtland, 
George W. , John H., Almira and Eveline. Mr. Brewster died February 11, 1881, 
and his wife died December 1, 1880. Mr. Brewster's grandfather, William Brewster, 
came to the United States on the ship Mayflower. The ancestry of the family is 
Dutch, English, German, and of New England extraction. 

Keyes, James, was born in County Limerick, Ireland, November 10, 1843. He 
was educated in his native country. He came to the United States in 1866 and 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 285 

located in Schaghticoke, and is one of the intelligent farmers of the town. Febru- 
ary 8, 1869, he married Mary O'Neil, formerly of his native place. They have four 
children, one son and three daughters, Michael B., Sarah B., Mary E., and Julia M. , 
all residing at home at this date (1896). Mr. Keyes's father, Michael, was born at 
the old home in Ireland about the year 1808. He married Bridget Doyle of his na- 
tive place. They had five living children: Mary, Bridget, Michael, James, and Mar- 
tin. They came (his parents) to this country on a visit in 1867, and returned the fol- 
lowing year. He died February 17, 1892, and his wife March 25, 1895. The family 
are members of St. John's Roman Catholic church of Schaghticoke, N. Y. 

Thompson, Samuel, was born in Schaghticoke, N.Y., August 27, 1827. His educa- 
tion was obtained in the common schools. He followed the liquor business for 
twenty years, and was also a carpenter and contractor for twenty years, and is now 
leading a retired life. December 5, 1868, he married Rose Bufhtt of this village. 
They had four children: one daughter and two infant boys are dead, and Clara, who 
is a school teacher in the Union Free school. Mr. Thompson's father, Alexander, 
was born in the north of Ireland and came to the United States when a young man, 
and located in the village. He married Nancy McCann ; she was formerly of the 
north of Ireland; they had nine children, four sons and five daughters: Samuel, 
Jane, Margaret, Harry, Nancy, Matilda, John, Robert, and Anna. Alexander 
Thompson is dead, and his wife died in Los Angeles, Cal. , in 1891. The ancestry of 
the family is Scotch on both sides. 

Strope, David M., was born in the town of Sand Lake, January 31, 1834. He was 
educated in the district schools. He was a butcher for eighteen years, and is now a 
farmer and gardener. In 1857 he married Elizabeth A. Norton of Tomhannock. 
They have two children: Myron David and Caroline E. She, on March 29, 1883, 
married Richard Jones, then of Melrose but now of Schaghticoke Hill. They have 
had three children: Elizabeth, Carrie, and Robert, who died in infancy. Mr. Strope's 
father, David T., was born in the town of Sand Lake in the year 1804. He was edu- 
cated in the schools of that day, and was a carpenter and farmer. He married 
twice, first, to Catherine Goewy; they had fourteen children: Sarah, Rebecca, David 
M., Caroline, Mary, Louise, William, Frederick, John, Emeline, Alfred, Ezra, 
Hattie, and Mahala. Mrs. David T. Strope died about the year 1865. For his second 
wife he married Mrs. Caroline Whittuck, born Fonda. They had four children : 
Martin I., Jesse, Cynthia, and Almira. Mrs. Strope is living at this date. The an- 
cestors on both sides were in the Revolutionary war. The ancestry of this family is 
Dutch on both sides. 

Van Alstyne, E. M,, was born in Bath, N. Y., May 28, 1858. He was a son of Ed- 
ward M., a son of Martin Van Alstyne, a native of Holland, and came to Rensselaer 
county with his brother, Peter Van Alstyne. The grandfather and great-grand- 
father of Mr. Van Alstyne died in Rensselaer county. The father of Mr. Van Al- 
styne lived and died in Bath. His death occurred October 11, 1880. His wife was 
Elizabeth (Hilton), who was born in Rensselaer county, and was a daughter of Ed- 
ward Hilton, an early settler. She died in 1895. Mr. Van Alstyne was reared in 
Bath, and educated in Albany Academy. He is a printer by trade and has worked 
for Weed, Parsons & Co. for fourteen years. In 1890 he engaged in the mercantile 



286 LANDMARKS UF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

business in Bath and has two stores. In 1881 Mr. Van Alstyne married Carrie 
Melius by whom one son has been born: Howard M. Mr. Van Alstyne keeps sub- 
station No. 3 of Albany and has also been postma.ster. 

Leffler, A. M., was born in Germany, March 7, 1847. He is a son of Jacob and 
Mary (Shaw), both born in Germany and came to Berlin, N. Y., in 1852, and there 
both lived and died. Mr. Leffler was reared in Berlin and educated m the common 
schools. At nineteen years he started at teaming and finally went to Sand Lake and 
purchased a farm ; in 1884 he came to Albany, had a coal yard for one year, then 
came to Bath-on-the Hudson, and was proprietor of the Wolcott House for three 
years; he also dealt in ice, and in 1889 built the Leffler House on Washmgton 
avenue, and is also engaged in hay, straw, feed, and flour trade. Mr. Leffler also 
built a very fine residence on Washington avenue containing all the modern im- 
provements. Mr. Leffler has made his own way in the world, starting a poor boy. 
He was married March 28, 1869, to Eavan Keeler, by whom he has had ten children: 
Mary, Fannie, Emma, Charles, Carrie, Jacob (deceased), Alice, William, Bertha (de- 
ceased), and Eva. 

Wood, W. P., M. D., was born November 13, 1851, in Chittenden county, Vt. He 
is the son of Benjamin F. and Lena M. Alexander of Chittenden, where they both 
were born and died. He was a lumber dealer ; his father was also a lumber dealer 
lantil the Mexican war, to which he went and there met his death. The maternal 
grandfather was Clark Alexander, a native of Chittenden county, Vt. ; he was in the 
Mexican war and spent his last days in his native county where he now lies in Green 
Mountain Cemetery near Col. Ethan Allen. W. F. Wood was educated in the 
Willeston Academy of East Greenbush. He studied medicine with the late Anthony 
Teneyck of Bloomingrove, N. Y., and Prof. John M. Bigelow of Albany. He grad- 
uated from the Albany Medical College in 1874 and has practiced in Greenbush since 
1876. Dr. Wood was married in November, 1884, to Louise Miles, daughter of the 
late Minard Miles, born in Greenbush and son of Samuel Miles, a native of Scotland; 
he was one of the early settlers of Greenbush, where he lived and died. He was the 
father of seven sons and one daughter; the oldest, Frank, was president of the vil- 
lage for some years; his son William was also president of the village and chairman 
of the Board of Supervisors, also member of assembly, and now holds a prominent 
position in the custom house. New York; Samuel Miles was a contractor and builder 
for years; Minard Miles was a builder and contractor, and also a bridge builder for 
the Albany and Boston R. R. ; he died in 1871 ; his widow now lives in Greenbush. 
To Dr. W. F. Wood and wife was born one daughter, Gertrude. Dr. Wood was 
health commissioner for four years; he is a member of Greenbush Lodge No. 337, 
F. & A. M. and of Greenbush Chapter, R. A. M., and A. O. V. W. and Select 
Knights. 

McKenna Bros. — This firm is composed of William and James H., sons of Charles 
H. McKenna. C. H. McKenna was born in Troy, N. Y. ; his father came to Troy 
from Ireland and there lived and died. Charles H. McKenna came to Greenbush 
soon after and engaged in the grocery business; he continued in that business until 
his death in 1891. His wife was Elizabeth Callary, by whom he has had six sons and 
four daughters. Mr. McKenna and wife both lived in Greenbush. William was 



FAMILY SKETCHES 287 

born in Greenbush in 1875, and James H. in 1871. Both were educated in the com- 
mon schools, and in 1889 engaged in the grocery business, first dealing in groceries 
and now they have also ice and coal. 

Hawks, Albert Henry, was born at Hoosick, N. Y., May 1, 1843. Mary Phillips 
was born at Hoosick, N. Y., October 19, 1843. They were united in marriage at 
Hoosick, N. Y., October 24, 1867. Their children were Kathryn Belle, and Henry 
Noble, born at Hoosick, N. Y., November 1, 1871, and December 29, 1873, respect- 
ively. 

Herran, Mathew A., born in Nassau, January 5, 1861, is the son of John and Francis 
(Herran) Herran, both born in Ireland and in 1860 came to Nassau and for thirty 
years have lived in Greenbush. Mathew A. came to Greenbush when a mere child 
and was educated in Greenbush, N. Y., and St. John's, Albany, and also Mr. New- 
man's select school. He was a collector on old South Ferry from 1873 to 1880 and 
then went to the lumber district four years and peddled oil, and for eleven years was 
baggageman for the B. & A. R. R. Mr. Herran has always been an ardent Repub- 
lican and has been trustee seven years in succession and then came to the Third 
ward and here was elected trustee November, 1894, which office he now holds, and 
has been ward inspector one year, in 1884, and in 1896 was elected supervisor of 
Greenbush ; he is the first Republican supervisor in twenty-two years. Mr. Herran 
was a member of the K. of L. m 1885 when the party was successful. He was mar- 
ried in December, 1886, to Josephine M. Gill of Kingston, N. Y., by whom he has 
five children: Mathew, deceased; Merie F., Josephine M., Frances, deceased; and 
Honora. Mr. Herran is a member of C. R. B. A., Council Greenbush, and also 
president two terms. 

Jones, Baalam, was born in Albany, January 13, 1820. He was a sou of Josiah 
Jones, born June 10, 1796, and Rachael (Petner) Jones, who lived and died in W«st- 
erlo town, Albany county, N. Y. He was a farmer by occupation. Mr. Jones was 
reared in Westerlo and educa'.ed in common schools. He followed farming and was 
a carpenter by trade. April 1, 1872, he came to Bath, N. Y., and now owns two 
houses and lots. In 1841 Mr. Jones was married to Lois S. Baker of Westerlo, 
daughter of John and Susan Baker, who lived and died m Westerlo. He died May 
29, 1886. To Mr. and Mrs. Jones were born four children ; Josiah B., Lucy, Mary, 
and George. Mrs. Jones died in 1881. In 1881 he married Elizabeth Janim of Bath, 
widow of Charles A. Janim. who died in East Albany. The grandfather of Mr. 
Jones spent most of his days in Vermont. 

Murphy, Peter S., was born in Ireland, April 3, 1848. He was a son of Peter and 
Mary Murphy, both of whom lived and died in Ireland. Mr. Murphy was reared 
and educated in Ireland, and came to Greenbush in 1865 of which place he has since 
been a resident. He was employed by the Hudson River Railroad for about four 
years, and worked on the new Capitol eight months. In 1870 he was employed by 
the B. & A. R. R., and remained there for about two years; since 1872 he has been 
on the police force in Greenbush. He was married in 1874 to Mary A. Sherwood, 
daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Sherwood, natives of Ireland, who came to Green- 
bush in the forties and here lived and died. To Mr. and Mrs. Murphy were born 
two sons and one daughter; Richard, Peter and Elizabeth. 



288 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Bord, James, was born in Troy, N. Y., July 27, 1852. He received his education 
in the pubhc schools and later went to work at the Burden Iron Works. In 1871 he 
was appointed turnkey at the county jail. He was the first in Troy to receive a 
post-office appointment during President Cleveland's first admmistration. He was 
appointed to a clerkship in the office of the State Superintendent of Public Works, 
Albany, and in 1893 with his brother, George S. Bord, entered the livery business at 
176 Third street, Troy. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. He was married in 
1879 to Mellissa Zetto of Troy. They have one daughter. 

WillsoD, W. Vander Heyden, was born April 19, 1859. He is a descendant in a 
direct line of Dirk Vander Heyden, who was the original patroon and owner of the 
land upon which the city of Troy now stands. His father, Mordecai M. Willson, a 
well known and respected citizen, was a wholesale druggist of Troy, but now resides 
near Waterford, N. Y. His mother, Alida L. (Vander Heyden) Willson was a prize 
graduate of the famous Willard Seminary. She died August 21, 1870. Vander Hey- 
den Willson received his education at the Vermont Episcopal Institute and the 
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and upon leaving school he entered an architect's 
office. In 1882 he became connected with the firm of J. M. Jones's Sons, street rail- 
way car builders, of West Troy, N. Y., as draughtsman, designer and superintend- 
ent of construction, where he is located at the present time. January 12, 1892, he 
married Susie, daughter of James Irving of Troy, N. Y., and they have two sons. 
Mr. and Mrs. Willson resides on the Brunswick Road, Troy, N. Y. 

Houghtaling, De Witt D., was born in Hudson, N. Y., June 19, 1848. His father, 
Conrad J., was born in Greene county, and was a carpenter and builder by trade. 
He was alderman in Hudson for eight years, and died December 28, 1878. His 
mother, Mellissa B. (Gifford) Houghtaling, was born in Kinderhook, and is a descend- 
ant of one of the oldest families and is now living m Troy. De Witt D. was edu- 
cated in the public schools of Hudson, and learned the carpenter's trade, at which he 
worked for a number of years, and in 1874 came to Troy and entered the firm of Van 
Dusen & Co., paper box manufacturers, and two years later was made superintend- 
ent of that concern, and was with them for sixteen years, when he took charge of 
the paper box department of the United Shirt and Collar Company, where he is still 
located. He is a member of King Solomon Primitive Lodge F. & A. M., past high 
priest of Apollo Chapter, P. F. I. M. of Bloss Council, Apollo Commandery, Drill 
Corps, and of the Mystic Shrine, and is also a member of the Beeman Park Hose 
Company. He comes from a family of fourteen, seven brothers and six sisters, of 
which he is the only surviving member. 

Davry, George H., was born in Lansingburgh, N. Y., November 17, 1860. His 
education was obtained in the public schools, and by occupation is a linotype opera- 
tor in the Troy Times office June 17, 1885, he married Corlista E. Ritchie, of this 
village, and they have one daughter. Corlista R. Mr. Davry's father, John, was 
born in Dysart, Scotland, September 25, 1832; he was educated there and came to 
the United States in 1856 and located in Lansingburgh, N. Y. In February, 1858, 
he married Barbara Hepburn of Troy (formerly of Scotland) and had eight children: 
William G., George H. (as above), John L., Helen B., Alexander (who died at the 
age of five years), Edward R., Robert U., and Barbara P. John Davry is a member 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 289 

of Phoenix Lodge No. 58, F. & A. M., and of Phoenix Chapter No. 133, R. A. M. 
George H. is a life member of Phoenix Lodge No. 58, F. & A. M., and one of its 
past masters; he is a member of Phoenix Chapter No. 133, R. A. M., and one 
of its past high priests, and at present represents Phoenix Lodge in the Masonic 
Board of Trustees; he is also a member of Bloss Council No. 14, R. & S. M. Mr. 
and Mrs. George H. Davrj^ are members of Olivet Presbyterian church; he is one of 
ruling elders of Olivet church and he has been its collector eleven years The an- 
cestry of this family is Scotch on both sides. 

Weatherwax, Aaron L., was born in Schenectady county, March 13, 1817. His 
mother came to Troy when he was two years of age, and to Lansingburgh when he 
was four years of age. He was educated in the public schools and learned the trade 
of shoemaking with his grandfather, Aaron Learned, and has followed it all his life- 
time. In 1841 he married Phebe Alexander, of Oneida county, by whom five chil- 
dren have been born: Sarah H., who died in infancy; Alexander, Francis C, Mary 
A. and Ida. Francis C died at the age of twenty-one. Alexander married Ida 
Crandall, of Brooklyn, by whom two children have been born: Mary and Georgiana. 
Mary A. and Ida, at this date, reside at home Mrs. Weatherwax died in August, 
1889. His grandfather, Aaron Learned, was born April 12, 1770. The father of 
Mr. Weatherwax, John, married Sally Learned, who bore him three children, one of 
whom is living, Aaron L. Mr. Weatherwax died in 1819, and his wife died in 1874. 
The family are related to Judge Learned. The ancestry of the Weatherwax family 
is Dutch. 

Jessup, Edward M., was born in Troy, N.Y. , in 1865. His father, Samuel Tessup, 
was born in England, came to the United States and settled on Long Island, and in 
1850 came to Troy and entered the Burden Iron Works. His mother is Mary E. 
(Gledhill) Jessup. He received his education in the public schools and went to wqrk 
for Starkweather & Allen, where he remained until 1887, when he with Henderson 
formed the firm of Jessup & Henderson, dealers in imported and domestic crockery, 
importing goods direct from England, France and Germany. They continued in 
business until they were burned out, February 17, 1896. His present business is 
located at 274 River street, where he is an importer and dealer in china, glass, 
kerosene fixtures, silverware, etc., making a specialty of cut glass and fine china 
and lamps. He is a member of King Solomon's Lodge, F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter, 
Apollo Comniandery and Oriental Shrine. His wife, Lottie Harris, to whom he was 
married in 1886, was born in Oregon. She is the daughter of Horace Harris, who 
was the first to start a blast furnace west of the Mississippi River. Mr. and Mrs. 
Jessup have one daughter, Helen. 

Strobel, Charles A., was born in Grafton Center, near Troy, May 24, 1857, and 
was educated in public schools and Lansingburgh Academy, and is a business man 
and farmer. September 27, 1887, he married Sophia A. Epting, of Troy, by whom 
three daughters have been born: Ida A., Edna H. and Zetta S., who died when one 
year old. Frederick Epting, the father of Mrs. Strobel, was born in Germany and 
came to the United States when a young man, and enlisted in the Second Infantry, 
New York State Volunteers. He captured a Confederate spy with his horse near 
Newport News, and served in the Seven Days' battles, at Malvern Hill, and at 



290 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Bristoe Station, where he was wounded, and was honorably discharged on surgeon's 
certificate in 1863. He married Elizabeth Schweiker, formerly of his native place, 
by whom five children have been born: Sophia A., Frederick J., Edward C. 0., 
Amelia A., and Edna E. Mr. and Mrs. Epting are living at this date, 1896. He is 
a'member of the Grand Army of the Republic. 

Evans, Warren, was born at Schaghticoke Hill, October 12, 1852, and was educated 
in the common schools there, with a term at the Troy Academy under Prof. Wilson. 
He then finished learning his trade of miller with his father, in what is known as the 
Knickerbocker Mills, on the Tomhannock Creek at Schaghticoke Hill. Before he 
attained the age of twenty-one he graduated from Troy Business College and worked 
for his father under salary; his brother James was taken in as partner by bis father 
and he worked for them under salary. Soon after his father's death he became of 
age and sold his share of the property to his brother James. Soon after he became 
of age he was made a member of Victor Lodge, No. 680 F. & A. M. at Schaghticoke. 
He then went to the National Cemetery at Yorktown, Virginia, and disinterred the 
remains of his brother George W., who was a soldier in the 44th N. Y. Vols, popularly 
known as "Ellsworth Avengers," and died in Virginia of brain fever; he secured the 
remains, brought them home where they are buried in the family plot in Schaghti- 
coke Elmwood Cemetery. For three years he visited with horse and buggy nearly 
every town in New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, introducing the new "Spring 
Roller Shade," he being the owner by purchase of the patent of the original inven- 
tion. He then became a member of Montgomery Chapter No. 257, R. A. M., of 
Stillwater, N. Y., and is also a member of the Knights of Honor in San Francisco. 
In February, 1876, he went to California and located in San Francisco, making a trip 
to China in the employ of the Pacific Mail Steamship Co., in a minor official capacity. 
He has visited nearly all the Pacific Islands and has traveled all over the Pacific 
Slope, from Alaska to Chili, with San Francisco as his home. He has had a variety 
of occupations, but always positions of responsibility. In 1878 he entered the employ 
of the Cutting Packing Co. and was sent by that company to Fresno, Cal., to operate 
and conduct a canning factory, also a dried fruit packing house. While there he 
became interested in the raisin industry and purchased a fruit ranch, which he now 
owns and some day expects to make it his future home. In 1888 he severed his con- 
nection with the Cutting Packing Co, and entered the employ of the Pacific Can Co., 
a concern which has large and varied interests in the metal line, and has absorbed 
many smaller concerns and is now known as the Pacific Sheet Metal Works, with 
branch factories in Los Angeles, Cal., Astoria, Ore., and at Vancouver, B. C. The 
San Francisco plant alone employs 500 hands, its capacity per day is 350,000 cans 
and boxes. Our subject is mechanical foreman, he also has the responsibility of in- 
stalling new plants as they are established. He is also part owner of the Dutch 
Milling and Mining Co., Quartz Hill, Tuolumne county, Cal., a gold mine w^hich is a 
dividend payer. In 1878 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Bulson, then of 
Schaghticoke Hill, formerly of the town of Brunswick, where his wife was born. 
They have one son, George Warren, born April 1, 1890. Mr. Evans's father, George, 
was born in Schodack, Rensselaer county, N. Y. in 1810 and moved to Saratoga 
county with his parents when a boy and was educated in the district schools. One 
item of interest in his boy life he loved to dwell upon in particular, is, he helped to 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 291 

haul logs from his father's farm in Saratoga county, N. Y., to build the State clam 
across the Hudson River at Troy. He married Jerusha Smith and had four sons as 
follows, Emor, George W. , James and Warren as above. Mr. Evans died April 1, 
1872, and his wiie October 23, 1893. He was a prominent member of the I. O. 
O. F., also an active Mason and took much interest in the order until his death. 
Mr. Evans's paternal grandfather was a soldier in the Mexican war. The ancestry is 
Welsh on the paternal side and Dutch on the maternal side. Mr. Evans's father 
purchased the " Knickerbocker Mills," property from Judge Knickerbocker, so that 
by association and environment as well as descent, he is a " Knickerbocker of New 
York. 

Swartwout, Henry, only son of Henry and Sally (Merrill) Svvartwout, was born in 
Troy, N, Y. . January 27, 1809. His ancestry begins with William Swartwout, a citizen 
of Groningen, Holland, residing there in 1459. His first American ancestors were 
Thomas Swartwout and Hendrickjon Barents, who were married in Amsterdam, 
Holland, June 3, 1631, and who about 1651 became colonists of New Netherland 
(now New York). Being one of the original settlers of Midwout, now Flatbush, L. I., 
Thomas was granted by letters-patent 116 acres of land there by Petrus Stuyvesant, 
director-general of the Dutch West India Company, who, on April 18, 1655, appointed 
him a magistrate of the court of Midwout. As many as thirty of Henry's immediate 
ancestors served with distinction in the Revolutionary war, holding positions from 
private to brigadier-general. November 7, 1833, Henry Swartwout was married in 
New York eity to Maria Amelia, daughter of David and Amelia Lester Kettlehuyn. 
She was descended from Lieut. Daniel Kettlehuyn, who served in the expedition 
against Canada in 1709 under Lieut-Gen. Francis Nicholson, and whose wife was 
carried a captive to Montreal by a body of French and Indians, after the massacre 
at Schaghticoke on October 20, 1711, when two of his children were killed by the in- 
vaders. In 1834 Henry Swartwout became a grocer in Troy. In 1839 he removed to 
West Troy and engaged in both the grocery and lumber business. From 1847 to 
1882 he was a member of the firm of Loveland & Swartwout, millers and flour mer- 
chants, at No. 347 River street, Troy ; from 1852 to 1866 he was engaged in manu- 
facturing shirts, collars and cuffs, one of Troy's noted industries. In politics he up- 
held the principles of the olcf-line Whigs, and in later years was an unswerving Re- 
publican. He was one of the committee of one hundred citizens in charge of the 
centennial celebration of the naming of Troy, during the week ending January 5, 
1889, and was for many years a member of the Second Presbyterian church of Troy. 
From 1862 until his death, August 11, 1892, he resided at No. 63 Fourth street. He 
is survived by his widow, two daughters, Mrs. Isaac N. Phelps of New York city and 
Mrs. W. Jerome Green of Utica, N. Y., and an only son, Brevet-Maj. William Merrill 
Swartwout of Troy, who while serving in the Army of the Potomac, was wounded, 
on June 1, 1864, at Cold Harbor, Va., and lost his left arm, on August 13, 1864, at 
Dutch Gap, on the James River, Va. 

Shaw, D. C, a native and lifelong resident of Hoosick, is a grandson of Darling 
Shaw, a Revolutionary soldier who for many years kept the famous old " Goat 
Tavern" on the Stone Road to Troy. (This road was built in 1841). His father, 
Collister Shaw, died at the premature age of thirty-two years. His mother was 
Chloe Bruce of an old Vermont family, and his wife was Julia M. Coon, daughter of 



2U2 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Gilbert Coon of Cambridge, whom he married in 1847. Farming and carpenter 
work receive his attention. His chief business for many years was the moving of 
buildings. He is a member of the All Saints Episcopal church of Hoosick. Mr. 
Shaw was born in 1831, and has always been a Republican. His brother, William 
H. (deceased) was born in Hoosick in May, 1829. He there grew to manhood, and 
in 1848 married Mehitable R. Hathaway of Bennington, Vt. After living near 
home for several years he removed to Troy where he was connected with the city 
collector's office. In 1856 he removed to Mayfield and settled upon a farm. When 
the Rebellion broke out he began enlisting a company for the Black Horse Cavalry ; 
that regiment was soon disbanded, when he joined the 115th N. Y. Vols, as captain 
of Co. E. He was wounded at Olustee, taken prisoner at Harper's Ferry, in due 
time exchanged and was at the capture of Fort Fisher, where he was seriously in- 
jured at the explosion of that fort. After the war closed he returned to his farm. 
Possessing a versatile mind he naturally inclined toward literary pursuits, which led 
to his engagement with Beers & Co. of Philadelphia in writing county histories, 
which employment he followed for nearly twenty years. About 1888 he engaged as 
bookkeeper for Wilkins & Close, glove manufacturers, where he remained until the 
Daily Republican was started, when he was placed upon the editorial staff of that 
paper, where he was engaged at the time of his death. He was a Republican and a 
member of the M. E. church. He left no children, his wife alone surviving. 

Vandenbergh, James A., born in North Greenbush, April 24, 1856, is the son of 
Winant G. and Penelope D. (Demarest) Vandenbergh, he a native of North Green - 
bush and she of New York. The grandparents were Garret and Harriet Vanden- 
bergh; the great-grandfather, Rutger, also of Greenbush, born August 28, 1726; 
the great-great-grandfather of James H., Matthys Vandenbergh, leased a large 
tract of land near Troy from Killian Van Rensselaer 2d, patroon of Rensselaerwyck, 
which is still in the Vandenbergh family ; a part of it is now occupied by James A. 
The father of Matthys was Cornells Gysbertse Vandenbergh of the manor of Rens- 
selaerwyck. In 1667 Gysbert Cornelise Vandenbergh, great-great-great-great-grand- 
father of James A., located near Bethlehem, Albany county, and probably emigrated 
from Holland. He was one of the first settlers in Albany county. Winant Van- 
denbergh was reared on the farm now occupied by James A. and there spent his 
life: he died March 7, 1890. Mrs. Vandenbergh died April 2, 1894. James A. was 
educated at the Troy Business College. He married in 1883 Mary, daughter of 
Moses Jay Eames of Constableville, Lewis county, N. Y. James A. Vandenbergh 
and his brother Charles now carry on the home farm of 120 acres and make a 
specialty of the milk business keeping thirty cows. 

Caird, Rev. James, was born in the parish of Fordoun, Kincardinshire, Scotland. 
His father s name was David and his mother's Jean Morton. He belongs to a family 
whose name in Scotland is quite prominent in literature and the church. His early 
education was begun in his native land. In Wilkes-barre, Pa., he prepared for col- 
lege. The degrees of of A. B. and A. M. were given him by Kenyon College, Gam- 
bier, Ohio; while that of B. D. was the gift of the Divinity School, Philadelphia, Pa., 
at which institution he graduated in 1870. He was ordained to the diaconate by the 
Rt. Rev. Wm. Bacon Stevens, D.D., LL.D., June 24, 1870, in St. Luke's church, 
Philadelphia, Pa., and to the priesthood by the same prelate October 12, 1870, in 



FAMILY SKETCHES. ■ 293 

Christ church, Williamsport, Pa. He began his miuistry in Troy, N. Y., immediately 
after his ordination. His work has been in one parish, the Church of the Ascension, 
Troy, N. Y. He has filled many places of trust during his twenty five years residence 
in our city and in our diocese. For a number of years past he has been a member 
of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Albany. He is member of the Local 
Committee of the State Board of Charities of the State of New York. He is the 
author of " The History of the Free Church of the Ascension" ; besides this he has 
contributed articles for ecclesiastical reviews and newspapers. Caroline L. B. Phelps 
became his wife on May 26, 1874. The marriage ceremony was performed by Rt. 
Rev. Wm. Bacon Stevens; D.D., LL.D., of Pennsylvania, assisted by Rt. Rev. Wm. 
Crowell Doane, D.D., LL.D., of the Diocese of Albany. Miss Phelps was the niece 
of F. W. Farnam, the founder of the Church of the Ascension and of the Farnam 
Institute. She is a member of the Phelps family which is prominent in the annals 
of the State of Connecticut. Their surviving children are Farnam Phelps Caird, 
born September 10, 1875, and James Morton Caird, born May 21, 1878. 

Lottridge, A. Clifford, is a native of Hoosick Falls as was also his father, Alvin D. 
Lottridge. The family was originally from Holland and is an old family here and 
in every way a landmark of the town. Clifford was born in 1862, and educated at 
the High School at Hoosick Falls and at Troy Business College, graduating in 1879; 
then he became bookkeeper for his uncle, S. S. Lottridge, who conducts a very ex- 
tensive business in lumber and all materials used in building, and personally con- 
trolhng the works for forty eight years out of the sixty-five that they have been 
located here. Clifford is an ardent Democrat, member of the village Board of Trust- 
ees, of the Board of Trade, one of the Board of Directors of the Hoosac Club, and 
manager since its .organization, member of the Odd Fellows, and member of Hook 
and Ladder Co. No. 1. 

Hyatt, Louis E., was born in Lansingburgh, N. Y., January 17, 1862. He was 
educated in the public schools, Troy High School and Cornell University, and now 
conducts a life and fire insurance business. September 21, 1889, he married Anna 
Van Kirk, of Ithaca, N. Y., and they have one daughter, Thelma V. K. Mr. Hyatt's 
father, Eugene, was born in Stratford, Fulton county, N. Y., May 18, 1829. He was 
educated in the public schools and Fairfield Academy, and became a lawyer. He 
came to Lansmgburgh, N. Y., in 1854, and in 1869 formed a copartnership with A. 
C. Comstock, under the firm name of Hyatt & Comstock. He was elected to the 
State Legislature in 1869, and was village attornej^ and justice of the peace for many 
years. He was vestryman and treasurer of the Episcopal church, was a member of 
Phoenix Lodge No. 58, F. & A. M., and a 32d degree Mason. October 25, 1859, Mr. 
Hyatt married Esther A. Ferris, then of Auburn, N. Y., by whom he had three sons: 
Louis E., N. Irving, who is professor of music in the Syracuse University; and 
John S., who is with the Walter A. Wood Co., of Hoosick Falls. John S. married 
Grace Bowman, of Lansingburgh, and they have two children: Sherwood and Elise. 
Mr. Hyatt died September 28, 1895. Louis E. is a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 
58, F. & A. M. and has been .senior deacon of the lodge. The family is of English 
and Scotch descent. 

Carr, Ambrose, born on the farm where he now resides January 30, 1825, is the 



204 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

son of Barnet and Eva Carr, whose children were David, Jonas, Mary, and four de- 
ceased, Catherine, William, John, jr., and Jacob. Barnet came here from Canada 
when a young man. He was well educated and was noted for his retentive memory. 
He was a church member interested in church work, and respected by all his neigh- 
bors. Ambrose's life was spent on the farm and he attended school winters. When 
sixteen vears of age he started for himself as a farm laborer. When thirty three 
years of age (1858) he located on the homestead where he has since lived. He mar- 
ried Martha, daughter of John Pitcher. His living children are John, Charles, Delia, 
and Eli, and five deceased, David, Catherine, William, John, jr. , and Jacob. Ambrose 
is interested in all public enterprises, church, school, town and county affairs. 

Doty, Orman, was born on the old homestead near Melrose, March 13. 1851. He 
was educated in the public schools and Lansingburgh Seminary, and has always fol- 
lowed the honorable occupation of farming. September 4, 1883, he married Jessie 
F. Eaton of Troy, formerly of Albany. They have two sons, Oliver F. and O. Leon- 
ard. Mrs. Doty's father, Daniel O. Eaton, was born near Boston, Mass., in the year 
1813. He was well educated and was a merchant by occupation. He married 
Almira F. Snyder of ]\Ielrose; they had two children, one daughter and one son, 
Jessie F., and Oliver L. Eaton (Fisher). Mr. Eaton died in 1895, and his wife died 
in 1870. Tlie ancestry of the family is Dutch, English and German. 

Bullent, Theophilus C, was born in the town of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk county, 
England, September 18, 1844. He was a son of Robert and Matilda (Cole) Bullent, 
natives of England. In 1850 they came to the United States and settled in Green- 
bush. He died January 17, 1890, at the age of eighty-four years, and his wife died 
May 17, 1877, at the age of sixty-four. Mr. Bullent was in the employ of Mr. Ring 
for some years in the milling business. Theophilus C. was reared in Greenbush and 
Bethlehem where his parents lived for a short time. He learned the barber's trade. 
In 1865 he established a shop, and has since carried on a successful business. In 
1868 he married Deziah Aldrich, who died February 15, 1885. September 26, 1893, 
he married Ida L. Miles, daughter of Stephen Miles. She was a teacher for twenty 
years. 

De Witt, Emil F., was born in Amsterdam, Holland, February 1, 1847. His 
parents moved to Germany when he was a small boy, where he was educated in the 
academic courses. March 1, 1869, he came to the United States, locating in Lans" 
burgh, N. Y. He has had a variety of occupations and is now a successful inventor. 
Among his inventions is a sand box for electric, cable, and other cars, and he is 
shipping them to all parts of the world. August 22, 1870, he marrie'd Anna B. Zahn, 
of Lansingburgh, formerly of Germany. They have three children: Katie A., 
Sarah M., and George E. Mr. De Witt's father, A. Dederich, was born in Germany 
in 1800, and married Sophia F. Denoo, of Amsterdam, Holland. They had eight 
children: Marie, Sophia, Emma, Godfrey, Carl, Emil F., Gerhardt, and Anna. Mr. 
De Witt died in i860. Emil F. De Witt is a member of Jerusalem Lodge No. 335, 
F. & A. M., and of Phoenix Chapter No. 183, R. A. M., of Lansingburgh. The 
family is of Dutch, French and German descent. 

Dater, Almira J. — The late John Dater was born in the town of Brunswick, Rens- 
selaer county. May 11, 1836. He was educated in the common schools and grad- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 295 

iiated from the Middletown Academy. He had a variety of occupations. He manu- 
factured brick with his brother, H. C. Dater, and was for seven years in the livery 
business here. He was a button hole manufacturer on Sixth avenue, Troy, N. Y., 
for about ten years ; he had partners for a short time but principally carried on the 
business alone. It was said of him that he was honest and upright in all his busi- 
ness dealings, and was very generous to those in need. October 26, 1876, he mar- 
ried Almira J. Wetsel, of the town of Schaghticoke, near Melrose. Mr. Dater died 
in 1893, mourned by a bereaved wife, and regretted by many friends. Mrs. Dater's 
father, Peter Wetsel, was born at the old home near Melrose, February 11, 1803. 
He was educated in the schools of his da3% and was alwaj's a farmer by occupation. 
November 13, 1828, he married Elizabeth Sipperly of his native town, by whom he 
had four children: Mary A., Sarah L., Elizabeth and Almira J, Mr. Wetsel died 
October 10, 1885. and his wife in 1838, thus depriving the children of a mother's 
love. The ancestry of the family is Dutch on both sides. 

Foster, John F., was born in Sand Lake, September 11, 1857, and is the son of 
Seth B. and Harriet J. (Feathers) Foster, he a native of Brattleboro, Vt. , born De- 
cember 22, 1809, and she of Sand Lake, born August 14, 1819. Both taught school 
in early life. In early life Mr. Foster learned the trade of millwright and built a 
great many mills in and around Sand Lake, many of which are now in ruins. He 
spent his last days on the farm now owned by John F. Foster. Mr. Foster was a 
Whig and then a Republican, and was for many years district steward of the M. E. 
church. He died in 1880 and Mrs. Foster died in 1895. The grandparents, Willard 
and Hannah (Briggs) Foster, came from Vermont to Sand Lake about 1824, where 
they lived and died. Their occupation was farming. Willard Foster died July 16, 
1868, and Mrs. Foster April 21, 1863. The father of Willard, Skelton Foster, lived at 
Oakham, Mass., and had four sons; Samuel, John, Bernard and Willard. Henry 
Feathers, the maternal grandfather of John F., was born in Livingston M^or, 
March 27, 1786, was a Mason and prominent in public affairs. J. F. Foster taught 
school, then engaged in running threshing machinery, and in 1887 engaged in the 
sale of musical instruments; among other makes he handled the Foster pianos, 
manufactured at Rochester by his brother, George G. Foster. Mr. Foster has the 
homestead farm of r25 acres, where he carries on general farming and dairying. 
In 1887 he married Myrtie May, daughter of Martin and Lavina Sedgwick of 
Stephentown. Mrs. Sedgwick died October 7, 1893. To Mr. and Mrs. Foster have 
have been born three children: Mary C, Florence and Myrtle L. Mr. Foster is a 
member of Interlachan Lodge No. 641, I. O. O. F., P. of I. at West Sand Lake, and 
Rensselaer County Agricultural Society. He is an active worker in the M. E. 
church. 

Kane, Pierce D., a native of Ireland, born in February, 1840, is the son of Nich- 
olas and Mary (Fitzgerald) Kane, who emigrated to America and settled at West 
Troy in 1848, where they both died, she in 1884 and he in 1885. Pierce D. was 
reared in Troy and in 1868 married Mary A., daughter of James and Mary (McGuire) 
Ryan, who emigrated from Ireland to Cohoes about 1832. Mr. and Mrs. Kane have 
five children- James H., Nicholas T., Pierce D., jr., Franklin P.. and Elizabeth P. 
Mr. Kane commenced work in a knitting mill in Troy when a boy and has been in 
the business at various places. In 1871 he went into the manufacture of knit under- 



296 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

wear in Rhode Island, but succumbed to the crisis of 1873, his brother Nicholas then 
being his helper. They returned to New York and after running a factory about one 
year on the Hudson they came to Sand Lake and his brother hired the mill and 
bought it m 1880, and for three years they also run the Troy Knitting Mill, Pierce 
D. being the manager. He still has charge of the plant, his brother having died in 
1887, September 14. Mr. Kane's brother Nicholas was a soldier in the Civil war, and 
served till its close. In the fall of 1886 he was elected member of the United States 
Congress from his district, but death prevented his taking his seat. 

Snell, Prof. H. H., the superintendent of schools of Hoosick Falls, is a man fully 
competent for his position not only by his rare intellectual ability, but also by his 
wide experience, great discrimination and tact. Possessed of broad and liberal 
views, with a character above reproach, he is a man appreciated outside of his pro- 
fessional radius. His boyhood was spent on a farm in Genesee county, thence his 
father moved in 1849 from Ashford, Conn., where Prof. Snell was born in 1845. The 
family, a history of which was written by his father, originated with three brothers, 
w'ho came from Germany. The mother was English. Prof. Snell began his chosen 
vocation early in life, and taught school at seventeen years of age. He received a 
preparatory education at the Rural Seminary, Genesee county, and with private 
tutors, and in 1885, after a four years' course, graduated from Alfred University. 
He has since given two years to post-graduate work, chiefly in Latin, also mathe- 
matics and sciences. He entered upon his work here in 1895; is a member of the 
Baptist church, also of the Masonic fraternity, not a politician. He is married, has 
a son in business in Genesee county, and a daughter, married and residing in Han- 
cock, N. Y. 

GifTord, Abbott, was born in Pittstown on the farm w-here he resides, August 3, 
1870, son of Charles W. and Annathrasa (Abbott) Gififord, he a native of Pittstown, 
and she born in Pittstown. He was a son of Nathaniel, and Nathaniel was a son of 
Jabez Gifford, who settled in Pittstown at a very early date. The wife of Nathaniel 
was Elizabeth Francisco. The father of Abbott Gifford is a farmer and owns 235 
acres of land. Charles Gifford's wife died January 17, 1880. Abbott Gifford- was 
reared on a farm and educated in common schools, and Lansingburgh Academy. 
He was married March 28, 1893, to Nellie S. Case, born in Pittstown, and daughter 
of William and Sarah H. (Culver) Case. He was born in Pittstown and she in Cam- 
bridge, N. Y. The grandfather of Mrs. Gifford was David Case, also a native of 
Pittstovi^n and son of one of the earliest settlers of the town. To Mr. and Mrs. Abbott 
Gifford was born one son, Clayton E., November 19, 1895. 

Arnold, Everett D., was born at River Point, R. L, June 29, 1858, and is a son of 
Gilbert D. and Nancy Arnold, and received his education in the schools of his native 
town. He had a natural gift for mechanics, and has been a machinist, a fireman of 
a locomotive, and an engineer for the American Steamboat Company at Rocky Point. 
He finally came into the service of the Standard Oil Company, and for a time was 
chief engineer of the Pratt Oil Works in Brooklyn, and has never since left the em- 
ploy of the Standard Oil Company. He was sent by that comdny, about nine years 
ago, to Troy as general master mechanic of the Troy Steel and Iron Works, and six 
years ago he was made assistant general superintendent, and as such had charge of 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 297 

the practical part of the manufactures of the concern. Mr. Arnold was consulting 
engineer for the Troj^ City Railroad Company, and built the power house at Lan- 
singburgh and Division street. He was also consulting engineer for the Grand 
Rapids Street Railway Company, and the power house of that station was built after 
his design. The Troy Steel and Iron Company was succeeded by the Troy Steel 
Company, of which company Mr. Arnold is the chief engineer and general superin- 
tendent. The new basic Bessemer steel works of the company, being the first of its 
kind in America, was designed and built in its entirety by Mr. Arnold. Much of the 
machinery used in the new works was made for special work from original ideas and 
designs of Mr. Arnold. 

Stannard, Henry D., was born in Lansingburgh in 1826. His grandfather was a 
soldier in the Revolutionary war, and his father, David B., was born in Connecticut 
and was in the war of 1812; he died in 1865, and his wife, Betsey Ann (Waters) 
Stannard, died in 1877. Henry D. was educated in the district schools and was 
graduated from the Ball Seminary at Hoosick Falls. He taught for some time and 
then entered the trucking business with his brother, under the firm name of D. W. 
& H. D. Stannard. Three years later he sold out, and for three years lived on a 
farm in Schaghticoke, when he returned to Troy and has since been in the trucking 
business. He is a member of Apollo Lodge F. & A. M. In 1853 he married Sally 
A. Snyder, of Schaghticoke, by whom one son has been born, Eldridge G., of Den- 
ver, Col. 

Crabbe, George Henry, born at Lansingburgh, N. Y., April 23, 1825. His early 
life was devoted to the acquirement of such knowledge as the common schools of 
that period could afford. Later he was persuaded to join the family of William Van 
Vleck on the old Rawson farm in the town of Brunswick, on account of the strong 
resemblance to their son, who had recently died. Here he resided until nearly 
attaining his majority, when he came to Troy. In 1862 he enlisted m Company K, 
93d Regiment, N. Y. Vols., resigning his membership in the Troy City Artillery, 
24th Regiment, N. Y. S. M. Immediately following his arrival at camp he was ap- 
pointed corporal as a mark of esteem, and on January 23, 1863, received his warrant 
as such. Was mortally wounded in the battle of the Wilderness, May, 1864, and 
died at the field hospital May 9, 1864. 

Crabbe, Charles Henry, born at Troy, N. Y., April 16, 1847. Was educated in the 
public schools and began his business career as clerk in the Commercial Bank of 
Troy, in 1863. Is a member of Apollo Lodge No. 13. F. & A. M. ; Apollo Chapter 
No. 48, R. A. M. ; Bloss Council No. 14, R. & S. M. ; Apollo Commandery No. 15, 
K. T. ; Oriental Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. ; Trojan Council No. 86; Royal Arcanum 
at Troy, N. Y. ; also of Arcanum Lodge No. 41, I. O. O, P., Bridgeport, Conn. 

Gailbraith, William J., was born in Troy in 1870, and was educated in the public 
schools, and afterwards became assistant shipper in the ^^tna Mills, where he re- 
mained for four years, when he accepted a position with the Boutwell Milling and 
Grain Co., at their warehouse on Green Island. He is a member of the Apollo 
Lodge F. & A. M., Laureate Boat Club, of the Bussey Fire Co., and at one time was 
president of that company. He is also second lieutenant of the 21st Separate Com- 
11 



298 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

pany, N. G. N. Y. October 16, 1895, he married Helen A. Sipperley, of Lansing- 
burgh. 

Waterbury, Horatio Lewis, was born in Lansingburgh, December 2;j, 1861, and is 
a son of Truman H. and Catherine A. (Dutcher) Waterbury. His father was born 
at Burnt Hills, Saratoga county, in 1825, and died at Troy in 1881. His mother was 
born at Sand Lake in 1831, and died in 1888 at Troy. He received his education in 
the district schools of Wayne county, and came to Troy at the age of nine and at- 
tended the public and high schools. In 1878 he went to work in the wholesale drug 
store of J. L. Thompson, Sons & Co. as errand boy, has been in their employ to date, 
and now holds one of the most respon^iible positions with that houte. He is a mem- 
ber of the Laureate Boat Club and the Trojan Wheelmen. 

Howe, Henry N., was born in Denmark, October 13, 1851, and was educated in 
their schools, and came to the LTnited States in 1872. He located in Lansingburgh 
and had a variety of occupations. In 1882 he engaged in the bakery business which 
he has carried on with success. He was married twice, first, in 1875, to Josephine 
Seport, of Cohoes, formerly of Germany and has two children, both of whom died in 
infancy. Mrs. Howe died in 1881, and for his second wife, in 1883, he married Louise 
P. Yaiser, of Troy. Mr. Howe's father, Neilson, was born on the old homestead in 
Denmark in about 1817. He married and had these children: Maria J., Henry N., 
John A., Anna C, Margurite, Johana, and Johanes. Mr. Howe died in 1894 and his 
wife died in 1884. Henry N. is a member of the Jerusalem Lodge No. 355 F. & A. M. 

Lally, George Abbot, was born in the city of New York, May 20, 1818. In early 
life he had but few advantages but he has ever been a clo.se observer and student, 
and was a self-educated man. His mother died when he was an infant, and his 
father when he was scarcely in his "teens," leaving him to the care of an only 
brother, James Lally, who reared him. Upon the death of his brother, which oc- 
curred in 1839, he became his successor in business and carried on extensive shoe 
manufactories at New Orleans and at Norwalk, Conn., under the name of Lally & 
McCracken. In 1847, while returning from New Orleans, he visited Chicago, which 
was slowly rising to the dignity of a town, and railroads were beginning to connect 
it with the outer world. He sailed up the Mississippi and Illinois rivers to the small 
town of Peru, 111., and on the 15th of June arrived in Chicago. He at once saw the 
natural advantages of this point, and the future he foresaw for it induced him to de- 
cide upon locating here. Returning east he closed his interest in the shoe business 
and returned the following year to Chicago. He at once established himself in the 
real estate business and had an office at 56 Clark street, where now stands the Sher- 
man House. He was remarkably successful and invested in several tracts of land 
in various parts of the city. He likewise put up some fine buildings. He took a 
very active part in all enterprising projects of the growing city, and was always 
among the foremost in all public spirited projects. He was one of the promoters of, 
and one of the largest stockholders of the Western Plank Road Co. and was a prom- 
inent stockholder in the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad, the first steam road run- 
ning out from Chicago. At the age of forty he was enabled to retire from active 
business. In 1855 he removed east and settled in Lansingburgh, N. Y. He never, 
however, lost his interest in Chicago, retaining much of his real estate. He was 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 299 

one of the promoters of and originators of the Troy «& Lansingburgh Horse Rail- 
road, and was one of the directors of the first board. From that day to the end of 
his life he was deeply interested in the welfare and progress of this road and from 
time to time he advanced his private means in the undertaking and lived to see his 
expectations more than realized and the road put upon a paying basis. He was 
also a director in the Troy and Cohoes road from the organization covering a period 
of twenty years. He was a director and for .some years vice-president of the old Bank 
of Lansingburgh, vestryman of Trinity church and trustee of the Lansingburgh 
Academy. He was also interested in the sugar industry in Louisiana and owned 
one of the largest plantations in the State, the Belair plantation. This tract extends 
along the Mississippi River for three miles and back into the interior for a mile and 
three-quarters, and is situated about twenty miles below New Orleans. His first 
wife was Francis B. St. John, daughter of Buckingham St. John, of Norwalk, Conn. ; 
she died in 1844, leaving one son, James Lally, who was a graduate of the Rensse- 
laer Polytechnic Institute of the class of 186L He died at the Riverdale on-the- 
Hudson, July 15, 1878. Mr. Lally's second wife was Harriet Hanford, daughter of 
Captain Richard Hanford of Lansingburgh, N. Y. ; two sons and a daughter were 
born of this union: George Hanford of Chicago, manager of the Chicago property, 
and also manager of the Belair plantation ; Frederick Lally, who resides at Lansing- 
burgh, N. Y. , and manages his father's estate; Frances St. John, who died in in- 
fancy. George A, Lally died June 27, 1881, in his sixty-third year. He had been 
suffering for years from an incurable malady which was endured by him with the 
utmost patience and even with cheerfulness. 

Morrison, James A., was born in Schoharie county, August 17, 1823, and has al- 
ways been a horse dealer and trainer by occupation. November 6, 1856, he married 
Almira Salisbury of Troy. The father of Mrs Morrison, George S. Salisbury, was 
born in Troy, June 10, 1805, and was educated in the schools of that early day and 
was a rope manufacturer by occupation. He married Belinda Wager of Troy, and 
had two living children ; Almira and Amos M. Mr. Salisbury died March 31, 1839, 
and his wife died in 1885. The grandfather of Mrs. Morrison, Amos Salisbury, was 
born in Warren, April 14, 1774, and her great-grandfather, William Salisbury, was 
born February 1, 1757, at Swansea, Mass. 

Groesbeck, Charles H. — His father, William S. Groesbeck, was born in the town 
of Schaghticoke, February 24, 1826. He was educated in the schools of that early 
day and has always been a farmer. October 13, 1853, he married Frances M. Cun- 
ningham of his native town; they have had four children: Eve M , Ida E., Charles 
H., and Carrie C. Eve M. married Thomas Herbert; they have two children, Will- 
iam S. and Frederick. Ida S. married Silas Turner; they have four children, 
Charles, Mildred, Frankie and Lloyd. Charles H. married Emma Wells of Ohio; 
they have one daughter. Vena. Carrie C. married Myron Groesbeck; they have one 
daughter, Edna. Mrs. W. Groesbeck died September 5, 1886. Mr. Groesbeck's 
father, John F. , was born in this town February 17, 1792. He was educated in the 
schools of that day, married Maria Groesbeck, and had four children, all living: Caro- 
line, William S., Nicholas and Sarah. Mr. Groesbeck was a member of the Legisla- 
ture in 1826. He died January 7, 1859, and his wife August 7, 1858 This family 
dates back in this town to 1764 as per family record. The ancestry of this family is 
Dutch on both sides. 



300 Landmarks of rensselaer county. 

Wild, John, was born in Manchester, England, December 29, 1843. He is a son cf 
John and Marinah (Brady) Wild, he a native of England and she of Ireland. • They 
emigrated to New York city about 1844 where they engaged in the crockery busi- 
ness. He enlisted in the late war and has never been heard of. Mr. Wild was edu- 
cated in New York city and was married to Madlle. Bertha, a danseuse, in 1861 and 
had one daughter, Bertha, now livmg, and in 1873 married Ada, daughter of the 
famous actress, Louise W. Ray, of London, England. To Mr. and Mrs. Wild have 
been born nine children, four of whom survive: Ada, Louise, Mable, and John, jr. 
At the age of sixteen Mr. Wild went on the stage and has always followed the pro- 
fession of an actor. He represents black comedy and has performed for about thirty- 
six years in New York city. In 1876 Mr. Wild purchased a farm near Burden Lake 
in the town of Sand Lake which he has named " Idle Wild," and where he has since 
made his home. His family carry on the farming. He is a member of the Masonic 
Order in New York city, also of the A. O. U. W., and the Royal Arcanum, and is a 
member of the New York Lodge No. 1, B. P. O. Elks. 

Schmander, Jacob, born in Wurtemburg, Germany, November 25, 1841, -is the son 
of Martin and Regina (Reinhardt) both of Germany, he born December 2, 1808, and 
she March 2, 1811, came to America in 1867 and settled in Greenbush, thence re- 
moved to Sand Lake where they died, he in 1891 and she in 1879. He learned the 
cabinet maker's trade and followed it about twenty-five or thirty years. The mater- 
nal grandfather, Jacob H. Reinhardt of Germany, and the paternal grandfather, 
John Schmander, a cabinet maker, lived and died in Germany. Jacob was reared 
and educated in the schools of Germany and when he came to America commenced 
as a farm hand and has always followed farming. In 1870 he bought forty-five acres 
and has cleared and made many improvements. He makes a specialty of extra 
grade of butter for city customers. He married in 1866 Catherine Shaver of Ger- 
many. They have five children: Regina E., Minnie C., William J., Mary B. . and 
Carrie M. He enlisted in Co. A, 91st N. Y. Vols., December 2, 1863. He was hon- 
orably discharged December 9, 1865. He was at Port Hudson, Red River expedition 
with Banks, and in many skirmishes; was wounded at the siege of Port Hudson. 
He was a member of the Evangelical Association at West Sand Lake, member of 
Post McConihe, G. A. R., Sand Lake. 

Russell, J. P., was born November 14, 1828. He is the son of Prince and Catha- 
rine (Williams) Russell. Prince Russell was born in Pittstown, a son of Jethru 
Russell and a native of New Bedford, Mass. ; his wife was Rebecca Howland of New 
Bedford. The grandfather of Mr. Russell was a Quaker and came to Pittstown in 
1775. Mr. Russell's father was a farmer and lived and died in Pittstown. He died 
August 4, 1874, and his wife died June 16, 1874. The maternal grandfather was 
Stephen Williams ; he was a native of Holland and spent his last days in Pittstown. 
Mr. Russell was reared on a farm and educated in a common school and at Poultney 
Academy. He taught school eleven terms, and is now a farmer and has eighty-two 
acres of land. He has lived on the farm he now occupies sixt3'-five j'ears. Novem- 
ber 14, 1859, he was married to Ellen Rockefeller, a daughter of Peter F. and Cath- 
arine (Parsons) Rockefeller of Columbia county, who there lived and died. Peter F. 
and John D. Rockefeller's fathers were cousins. To Mr. and Mrs. Russell were born 
three sons, Edward L., Charles D. and Burton J. Edward L. was born April 2, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 301 

1865, and was educated in a common school in Pittstown and Lansingburgh Acad- 
emy, and followed teaching three years; is now a farmer. His wife was Minnie 
Wyatt of Cambridge, N. Y. He has two sons, Raymond and Homer. Mr. Russell's 
second son, Charles D., was born March 8, 1867, and died at the age of thirteen years. 
Burton J. was born in 1875, and died in 1880 at the age of five years. Mr. Russell 
has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church fifty years, and a member of 
the official board of the church some forty-six years. In politics he is a Prohibition- 
ist. Prince Russell, the father of J. P. Russell, was first cousin to Sylvia H. How- 
land, the mother of Hettie Green, the noted millionaire. 

Blackball, John J., was born February 13, 1842. He is the son of Michael and 
Catherine (Carmody) Blackball. In 1849 his father was wounded in the Winooski 
River while repairing bridges. His mother died in Troy in 1890. He was educated 
in the public schools of Rensselaer county, and in 1863 entered the livery business 
with the late John Wood and has since carried on business in livery, sale and ex- 
change stables and repository on Sixth avenue. He was honorary deputy sheriff 
under the late Sheriff Reynolds, was supervisor for three terms and was elected 
coroner of Rensselaer county. He is an exempt fireman. On May 20, 1866, he 
was married to Catherine Martin of Troy. They have four sons and two daughters. 

Emery, John W., was born in Kennebunk, Me., October 29, 1856. In 1876 he en- 
tered the employ of the celebrated shoe firm of S. B. Thing & Co. as a salesman in 
the New York house, and was in their stores at Syracuse and Auburn ; from there he 
was sent as manager of the Binghamton store and was also manager of the Elmira 
store for five years. In 1883 he came to Troy, where he became a partner of the 
firm of S. B. Thing & Co., having general oversight of the fifteen retail stores 
located at Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, Kingston, Hudson, Albany, Troy, Saratoga, 
Glens Falls, Schenectady, Amsterdam, Little Falls, Rochester, Buffalo, Fort Wayne, 
Ind. In 1895 he was elected a member of the School Board of Lansingburgh.' 
August 1, 1898, he withdrew from the firm of S. B. Thing & Co., purchasing the 
Albany and Schenectady stores, continuing the business in those cities on his own 
account. July 20, 1881, he married Bessie Linaberry of Binghamton, N. Y., by 
whom he has had two sons and one daughter. 

White, William H., is a well known resident of Hoosick for many years, following 
agricultural pursuits. He was born in Guilderland, N. Y., in 1854, son of Hiram 
White, a farmer in the town of Bennington. His great-grandfather was Grant 
White, and grandfather, Salem White. His wife, born Betsy Ann Rudd, by whom 
he has five children, has in her possession a letter dated 1777, written by Joseph 
Rudd, her great-grandfather, from Bennington, Vt., just after the battle of Benning- 
ton. He was a participant in the fight, and described the battle in detail. Mr. 
White is identified with the Democratic pasty. 

Travis, Mary Ett. — The late Orville Travis was boin in Greene county, April 6, 
1854, and was educated in the public schools. He taught school and was a farmer 
by occupation. September 23, 1874, he married Mary Ett Green of his native county, 
formerly of Albany county. They have three children: Grace B., Lovenia and 
Helen G. Mr. Travis died January 29, 1885. Mrs. Travis moved to Troy in 
1889, and two years later came to Lansingburgh. Her father, Erastus Green, 



302 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

born in Greene county. September 22, 1816, and was educated in the schools of that 
early day, and was a farmer by occupation. He married Mary Ann Radliff of Albany 
county, by whom six children have been born: Oscar Permelia, Mary Ett, Alvy, 
Elmira and Lovenia. Mrs. Green died in 1886, and Mr. Green survives at this date. 
1896. The ancestry of the family is English, German, and Dntch. 

Behan, Joseph C, was born in Troy, N. Y., December 18, 1863. His father, 
Christopher Behan, was born in Ireland and came to this country in the early fifties. 
He served three and one-half years in the Civil war, and was alderman from 1874 to 
1880, representing the Eleventh ward, and also a school commissioner under the 
ward system. His mother was Bridget (Clarke) Behan, born in Ireland. He re- 
ceived his early education at the Christian Brothers' Institute, until its dissolution in 
1874, and finished at public schools. He entered the office of J. H Peck in 1879, 
and was admitted to the bar in 1885. He was appointed school commissioner in 
March, 1805, which position he still holds. He was married in 1893 to Miss Helen 
C. Peters of Troy, N. Y. He has three children. 

Cheney, David N., was born in West Farnham, P. Q., May 10, 1861, and is French 
descent. His father, Gilbert Gheney, died in 1865. David came to Troy in 1866 
and when young went to work for J. S. Toby and learned his trade with Manny ik 
Hardy where he remained for ten years. He started in the merchant tailoring busi- 
ness April 6, 1889, with Mr. Chase under the firm name of Cheney & Chase, and No- 
vember 12, 1889, bought out Chase and has since been in business for himself on the 
corner of Broadway and Fourth street. He belongs to the Royal Arcanum and the 
Arba Reed Steamer Co , of which he is treasurer. He married Elizabeth Dodge 
May 10, 1883. They have two sons and one daughter. 

Hunt, Richard M., was born in Troy, N.Y., in 1870. He is a son of Martin Hunt, 
who came from Ireland when very young. He worked at his trade as stonecutter in 
Troy, and for thirty-five years and until his death owned and conducted an exten- 
sive stone cutting plant at the present location. He died in 1894. His mother is 
Ellen (Ryan) Hunt of Troy. He received his education at the Brothers' School, 
from which he graduated in the class of '90, and at the St. Laurent College, near 
Montreal, P. Q., afterwards going into business with his father in Troy, and since 
his father's death has had charge of the business. He is a member of the Alumni 
Society of the La Salle Institute and belongs to the Young Men's Catholic Club of 
St. Mary's church. 

Jacobs, Jacob Vanstone, son of Samuel T. and Mary (Vanstone) Jacobs, was born 
in Troy, December 21, 1854. In 1857 he moved with his parents to Canada, where he 
was educated in the public schools. In 1875 he returned to Troy and engaged m the 
real estate and insurance business until 1895, when he was appointed deputy superin- 
tendent of public buildings at Albany, N. Y , which position he now holds. Mr. 
Jacobs has been a member and trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church of Troy 
for a number of years and is now secretary of the official board. He was president 
of the Republican Club of Troy for one year, alderman of the Fourth ward one 
term, and in 1893 and 1894 was chairman of the Republican County Committee of 
Rensselaer county. He is a member of the Public Safety Committee, the Troy 
Citizens' Association, the Pafraets Dael Club, King Solomon's Primitive Lodge No. 



FAMILY SKETCHES 303 

91, F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter No. 48, R. A. M., Bloss Council No. 14 R. & S. M.. 
Apollo Commandery No. 15, K. T., and, Oriental Temple, Nobles of the Mystic 
Shrine. March 2, 1885, he married Annette D., daughter of J. W. Smith of Troy, 
and they have one son, J. Smith. 

Searls, J. F., Valley Falls, N. Y., son of John H. and Mary (Miller) Searls, grand 
son of Christopher Miller, was born September 19, 1859, at Schaghticoke, N.Y. He 
was educated in the public schools of Schaghticoke and Troy Business College. He 
was in partnership with his brother, William H. Searls, one year in Schaghticoke in 
the meat business and came to Valley Falls in 1879, where he engaged in business 
and has been very successful, and is at present one of the largest wholesale meat 
dealers in Northern New York. He was married September 22, 1878, to Florence 
M. Starke of Valley Falls. Mr. Searls is a Republican, but has never aspired to 
office. He has always been a strictly temperate man. He and his wife attend and 
support the Methodist church. Mr. Searl owns a farm of seventy-five acres, one of 
the finest farms in Pittstown. 

Clark, Charles D., was born in Lisbon, N. H , June 12, 1834, and came to Troy 
with his parents in 1839. He was educated in the public schools and the Wesleyan 
Seminary at Gouverneur, N. Y. He learned the painting trade and is now a con- 
tractor, doing all kinds of painting and interior decorations. April 15, 1861, he en- 
listed in Co. C, 12th New York State Militia, and on the 19th they were accepted as 
New York State Volunteers. Mr. Clark was the seventh man that crossed the Long 
Bridge into Virginia. He was wounded in a skirmish near Alexandria. He was 
lionorably discharged September 6, 1861. He has married twice, first on November 
21, 1861, to Mary Visscher of Clifton Park, Saratoga county, and had five children: 
David B., Hattie M., Naming V., George A., and Lewella A. Mrs. Clark died May 
5, 1873, and he was again married to Annette Deyoe of Saratoga Springs; thej- have 
one son, Walter D., who is shipping clerk in the United Shirt and Collar Factory of 
Lansingburgh. He is a member of King Solomon Lodge No. 91, F. & A. M., past 
high priest of Apollo Chapter No. 48, R. A. M., member of Bloss Council No. 14 
R. & S. M., and of Tibbits Post No. 141, G. A. R., department of New York. The 
ancestry of the family is of New England stock. They were represented by their 
great-grandfather, Charles Clark, in the Revolutionary war, and by the maternal 
grandfather, Sylvanus Currier, in the war of 1812. 

Bulkley, Walter, was born in Fairfield, Conn., in 1828. His parents were Edwin 
Bulkley, who was born at the old Fairfield homestead, and Mary Williams, born at 
Colbrook, Conn. In early life Mr. Bulkley was a farmer. In 1850 he came to Lans- 
ingburgh with David Judson, coal dealer, and was in his employ as teamster for two 
3'ears. He was then taken into the office as bookkeeper and made himself generally 
useful in the various changes in the retail and wholesale trade, both here and in Troy. 
It is now an incorporated company, and Mr. Bulkley has been at the head of the 
bookkeeping department for many years. He has married twice. On October 2, 
1851, he married Eliza J. Schuyler of this place; five children were the result of this 
union: Charles, Louis, Walter, jr., Susan and Kate. Charles married Frances 
Randall of New York, and has three children: Arthur E., Mary A., and Helen L. 
Louis married Sara V. Talbot, of Lansingburgh, and has three daughters, Louis R., 



304 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Edith E., and Marion U. Susan married Joseph B. Gale of Baltimore, and has two 
sons, Charles B. and Howard N. Mr. Gale died in November, 1893. Mrs. Eliza J. 
Bulkley died June 20, 1871, and for his second wife, on April 10, 1872, he married 
Susan Butler of Albany, and has two daughters. Bertha V. and Mabel L. Mr. 
Bulkley has been the leader of the Olivet Presbyterian church choir since 1860. 

Davitt, Albert W. , was born in Poestenkill in 1848, and is the son of George W. 
Davitt, who was aLso a native of Poestenkill, born 1817, one of three sons and three 
daughters born to George Davitt, a native of the North of Ireland who came to 
America when a young man, settled in the town of Poestenkill (then Sand Lake) 
and here spent his remaining days as a farmer. George W., the father of Albert 
W., began in life a poor man but became a successful farmer and lumberman, own- 
ing a large amount of farm and timber land and doing a large business. He later 
in addition to this engaged in the meat business. He was elected supervi.sor of his 
town in 1860-61 and 63-64, also filled the office of commissioner of highways and 
other town offices. His wife was Catherine Stowel; their children are Albert W.. 
Alfred H. of Troy, Mrs. Emma J. Snyder, Adelbert E. (deceased), Mrs. Etta F. 
Herrington, Mrs. Anna E. Ives, Egbert E., who is a merchant in Troy. George W. 
died September 10, 1888. Mr. A. W. Davitt received his education in the common 
schools, Fort Edward Institute and Mechanicville Academy. He remained with his 
father assisting him in his business, and during his father's decline and ten years 
before bis death took full control of their extensive business. Since then he has 
conducted the business for a number of years, dealing extensivel}- in wood and round 
timber, and still follows the wholesale meat business, buying and slaughtering his 
own cattle for a number of years. He has supplied by contract meat for the county 
poor-house. In April, 1895, he interested himself in the manufacture of knit goods 
with a factory located in Cohoes, N. Y., the firm name being Akin & Davitt. In 
politics he is an active and influential Democrat and has served his town on the 
Board of Supervisors for four years. In May, 1874, he married Ida Akin, a native 
of West Sand Lake and daughter of John and Almira Akin. Their children are 
John W. and Harry A. Mrs. Davitt is a member of the Emma Willard Association 
of Troy. 

Herrington, Hammon, was born in the town of Berlin, April 4, 1841. He is a son 
of George Herrington who was also a native of Berlin, where he followed the voca- 
tion of farming. In 1849 he removed to the town of Poestenkill where he kept a 
hotel for many years. He also conducted a large farm and lumber business, owning 
and managing his own saw mill. His wife was Rebecca Green, a daughter of Jon- 
athan Green of Berlin. They had seven sons and four daughters; those who grew 
to maturity are Robert, Nicholas, George F., Henry T., Hemon E. of New York, and 
Hammon ; the two latter are the only surviving members of the family. Mr. Her- 
rington's early life was devoted to lumbering with his father and when eighteen years 
of age he began to care for himself. When he was twenty-one he engaged in the 
lumbering business on his own account in which he has been very successful; he has 
been interested in it and has done a large and extensive business in this line. He 
now owns a large tract of timber and farm land in the towns of Berlin, Grafton, and 
Poestenkill. Since 1880 in connection with his other business affairs he has carried 
on the wholesale butchering and meat business, and is now al.so interested in the 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 305 

draught horse business in Troy. In 1893 he moved to the town of Brunswick near 
Tro3^ He served the town of Poestenkill as commissioner of highways and was 
elected and served in the board of supervisors five years. In 1892 he was elected 
sheriff of Rensselaer county. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, King 
Solomon Lodge No. 91 of Troy, and the Order of Elks of Troy. In 1861 he married 
Miss Sarah Myers of Poestenkill and daughter of David Myers. Their children are 
Porter, Cora, Fred, Hammon, jr., Harry E., Marcia, and Phoena. 

Bolton, Crumbe3\ son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Dugdale) Bolton, was born in 
Clitherow, Lancashire, England, May 11, 1843, came to America with his parents 
in 1849 and settled in Lansingburgh, Rensselaer county, where he received a com- 
mon school education. He had just begun to learn the carriage trade, when, on 
September 7, 1863, he enlisted in Co. I, 21st N. Y. Cavalry, soon becoming first 
sergeant, and served until 1866. He then secured employment in the John Ames 
brush factory for three years, and later sold crackers for Richard M. De Freest for 
twenty years. In 1886 he formed a partnership with George E. Skillman for the 
.manufacture of crackers in Lansingburgh, and they are now doing a prosperous 
business. Mr. Bolton is a member of Jerusalem Lodge No. 355, F. & A. M. , of 
Lansingburgh and Bolton Post No. 471, G. A. R. , of which he is commander. April 
25, 1867, he married Mattie A., daughter of Lyman Fenn of Lansingburgh and they 
have four children: Edwm A., Milton, Richard and Crumbey, jr. 

Stiles, Robert B., son of John M. and Julia A. (Gowdy) Stiles, and grandson of 
Hon. Eli Gowdy, for many years a member of the Connecticut Legislature, was born 
at Melrose, Conn., August 8, 1848. He was educated at Williston Seminary, East- 
hampton, Mass., and at Union College, Schenectady, graduating in 1870. In 1873 
he received the degree of A. M. from Union College. He was graduated from the 
Albany Law School and was admitted to the bar at Albany in May, 1871. In Sep- 
tember, 1871, at Hartford, he was admitted to practice in the courts of Connecticut; 
the same year he moved to Troy and was for some time with the law firm of Banker, 
Rising & Boice. In 1872 he moved to Lansingburgh, where he has since practiced 
law. He served as village attorney from 1883 to 1885 inclusive. In March, 1879, he 
was elected justice of the peace and held that office continuously ever since, with the 
exception of one year. He was elected a member of the Board of Education upon 
Its organization in September 1884, re elected in 1887 and in 1890, completing his 
third term August 2, 1893. Mr. Stiles is a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 58 F. & 
A. M., Phoenix Chapter No. 133, R. A. M., Bloss Council No. 14, R. & S. M., and 
Apollo Commandery No. 15, K. T. He is a member of all the Ancient Accepted 
Scottish Rite bodies of Masonry, including Albany Sovereign Consistory at Albany 
and received the thirty-third and last degree at Buffalo, September 17, 1895. He has 
served two years as master of Phoenix Lodge, two years as master of Bloss Council, 
and two years as eminent commander of Apollo Commandery. Mr. Stiles is also a 
member of the Riverside and Sans Souci Clubs of Lansingburgh and the Acacia 
Club of Albany. December 4, 1877, he married Ida E., daughter of William Law- 
rence, for many years a resident of Troy, and they have two children: Frank Law- 
rence and Charles Gowdy. 

Dennin, J. Thomas, was born in Lansingburgh in 1859. He is a son of Owen and 
mm 



306 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Bridget Dennin. Owen Dennin was the founder of the present brush business of 
Owen Dennin & Sons, in 1875. This business was started in Lansingburgh by Mr. 
Dennin at the time when the brush business of this place had begun to go to other 
parts of the country, but this firm continued to grow until to-day it is at the head of 
brush manufacturing of Lansingburgh, and their factory is the largest of the place. 
This business was built by sheer energy, hard work and close attention to business, 
and the requirements of the market at the time when the brush business required 
the most intelligent management to make it successful. This firm manufactures 
everything in the line of brushes that the market calls for. J. Thomas Dennin is a 
prominent man in the politics of the village, having served as trustee, and also as 
president of the village, in addition to attending to the requirements of his large 
business. The estimation in which Mr. Dennin is held in Lansingburgh can be best 
shown by the fact that although the village gives ordinarily a large Republican ma- 
jority, he was elected on the Democratic ticket. He was the only Democratic presi- 
dent of the village that had been elected in twenty-eight years. 

Eddy, Mary J.-»-The late Walton M. Eddy was born in Weathersfield, Windsor 
county, Vt., October 13, 1818, and came to this State with his parents when seven 
years old. He was educated in the public schools and the Waterford Academy. 
He was a lampblack manufacturer. He was married twice, first to Mary C. Ryn- 
ders, of Waterford, N. Y. , September 9, 1841, by whom he had one son James L ;. 
second, to Miss Mary J. Pendleton, of Lansingburgh, on October 15, 1846, by whom 
he had four children: George W., Henry P. (who died in infancy), Mary E. and 
Nellie G. James I. was married twice, first to Caroline A. Mc'Kelsey, of Lansing- 
burgh, N. Y., June 21, 1867; second, to Mary M. Holmes, of Maryville, Mo., May 18, 
1882. George W. married Chauncey Farnham's daughter, Helen A., by whom he had 
four children: Florence A., Chauncey W., Marion H., and Llarry W. Nellie G. 
married J. Edgar Sipperly of Lansingburgh; they had one daughter, Helen. Mr. 
Eddy died January 20, 1896. The first known of the Eddys was one Rev. William 
Eddy, Vicar of Dunstan church, Cranbrook, Kent county, England. Samuel and 
John landed at Plymouth, Mass., in 1680. Mrs. Eddy's father, Charles Pendleton, 
married Mary J. White, by whom he had four children: Elizabeth, Mary J., Henry, 
and Catherine P. He died in 1887, and his wife in 1888. 

Farnham. Chauncey Wadsworth, was born in Troy, July 28, 1818 He was the 
son of the late Dr. Ebenezer Farnham, of Jackson, Mich., and a grandson of the 
Hon. Joseph Wadsworth of Pittstown, N. Y. Mr. Farnham was married May 22, 
1844, to Nancy McMurray, daughter of the late William McMurray, of Lansingburgh, 
N. Y. Two children were born: Horace W. , deceased, and Helen A., wife of 
George Walton Eddy. Mr. Farnham filled various public trusts, among which was 
that of under sheriff of Rensselaer county for two terms, with Gerothman W. Cornell 
as sheriff', and that of assistant postmaster at Lansingburgh. His earlier years were 
spent in professional and mercantile pursuits. He died December 15, 1878. 

Schermerhorn, Frank, was born at Schodack Landing, and was educated in the 
public schools and Greenwich Academy, and learned the profession of dentistry with 
Dr. Crosby of (ireenwich. In 1864 he in company with his brother began the prac- 
tice in Cohoes, under the firm name of Schermerhorn Bros. His father, Barent, was 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 307 

born at Schodack landing, January 28, 1804, and was a farmer by occupation. Jan- 
uary 8, 1827, he married Catherine Witbeck, by whom six children were born : Eliz- 
abeth, Antoinette, Charles, Louis, Frank, and Van Dyke. He died March 12, 1872. 
His wife was born in 1810 and survives at this date, 1896. The grandfather of Mr. 
Schermerhorn, Cornelius I., was born August 15, 1764, and married Elizabeth Mun- 
don. He was the son of Jacob C, who was born May 25, 1743, and he was the son 
of Cornelius L, who was born in 1719, who was the son of Jacob L, who was born in 
1685, and he was a son of Jacob Jacobse, who was born in 1662, in Albany, and all the 
others were born in Schodack Landing. Jacob Jacobse was a son of Jacob Janse, 
who was born in Waterland, Holland, in 1620. The doctor is a member of the Third 
District Dental State Society, and was its president for one term, and is also a mem- 
ber of Athenian Lodge No. 96, L O. O. F. , of Troy. Jacob C. was a soldier in the 
Revolutionary war, and their father, Barent, was a colonel in the State militia. The 
ancestry of the family is Dutch on both sides. 

Greene, Mrs. Margaret A. — Nathan Henry Noyes, Mrs. Greene's father, was one 
of Lansingburgh's most prominent residents for more than half a century. He was 
born in Greenbush, N. Y., June 16, 1815, but in 1825 he removed with his parents to 
this village, where the family has since resided. He was educated in the public schools 
and Lansingburgh Academy. In early life he was a carpenter, and afterwards was 
engaged in river navigation. He owned a line of boats on the Hudson River, with 
which he carried on a general freight transportation and towing business between 
Troy and New York. He was sole owner and commander of the steamer G. C 
Davidson, which was sold to the government during the late war. In the later years 
of his life he was associated with his brother, Stephen Van Rensselaer Noyes, in the 
coal business, in which he continued until a year prior to his death. May 20, 1835 
he married Margaret Loucke, of Rome, N. Y. She was of old Dutch stock, and 
granddaughter of one of the pioneers of the Mohawk valley. They had nine ♦chil- 
dren: Mary E., Frances A., Charles H., Margaret A., Lucinda V. S., Harriet I., 
Katherine M., Bernice C, and Grace E. Mr. Noyes died September 7, 1889. Mrs. 
Greene's late husband, Zina Eggleston Greene, was born in 'J'roy, September 8, 1841. 
He was educated in private schools and graduated at a French College at Three 
Rivers, Canada. He was an expert accountant. December 9, 1869, he married 
Margaret A. Noyes; they had two sons, Zina Paul and Harry Noyes, both gradu- 
ates of Lansingburgh Academy, while the latter is a graduate of Williams College 
and also of Albany Law School. The elder is a bookkeeper in the People's Bank of 
Lansingburgh, and the younger is an attorney in Troy, also a police justice in the 
village of Lansingburgh. Mr. Greene was a member of the Masonic order. He 
died September 2, 1879. The Noyes family is of English and Dutch descent. Their 
ancestral residence is Newburyport, Mass. The house was built in 1632 with bricks 
imported from Holland, and has never been occupied by other than a Noyes. 

Schermerhorn, Van Dyke, was born in the town of Greenwich, Washington 
county, N. Y., and was educated in the public schools and Greenwich Academy. 
He studied dentistry with Dr. Crosby, and is now in company with his brother 
Frank under the firm name of Schermerhorn Bros., in Cohoes, N. Y. May 31, 1864, 
he married Adeline L. Potter of Troy, N. Y., by whom he had tour children: Cath- 
erine E., Antoinette B., Louis Y. and Frank L., who died at five years of age. 



;>.08 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Catherine E. married Irving C. Dater of Troy, and they have three children: Chn- 
ton, Ruth and Margaret. Antoinette B. married Dr. Robert H. McNair of New 
Orleans, now a practicing physician in New Haven, Conn., and they have two chil- 
dren: Dorothy and Robert S. Mrs. Schermerhorn's father, John T. Potter, was 
born in the town of Pittstown in 1800. He was educated in private schools of that 
day, and came to Troy when a young man. He married Eliza J. Stedwell of 
Glens Falls, N. Y., by whom he had six children: Harriet N., who died March 30, 
1891; William H., Edward P., George L., Adaline L. as above, and vSarah E. Mr. 
Potter died in 1862 and his widow April 21, 1892. Mr. vSchermerhorn is a member 
of Athenian Lodge No. 96, L O. O. F. 

Kennedy, John J., was born in Troy, N. Y., June 13, 1863. He attended the 
Albany Law School, from which he graduated in 1886, and was admitted to the bar 
the same year. Mr. Kennedy was elected city justice in 1889, which position he held 
for six consecutive years. 

Finder, Anthony P., was born in Troy, September 24, 1865, and is a son of Will- 
iam and Martha E. (Bachmann) Finder, who came to this country from German}' in 
1852 and settled in Troy. He received his early education in the public schools and 
was graduated from th"e Troy High School in 1885, and was the first in Troy to 
receive from the regents a preliminary academic diploma giving him entrance to 
any college in New York State. He then took a special course in mathematics and 
chemistry in the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and began the study of architec- 
ture at Cornell University, but two years later he was obliged to abandon his 
course because of poor eyesight. In 1887 he entered the law office of Smith & 
Wellington. In the fall of 1889 he entered the Albany Law School, from which he 
was graduated in June, 1890, and was admitted to the bar at the same time. He 
was appointed bv Robert P. Porter, superintendent of the eleventh census, chief 
special agent for Rensselaer county, to gather statistics of manufactures. After 
completing the work in Rensselaer county, he was placed in charge of the same 
work in Albany county. During this time he was also managing clerk in the office 
of Smith & Wellington. In 1891 he formed a co-partnership with James Farrell and 
commenced the practice of law, under the firm name of Farrell & Finder. He was 
nominated by the Republican part}' for justice of the Justice's Court of Troy in 1892, 
and in 1895, but each time was defeated. He is a very active Republican, and is 
attorney and representative for the American Surety Company of New York at 
Troy, and is a member of the East Side Club. In January, 1895, he married Mary 
L. Mearns, who was a resident of Troy and who had taught in the public schools for 
several years. 

De Groot, Benjamin E., was born in Albany, N.Y., June 1, 1857. He has lived in 
Troy since 1860. He is a descendant of the famous family "Grotier" of Holland. 
He received a common school education in the public schools of Troy, N. Y., and 
academy at Albany, N. Y., and graduated in 1872. He continued his studies with 
Smith, Wellington & Black, and was admitted to the bar in 1879. He was asso- 
ciated with the firm of Merritt and Ryan until 1893, when he formed a copartnership 
with George H. Morrison, under the firm name of Morrison & De Groot. November 
15, 1882, he married Miss Ernestene Blume, daughter of Rabbi Blume, who had 
charge of the Third street Synagogue for (19) nineteen years. 



FAMlLr SKETCHES. 309 

MacArthur, Col. Charles La Faj'ette, was born at Claremont, N. H., January 7, 
1824. After a partial education in the district and select schools he was graduated 
from the Black River Institute at Watertown, N. Y. He was editor and proprietor 
of the Carthaginian at Carthage, N. Y., and then went west and became a local 
reporter for the Detroit Free Press, and from there he went to Milwaukee, Wis., 
about 1843, and joined a government party as secretary of the expedition to make a 
treaty with the Sioux Indians, on the upper region of the Platte River. He was the 
first editor of the Milwaukee Sentinel, which was the first daily paper published in 
Wisconsin. He remained in Milwaukee until 1846, when he moved to New York 
city and became the city editor of the New York Sun. In September, 1847, he joined 
John M. Francis in the purchase of the " Troy Daily Budget." In 1851 he went to 
Europe and in 1856 he visited Cuba, under a secret government commission, to look 
into certain matters connected with the island consulates. He continued with the 
"Budget" until January 1, 1859, and on October 18, 1859, established the "Troy 
Daily Arena," but sold out in the spring of 1861 to go to the war as quartermaster 
of the 2d N. Y. Vols He was in the battle of Great Bethel and went with his regi- 
ment, after the capture of Norfolk, to Portsmouth and participated in its experiences 
until appointed by President Lincoln as captain and assistant quartermaster in the 
regular army. He served as brigade and division quartermaster, and was at the 
battle of Frederickburg, through all the battles from Fair Oaks and McClellan's seven 
days' fights, in the change of base to the James River. On leaving the army he re- 
ceived two brevet promotions from Governor Fenton for faithful service in the late 
war. In the fall of 1864 he established the " Troy News," the first Sunday newspaper 
outside of New York city. He sold the "News" in 1866, having become one of the 
proprietors and editors of the " Troy Daily Whig." March 24, 1867, here-established 
the "Troy Northern Budget," as a Sunday journal. In the publication of the 
" Budget" he has associated with him his son, under the firm name of C. L. MacArfchur 
& Son. Mr. MacArthur has been an active and influential politician. He was a Free 
Soiler in 1848 and a Democrat up to the time of Lincoln. He was for several years 
a member of the Democratic State Central Committee, and a delegate to the na- 
tional convention of 1856 and a frequent delegate to the State conventions. 
He was alderman of the Second ward in 1852 and in 1853, and twice for 
a number of years collector of the port of Troy. Since Lincoln's first election he has 
been a Republican. He was a member of the State Senate in 1881 and 1883, rep- 
resenting the 19th district, and declined arenomination. Col. MacArthur has been 
a prominent officer in the organization and doings of the G. A. R., and was president 
of the Soldiers' and Sailor.s' Monument Association. In the later years of his life he 
has devoted much of his time to travel in foreign countries, and to the publication of 
his journeymgs, which have been widely read, and have given him a high reputation 
as a traveler and writer. In 1896 he was appointed one of the park commissioners 
of Troy by Mayor Molloy, and was also one of the founders of the Citizens' Steam- 
boat Line, of which he is director and one of the large stockholders. 

Archambeault, Louis J., M. D., was born in North Adams, Mass., in 1846. He is 
the son of Joseph J. and Genevieve (Shorke) Archambeault. His father died in 
1847 and mother in 1892. He was graduated from the Albany Medical College in 
1881 and opened practice in Troy, where he has since been located. He graduated 



310 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

from the New York Polyclinic in 1888. He married Margaret Smith of Massachu- 
setts, by whom he has four daughters and one son, who is now a praci icing 
physician. 

Bndgeman, John F.. was born in Troy, N. Y., November 11, 1849. His father, 
Peter Bridgeman, was born in Ireland and came to this country in 1847. He was in 
the freight department of the D. & H. C. Co. for forty years, and died in 1889. His 
mother, Mary (Fitzgerald) Bridgeman, was also born in Ireland. She was married to 
Mr. Bridgeman in Troy and died in October, 1877. John F. received his education at 
the Brother's Academy and public schools. He left school when thirteen years of 
age. In 1865 he entered the Rensselaer and Saratoga Railroad office at Green Isl- 
and and in 1866 entered the employ of Silliman, Mathews & Co., where he remained 
until 1871. In 1872 he went with Graves, Page & Co., where he stayed until 1878, 
when he formed a copartnership with Robert M. Taylor under the firm nam.e of 
Taylor & Bridgeman in the coffee and spice busmess. He sold out one year later 
and entered the employ of Burkhalter, Masten & Co., of New York city, where he 
remained until he became chamberlain of the city of Troy, December 5, 1885, under 
appointment made by ex-Mayor Fitzgerald, and he was twice reappointed by Mayor 
Whelan. He is a member of the Robert Emmet Association and has been its presi- 
dent and treasurer. . His present wife is Nora L. (O'Hearn) Bridgeman, to whom he 
was married in 1896. He has one son, Peter T. Bridgeman, by a former marriage. 

Wheeler, Henry, was born in Glennville, Conn., February 21, 1850. He came to 
Troy when eleven years of age and attended school until December, 1864, when he 
entered the Union Bank as clerk. He filled the various positions and in December, 
1875, was appointed teller, which position he still holds. He is one of the trustees of 
the East Side Club, In January, 1894, he married Rebecca Robinson, daughter of 
the late John Robinson, of Troy. His father, James Wheelock Wheeler, was born 
in Hanover, N. H., and his mother, Mary (Sargeant) Wheeler, was born in Parsip- 
pany, N. Y. 

Godini, Madame Marie, the daughter of Enoch and Hannah (Hickok) Wadsworth, 
who died October 25, 1894, was born at Potter Hill, Rensselaer county, N. Y. She 
received her education in Troy. She possessed a remarkable voice and marked mu- 
sical ability, which was developed by the musical masters in Troy and Albany until 
the emigration of her family to California, where she received the benefit of more 
extended training and prepared for a professional career. She afterwards learned 
the Kalian, French and Spanish languages, speaking and writing them as fluently 
as a native; at the same time she studied painting and took the first prize at the 
California State Fair two consecutive years for best drawing and painting. Mad- 
ams Grlini male her debat in Italian Opera in the Metropolitan Opera House. San 
Francisco, under the direction of her teacher, Giusippe Mancusi. She met with suc- 
cess and was engaged for a tour of the State. Later she spent a few mouths in New 
York in the study of music and returned to California under an engagement for 
eight months. She married the Hon. Jesse O. Goodwin, who was thrice judge and 
one of the hold-over senators under the new constitution of California. He died 
soon after his marriage. Madame Godini after her husband's death made her debut 
in English Opera in Kansas City in the winter of 1881. The season was successful, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 311 

and to enlarge her musical knowledge went to Milan, Italy, to study with the great 
master Lamperti, sr. ; after studying in Italy and with Marchesi in France, she re- 
turned to her native country and with Signor P. Brignoli formed an Italian opera 
company and visited all the southern cities and Mexico with Signor D. De Vivo as 
manager. The Godini Company, after an eighteen months' absence under the man- 
agement of Signor De Vivo, returned to New York. The following year Madame 
established a school of music, languages and art in New York city with the eminent 
pkianist Chevalier Aurelio Ceruelos as director. After the death of her father she 
removed the school to Troy where it is now located, and it is in a flourishing con- 
dition. 

Barrett, Rev. John, was born at Cohoes, N. Y., May 31, 1862. He is a son of 
Edward and Mary (Collins) Barrett, both born in Ireland. John received his educa- 
tion at St. Bernard's School and in the Business College of Cohoes and the Cohoes 
grammar schools and was graduated from Egbert's High School in 1880, when he 
entered St. Michael's College of Toronto, Ont., from which he was graduated in 
June, 1883. He then entered St. Joseph's Seminary of Troy in 1883, where he was 
ordained to the priesthood, October 2, 1887, by Bishop McNierney and was assigned 
to duty at once in St. Mary's church in Troy, w^here he is at present. 

O'Mahoney, Rev. W. H., was born in New York city in 1852. He was a graduate 
of the Assumption and Free Academies of Utica in 1870, and was also graduated 
from Niagara University in 1874. He was ordained at St. Joseph's Seminary, Troy, 
m 1879. He was first sent to Watertown and from there to Albany, and in 1881 and 
1882 had charge of the Warrensburgh mission, which comprised the towns of Chester- 
town, Johnsburgh and Lucerne. In 1884 that mission was divided and Lake George, 
which had been in charge of the Paulist Fathers, was added to the mission of which 
Father O'Mahoney had charge. In 1890 he was appointed pastor of the Church of 
St. Paul the Apostle of Troy, which he built. The church was completed in 1893, 
and has about 1,000 souls in the parish. He is one of the board of examiners of the 
parochial schools of Troy. 

Caldwell, James H., was born in Mobile, Ala., March 21, 1865. He is of English 
and Scotch descent, his ancestors having settled in Virgmia in the early times, some 
of them being in the Revolutionary war. His father was for many years a capitalist 
in Mobile and was at onetime an alderman in that city; he died in 1872. His 
mother, Caroline (Shields) Caldwell, was born in Mobile, Ala., where she at present 
resides. He received his education at the Columbia Grammar School, New York 
city, and in September, 1882. entered the R. P. I. of Troy and graduated in June, 
1886, and has been treasurer of the Alumni Association since June, 1888. He en- 
tered the Ludlow Valve Manufacturing Co. in November, 1888, as shipping clerk, 
and at the reorganizing of the company was made a director in the concern. He is 
vice-president of the Mobile Gas Light and Coke Co. and is president of the Electric 
Lighting Co. of Mobile, Ala. He was elected a vestryman of St. Paul's church in 
1890 and still retains that ofitice, and is one of the incorporators and a director and 
treasurer of the New Samaritan Hospital. He is one of the managers of the Troy 
Club, a member of the Laureate Boat Club, an incorporator and member of the 
City Club of Troy, also a member of the Committee of Public Safety. He married, 



312 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

May 3, 1887, Margery J. Christie, daughter of John T. Christie, by whom he has one 
daughter and a son. In national politics he is a Democrat. 

Bayn'es, Joseph Taylor, son of Joseph and Alice Elizabeth (Taylor) Baynes, was 
born in Aldborough, Yorkshire, England, January 6, 1838, and came to America 
with his parents in 1848, settling on Diamond Rock farm in I .ansingburgh, Rensse- 
laer county, where they remained two years, when they came to Troy. He was 
educated in the State Street Academy and studied music under Dr. William Hop- 
kins. He learned the trade of pattern maker and was first emploj-ed by Edgar I?. 
Sherwood. August 14, 1857, he became a pattern make in the Watervliet Arsenal, 
where he rapidly rose to the position of foreman of the carriage department, which 
he holds at the present time. Mr. Baynes is a member of the Veteran Boys in Blue, 
and Evening Star Lodge No. 75, F. & A. M. of West Troy, of which he has been the 
organist for the past twenty-five years. He is also a member of Apollo Chapter No. 
48, R. A. M., Apollo Commandery No. 15, K. T , the Scottish Rite bodies and the 
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is a deacon in the Park Presbyterian church and 
has been its organist for twenty-eight years. In 1857 he married Carrie Elizabeth 
Wood, who died in 1871. They had three children: Carrie E., Anna F. and Dr. 
Joseph E. In 1886 he married Emma Covert of Trenton, N. J. 

Filley Family, the. — Edwin Filley was born in Bloomfield, Conn., May, 1799, 
came to Lansingburgh, Rensselaer county, in 1813 and associated himself with a 
relative, Augustus Filley, and soon became foreman of the latter's large tin shop. 
In 1823 he succeeded to the business and for many years the tinware establishment 
of E. Filley & Son was the largest in this part of the country. Mr. Filley was su- 
pervisor of the town in 1844, a trustee of the village of Lansingburgh for several 
years, and a director in the Bank of Lansingburgh. His life was pure and blame- 
less, and he was widely known, highly respected and esteemed, and noted for his 
strict honor and integrity. With one exception he was the oldest member of the M. 
E. church of Lansingburgh, wherein he suddenly died after morning service on Sun- 
day, June 12, 1870. He had been its leader and a trustee from its organization in 
1827, and was one of its chief supporters. His principal characteristics were his 
benevolence and public usefulness. He married Elizabeth White, who died in March, 
1883, and they had two children : Milford Edwin (who died September 22, 1853), and 
George B. (who died March 24, 1879). George B. Filley became his father's partner 
and in 1870, succeeded to the business, which he continued until his death in March, 
1879, when his widow assumed charge and finally closed it out. He was one of the 
original Board of Police Commissioners of Lansingburgh, served two terms as village 
trustee and was a member of the Sans Souci Club. October 22, 1856 he married 
Julia F., daughter of Alfred Seaman of Lansingburgh, who survives him, as do also 
their four children: Elizabeth M. (Mrs. William B. Smith of Troy), Milford E., 
Antoinette F. and Mary S. 

Faye, Catherine M. — Morris Van Buskirk was born at Buskirk's Bridge in the town 
of Hoosick, Januai-y 25, 1802. He was well educated and was a produce dealer by 
occupation. He came to Lansingburgh at the age of twenty years. September 22, 
1831, he married Catherine Knickerbacker of the town of Schaghticoke; she was a 
daughter of Judge Herman Knickerbacker of Schaghticoke; she bore him four chil- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 313 

dren: Herman K., John Morris, Luretia Clay and Catherine M. Herman K. is in 
the official postal department at Washington, D. C. and has been for the past thirty 
years. John Morris married Amelia Kellogg of Lansingburgh ; he was a prominent 
man in the county and was treasurer and busines manager of the Columbia Bank 
Note Co. at Washington, D. C. ; he had been engaged more or less in the banking 
business from the age of seventeen and was in the post-office department at Wash- 
ington from 1861 to 1873, when he resigned and afterwards became associated with 
the Columbia Bank Note Co.; he died January 29, 1878, aged forty-four years ; he 
left on adopted daughter, Jessie Y., who married Howard Shields of Troy, and died 
at the age of twenty-one years. Lucretia Clay, born August 17, 1839. died at the 
age of twenty months ; she was named by Henry Clay, after his wife, he being a 
guest at her father's house at the time of her birth. Catherine M. married Edward 
C. Faye, of New York city, who was a merchant there ; he was a well educated man 
and a member of one of the oldest families in the city. Mr. Faye was born, October 
12, 1839, and died August 26, 1881. Mrs. Van Buskirk's father was Herman Knicker- 
backer, born July 27, 1779. He was a member of the Eleventh Congress and was 
county judge for many years. He died January 30, 1855. The first settler of the 
town of Schaghticoke was Johannes Knickerbacker, who was born in Holland in 
1679, and died at Schaghticoke in 1748, at the age of seventy years; his wife Hanna 
died in 1732 aged fifty seven years. The ancestry of the family is Dutch. 

Birrell, James N., was born in Cohoes, Albany county, N. Y. , December 18, 1858. 
He was educated in the public schools and De Garmo's Institute at Rhinebeck, N. 
Y. He has been a salesman for seventeen years, and is now a wholesale and retail 
dealer in oils and drugs. April 30, 1891, he married Mary N. Harris of Whitehall, 
Washington county, then of Troy. The father of Mr. Birrell was Thomas, born in 
Alva, Stirlingshire, Scotland, about 18S9, and in the year 1848 came to the United 
States and located at Troy. He married Elizabeth Sharp of Troy, formerly of •his 
native country. They had five children, two of whom died in infancy, and the others 
are James N , Thomas N., and Helena E. Mr. Birrell died in 1878, and his widow 
died August 20, 1886. The father of Mrs. Birrell, Daniel R. Harris, was born in 
Washmgton county in 1814. He married Naomi Ellsworth, by whom two children 
were born : Daniel and Mary N. Mr. Harris died in 1856. The great-grandfather 
of Mrs. Birrel, Harris, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The ancestry of the 
family is Scotch and English. 

Maxwell, Thomas F., was born in Troy, N. Y., November 13, 1861. His father 
was Thomas Maxwell, a native of Troy. He served three years in the civil war as 
captain of Co. A, Griswold Light Cavalry. He died in 1889. His mother is Mary 
(McMahon) Maxwell, of Troy. He attended the public and high schools of Troy. In 
1879 he entered the office of John H. Colby, a former district attorney, for the study 
of law and was admitted to the bar in 1883. He had charge of the business until 
the death of Mr. Colby, which occurred January 1, 1886. He then formed a copart- 
nership with Jeremiah K. Long, under the firm name of Long & Maxwell. He is a 
member of the Sons of Veterans and the Troy Citizens Corps. 

Thomas, Frank W., was born in Troy, October 11, 1859. He is the son of Francis 
and Caroline Frances (Connell) Thomas of Troy, at which place his father has re- 



314 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

sided since 1850 and who is a well known merchant and manufacturer of Troy. 
Frank was educated at the Troy Academy and the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute 
from which he was graduated in 1880. He began the study of law in the office of 
McClellan & Lansing, was admitted to the bar in 1881 and since that time has been 
in active practice in Troy. July 15, 1885, he married Carrie M., daughter i){ Samuel 
S. Green of Chicago, 111. They have two children, John Francis and Howard 
Standish. He is a member of the State Bar Association, the Troy Citizens Corps, 
the Sons of the Revolution in the right of ten ancestors, the Society of Colonial 
Wars, and an honorary member of many Massachusetts Historical Societies. 

Hoag, John E., was born in Poestenkill, Rensselaer county, N. Y., May T, 1839. 
His father, Lawton Robinson Hoag, was born in Quakerhill, Dutchess county, N.Y., 
and moved when a young man to a place called Kucheltown. Rensselaer county, 
(now Eagle Mills). He was a millwright b'y trade. His death, which occurred in 
1890, was caused by an accident; he was eighty-seven years old. His mother, Han- 
nah Moul, was born in 1810, and died in 1854. He received a common sch(jol educa- 
tion, then entered Union Academy at Poestenkill; after graduating he came to Troy 
and entered Troy University. He taught in Troy Academy two years, during 
which time he was continuing the study of law. He then entered the law office of 
Eleazer Wooster, who was located at the time in Poestenkill, and was admitted to 
practice in 1866. He was in practice in New York city until 1872, then came back 
to Rensselaer county and associated in business with E. Wooster & Son in 1875. 
Mr. Hoag has been in practice alone since the death of his partners. He belongs to 
Apollo Chapter R. A. M., and Bloss Council No. 14, R. & S. M., and of the latter he 
is a life member. He was married in 1876 to Ophelia Reno of Troy, N. Y. He has 
one child, a son twelve years of age. 

Ball, John C, was born m Hoosick, N. Y. , in 1846. His ancestors originally came 
from England and settled in Connecticut early in the eighteenth century. His 
father, Erastus Ball, was born in Wilmington, Vt., in 1802, and died in Hoosick 
Falls in 1855. Erastus Ball was long a resident of Hoosick Falls, and was one of 
the original projectors of the Troy and Boston railroad; he was also one of the early 
directors of the Troy City Bank. His mother, Rebecca (Hill) Ball, was born in 
Lansingburgh, N. Y., in 1819, and died in Utica, N. Y., in 1873. John C. Ball 
received his education in the public schools of Utica, and in 1870 came to Troy and 
started in the shirt manufacturing business under his own name ; his brother, Clinton 
M., subsequently joined him in business, since which the firm name has been Ball 
Bros., although his brother retired from the business in 1877. He manufactures a 
high grade special order shirts, and the name and goods of Ball Baos. are widely 
known throughout the Eastern and Middle States. Mr. Ball is a member of all the 
Masonic bodies. He married Anna B. Murdock of Utica, in 1867, and they had two 
sons and four daughters (one djnng in infancy.) Mrs. Ball died in Watervliet, N,Y., 
in 1886. His present wife was Julia E. Sibley of Westfield, Mass., by whom he has 
one daughter. Mr. Ball's eldest son James M., is foreman of his business, and is 
also a member of the Board of School Commissioners of the city of Watervliet. 

Curtis, Fred W., was born in Troy, in September, 1865. His father, Horace 
Curtis, was born in Troy in 1816, and was employed by the Rensselater Iron Co. for 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 315 

fifty years, and has since retired. His mother, Ann (Hopkins) Curtis, was born in 
Wales, and came to this country about 1837 with her parents, who settled in Troy. 
She died July 9, 1839. Fred W. was educated in the public schools of Troy. He 
entered the drug store of F. M. Brower as clerk, and in 1892 he was made a partner, 
under the firm name of F. M. Brower & Co. He is a member of Mt. Zion Lodge No. 
311, F. & A. M., and of the Troy Republican Club. June 29, 1893, he married Mary 
L. Vincent of Troy; he has two children, Stephen H. and Ralph T. 

McChesney, Calvin S., was born in Pittstown, Rensselaer county, N. Y., De- 
cember 15, 1857. His grandfather was Hugh McChesney, who came to Pittstown 
in 1840. His father, Nelson McChesney, was born in Brunswick in September, 
1827. His mother, Sarah S. (Barry) McChesney, was born in Pittstown and died in 
July, 1890. He received a district school education and entered the Military Acad- 
emy at Peekskill, N, Y., in January, 1875, graduating in 1877, then entered Yale and 
graduated with the class of '81. He entered Yale Law School m September, 1882, 
and graduated in June 1884. He came to Troy and entered the office of Warren, 
Patterson & Gambell, remained there until 1889, and then opened an office for the 
general practice of law at 15 First street, where he continued until January, 1893. 
In 1893 he formed a copartnership with Clarence E. Betts under the firm name of 
McChesney & Betts, 70 Second street. Mr. Betts retired from the firm January 1, 
1896. He is a member of the Pafraets Dael Club, of which he is president, and a 
member and quartermaster of tlie Citizens Corps. 

McConihe, Alonzo, of the firm of Bayer & McConihe, was born in Troy, N. Y., in 
1865. His father, Alonzo McConihe, founded the wholesale business at No. 207 River 
street, in 1835, which is at present the firm of McConihe & Co.. He died m 1875. 
His mother, Mary Thompson McConihe, is a daughter of the late C. W. Thompson, 
who was for many years in the lumber business in Troy. Mr. McConihe was edu- 
cated in private schools and then entered Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., from 
which he was graduated in 1888. Previous to this time he had become a member of 
the lumber firm of Bayer & McConihe and at the expiration of his collegiate course 
took an active part in the business. He is one of the board of managers of the Troy 
Club, and is a member of the Laureate Boat Club. He is a director in the New 
York Savings and Loan Association. 

Hoyt, Marshall E., was born in Lansingburgh, N. Y., December 31, 1859. He 
was educated in the public schools and Lansingburgh Academy, and he spent a year 
and a half on a farm from July, 1877, to April 1, 1879. He afterward learned the 
trade of brushmaker, and in 1888 entered into copartnership with his brother, Fred- 
erick M., under the firm name of F. M. Hoyt & Bro., manufacturers of brushes, which 
had been continued with other partners since 1833. April 23, 1884, he married Jose- 
phine Bateson of Cohoes, N. Y. Mrs. Hoyt's father, John Bateson, was born in 
England and came to the L^nited States when a young man. He married Harriet 
Westfall of this State, by whom he had thirteen children. Mr. Bateson died in 1864. 
The ancestry of the famih' is Dutch and English. 

Hoyt, Frederick M., was born in Lansingburgh, March 28, 1837. He was edu- 
cated in the public .schools and Lansingburgh Academy. In 1858 he succeeded his 
father and a Mr. Cross, who failed in business, on account of Buchanan's free trade 



:U6 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

administration, and continued it since; in 1888 his brother, Marshall E., became a 
partner, under the firm name of F. M. Hoyt & Bro. In April, 1866, he married 
Charlotte Tallman of this place. The father of Mr. Hoyt, Joseph, was born in Ver- 
shire, Vt., June 13, 1812, and came to Lansingburgh about 1826 and started in the 
brush business, which his sons now continue, and was founded by a Mr. Moss and a 
Mr. Cross, under the firm name of Cross, Moss & Hoyt. Mr. Moss died and Mr. 
Cross and Mr. Hoyt continued the business. Joseph was married on September 13, 
1835, to Eliza Lockrow of Lansingburgh, by whom seven children were born ; the 
sons and two daughters survive at this date, 1896: Frederick M., Allen S., Marshall 
E., Mary F., Mrs. F. Geer and Mina E., now Mrs. Elisha F. Davis. Mr. and Mrs. 
Hoyt died in 1892. The ancestry of the family is English and Dutch. 

Ranken, David M., was born in Troy, May 16, 1843, and his education was ob- 
tained in the public schools, Troy Business College, and Fort Edward Institute. 
In 1861 he enlisted in Company B, 2d N. Y. Vols., and was honorably discharged in 
1862, and immediately re-enlisted in the United States navy, serving on board the 
North Carohna, the Montgomery, and the Oneida, and was under Admiral Farragut 
on the Mississippi River, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. 
Upon his return to Troy he became a wool dealer for twelve years, and has been 
connected with the knit goods business in Cohoes ever since, and at the present time 
is manager of the Star Knitting Co. He was a member of the Common Council for 
fourteen years, and was in the School and Water Boards for eight years, when he 
resigned both of these positions and moved to Lansingburgh in 1890. In 1867 he 
married Mary F. Morrison of Troy, and has one son, Fred M., who is m New York 
city as selling agent for the Star Knitting Co. Mr. Ranken's father, John, was born 
in 1810 and was educated in the schools of that early day. He was a manufacturer 
at Albia for many years, and afterwards was a merchant in Troy. He married 
Nancy McNally of Hope, Canada. They had ten children : Hugh F. was lost at sea 
m 1854; Cordelia H., Henry S., William J., Robert B., David M., Elizabeth J., 
Peter B., Sarah J. and Mary. Mr. Ranken died in 1864 and his wife died in 1892. 
David M. is a charter member of Griswold Post No. 338, G. A. R. of Troy, and is 
past commander. He is a member of Mount Zion Lodge No. 311, F. & A. M., of 
Troy, of Apollo Chapter No. 48, R. A. M., of Bloss Council No. 14, of Apollo Com- 
mandery No. 15, R. & S. M.,of Delta Lodge of Perfection, of Delta Council P. of J., 
of Delta Chapter Rose Croix, of Albany Sovereign Consistory A. A. R., of Oriental 
Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and Diamond Rock Lodge No. 564, I. O. O. F. 
The family went from Scotland to the north of Ireland, and the ancestry of the 
family is Scotch. 

King, Phebe J. — Joseph, the father, is said to be the oldst man in the State. He 
was born May 5, 1791, on Hoover Island, and was educated in the schools of that 
very early day. He was married twice, first, in 1821, to Phebe Bennett, by whom 
three children were born: Charles, John O., and C. Henry. Mrs. King died in 1828, 
and for his second wife he married Belinda Wager of Schenectady, by whom twelve 
children were born: Joseph, jr., William G., Belinda A., Phebe J., Betsey M., 
Walter A., Augustus, Stephen F., George A., Christina A., Marshall N., and M. 
Edward. His second wife is also dead. Joseph, jr. .married Mary A. Nicholas of 
Brooklyn, by whom three children were born: Joseph E., Mary B., and Charlotte, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 317 

who died in infancy. Joseph E., son of Joseph, jr., married Mary Fordell, by whom 
one son has been born : Francis. Joseph King was a drummer in the war of 1812. 
He is in fairly good health and has made a good start in his 106th year. His 
daughter Phebe keeps house for him. 

Smith, John P., was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, and came with his parents to the 
United States when he was five years of age. He was educated in the public schools 
here, and has been a traveling salesman for fifteen years. In March, 1896, he was 
elected overseer of the poor. December 19, 1869, he married Ximena Barrett, by 
whom four children were born, of which two are living: Herbert A. and Jessie A. 
The father of Mr. Smith was a merchant; was born at the old home in Scotland 
about 1806, and he came to this country in 1851. He married Isabella Watson of 
his native place, by whom five children were born : James, a soldier in the late war, 
was killed in North Carolina; John P., Anna B., Jennie, who died at the age of 
twenty-two; and Alexandei". Mr. Smith died in 1857, and his widow survives him at 
this date. 1896. John F. is a member of Jerusalem Lodge No. 355, P. & A. M., of 
Phoenix Chapter No. 133, R. A. M., of this place, and is also a member of Bloss 
Council No. 14, R. & S. M., Apollo Commandery No. 15, K. T., and Oriental Temple. 
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Troy, N. Y. He has served as master of Jerusalem 
Lodge for three years, as high priest of Phoenix Chapter four years, and is now 
recorder of Apollo Commandery, and a member of the famous Drill Corps that 
attained such distinction in Boston in 189;"). The ancestry of the family is Scotch 
and New England stock. 

Baxter, Dennis T., was born in Lansingburgh, N. Y., May 6, 1838. He was edu- 
cated in the public schools and the Lansingburgh Academy. For many years he 
was a brick manufacturer, afterwards a farmer; he is now retired and is residing in 
Lansingburgh. March 27, 1861 he married Louisa M. Van Arnum of the town of 
Brunswick, by whom he has had two daughters; Mary S. . who married Douglass 
Barry formerly of Easton, Washington county, now of this place; and Ida C, who 
at present resides at home. Mr. Baxter's father, Dennis S., was born in Lansing- 
burgh, January 28, 1805. He was educated in the schools of that day, and was a 
brick manufacturer, as was his father before him. February 20, 1827, he married 
Mary A. Millis, by whom he had seven children, four daughters and three sons: 
Charles C, Mary P., Angelia R., Marietta, Dennis T. (the subject of this sketch), 
Adalaide V. and George W Mr. Baxter died February 6, 1887, and his wife Janu- 
ary 6. 1886. Mrs. Baxter's father, Henry J. Van Arnum, was born in the town of 
Brunswick, November 21, 1812. He was educated in the schools of that day and 
always followed the honorable occupation of farming. He married Mary C. Holmes 
of Lansingburgh, N. Y., formerly of Randolph, Vt., by whom he had five children: 
Levi. Louise M., Romeo, Emily S. and Marcus H. He died October 13, 1894. and his 
wife May 19, 1856. The family have owned the same farm in Brunswick for 115 
years. A considerable part of the residence of Mrs. Baxter's great-grandfather is 
still standing, some additions having been made. During the Revolutionary war 
before he lived there, an incident of the war occurred; a British tory came to visit a 
young lady residing there, and was discovered in hiding and shot by one of the Whig 
soldiers. 

Thompson. Prof. Dwinel French, was born in Bangor, Me., January 1, 1846. He 



318 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. , 

was educated in the public schools, the "Little Blue School" at Farmington, Me., 
and Lewiston Falls Academy, and is a graduate of Dartmouth College in New 
Hampshire, class of '69. He was a tutor in that college for three years. In 1872 he 
came to Troy and accepted the position of professor of descriptive geometry, stere- 
otomy and of drawing in the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. This position he has 
filled since 1872. January 1, 1880, he married Lena, daughter of S. Burt Saxton of 
Troy. They have four children: Alice Quimby, G. Saxton, Nathaniel French, and 
Dwinel Burt. The father, Joel D. Thompson, was born in Lisbon, Me., in 1810, and 
was educated in the schools of his day. He was a merchant in Bangor for many 
years. He married Harriet Newell French, of Bangor, Me., formerly of New Hamp- 
shire, by whom two children were born: Dwinel French and Alice, who died in her 
fifth year. Mr. Joel D. Thompson died February 21, 1858, and his wife died Novem- 
ber 13, 1893. This family trace their origin to Kittery, Me., to one James Thomp- 
son, in 1696, and on the maternal side to Edward French of Salisbury, Mass., in 
1640. The grandfather of the professor's mother, Nathaniel French, was a soldier 
in the Revolutionary war. The ancestry of the maternal side is English, and of the 
paternal side Scotch-Irish. 

Smith, Charles T. R., who has been principal of Lansingburgh Academy since 
1872, was born in Pittsford, Vt., December 5, 1846, and came to Plattsburgh, N. Y. , 
with his parents when six years old, where he was educated in the common schools 
and Plattsburgh Academy. He graduated from Williams College in 1868, and then 
began his lifevvork, first as principal of Leavenworth Institute at Wolcott, Wayne 
county, N. Y. His next field was Port Byron, Cayuga county, where he was prin- 
cipal of the High School; afterwards he became principal of the High School of 
Fayetteville, Onondaga county. He then came to Lansingburgh as principal of the 
Lansingburgh Academy, and is still holding that position with success. For several 
terms he was jiresident of the Rensselaer County Teachers' Association, and presi- 
dent during 1888-89, of the Association of Academic Principals of New York State. 
In 1870 he married Cornelia A. Hibbard of South Butler, Wayne count}', N. Y. They 
have two daughters; Cora A. and Bertha M. Cora A. graduated from Smith Col- 
lege, Northampton, Mass. His father, Levi Smith, was born at Acworth, N. H., in 
1812. He was educated iu the schools of that day and the New Hampton Theologi- 
cal Seminary. His wife, Amelia B, Morse, was born in Hebron, N. H., May 20, 1821. 
They had three children : Charles T. R., Oscar E., and Julia A., now the wife of Dr. 
Cyrenius Vaughn of Morrisonville, Clinton county, N. Y, Oscar married Julia Wil- 
son of Penacook, N. H. Mr. Smith was a Baptist minister for forty years. He died 
in March, 1879; his widow still survives. The ancestry of this famil}?^ on both sides 
is of New England extraction. 

Hannah, jr., David, was born in Lansingburgh, October 22, 1854. His education 
was obtained in the public .schools, and he first began business as a newspaper boy. 
He was clerk in the employ of W. R. Barton in the grocery business for twenty-two 
years, and then began business in that line on his own account, in which he has been 
very successful for the past seven years. The father of Mr. Hannah was David, 
born in the North of Ireland in the year 1820, where he was educated. He has been 
married twice; first, to Mary Leadlie of his native place, and came to the United 
States about 1847 and located here. They had two children : Margaret and John. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 319 

Mrs. Hannah died in 1848. In 1851 he married Jane Wright of this place for his 
second wife, formerly of his native country. They have had seven children: Ed- 
ward B., David, jr., Mary J., vSarah, Ellen L., Deborah W. and Joseph. Edward B. 
married Sarah Neil. Mary J. married John Hughes of Waterford, Saratoga county, by 
whom two children have been born: Edward B. and Jennie. David is a member of 
Jerusalem Lodge No. 355, F. & A. M. He was chairman of the town committee for 
three years, police commissioner for six years, and tax collector for three years. He 
was captain of the Eake Hook and Ladder Company. The ancestry of the family 
is Scotch and Irish. 

Henry, Horace H., was born in Albany, January 7, 1840. His parents moved to 
the town of Watervliet when he was a boy. He was educated in the Moravian Acad- 
emy in Pennsylvania and was graduated from there when about eighteen years old. 
He spent three years in Kansas and returned to Albany, owing to ill health, and 
manufactured fire bricks until 1872. He then came to Troy where he manufactured 
bricks and stove linings, doing busmess under the firm name of Bacon & Henry, 
until 1887. A joint stock company was organized known as the McLeod & Henry 
Co., Harvey S. McLeod, president and treasurer, and Horace H. Henry, vice presi- 
dent, and Augustus McLeod as secretary. He was married twice; first, m 1862, to 
Mary E. Henderson of Albany, by whom twochildren were born, Horace H., jr., and 
Etta A. Horace H., jr., is now on the police force of Lansingburgh. Mrs. Henry 
died about 1875, and for his second wife he married Elizabeth C. Buckley of Troy, 
by whom one sen has been born : William J., who is a student at school. The father 
of Mr. Henry was born in Germany, and worked at his trade of making stone wai^e. 
He came to the United States when he was eighteen j'ears old and located in Albany, 
where he followed his trade. He made the first stove lining made in the L"^nited 
States for coal stoves. In 1825 he married Mary A. Henderson, by whom twelve 
children were born, eight of whom grew to maturity; Darwin D., Mary A., Charles 
v., Horace H., Henrietta V., Jacob, Lemuel C. and William E. Mr. Henry died in 
1865, and his wife died in 1875 Mr. Henry is a member of Ancient City Lodge of 
Albany No. 455, F. & A. M., of Hudson River Chapter of West Troy No. 262, R. A. 
M., of Bloss Council No. 14, R. & S. M., Apollo Commandery No. 15, K. T., and of 
Oriental Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Mr. Henry is one of the solid busi- 
ness men of Troy and Lansingburgh. 

Smith, Edwin R., was born in Lansingburgh, September 25, 1824, and was edu- 
cated in the public schools and was a general merchant here for a number of years. 
In 1844 he married Mary L. Sterry of this place, and has three living children: 
Harriet, Emma and Clara September 25, 1862, he enlisted in Co. K, 169th N. Y. 
Vols. This regiment participated in thirty-two engagements and took part in both 
expeditions for the reduction of Fort Fisher in North Carolina; he enlisted as a 
private and was rapidly promoted, for gallant service in the field, finst to .second 
lieutenant and then to first lieutenant, and again to the position of captain of Co. F. 
and in the battle of Cold Harbor he was shot in the neck, which disabled him for a 
short time, and with that exception he took part in every engagement with his com- 
pany and regiment. He was honorably discharged July 18, 1865. Upon his arrival 
home the State Legislature brevetted him major for gallant .service in the field. 
Major Smith is a charter member of Bolton Post No. 471, G. A. R. of Lansingburgh, 



320 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

N. Y. He has held the office of senior vice-commander for several years. He is now 
president of the 169th Veteran Association and has filled the office for the past ten 
years; the surviving members met on September 25, 1896, and presented him- with 
an elegant silver tea service. He has served his town as police justice for sixteen 
years and justice of the peace for fifteen years, and is a member of the Board of 
Health for eighteen years. He was also notary public for twelve years. The an- 
cestry of the family is English. 

Munn, Elizabeth A. — The late Rufus S. Munn was born in Trenton, N. Y., July 15, 
1829, and came to Troy with his parents when a child. He was educated in the 
public schools and began life's work as a clerk, and afterwards was a dealer at 
wholesale in millinery goods. December 28, 1857, he married Elizabeth A. Clements 
of Troy, and has one daughter, Ida J., who is a skillful painter and has traveled 
extensively in Europe, putting herself in touch with the old masters of the art. Mr. 
Munn was a member of the King Solomon Lodge No. 10, F. & A. M., of Troy. He 
died July 12, 1883. Mrs. Munn's father, Stephen Clements, was born in Saratoga 
county, June 10, 1802. He was educated in the public schools and came to Troy 
when a young man and became one of the prominent business men as a retail and 
wholesale dealer in groceries. He married Harriet N. Severance, formerly of Mass- 
achusetts, by whom four children were born: Elizabeth A., Harriet F., George W., 
and Emma A., of whom all are dead, with the exception of Mrs. Munn. Mr. 
Clements died May 30, 1885. Mr. Clements retired from business ten years before 
his death. Mrs. and Miss Munn are members of the Westminster Presbyterian 
church of Lansingburgh. The family trace their origin through New England of 
English and German extraction. 

Winkelmann, David F., was born in Treves(Trier), Rhine, Prussia, Germany, March 
28, 1828. He was educated in their schools and was a cabinet maker by trade, 
serving two years in the Prussian army. He married Mary Morgan of his native 
place. He came to New York city August 18, 1854, and thence to Lansingburgh, 
N. Y. ; his wife followed one year later, with their son David F., jr., after which five 
more children were born: Mary, Johanna, Mary No. 2, Clara, and Albert. His wife 
died September 8, 1877. David F., jr. , married Marcia Wager, and has one daughter, 
Alydia; his wife died in 1895; he married again in 1896, taking for his wife Alice 
Dunham, of Grafton N. Y. Mary No. 2 married James B. Hoyt of Troy, N. Y., 
and has two children: Grace Agnes and Hazel May. Clara married Dr. Thomas J. 
Southwick, of Lansingburgh, N. Y., by whom she has one son, Jesse Albert; her 
second husband was George E. Denniker, of Troy, N. Y. , now deceased; Mary, 
Johanna and Albert, deceased. Mr. Winkelmann carried on the cigar box manufac- 
turing for several years, and is the owner of six residences in Lansingburgh. In 
politics he has always been a Republican, and is a member of the Lutheran church. 

Whyland, Jacob, was born m the town of Poestenkill, August 5, 1830. His ed- 
ucation was obtained in the common schools, and he had a variety of occupations. 
He was a farmer, store-keeper and hotel keeper for many years. He held the posi- 
tion of town clerk in his native town for several years, and supervisor for two years. 
He became a citizen of Lansingburgh in 1887, when he retired from active business. 
He was treasurer of the village of Lansingburgh from 18J3 to 1895. In 1854 he 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 321 

married Jennie Van Waggoner, of the town of Brunswick, by whom he had one 
daughter, Perley J., who died in her third year. They have an adopted daughter, 
Addie. Mr. Whyland's father, Jacob, was born in the town of Sand Lake the early 
part of the present century ; he was educated in the schools of his day, and was a 
farmer by occupation; he married Elizabeth Filkins; they had ten children: Maria, 
John, Susan. Catharine, Deborah, Lenard, Agnes, Joseph, Jane, and Jacob H. Mr. 
Whyland died in 1856, and his wife in 1844. The Whyland family settled in Poesten- 
kill before the Revolutionary war. The ancestry of the family is Dutch on both 
sides. 

Wood, George F., was born in Lansingburgh, N. Y., November 22, 1861. He was 
educated in the public schools and the Lansingburgh Academy, and has always been 
a coal dealer by occupation ; his present place of business is on Second avenue cor- 
ner of Sixth street, Lansingburgh. His father, Artemas Wood, was also born in 
Lansingburgh about the year 1834. He was educated in the public schools and was 
a brushmaker by occupation. He married Miss Mary E. Bradshaw of his native 
place, by whom he had tw^o children: George P., and Kittie, who died at the age of 
seven. During the war Mr. Wood enlisted twice, the second time in Co. L, 21st N. Y. 
Cavalry. He was shot and killed at Rood's Hill, Shenandoah Valley, November 22, 

1864, and his remains were brought home for interment. Mrs. A. Wood is still living 
and resides with her son. George F. is a member of the efficient fire brigade of 
Lansingburgh. He is a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 58, F. & A. M., also of Sam- 
uel King Camp, Sons of Veterans. This family is of New England stock, and Eng- 
lish ancestry. 

Witbeck, Mary. — The late Martin V. B. Witbeck was born in Watervliet, Albany 
county, N.Y. , May 16, 1834, and was educated in the public schools and was a moulder 
by trade. January 3, 1861, he married Mary Button, of Glenville, N. Y., and in 
about 1872 the family came to Lansingburgh to reside. They had five children, 
Ella, Howard M., Margaret P., Maude J., and Anna C. Howard M. married Ger- 
trude Thompson of Lockport, Niagara county, and have one son, Lyman T. Mar- 
garet P. married Henry H. Bennit of Lansingburgh. Mr. Witbeck died May 3, 1893. 
The father of Mrs. Witbeck, Henry Button, was born in England about 1802, where 
he was educated. He married Mary Stiles of his native place and came to the 
United States about 1831 and located in Schenectady county. They had five chil- 
dren : Sarah, Caroline, Mary, Harriet, and Cordelia. Mr. Button died in 1886 and 
his wife died in 1849. The ancestry of the family is Dutch and English. 

Smith, Lampson, was born in the city of Troy, September 12, 1844, was educated 
in the public schools and was a grocery merchant by occupation. September 6, 
1862, he enlisted in Co. B, 169th N. Y. Vols., and was honorably discharged July 9, 

1865. April 3, 1878, he married Mary Yahn of Troy, formerly of Pittstown. The 
father of Mr. Smith Lampson, was born in Danbury, Vt., June 22, 1801, and died 
September 1, 1892; was educated in the schools of that early daj' and was a tanner 
and harnessmaker by trade; he worked for two years at his trade at Kmderhook, 
and then purchased the business and carried it on for six years, when he was burned 
out. He then came to Troy and formed a partnership with Elias Ross in the leather 
and hardware business; Mr. Ross died in 1873, and Philander Pollock, who had 



322 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

been clerk for two years, bought the Ross interest which was carried on for twenty 
years under the firm name of Smith & Pollock. He had married twice ; by his first 
wife he had one son, and two daughters: John B., Laura and Sarah. By his second 
wife, Lucinda Lansing, born Price, he had three children: Lampson, Lansing, and 
Charles S. Lansing was a clerk in the county clerk's office, and was also captain of 
the first steam fire engine in Troy. He enlisted in the 2d N. Y. Vols., was honora- 
bly discharged in 1868, and died, December 2\, 1875. Charles S. was also a clerk in 
the county clerk's office and was a soldier in the 63d Anderson Zouaves and was 
honorably discharged. Mr. Smith is a member of Griswold Po.st No. 338, G. A. R. 
The ancestry of the family is Scotch, German and Dutch extraction. 

Buckingham, Jonas C, was born in Troy, January 4, 1819, and was educated in 
the private schools of Troy and the Troy High .school. He has been bookkeeper for 
the Troy Steamboat Company for many years. He followed the river for two years 
as purser on the Swallow, and was aboard when she was wrecked, and so many lives 
were lost. He has been in the hat, cap and fur trade on two different occasions in 
Troy. In 1852 he went to New York citj?^ and had charge of the Bald Mountain Lime 
Works until 1860. He was accountant in their Wall street office for two years, and 
then was appointed inspector of customs, under Lincoln's administration, until 1869, 
when he removed to Lansingburgh. He was then engaged in the Troy post-office- 
as money order clerk for eighteen months, and was then appointed assistant post- 
master by General Alden until 1874. In 1881 he began the fire insurance business 
in Lansingburgh for the leading insiirance companies, which he continues with 
success until this day. December 10, 1844, he married Frances E. Sheldon of Troy, 
by whom seven children have been born, three sons and four daughters, of whom 
only two survive: Martha S. married Theodore B. Walsh of Lansingburgh, and Henry 
J. married Catherine Gilmore and has one son, William C. Mr. Buckingham is a 
member of the Y. M. C. A. His father, Gideon, was born in East Haddam, Connect- 
icut, in 1787. He married Maria J. Crowley of Troy, by whom five children were 
born: Edward M., Richard G., Jonas C, Elizabeth and Howard, of whom all are 
now dead with the exception of Jonas C. and Elizabeth, widow of Anson Gray, of 
Brooklyn. Gideon died in 1868 and his wife died in 1876. Mrs. Buckingham's 
father, Mr. Crowley, was a captain in the Revolutionary war ; he was a member of 
the Society of the Cincinnati. The ancestry of the family is English, Swi.ss, and 
Irish. 

Van De Bogart, Mrs. Nellie. — The late Daniel Van De Bogart was born in vSche- 
nectady in 1810, aud was educated in the schools of that day, and was a mason con- 
tractor by trade. Ip 1838 he married Nellie Smith of his native place, by whom 
eight children have been born: Lydia, Daniel W. , William H., Harvey, Magdaline, 
Benjamin F., Sarah E., and Estella. Daniel W. was a soldier in the late war, and 
was killed by a rebel sharpshooter, June 19, 1864. William H. enlisted in Co. E, 
11th Infantry, and was captured and sent to Libby, Andersonville, and Saulisbnry 
Prisons, and was honorably discharged December 21, 1865. Lydia married Andrew 
Dilmore, of Philadelphia, Pa., who died in 1880. Harvey died at the age of fifteen 
months. Magdaline died young, and Estella died at the age of fifteen months. 
Benjamin F. married Jennie Constance of Wisconsin, by whom four children 
have been born: Fannie B-, Hattie, Frank, and George. Mr. Van De Bogart 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 323 

died December 20, 187G. The father of Mrs. Van De Bogart was a soldier in the 
war of 1812, and her grandfather. Smith, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. 
The ancestry of the family is Dutch, French, German, Scotch and English. 

Barker, Calvin J. , was born in New York city, March 16, 1839, and came to Lansing- 
burgh with his parents when a child. He was educated in the public schools and 
Balston Spring Academy, and was a druggist with Hageman & Co. of New York 
city for twenty years, June 3, 1863, he married Celia F., daughter of Thomas 
Curran of Lansingburgh, by whom three children hava been born: Irene H., Ed- 
ward G., and Clara B. The son is a bookkeeper for the Standard Oil Co. in New 
York city The father of Mr. Barker, James N., was born in Lansingburgh, Jan- 
uary 15, 1814, and was educated in the schools of that early dav, and was a druggist 
by occupation. He married Eliza Dougrey, by whom three children have been born : 
Calvin J., Irene H., and Agnes B. Mr. Barker died May 3, 1883, and his wife died 
about 1878. Mr. Barker is a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 58 F. & A. M., and is 
one of the past masters; a member of Phoenix Chapter No. 133, R. A. M. and is its 
high priest in his second term; of Bloss Council No. 14; of Apollo Commandery No. 
1.5, K. T., and of Oriental Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. The ancestry of 
the family is Scotch and English. 

McMurray, Josephine A. — The late William McMurray was born in 1798, and was 
educated in the private schools of that early day. He was a brush manufacturer on 
a large scale, employing a large force. When Henry Clay visited Lansingburgh 
he was entertained as a guest by Mr. McMurray and family; he died in 1851 and 
.was the iirst one buried in Oakwood Cemetery of Troy. He married H. Alida 
Baker of this place by whom ten children have been born: Hester A., Nancy, now 
Mrs. Chauncy W. Farnham ; Mary F., now Mrs. G. W. Cornell; Edgar A., Josephine 
A., William, and Charles, who died at maturity, and three died in infancy. Hester 
A. married William Allen, formerl}' of England, who came to Lansingburgh with 
his parents when ten years of age and became a brush manufacturer. They had 
one son, Frederick, who died in his seventh year. Mr. Allen was president of 
the village for one term. He died March 1, 1869, and his widow survives at this date, 
1896. William McMurray died September 7, 1851, and his wife died September 7, 
1882. The ancestry of the family is Scotch and English. 

Bradt, John A., was born in the town of Poestenkill, Rensselaer county, in 1830, 
and was educated in the public schools. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. C, 9th N. Y. 
Vols., and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. In 1863 he married 
Kate McChesney of Brunswick. They have one adopted daughter, Carrie. The 
father of Mr. Bradt, Volkeart, was born in Albany about 1798, and was educated in 
the schools of that early day. He was a shoemaker and farmer by occupation. He 
married Phebe Lynd of Poe.stenkill, and has eight children, five sons and three 
daughters: John A., Elizabeth, Rosetta, Ellen, Tunis, George, William and Charles. 
Mr. Bradt died about 1882 and his wife about 1885. The father of Mrs. Bradt, Peter 
McChesney, was born in Brunswick, December 15, 1808, and was educated in the 
schools of that early day. He was a carpenter and builder by trade. He mar- 
ried Lydia Rifinburg of Pittstown, and had six children: George, Mary J., Julia A., 
Kate, Caroline and Alexander. Mr. McChesney died in 1847 and his wife died in 
1871. The ancestry of the family is German. 



324 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Hawkins, John E., was born in Lansingburgh, January 29, 1841, and was edu- 
cated in the public schools. He learned the tinsmith trade and has been a manufac- 
turer of tinware for the past eighteen years. His son, Frederick J., has been in 
company with him for ten years, under the firm name of John E. Hawkins & Son. 
In September, 1861, he enlisted in Co. F, 2d N. Y. Vols., and was honorably dis- 
charged by surgeon's certificate of disability the same year In 1859 he married 
Catherine Ann Younglove, and has had two children ; Josephine and Frederick. 
The father of Mr. Hawkins, Jabez, was born July 25, 1806, and educated in the schools 
of that early day. He married Jane A. Smith and had twelve children, eight of 
whom lived to their majority: Frederick, John E., Samuel K., Alfred T., Marcus 
E., Mary J., Eliza J., and Frank F. Mr. Jabez Hawkins died in October, 1877, and 
his wife died August 28, 1872. The grandfather of Mr. Hawkms was born in Rhode 
Island in 1768, and was a son of Joseph, who was a soldier m the Revolutionary 
war. John E. is a member of Jerusalem Lodge No. 355, F. & A. M., and is also a 
member of Phoenix Chapter No.- 133, R. A. M. The ancestry of the family is New 
England stock of English origin. 

Homer, Samuel, was born in England, October 16, 1843, and was educated in their 
schools. He came to the United States in 1864 and located in Trenton, N. J., and 
came to Troy in 1865. He was a chain maker by trade. November 1, 1866, he 
married Elizabeth Boycott of Troy, formerly of England, and have three children : 
William Kemp, Ensign Stover, and Hannah E., who resides at home. William Kemp 
married Mary C. Snyder of Lansingburgh, and has two children: William K., jr., 
and Phebe E. Ensign Stover married Ida Hartwell of Troy. Both sons are mem- 
bers of the Masonic order. The ancestry of the family is Engli.sh on both sides. 

Fowler, Stephen, was born in the town of Brunswick, February 19, 1830, and was 
educated in the district schools, and was a farmer by occupation. In 1861 he mar- 
ried Susan L. Myers of Greenbush. They had two children: Ammon and Lorretta. 
Mrs. Fowler died December 1, 1892. The father of Mr. Fowler, Ammon, was born 
on the old homestead in Brunswick, April 3, 1809, and was educated in the schools 
of that early day, and was a farmer by occupation. June 10, 1828, he married Eliza 
Winnie of his native town. They have had seven children: Stephen, Mary, Emily, 
John R., Elizabeth D., and two are dead. Mr. Fowler died February 20, 1890, and 
his wife died June 4, 1891. Stephen Fowler has been a wholesale confectioner for 
the past seven years, with his daughter as general manager. The ancestry of the 
family is of New England stock. 

Golden, Justin C, was born in Dutchess county, July 16, 1853, and moved with his 
mother to Vermont at the age of ten. He was educated in the public schools and in 
1872 came to Lansingburgh. He is serving his second term as superintendent of the 
waterworks. August 20, 1878, he married Libbie Campbell of Troy, formerly of 
Lansingburgh, by whom six children were born: Linda R., Jennie M., Thomas W., 
Justin C, jr., John H., and Helen E. The father of Mr. Golden, John Y., was born 
in New York city in 1809, was educated in the district schools, and went to Vermont 
when a young man. He married Mary Wright of that State and had four children: 
Ida, Justin C, Kate W., and Henry W. Mr. Golden died in 1863 and his widow 
died August 23, 1865. He is a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 58, F. & A. M., and is 
also a member of the Royal Arcanum No. 1,005. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 325 

Morrissey, Thomas F., was born in England in 1857, and came to the United 
States with his parents when two years of age. They located in Lansingburgh, N. 
Y., where he was educated in the public schools. He began to manufacture brick in 
1883; also is a dealer in coal, building material,' fertilizers, etc., under the firm name 
of Spall, Morrissey & Abbott. He manufactures brick on his own responsibility ; 
the capacity of the plant is 25,000 daily, and at this time of writing he is manufac- 
turing 3,000,000 annually. In 1892 Mr. Morrissey married Anna Lewis of Lansing- 
burgh, and they have two children: Thomas and Catherine. Mr. Morrissey's father, 
Thomas, was born in the old country and married Mary Lawless of his native place, 
by whom he had six children : John, Michael, Catherine, Thomas (deceased), Thomas 
F., and Lawrence. 

O'Brien, William J., was born in Ireland in 1844, and came to the United States 
with his parents when a young child They located in Lansingburgh, N. Y., where 
he was educated in the public schools and when a young boy he learned the brush 
trade with George Scott, since which time he has been in the brush factory. In 1868 
he was made its superintendent, which position he has ably filled since ; he also has 
an interest in the business; the firm's name has never changed, namely. The George 
Scott Co. In 1879 he married Anna Hannon, of this place, and they have seven 
children; Mary, Anna, William J., jr., James M., Catherine M., Adalaide and Mar- 
garet. Mr. O'Brien is a protection Democrat. 

Spall, John, was born in Germany, May 17, 1847, and came to the United States 
with his parents when a young boy, and first located in Utica and afterwards in 
Herkimer county, and was educated in the district schools. He was a general mer- 
chant and lumber dealer. The family came to Lansingburgh in 1887 and conducted 
a general store of fruit and produce. He is also a partner dealing in coal, building 
material and phosphate, etc., under the firm name of Spall, Morrissey & Abbott. 
He was married twice, first, to Catherine Roberts, and had two children: Charles 
H. and Mary J. Charles H. married Bertha E. Stowe of Lansingburgh, andhasone 
son, Raymond A. Mary resides at home. Mrs. Spall died in 1882, and for his sec- 
ond wife he married Sarah M. Hughes of Oneida county. She was the daughter of 
William H. Hughes of England. Mr. Spall was the son of George Spall, who was 
born on the old homestead in Germany. Mr. Spall is a member of Phoenix Lodge 
No. 58, F. & A. M., of Phoenix Chapter No. 155, R. A. M., of Bloss Council R. & S. 
M., of Apollo Commandery No. 15, K. T., of Diamond Lodge No. 568, I. O. O. F., 
and of Poland Lodge No. 183, A. O. U. W., of Herkimer county. The ancestry of 
the family is German and Welsh. 

'Smith, Hans, was born in Schleswig Holstein, Germany, May 11, 1839, and was 
educated in their schools. He has been married twice, first in 1863 to Engerberg 
Lind of his native place, by whom he had one daughter, Elizabeth. Mrs. Smith 
died in 1865, and in 1870 he married Mary Jensen, formerly of his native place, by 
whom he had six children : Jens J., Peter, Christian J., Charles, Anna and Hans, 
who died at four years of age. Elizabeth married Peter H. Lauretsen of Lansing- 
burgh and they have one daughter, Dorothy. Jens J. married Mary Peterson of 
Lansingburgh, N. Y., by whom he had one daughter, Ethel. Mr. Smith's father, 
Jens C, was born at the old home in Germany. He married Elizabeth Jessen of his 



326 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

native place, by whom he had six children. Both fathei" and mother are dead. The 
family are members of the Lutheran church, of which Mr. Smith is one af the elders, 
and he is also president of the Board of Trustees. The ancestry of the family is 
Danish and German. 

Wager, T. Blatchford, was born in West Troy, N. Y., November 4, 1848. He was 
educated in the public schools and Trinity Academy. He was clerk in the post-office 
of West Troy, N. Y., and afterward assistant postmaster in Lansingburgh, N. Y., 
and at same time was telegraph operator and station agent of Troy & Boston Rail- 
road. He was made director and secretary of the Andrew M. Church Co. of Troy, 
N. Y. , on organization of the company some ten years ago and is still in same posi- 
tion. In December, 1875, he married Harriet J. Noyes of Lansingburgh, daughter 
of Nathan Henry Noyes, and they have one son, Stephen Noyes Wager. Mr. 
Wager's father, Ariel, was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1814, and was educated there; 
he was for many years in painting and paper hanging business on Congress street, 
Troy, N. Y. He married Harriet Ballon of Troy, formerly of Washington county, 
N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Ariel Wager are now residing in West Troy, N. Y. T. Blatch- 
ford Wager and family are members of the Methodist church, he being recording 
steward and a class leader. The family is of Dutch and French descent. 

Boland, John H., was born in Ireland, December 24, 1851, andv his father, James 
Boland, came to this country in 1853 and settled in Troy and was a mason by trade. 
In August, 1862, he enlisted in Co. G, First New Y'ork Mounted Rifles, and October 
24, 1864, he was honorably discharged. He was wounded in Virginia. He died Dec. 8, 
1881. His mother, Sarah Houlihan Boland, died April 11, 1896. John H. received 
his education in the public schools of Tro)', and learned the trade of patternmaker, 
and later went on the road for the Olympus Mills, selling coffee and spices, in which 
position he remained for eleven years. For the following ten and a half years he 
traveled for W. A. Lent & Co. He bought an interest in the firm of Little & Co., 
manufacturers of cigars, where he has charge of sales. December 5, 1895, he was 
appointed port warden of the port of New York by Governor Morton, which ap- 
pointment was confirmed by the Senate, January 15, 1896. January 21, 1873, he 
married Delia Duffy of Albany, by whom four children have been born: Constance, 
a teacher in public schools; Walter J., now attending the High school; John H., jr., 
and Richard. Politically he is a staunch Republican. He is a member of St. Peter's 
church. 

Squires, Norman B. , was born in Bennington, Vt., December 22, 1816. His grand- 
father, Saxton Squires, was a native of Connecticut and was in the Revolutionary 
war. His father, Buckley Squires, was born in Vermont and was a manufactul%r 
and died in 1860 aged sixty-nine. His mother, Lucretia (Norton) Squires, of Ben- 
nington, Vt. , died in 1885 aged ninety-one. Norman B. was educated at the Ben- 
nington Academy and went as clerk in the store of J. & G. B. Norton of Bennington, 
Vt. , and came to Troy in 1835 entered the dry goods store of George Wells as clerk, 
where he remained until 1844, when the firm of Armstrong & Squires, wholesale 
groceries, was formed, which continued until 1852, and then he went in business with 
Jared S. Hakes, and in 1858 formed a partnership with Peter McDoual and John 
Sherry, the firm name being McDoual, .Squires <.*v: Sherry. Mr. McDoual died in 



FAMILY SKETCHES 327 

1860 and Henry Galusha was taken into the business, the firm taking the name of 
Squires, Sherry & Galusha, which is the name of the concern at present time ; it is 
one of the most prosperous wholesale grocery houses in Troy, also being the oldest. 
Mr. Squires has been a member of the School Board, is president of the Episcopal 
Church Home, and is a director in the Troy Savings Bank and the United National 
Bank. 

Mann, William H., was born in Warnerville, N. Y., in 1859. His father was Alex- 
ander Mann, born in the town of Richmondville, N. Y., and was a farmer; he died 
in 1892. His mother was Anna Maria Klock, sister of Daniel Klock, jr., of Troy; she 
died in 1863. William H. received a public school education and came to Troy in 
1872, and for a short time attended the schools of Troy ; in 1876 he entered the rubber 
store of Daniel Klock, jr., and in 1888 was taken in as a partner, the firm name becom- 
ing Daniel Klock, jr., & Co., one of the largest wholesale and retail rubber establish- 
ments in the country. He is a member of the official board of the State Street M. 
E. church, member of the Choral Club, and has taken a deep interest m the musical 
matters of the city; and a member of the City Club, the Eastside Club, and of the 
Ionic Club, of which he has been president. He was married in February, 1886, to Ellen 
S. Avery. Her father, Lyman R. Avery, was a school commissioner, an alderman 
and was vice-president of the State Bank; he died August, 1890. 

Benedict, T. Lee, was born in Galway, Saratoga county, N. Y., in 1857. His 
father, Daniel C. Benedict, was born in Galway, N. Y., and at the time of his death 
was a resident of Little Falls, N. Y., having moved there a short time previous for 
the benefit of his health. He was of the firm of Velsey & Benedict, Benedict & 
Brown, Benedict, Brown & Co., and later Benedict & Walker. His mother, Eleanor 
C. (McMillan) Benedict, was born in Galway, and died when T. Lee was but a child, 
being the oldest of five children. T. Lee after receiving a public school and aca- 
demic education in Troj^ went to work for the Northern News Co., of which S. F. 
Hoyt was manager. At the end of one year he resigned and became clerk for his 
uncle in the retail grocery trade, remaining with him about two years. At the expi- 
ration of this time he engaged with H. H. Darling & Bro. as salesman, and in 1886 
was made a partner in the concern, the firm being H. H. Darling, Bro. & Co., 
wholesale grocers. He is a member of the Laureate Boat Club, the Pafraets Dael 
Club, Post D Commercial Travelers, and the Royal Arcanum. He was alderman 
one term from the Fourth ward, and belongs to the Trojan H. & L. Co. He married 
in 1884 Jennie Ranken, daughter of the late Hugh Ranken, who was a very promi- 
nent man of Troy and the founder of the Ranken Steamer Co. 

Brennan, George J., was born in Ireland, June 8, 1831; was educated in Dublin and 
London and left the latter city for Troy in 1845. His father, John Brennan, who 
was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, had preceded him to this country sev- 
eral years, coming directly to Troy, where he taught school for several years and 
died in 1852; his wife, Margaret (Taylor) Brennan, was born in Ireland and died in 
1832. George J. Brennan learned the paper hanging, decorating and painting trades 
in NewY'ork city, and returned to Troy in 1852 and worked with John S. Perry about 
seven years. The business in which he is now engaged was established in 1860 in 
the same building he now occupies. The firm was then Myers S: Brennan, which 



328 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

continued about two years when Mr. Myers retired, and the firm of Perry & Brennan 
was formed in January, 1866, and continued until May 10, 1873, when Mr. Perry 
retired and Mr. Brennan has conducted the business since ; it has rapidly increased 
and about forty skilled men are given steady employment throughout the year. He 
was county coroner from January, 1865, to January, 1872; school commissioner from 
March, 1877, to March, 1885, four years of which period he was president of the 
board; and park commissioner from March, 1894, to July, 1896, when he resigned, 
being president of the board. He was the first president of the Master Painters' As- 
sociation of New York State; is a trustee of the Catholic Male Orphan Asylum, a 
member of the Royal Arcanum, and of the Robert Emmet Association, of which he 
has been president. He married Elizabeth M. Neugent in 1852. His children are 
William H., who has been supervisor of the Second ward ; James B., at present clerk 
of the Board of Health ; Mrs. George H. Zinke, of Brooklyn, and Mary C. 

Freiot, Dr. Alfred K., was born in Troy, N. Y., April 21, 1861. His great-grand- 
father was Judge Henry Koon, who was born in 1779 at Greenbush and for many 
years was associate judge of the county. He died September 6, 1843. His father, 
Charles Freiot, was born in Brunswick, Rensselaer county, and was a practicing 
physician in Troy for thirty years and was the attending physician at the Troy Or- 
phan Asylum and St. Mary's Hospital. He died July 7, 1879. His mother is Cor- 
nelia (Koon) Freiot, who was born in Greenbush, N. Y. Alfred K. Freiot received 
his education at the Troy Academy and Union College at Schenectady, N. Y., and 
graduated from the Albany Medical College in 1886, and is now practicing physician 
in Troy. He is a member of the Rensselaer County Medical Society and the Medi- 
cal Association of Troy and vicinity. 

Galusha, Henry, was born in Troy. His father, Elijah (Jalusha, was born in -Ver- 
mont and came to Troy in about 1830. He followed the cabinetmaker's trade and 
died in 1871. His mother, Charlotte M. (Howlet) Galusha, was born in Vermont, and 
died in New York city in 1888. Henry was educated in the private schools of Troy, 
and when quite young went to work in the wholesale grocery house of Battershall 
& McDoual, and was with that firm and their succes.sors until 1860, when the firm of 
Squires, Sherry & Galusha was established, and is now the oldest wholesale grocery 
house in Troy. He is a member of Mt. Zion Lodge F. & A. M., and is also a mem- 
ber of the Troy Club. He is an exempt and honorary member of the Arba Read 
Steamer Company, also an exempt and honorary member of the Troy Citizens 
Corps, being a member of the Senior Company. He married Elizabeth, daughter 
of the late Hon. J. C. Osgood. Both he and wife are members of the First Presby- 
terian church, of which he has been an elder several years, and was formerly chair- 
man of the board of trustees and superintendent of the Sunday school. As a busi- 
ness man he takes rank among the oldest and best business men of Troy. 

Tappin, Samuel Charters, was born in Troy, N Y., November 30, 1844. His father, 
Samuel Tappin, was born in England, July, 1816, and came to this country when 
about six years old with his elder brother and joined their father in New York. 
About 1840 he came to Troy and for several years was engaged in the manufacturing 
of umbrellas. He was married to Samantha Smith in 1843. He kept the grocery 
known as the old Hay Scales, after which he went to work for Leonard McChesney, 



FAMlLy SKETCHES. 329 

later with Charles R. Mallery ; they bought out McChesney and the firm of Mallery 
& Tappin was estabished as wholesale liquor dealers. Mr. Tappin died September 
6. 1885. His wife, Samantha Tappin, still resides in Troy and is now in her seventy- 
third year. Samuel C. Tappin received his education in the common and Dr. Tucker's 
schools. He entered the jewelry store of Emanuel Marks when he was between 
thirteen and fourteen years of age, where he remained for nineteen years. He went 
into business for himself in 1877 at 386 River street, and in 1891 removed to his pres 
ent quarters, No. 1 Keenan Building, where he has one of the finest stores in North- 
ern New York — the well known and popular Tappin's Diamond Palace. He imports 
largely in diamonds and precious stones, bric-abrac, fine French chinas, clocks, 
bronzes, etc. ; other departments of the store contain elegant assortments of cut 
glass, sterling silver ware, jewelry, and novelties of every description ; the manu- 
facturing and resetting of diamond jewelry being a special feature of the business. 
He was married in 1863 to Mary Louise Toole of Sandy Hill, N. Y. ; they have two 
daughters: Mrs. Joseph McQuide of Troy, and Mrs. Charles E. Birch of Cincinnati, 
Ohio. He is a member of the Masonic order, belonging to Mt. Zion Lodge No. 311, 
Apollo Chapter No. 45 Bloss Council No. 14, Apollo Commandery No. 15, and 
Oriental Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine ; also a member of the Ionic Club of 
Troy ; is an Episcopalian, being a member and junior warden of Christ church. 

Wing, Daniel A., was born in Pitt.stown, N. Y., September 30, 1845, and is a son 
of Jonas and Phoebe (Osborne) Wing of Pittstown. His mother died in 1859 and his 
father is now living in Bath on-the-Hudson. After leaving school Mr. Wing clerked 
for two years in a drug store, in Lansingburgh, and then came to Troy and entered 
the store of J. H. Winslow as clerk, and was later with George Boardman. He 
traveled for Bell & Morey for two years, and for Austin, Nichols & Co. for twelve 
j^ears, when he formed a partnership with Mr. Large and entered the wholesale 
grocery business in 1886, under the firm name of Wing & Large. Mr. Wing assumed 
full control of the business in 1891 and is now sole proprietor. The trade of the 
house extends through Northern New York, Vermont, and Western Massachusetts. 
He is a member of the Apollo Lodge F. & A. M., and of the Riverside Club, of which 
he is a director, and is one of the directors of the Troy Vocal Society. He now re- 
sides in Lansingburgh. He married, February 25, 1873, Elizabeth Bogardus, of 
Troy. They have one son, Harry V., who assists in the store. The family are 
members of the Trinity Episcopal church of Lansingburgh. In politics he is a Re- 
publican. 

Fitzgerald, Thomas B., was born m Ireland and settled in Troy where he has since 
resided. He was first a bookkeeper for a wholesale liquor house, and later became 
a traveling salesman, an occupation he has successfully followed for over thirty 
years, becoming widely acquainted with the wholesale liquor trade. In 1873 he suc- 
ceeded to the wholesale liquor business of Michael Fitzgerald, deceased, in Fifth 
avenue, which he has since conducted. He is a member of the Robert Emmet Club 
and an honorary member of the old Earl Boat Club. 

Holmes, Dr. Henry P., son of John W. and Esther M. (Perry) Holmes, was born 
in Greenfield, Saratoga county, December 8, 1854. His mother, who died while he 
was an infant, was a daughter of John S. Perry of Troy, who for eighteen years was 



330 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

treasurer of the Grand Commandery of the Masonic order of the State of New York. 
His father, John W. Holmes, was a prominent civil engineer, being connected with 
the Hudson River division of the New York Central, the old Albany and Northern, 
and other railroads, and is now a merchant in Lausingburgh ; about 1870 he settled 
in Lansingburgh where he still resides. Dr. Holmes was educated in the public 
and high schools of Troy, spent about a year in the architectural office of George M. 
Beaudoin of that city, read medicine with Dr. Charles H. Carpenter of Troy and 
was graduated from the Albany Medical College December 23, 1875. In the fall 
of 1876 he entered the New York Homeopathic Medical College, and graduated 
therefrom in March, 1877, and immediately began the practice of his profession in 
Troy. In 1879 he moved to Lansingburgh where he has since resided. He is a 
member of the Rensselaer County Homeopathic Medical Society, the American In- 
stitute of Homeopathy, the A. O. U. W., the Royal Arcanum, and the National Union, 
and IS past regent of Lansingburgh Council No. 1142 and Premier Council No. 1617, 
R. A. He has been the representative to the Grand Lodge of the Royal Arcanum 
from 1890 to 1893 and since 1895. June 1, 1881, he married Emma J., daughter of 
Capt. Henry Willard an officer in the war of the Rebellion, who was wounded at the 
battle of Pittsburg Landing and died soon afterward. They have two daughters: 
Marie Esther and Martha Louise. 

Tompkins, Fred J., M. D., son of William B. and Hannah M. (Weaver) Tompkins, 
was born in South Berne, Albany county, August 28, 1864, and after his father's death 
in 1872 he moved with his family to Central Bridge, Schoharie count\^ where he 
received a common school education. He read medicine there with Dr. Charles 
McCullock, and in Albany with Dr. William Hails, and was graduated from the 
Albany Medical College with the degree of M. D. in 1885. He then took a post- 
graduate course in the medical department of the McGill University in Montreal, 
Canada, and began the practice of his profession in 1886 at Knox, Albany county, 
whence he moved in 1888 to Lansingburgh, where he has since resided. Dr. 
Tompkins is a member of the Medical vSociety of Troy and Vicinity, the New York 
State Medical Association, the American Medical Association, and Phoenix Lodge 
No. 58, F. & A. M., Phoenix Chapter No. 133, R. A. M., Diamond Rock Lodge No. 
564, I. O. O. F., and the Troy Yacht Club, all of Troy. In 1885 he married Emma, 
daughter of Eden LTp Degrove, of Albany, and they have one son, Clifford E. 

Jessen, John F., son of Jacob F. and Mary(Skov) Jessen, was born in the kingdom 
of Denmark, September 4, 1857, and received his education in his native land. His 
father was a cabinet maker and undertaker. In 1873 Mr. Jessen came to America 
and on June 29 of that year found himself a stranger in Lansingburgh, Rensselaer 
county, where he has since resided. He was first employed on a farm and later as 
gardener by Joseph Fox, then a well known cracker manufacturer of that village. 
He gradually worked into the business of that factory, learning the trade and becom- 
ing successively bookkeeper and traveling salesman. In 1880 Mr. Fox sold out to 
De Freest <Sr Clark, and Mr. Jessen continued with them as salesman until 1882, 
when, owing to ill health, he visited his native country. Returning to Lansingburgh 
he formed a partnership with William McCollum and John H. Franklin, and under 
the firm name of Jessen, McCollum & Co., purchased the establishment of De Freest 
& Clark. Mr. Franklin died in 1893 and since then the other two partners have sue- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 331 

cessfuUy conducted the business under their original firm name. They manufacture 
crackers and biscuits of all kinds on an extensive scale and have a large trade 
throughout the Eastern and New England States, Mr. Jessen is a trustee of the 
First Presbyterian church, one of the village school commissioners, a local director 
of the New York Mutual Savings and Loan Association, and formerly a director of 
the Lansingburgh Y. M. C. A. In 1888 he married Sarah M., daughter of David 
Robertson, of Lansingburgh, and they have had two children: Mina E., who died 
aged two years and five months, and Earl R., born December 26, 1893. 

Demers, Eugene L., was born August 19, 1842, in Troy. He was the son of David 
and Jane A. Demers. His father was a merchant in Troy for a number of years, 
then retired and removed to Lansingburgh where he died. Eugene was educated 
in the public schools of Troy. He was first employed on the Troy Times, then as a 
clerk for the late Peter Bontecou. When the late civil war broke out he enlisted in 
the 135th Regiment (Col. Willard's) N. Y. Vols., with which regiment he went to 
the front. The regiment went first to Centerville and from there to Harper's Ferry. 
Mr. Demers was on picket duty when it was ordered to the latter point, and was 
captured by the enemy before he could return to the regiment. The captured pickets 
were taken to Martinsburgh, Va. , and from there to Winchester, where each man 
was given his individual parole. They then went to Zanesville, Ohio, and then re- 
ported to Dr. Hubbell, the provost mar.shal at Troy. Mr. Demers was then sent to 
Baltimore by Provost Marshal Hubbell, in command of troops to report to Gen. Wool, 
who asked to see his parole and upon his providing the same tore it up. He then 
sent him under guard to Georgetown, and from there he went to Alexandria where 
he reported to Parole Camp, and from there he went to Washington and reported his 
case to Clinton Meneeley, who was then an officer at general headquarters, and who 
had the case properly adjudicated, and then gave Mr. Demers a pass which entitled 
him to the freedom of the city of Washington for a few days, after which he w-as 
given a pass and transportation to his home in Troy. Later Gen. Wool apologized 
to Mr. Demers for the way he treated him. Mr. Demers then went to Chicago 
and reported to the regiment and from there went with the regiment to the battle of 
Gettysburg, where he was wounded in the engagement of July 3, and had his leg 
amputated on the field July 4. This amputation has been the cause of much suffer- 
ing; and later another amputation had to be performed. Mr. Demers has never 
been able to wear an artificial limb. Mr. Demers is a merchant in Lansingburgh. 
He was the first commander of Bolton Post, G. A. R. He is prominent in all Grand 
Army matters and is a public spirited citizen. He has been village trustee for four- 
teen years, a member of assembly two years, supervisor for two terms and held over 
a part of the third, pending a decision of the court. Mr. Demers has also held the 
office of Police Court judge for two years; and is also a member of the court house 
commission. He married Miss Margaret Cowley of Keeseville, Essex Co., N. Y. , 
daughter of Thomas Cowley. They have had two daughters: Lena, married to 
Lewis D. Hunt, of Troy; and Ella, living at home. Mr. Demers is filling the posi- 
tion of supervisor of Lansingburgh, having been elected in March, 1896, to serve 
two years. 

McMurray, Alfred W. — David McMurray was the first to introduce the manufac- 
ture of brushes in Ivansingburgh. David had foui sous who took a prominent part 



.132 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

in the business. These gentlemen learned the business from their father. William 
McMurray always remained in Lansingburgh, were he was interested in the man- 
ufacture of brushes, until the time of his death. Robert and David went to Troy, 
where they conducted the business all their lifetime. John G. McMurray first started 
in Boston and later operated the business in Lansingburgh until his death. He was 
the first who introduced all of the machinery adapted to the manufacture of brushes. 
Associated with him was his son Alfred, and his son-in law, Jacob H. Dater. The 
business afterwards was conducted by the sons of John G. until 1889, whey they re- 
tired from business. The business of brush making was first started by David Mc- 
Murray in Lansingburgh in the beginning of the century. This business gradually 
increased until Lansingburgh was acknowledged to be the headquarters of the brush 
manufacturing business in the United States. Among the principal firms was that 
of John G. McMurray & Co., descendants of the pioneer in the brush manufacturing 
business in Lansingburgh. The firm gave employment to about LOOO people. All 
the firms are out of business with the exception of one at the present time. Many 
of the firms in the business to-day learned the trade in the employ of John G. Mc- 
Murray & Co. Mr. Alfred W. McMurray conducted the active management of the 
business of John G. McMurray & Co. for ten years before the death of his father, 
and until the dissolution of the firm in 1889, a period of nearly twenty-five years. It 
■was during this period that the brush business was at its height. This is the history 
of the principal and only considerable industry Lansingburgh ever had. 

Cornell, Gerothman W., was born in Cambridge, Washington county, N. Y., Jan- 
uary 4, 1817. He was the oldest of a family of six children of Govit and Phebe 
(Almy) Cornell; his ancestors were from New England. He received a common 
school education, but at the age of thirteen, because of the straitened circumstances 
of his parents, he left school and went into the world to care for himself. He be- 
came a clerk for his uncle in New York city, where he remained for two years, and 
subsequently was employed as a clerk in a general merchandise store at Buskirks 
Bridge, at which place he remained for four years. In 1836 he came to Lansingburgh, 
Rensselaer county, N. Y., and served as clerk for Alexander Walsh, but soon after 
established himself in business as a general merchant and dealer in grain, &c. , 
which business he carried on with varying success for many years. May 29. 1844, 
Mr. Cornell united in marriage with Mary F., daughter of the late William McMurray, 
of Lansingburgh, Three children were born to them: William M., Sarah M. and 
Mary F. Mr. Cornell was an interested party in all matters of local interest and a 
very active member of the Republican party. He was honored with positions of 
trust and responsibility by the citizens of his town and county, and always endeav- 
ored to discharge the duties incumbent upon him with ju.stice to others and with 
credit to himself. He was trustee of the village of Lansingburgh and represented 
the town in the Board of Supervisors for four years in succession. In 1858 he was 
elected sheriff of Rensselaer county, and re-elected to that office in the fall of 1864. 
He was appointed postmaster of Lansingburgh in 1874 during the presidency of U. 
S. Grant, and reappointed to that office in 1878. Mr. Cornell died in April, 1885. 

Snyder, A. C, was born in Pittstown, N. Y., in 1834. He was a son of Christo- 
pher and Elizabeth (Stover) Snyder. Christopher Snyder was a farmer in the 
township of Pittstown up to the time of his death. A. C. Snyder received a com- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 333 

mon school education in Pittstown, then attended the academy in Lansingburgh for 
two years. Mr. Snyder was in business in Lansingburgh as a member of the firm 
of Harrison & Snyder in 1852, where they conducted a general drug business until 
the time of the dissolution of the firm in 1868. Since that time Mr. Snyder has con- 
ducted the business alone. During the period of forty-three years that Mr. Snyder 
has been a merchant of Lansingburgh he has held many public offices of trust in 
the village. He was a member of the fire department of Lansingburgh (being one 
of the reorganizing members of the Hook and Ladder Company of Lansingburgh) 
and was elected secretary and treasurer of the company, which position he held for 
four years. He was then foreman of the company for eight years, chief of the de- 
partment two years, and was also treasurer until its organization under the present 
system in 1874. He was appointed fire commissioner in 1876, which office he held 
till March, 1895, when he was legislated out of office by the new charter. Mr. Sny- 
der has been connected with the fire department for more years than any other per- 
son in Lansingburgh, and has been a strong and efficient worker during that time. 
He was elected receiver of taxes in 1885, which office he held four years. Mr. Sny- 
der's long and efficient service in the fire department has been one of the features 
of the history of Lansingburgh, as his connection with that department extended 
over a period of forty years and during the time that Lansingburgh was the 
acknowledged leader of the mauufacturing industry of the county. Mr. Snyder 
married Miss Julia A. Fields, by whom he has two childten: Lizzie M. and Carrie L. 

Banker, E. Warren, was born in the town of Half Moon, Saratoga county, No- 
vember 30, 1843. He was educated in the public schools and came to Troy in 1863 ; 
he was a clerk until 1869; he made Lansingburgh his permanent home in 1871, and 
began in business on his own account, with a general stock of hardware, which he 
still continues with success. May 9, 1877, he married Mary E. Whitaker of this 
place, by whom two children have been born: Edward W. and Carrie E. The father 
of Mr. Banker was William S., born in this State February 8, 1809. He married 
Catherine E. Brown of Saratoga county, by whom eight children have been born : 
E. Warren, Chauncy B . James C, Phebe A., Emma, and Carrie E., and two died in 
infancy. Mrs. Catherine E. Banker died July 18, 1890. The grandfather of E. 
Warren was James Banker. He was a soldier and drummer boy under General 
Washington in the Revolutionary war. He lived until he was 105 years of age, ancj 
his great-grandfather lived until 108 years of age, and his great-great-grandfather 
until 112 years of age. Mr. Banker is a member of Clinton Lodge No. 140 F. & A. 
M., of Waterford, N. Y., of the Waterford Chapter No. 169, R. A. M. He has served 
his town as clerk, and for the second year is village treasurer. The ancestry of the 
family is Dutch and English. 

Groesbeck, William Chichester, was born in Lansingburgh, July 19. 1838. He was 
educated in the public schools and Lansingburgh Academy. He began as clerk in 
the Farmers' Bank of Lansingburgh in 1854, and was teller 1857-1860. In 1865 he 
entered the employ of the Bank of Lansingburgh, which was in 1877 merged into 
the private bank of D. Powers & Sons. Mr. Groesbeck was retained hi their employ 
and took the position of cashier January 1, 1896. September 6, 1860, he married 
Anna G. Swetland of Jonesville, Saratoga county, by whom one child, a son, has 
been born: George S. , born in 1868. He married Edna V. Piercy, of New York 



334 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

city; they have one daughter: Mildred P. George S. is a civil engineer by profes- 
sion, a graduate of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is chief engineer and 
treasurer of the Springfield Construction Co. of Springfield, Mass. The father of 
William C. Groesbeck was Anson Groesbeck, born in the town of Schaghticoke in 
1809. He was educated in the schools of his day and came to Lansingburgh when a 
boy and was clerk in Alexander Walsh's general store. He married Lousia Chiches- 
ter of Lansingburgh, by whom six children were born: William C, Jennie L., 
Edward A., Leonard H., John H. and Helen M. Anson Groesbeck was cashier of 
the Rensselaer County Bank and afterwards of the Farmers' Bank (both of Lansing- 
burgh) for about twelve years. He died January 1, 1863, and his wife died in Octo- 
ber, 1867. William C. succeeded his father as a member of the board of trustees of 
the First Methodist church and is secretary of the board. He is also secretary of 
the Police Department, secretary of the Sans Souci Club, and president of the Half- 
moon Bridge Company. He represented the First ward for two years in the Board 
of Village Trustees, and is a member of the Board of Managers of Leonard Hospital, 
Lansingburgh. The Groesbeck ancestry is from Claase Jacobse Groesbeck of Rot- 
terdam, Holland, who settled in Albany, N. Y., prior to 1662. His son, William 
Claase, married Gertrury daughter of David Pieterse Schuyler, who was uncle of Col. 
Pieter Schuyler, the first mayor of Albany. On the Chichester (his mother's) side the 
ancestry is English. Her grandfather was a practicing physician in England. 
Members of the Chichester family were among the first settlers on Long Island, and 
have many descendants now living there. Mr. Groesbeck is a member of the Holland 
Society of New York, which requires its members to date from male ancestors who 
settled in this country as early as 1675. He has been a vice-president of this society 
for several years, representing Lansingbnrgh, which was an original Dutch settle- 
ment. Edward A. Groesbeck, brother of William C, is cashier of the National Com- 
mercial Bank of Albany, and Leonard H., another brother, is cashier of the Third 
National Bank of Syracuse N. Y. 

Brooker, George, was born in the town of Mansfield, Orleans county, N. Y. , Feb- 
ruary 4, 1836. He came to Pittstown with his parents when seven years of age. He 
was educated in the public schools, and was a dealer in live stock with his brother 
James for over forty years. In 1853 he married Caroline, daughter of Nicholas 
Weaver of Lansingburgh, by whom six children were born: George, who died in his 
fifth year; Emma, Clara A., Albert L., Arthur S. , deceased; and Harriet A. Clara 
A. married George B. Fonda of this town ; Arthur S. married Mary E. Laith of 
Waterford; he died March 20, 1896. Mr. Brooker's father, Riley, was born in Con- 
necticut in 1787 and came to this State when a single man. He married Mary Cor- 
nell of Ballston Spa, by whom seven children were born : Adelia, George, James, 
Eliza, Lucy, Samuel and Leonard. Riley Brooker died in about 1874, and his wife 
died in 1879. 

Brooks, Samuel, was born in the town of Townsend, Middlesex county, Mass., 
September 20, 1820. He was educated in the public schools. His early days were 
spent on his grandfather's farm. He afterwards learned to be a cooper, came to 
Lansingburgh in 1840, and carried on the cooper business for two years; he was then 
engaged in the manufacture of scales for about six years; he then manufactured 
paper boxes on a large scale until 1876, when he retired. He has been trustee of the 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 335 

First ward for eight years, trustee of the public schools for twelve years, and assessor 
for twenty-one years. In 1843 he married Sarah Snyder of Lansingburgh, by whom 
he has had six children; Alfred W., Henry F., Emily P., Laura V., Nellie P. and 
Carrie A. (twins); all of whom are dead except Henry F., who is now a resident of 
Honeoye Falls, Monroe county, N. Y. They had three sons: Edward G., William 
N. and Samuel G. Mrs. Samuel Brooks died March 25, 1885, mourned by her be- 
reaved husband and family. Mr. Brooks is a member of Jerusalem Lodge No. 355, 
F. & A. M. The ancestry of the family is of New England stock, and on the mater- 
nal side Dutch. In his political faith he is an ardent Republican, and cast his first 
vote for William Henry Harrison in 1840. 

Derrick, Adam, was born in Stillwater, Saratoga county, N. Y., August 28, 1843. 
His parents moved here when he was a boy. He received his education in the com- 
mon schools and had a variety of occupations. He operated in real estate; he has 
also been a merchant, and is now a farmer and market gardener. March 5, 1874, 
he married Marion Smith of Herkimer county, N. Y., by whom he has had two chil- 
dren: Andrew D. and Margaret Jane. Mr. Derrick's father, Andrew, was born in 
the town of Brunswick about the year 1815. He was educated m the schools of his 
day, and was a farmer by occupation and afterwards a merchant. He married Jane 
Mansfield of Orange county, N. Y. , by whom he has had five children: Thomas, 
Adalaide, Margaret, Adam, the subject of our sketch, and William. Mr. Derrick 
died May 10, 1883, and his widow October 18, 1890. His grandfather, Adam Derrick, 
was born at the old home in the town of Brunswick, and his great-grandfather 
Derrick was born in Germany and came to this country in the seventeenth centurv. 
The ancestry of the family, as now composed, is German and Scotch. 

Chambers, John M., was born in Ireland, July 21, 1845, and came to the L^nited 
Stales with his parents when he was five years of age, first located in Delaware 
county and settled in Lansingburgh in 1851. He was educated in the public sclfools. 
He was clerk for Charles J. Lansing for two years, and the next two years was clerk 
in the grocery store for William Humphrey. He was afterwards with A. B. Elliott 
in the sale of sewing machines for two years. He was bookkeeper in the Burton 
saw mills in Cohoes for two years and then came to Lansingburgh and engaged in 
business on his own account, in fine groceries, which he continued for eight years. 
In 1875 he went in partnership with Ira E. Davenport under the firm name of Dav- 
enport & Chambers, which has continued since. He has been village clerk for two 
years, collector for two years and was supervisor for five successive terms. He has 
been school trustee for six years, village trustee for four years, and was elected to 
the assembly in 1892 and served in an able manner for three years. Mr. Chambers 
was married twice, first, April 28, 1873, to Anna E. Densmore, who died in 1878. 
August 26, l'*82, he married for his second wife Olive A. Howes of Dennis, Cape 
Cod, Mass., by whom three children were born : Margaret H., who died in her fourth 
year; Anna M., and Mary C. He is a member of Jerusalem Lodge No. 355, F. & 
A. M., and is also a member of Phoenix Chapter, R. A. M. He has been master in 
the Jerusalem Lodge for .six years, and was high priest in the Chapter for five years, 
and is also a member of the Royal Arcanum. 

Clarkson, Sarah A.— The late William C. Clarkson was born in New York city, 



336 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER. COUNTY. 

September 9, 1839. He was educated in Columbia College, and was cashier for 
Dickerson, Van Dusen & Co. of New York city for about twenty-two years. Sep- 
tember 5, 1866, he married Sarah A. Greene of the town of Brunswick ; they have 
two daughters; Ella M. and Carrie E. ; the latter married John Consaul, jr., of this 
town. Ella married Curtis W. Dormandy of Lansingburgh. Mr. Clarkson died 
December 24, 1887. Mrs. Clarkson's father, Daniel S. Greene, was born in the town 
of Berlin, Rensselaer county, in 1802. He was educated in the district schools, and 
was a farmer by occupation. He married Elizabeth Maxon of Petersburgh, by whom 
eight children were born: Edgar, Caroline E., Maria L., Charles H., Thomas, Sarah 
A., Helen A. and David M. Mr. Greene died in 1868, and his wife died in 1876. 
Mrs. Clarkson and daughter are related, through her father, to General Nathnniel 
Greene, of Revolutionary fame. The late Mr. Clarkson was a soldier in the late war, 
with the rank of lieutenant in the 12th Regiment Cavalry, N. Y. Volunteers, serving 
from June 19, 1863, until the beginning of 1865, when he was honorably discharged 
on surgeon's certificate of disability. ]\Ir. Clarkson descended from William Floyd, 
one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. ^ 

Gardner, Wright J , was born in Troy, August 31, 1850. He was educated in the 
public schools and Lansingburgh Academy, and began business with his brother, 
Anson G. , when he was eighteen years of age, in the laundry business. When he 
was twenty-two years of age he went West and established a large laundry for a 
gent's furnishing goods industry, which is now located in Chicago, and which was 
organized and put in running order for the Wilson Bros. He then returned to Troy 
and conducted a collar laundry business, and is now in company with Thomas S. 
Stone and his brother's son, William L. Gardner, under the firm name of Gardner, 
Stone & Co. June 24, 1884, he married Catherine A. Keefe, of West Troy, by whom 
three children have been born' Marion S.. who died in her tenth year; Helen, and 
Edgar Betts. The father of Mr. Gardner was Jefferson, born in Dutchess county in 
1802, and came to Troy when a young man. He was one of the pioneers in the collar 
business and was the first to adopt and apply the Wheeler & Wilson sewing machine 
in the collar industry. He married Mary A. Wright, who was born in Troy in 1806, 
by whom twelve children were born, eight of whom grew to maturity: Hannah M., 
who married William S. Earl, of Troy; Mary J., who married James H. Nichols; 
Richard H., now conducting a laundry business in Brooklyn; Emma F., who mar- 
ried Le Grand Benedict, now of Brooklyn ; Elizabeth H., who married John L. Bene- 
dict, now of New York; Anson G., who died at the age of thirty-three; Harriet L., 
who married E. K. Betts; and J. Wright. Jefferson Gardner died in 1889 and his 
wife in 1892. Mr. Gardner is a member of King Solomon's Primitive Lodge No. 91, 
F. & A. M., of Apollo Chapter No. 48, R. A. M., of Bloss Council No. 14, R. & S. M., 
of Apollo Commandery No. 15, K. T., and Oriental Temple A. A. O. LT. M. S., and is 
a life member in all the above branches of the Masonic order. He is past high priest 
of Apollo Chapter, and is now senior warden of the Commandery. He is of English 
descent, and the family name of Gardner is found to-day on the Plymouth rock 
stone, the rock where the Pilgrim fathers landed. 

Locke, Sylvanus Dyer, was a descendant of John Locke, who landed on American 
shores with the tide of Puritans, and settled in Dover. N. H., about 1644. But Mr. 
Locke may well put lineage in the background, for it was upon his own efforts that 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 337 

he succeeded in the battle of life, and by his own genius that he rose from the com- 
parative obscurity of his birth to the place among men he occupied. He was born 
at Richfield, N. Y., September 11, 1833. At the common school he mastered sur- 
veying and geometry and by a continued personal research acquired a good knowl- 
edge of more abstruse sciences. When seventeen he began teaching, four years 
later becoming principal of a Union school at Herkimer, N. Y. In 1860 he was a 
law student at Janesville, Wis., and during the next year was formally admitted to 
the bar. During his residence in Wisconsin he also practiced his profession of civil 
engineering, and was county surveyor and city engineer at Janesville. August 13. 
1861, he married Ellen Josephine Parker, of an old and prominent New York family. 
Mr. Locke is best known as the inventor of the automatic binding harvester, and 
indeed it is very largely to his genius and indefatigable efforts, that the world is in- 
debted for that wonderful machine which has revolutionized the world of labor. It 
was at Hoosick Falls in 1870 that he was finally crowned with success and of the de- 
tails of that achievement, and of the co-operation of the late Walter A. Wood, an- 
other portion of this volume will treat. Of Mr. Locke personally we cannot do better 
than to quote from another biographer. "Generous and public spirited, he is one of 
the representative and ideal Americans to whom wealth, coming as the reward of 
real genius, only widens the sphere of personal usefulness." Mr. Locke died sud- 
denly vSeptember 27, 1876. Mr. Locke's inventions extended over a wide field, over 
200 patents in all having been granted him. His last invention, at which he had 
been at work for the past four or five years, recently perfected, is a machine for mak- 
ing a detachable steel link belting for sprocket wheels, the machine stamping a con- 
tinuous chain out of a continuous strip of steel. The machine is perfected and Mr. 
Locke had about completed arrangements for establishing a plant for its manufac- 
ture. In politics Mr. Locke had always been a strong Republican, having united 
with the party at its inception. In 1884 he served as a member of Assembly fsom 
his district in this county. He was about to become a member of the Sons of Revo- 
lution, the necessary papers having been filled out. Mr. Locke was a sincere Chris- 
tian, and during his entire residence at Hoosick Falls had been a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church of that place. For twenty years he had been a trustee 
of the church. He is survived by a wife and three children : Lilla J. and John P. 
Locke, who reside at the homestead, and Sylvanus D. Locke, jr. Another son, the 
eldest, Norman W. Locke, died in 1890. Mr. Locke was generous, open hearted, 
pubHc spirited — a typical American citizen — and as such his name will be handed 
down in love and honor to posterity, 

Greene, George E., the most prominent lawyer of Hoosick Falls, was born at Cam- 
bridge, N. Y., in 1860. His father was John Greene, an active, industrious man, 
who devoted his life to farming; hence George was reared on a farm, and his edu- 
cation was obtained at the Cambridge Washington Academy. He entered the law 
office of D. M. Westfall at Cambridge in 1880, where he remained over three years, 
teaching school winters. He came here in 1884, and besides his general practice he is 
attorney for various societies. He has a younger brother, Herbert J. Greene, asso- 
ciated with him. Mr. Greene is identified with the Republican party, and takes an 
active interest in the political affairs of the day, and is a zealous promoter of all en- 
terprises pertaining to the advancement of his town. He has never sought office. 
<iq 



338 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

He married in 1884, Mary E. foster, of a prominent Salem family. They have four 
children. 

Nicholls, jr., George H., has been for many years identified with the Walter Wood 
Co.. going into their employ at the western office in Chicago in 1869. After a year 
he returned and became associated with the home office, and had charge of the pur- 
chasing department in 1872. In 1884 he went into business with the late Senator H. 
Barnum, manufacturing track bolts for railroad use, the first concern to make rolled 
thread screws. He returned here in 1888. He is a director of the Hoosac Club, but 
no office holder. Mr. Nicholls is largely engaged in the coal business, having ex- 
tensive sheds, offices and teams at North Adams, at Williamstown and in Hoosick 
Falls, using principally the Pittston coal. He was bom at Salisbury, Conn., in 
1847, son of Rev. George H. Nicholls, a native of Bridgeport, Conn., the rector 
emeritus of St. Mark's church and author of the history of that church. His mother 
was Julia Louisa Phelps of an old Hartford family. He began business life at 
fifteen as clerk for J. M. Warren & Co., hardware store, the leading member of the 
firm a maternal uncle of his. Here he remained for four years, during which time 
he was a member of the old Washington Volunteer Fire Company. In 1878 he 
united in marriage with Emma M. Smith of Greenwich, Washington county, daugh- 
ter of a prominent merchant there. 

Nicholls, George Huntington, S. T. D., rector emeritus of St. Mark's Episcopal 
church at Hoosick Falls, is a man personally entitled to current consideration in 
this work, aside from his lineage and his position in the church. He was born at 
Bridgeport, Conn., in 1818. His father was Charles T. Nicholls, a merchant of that 
city, and his grandfather. Philip Nicholls, was the first lay-delegate sent from the 
Diocese of Connecticut to the General Convention of the Episcopal church. Doctor 
Nicholls was a pupil of the Diocesan School at Cheshire, Conn., and entered Wash 
ington, now Trinity College in 1835. It was in 1865 that he became so potent a factor 
in the social and clerical life of this place, at that date making Hoosick Falls his resi- 
dence as rector of St. Mark's church. The various improvements and enlargements, 
memorial and otherwise, previous to 1881, have been under his charge, and to the 
succinct and masterly historical pamphlet published by him in 1891 the author of 
this work acknowledges deep indebtedness. In 1842 Dr. Nicholls married Miss 
Julia Louisa Phelps, daughter of Walter Phelps, of Hartford, Conn. The ceremony 
was performed in St. John's church, Hartford, Conn., by Rt. Rev. Thomas C. 
Brownell, D.D., who also ordained him both deacon and priest. Three s-^ns and 
three daughters were born to them: Charles Philip, deceased; Elizabeth Warren, 
wife of Hon. Walter A. Wood, both deceased ; William Shelton, the well-known vice- 
president of the Walter A. Wood Company; George Huntington, jr., also associated 
with the same company; Julia Phelps, who died in infancy; Mary, the wife of 
Charles W. Barnum, of Lime Rock, Salisbury, Conn. ; Mrs. Julia Louisa Phelps 
Nicholls deceased, March 1892. 

Lasell, Samuel H., was born in North Bennington, Vt., February 9, 1819. His 
grandfather on the maternal side was Nathaniel Hall, who was born in Roxbury, 
Mass., March 4, 1763, and died in North Benninjiton, Vt. His grandmother was a 
Miss Hubbard, who was born in Middletown, Conn., October 17, 1707, and died 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 339 

March 24, 1846. His father, James Lasell, was born in Providence, R. I., April 11, 
1788, and died at WaHingford, Vt., December 4, 1869. His mother, Phoebe (Hall) 
La=ell, was born in North Bennington, Vt., March 24, 1797, and died May 22, 1860. 
Samuel H. Lasell was educated in the common schools and at the academy at Ben- 
nington. In 1839 he came to Troy and entered the employ of G. V. S. Quackenbush 
in the dry goods business, and in 1845 went to Albany where he remained until 1849; 
he was then in business in New York city until 1855, when he returned to Troy and 
again took a position in the Quackenbush store, and later became a partner in the 
establishment. This is one of the oldest and most extensive mercantile establish- 
ments in the city of Troy and was founded in 1824 byG. V. S. Quackenbush. Jan- 
uary 14, 1863, he was married to Emma Quackenbush, daughter of G. V. S. Quack- 
enbush; she died March 9, 1894. He has one son, Edwin Q. Lasell, who assists in 
the store. In politics Mr. Lasell has always been a Whig or a Republican, and 
voted for Harrison in 1840. He is an attendant of the First Presbyterian church. 
As a business man he is held in the highest esteem. 

Sampson. Albert Augustus, was born in the town of Brunswick, May 4, 1843. His 
father, John Sampson, was born in Middleboro, Mass., April 23, 1798, and for many 
years was a prominent business man in New York city of the firm of Tisdale & 
Sampson, hardware dealers. In 1836 he retired from active business and came to 
Troy and bought the old Gardner farm on the Brunswick road, which was one of 
the handsomest residences in the vicinity. His first wife was Margaret Janette 
(Williams) Sampson of New Y''ork, sister of the wife of the late Dr. Wotkyns, who 
was mayor of Troy in 1857 and 1858, and died December 23, 1876. His second wife, 
the mother of Albert A., was Stella Maria Holton, married December 7, 1837; she 
was the daughter of Henry and Susan Holton of White Creek, N. Y. He was suc- 
cessful in his business and accumulated a comfortable property, leaving a good es- 
tate for those days at his death. He died in the city of New York, March 2, lg44 ; 
his widow survived him until November, 1868. The subject of this sketch has 
mostly resided at the old homestead on the Brunswick road, which has been mod- 
ernized. He has also been intere-sted in the improvement and development of 
Pawling avenue, where he owns large real estate interests. He is one of the gov- 
ernors of the Marshall Infirmary and is a director of the Central National Bank. 
September 7, 1869, he married Sarah E. Albertson, daughter of John P. Albertson, 
who was city comptroller of Troy for many years and was the first president of the 
Mutual Bank. He organized the Savings Association to purchase the Mutual Bank 
building. Their son, John Albertson Sampson, is a graduate of Williams College 
and is now attending the Johns Hopkins University at Baltimore, being a student in 
the medical department. He has also one daughter, Lucy Edith, who is a graduate 
of the Emma Willard Seminary, still at home with her parents. The family are 
members of the First Presbyterian church of Troy. In politics Mr. Sampson is a 
Republican. 

The Wiles Laundering Company, Limited.— Richard H. Roberts, president ; Jacob 
H. Ten Eyck, vice president; M. Edgar Wendell, treasurer; Charles F. Wiles, sec- 
retary; Thomas S. Wiles, manager. The business of laundering linen goods for 
manufacturers, which is carried on by this company, was founded in 1864 by Mr. 
Thomas S. Wiles. In 1873 Mr. Alonzo P. Adams became associated with Mr. Wiles 



340 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

in the business, the name of the firm being T. S. Wiles & Co. This partnership 
continued until 1877, during which period, besides prosecuting the laundering busi- 
ness, the firm engaged in the manufacture of laundry machinery. When the part- 
nership was dissolved in 1877, Mr. Wiles continued the laundering business, andheand 
Mr. Adams, together with Mr. Henry Kelly, continued the manufacture of laundry 
machinery under the firm name of Wiles, Adams & Co., which firm, upon Mr.Wiles's 
withdrawal therefrom in 1878, was sticceeded by the firm of Adams, Kelly & Angus, 
which in turn was succeeded in 1882 by The Troy Laundry Machinery Company, 
Limited, which is now carrying on the business, its officers being Mr. Thomas S. 
Wiles, president; Mr. M. Edgar Wendell, vice-president; Mr. Allen Conkling, 
treasurer and Mr. Jacob H. Ten Eyck, secretary'; Mr. Wiles continued alone in the 
laundering business from 1877 to 1879, when The Wiles Laundering Company, Lim- 
ited, was incorporated and bought the business which has since been carried on by 
the company under the management of Mr. Wiles and Mr. Wendell. 

Cluett, Fred H., was born in Wolverhampton, England, May 2, 1842. He is a son 
of William and Ann (Bywater) Cluett, and came to this country with his parents in 
1850. He received his education in Troy, N. Y. , and in May, 1863, on attaining his 
majority, along with his brother Edmund, he was taken into partnership by his 
father, William Cluett, who founded the business in 1854. The firm name was then 
changed to Cluett & Sons, and since that time branch stores have been established 
in Albany, Amsterdam and Gloversville, New York; North Adams, Mass., and Rut- 
land, Vt. With constant application and able management on the part of the several 
members of the firm, their business has steadily increased, so that now they have 
one of the largest and most successful piano and organ establishments north of New 
York city, and their reputation extends throughout the United States. Fred. H. 
Cluett, the subject of this sketch, is a charter member and a director of the Central 
Young Men's Christian Association of Troy, a trustees of the State Street Methodist 
Episcopal church, and enjoys the unique distinction of being organist of that church 
for thirty-six consecutive years. In 1866 he married Frances Amelia Bishop, 
daughter of Charles B. Bishop, of Troy, and they have two sons and two daughters: 
Charles Frederick, who is connected with the piano house as manager of the ac- 
counts, also organist and choir-master of the First Presbyterian church of Troy ; 
Clarence Wentworth, who also holds an important position in the sales department; 
Frances, a graduate of the Troy Female Seminary ; Mary Elizabeth, who was edu- 
cated at the High School and Troy Female Seminary, and finished her education at 
Helmuth College, Canada. Politically Mr. Cluett is a Republican. The following 
is an extract from the Troy Daily Times of June 8, 1895, regarding Mr. Cluett: 

To-morrow will mark the close of thirty-five years of service of Fred H. Cluett, the talented 
organist of the State Street Methodist church of Troj'. Mr. Cluett's first musical engagement, at 
sixteen years of age, was as organist of Rev. Dr. Magoon's church in Albany. Dr. Magoon, elo- 
quent, eccentric and popular, drew large congregations. He was a Baptist minister. A little 
later Mr. Cluett studied with George William "Warren, who was then organist of St. Paul's Epis- 
copal church in Albany, and who made Mr. Cluett assistant organist and gave him the valuable 
privilege of practicing on the beautiful organ then in old St. Paul's. Dr. George William Warren, 
who is well known in this city, has been for many years organist of St. Thomas's Episcopal church 
in New York city. In 1860 Mr. Cluett was engaged as organist of State Street Methodist church, 
Troy, and he has retained his position uninterruptedly. This period of thirty-five years includes 
fourteen pastoral changes and the terms of thirteen Sunday school superintendents. The last 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 341 

service in the old church was Sunday evening, February 26, 1871. Tho new church was dedicated 
by Bishop Simpson, March 30, 1871. The large, new organ, one of the finest in the city, was opened 
and exhibited by Dr. T. J. Guy and Mr. Cluett May 11, 1871. Mr. Cluett was a pupil of Dr. Guy, 
whose faithful instructions were of great value and highly prized. Mr. Cluett made repeated visits 
to Europe and gained the advantage of hearing some of the greatest organists of the old world. 
His eldest son, Charles Fred Cluett, is organist of the First Presbyterian church in this city. Mr. 
Cluett has been a member of the State Street church from boyhood and a trustee of the church 
for seventeen years. He is prominent and respected in social and business relations as well as 
in the work of the church. 

Cluett, Edmund, was born near Birmingham, England, October 1, 1840 He is 
the son of the late William Cluett, for many years a very prominent man in Troy. 
He died September 18, 1890. His w ife, mother of the subject, was Ann (By water) Cluett, 
who died in 1876. Eumund Cluett received his education in Troy and was taken into 
the music store of his father, William Cluett, as a partner, May 1, 1863, and the firm 
of Cluett & Sons is one of the largest of the kind in the country, and one of the oldest. 
He is a member of the Watervliet Arsenal Golf Club, the Troy Club, and the Troy Yacht 
Club. He is a charter member of the Troy Vocal Society. In 1871 he married Mary 
Alice Stone, daughter of George A. Stone, president of the Troy City National Bank, 
by whom he has two sons: Albert Edmund, who was graduated from Williams Col- 
lege in the class of '93, and in June, 1896, graduated from the Massachusetts Institute 
of Technology in Boston; and Sandford Lockwood, who is a student in the Rens- 
selaer Polytechnic Institute. In politics Mr. Cluett is a Republican. He and his 
family are members of St. Paul's Episcopal church. 

Martin, Edward W., was born in Colbrook, N. H., in 1833. His father, Thomas 
Martin, a millwright, was born in London, England, in 1783 and came to this 
country about 1809, settling in Lennoxville, Can., where he remained until he came 
to Troy in 1872. He died in 1879 at the age of ninety-seven. His mother was 
Sarah Cummings of Littleton, Mass., who died in 1861. Edward W. learned the 
trade of carpenter and builder and later worked in the West. When twenty years 
of age he was considered an expert in business. He came to Troy in 1860 and 
worked at his trade, then opened a shop on Fulton street; later, needing more 
room, he erected the building which he now occupies on Front street. He is the 
oldest builder in Troy. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the I. O. O. F., 
and resides in Lansingburgh. He married Elizabeth Fair of Toronto, Can., who 
died in 1868; he afterwards was married to Esther Lyster of Canada. He has seven 
children and lost two. 

Byron, Patrick, was born in Ireland, April 21, 1841. He came to this country with 
his parents in 1845 and settled in Cohoes, N. Y. In 1857 he came to Troy and be- 
came connected with Hope Engine Company No. 6 as fireman ; afterwards he was 
made assistant captain of the J. S. Osgood No. 3. In 1880 he was elected assistant 
chief, which position he held until 1891, when he was elected chief of the Troy Fire 
Department and is still holding that office. 

Boltwood, Frederick A., was born in Troy, October 13, 1844. He can trace his 
ancestors back to 1636, who settled in Amherst, Mass. The Amherst College prop- 
erty was donated by the Boltwood family to that institution. His father. Frederifi.k 
P. Boltwood, was born in Windsor, Vt., in 1816. He came to Troy in 1835 and died in 
August, 1888. His mother was Mabel Washburn of Greenwich, Washington county, 



342 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

N. Y.,. who died in 1868. Frederick A. when a youth went to Havre as cabin boy 
on a steamship and one year later returned to Troy and learned the confectioner's 
trade. When the war broke out he enlisted in the 2d N. Y. Vols, and re-enlisted 
in the 5th United States Cavalry. He returned .to Troy after the war, and in 1865 
became a member of the Troy City Artillery, serving five years. He was a member 
of the 12th Separate Company, known as the Tibbits Veteran Corps. He belongs to 
Tibbets Post, G. A. R. In 1868 he married Sarah E. Potter of Troy, daughter of 
John T. and Eliza Jennings Potter. She is a descendant of William Jennings of 
Virginia. The common ancestor was Humphrey Jennings, of Birmingham, England, 
who was born August 28, 1629, and died m 1690. She had six children, four of whom 
are living. 

Cipperly, John H., M. D., was born in Troy, August 10, 1856. He is the son of 
Levi Cipperly of Brunswick, N. Y., who was in the clothing business many years 
and died at the age of eighty-three. His mother was Elizabeth (Fonda) Cipperly, 
born m New Scotland, N.Y. , and came to Troy when four years of age. She is still 
living. John H. Cipperly attended the ward schools of Troy and graduated from the 
High School in 1875. He commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Thomas H. Burch- 
ard of New York city and in 1878 was graduated from the University of the City of 
New York (medical department) and was then appomted assistant resident physician 
at the Marshall Infirmary in Troy, where he remained for six years. He is a mem- 
ber of the Medical Society of the County of Rensselaer, member of the Medical 
Association of Troy and Vicinity, and permanent member of the Medical Society of 
the State of New York. He has been health officer of the city of Troy since 1886, 
and a member of the Robert Emmet Association. He was married in 1884 to Emma 
B. Messenkope of New York, who died in 1889. He was again married in Januaiy, 
1895, to Ma'^garet Van Derheyden of Troy. 

Cooper, William C, M.D., was born in Troy, N. Y., October 1, 1858. His father. 
Dr. William S. Cooper, was borrt in Scotland and settled in Troy in 1840, and was a 
prominent physician of this place. He died May 26, 1890. His mother is Sarah M. 
(Ives) Cooper, born in Rensselaer county. She still resides in Troy. William C. 
Cooper received a common school and academic education and entered Albany Med. 
ical College, from which he graduated in 1881, and after graduating from the Col- 
lege of Physicians and Surgeons of New York city in 1884, he came to Troy and 
opened an office at 81 Third street and has continued in the j^ractice of medi- 
icine since. He belongs to the State Medical Association and is a member of the 
Medical Association of Troy and vicinity, also a member of the Troy Scientific As- 
sociation. He was city physician for two years and has been on the staff of Troy 
Hospital two years. In 1893 he was married to Miss Jeannie Lyman of Troy. He 
has one son, William Ferguson. 

Dominic, Brother, was born at Port Jervis, N. Y., in 1855. He is the son of James 
Dunn, who came from Ireland in 1840 and settled in Orange county, N. Y. , and was 
many years a railroad man and died in 1878. His mother, Bridget Conolly, was also 
born in Ireland. She died in 1862. He received his education in the Westchester 
Institute, came to Troy in 1877 and taught in the school of the Troy Catholic Male 
Orphan Asvlnm and has been principal of the school since 18S4. 



FAMILY SKETCHES 343 

Troy Catholic Male Orphan Asylum. — This institution was founded in the city of 
Troy as St. Mary's Orphan Asylum, December 8, 1850. It was under the charge of 
laymen, and boys and girls were admitted. Some time after its establishment it 
was taken out of the hands of laymen, and the boys were given in charge of the 
Brothers of the Christian Schools, and the girls were sent to St. Vincent's Female 
Orphan Asylum, in charge of the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. In 1863 
the institution was named St. Vincent's Male Orphan Asylum and placed under the 
control of the Brothers of the Christian t:^chools. In 1864 the institution was incor- 
porated under its present title (Troy C. M. O. Asy.) and a board of trustees ap- 
pointed. The asylum was destroyed by fire in 1865. It was determined to erect a 
large and complete brick building, the corner-stone of which was laid June 24, 1866, 
bv Bishop Conroy and the building completed in 1869. During the interval the 
Brothers bought the soldiers' barracks located at Lansingburgh and had it removed 
to Troy, where it was erected as a temporary asylum. There are now in the insti- 
tution above 270 children. The school attached to the establishment is under the 
school board, and the rules and regulations governing the education of children in 
the public schools are followed. The object of the institution is the care and sup- 
port of orphan and half-orphan boys under sixteen years of age. They are not only 
given a good common school education, but some of them are taught useful trades. 
Most of the children are a public charge. The institution is governed by a board of 
trustees, consisting of four brothers and three laymen. The present director is Rev. 
Bro. Agapus 

Freeman, Henry Raj'mond, was born and educated in the city of New York, and 
entered the General Theological Seminary to pursue a special theological course in 
1885; during the three years of this course acting as assistant mini.ster in the church 
of the Holy Spirit, New York city; ordained to the priesthood by Bishop H. C. 
Potter, in June, 1889. He became rector of St. Mark's church, Islip, Long Isls^nd. 
N Y., November, 1889, and became rector of St. John's church, Troy. N. Y.. No- 
vember, 1892, succeeding the Rev. T. A. Sniverly. 

Hurley, Timothy J., was born in Tipperary, Ireland, in 1846, and came to the 
United States with his parents, Andrew and Winnifred (Ryan) Hurley, in 1849. 
They settled in Troy and his father was for some time in the employ of F. A. & A. 
B. Fales in their wholesale produce house. He died March 6, 1857, and his widow 
in January, 1882. The brother of Mr. Hurley, the late Thomas Hurley, who was 
born in Ireland, learned the printing business in the office of the Troy Budget, then 
conducted by MacArthur & Whitman at No. 196 River street, and was subsequently 
employed in the Daily Whig office; after working at the case for .some j^ears he ac- 
cepted a position on the Troy Times. A vacancy occurring in the city editorship of 
the Whig, he was invited to accept the position, which he did and filled the same 
creditably for several years. He was appointed city editor of the Troy Press when 
that paper was established, and continued in that position until he went into the 
job printing business with his brother, Timothy J. Hurley. Thomas was for several 
years a school commissioner of the Eighth ward, and for three years was coroner of 
Rensselaer county; he died November 27, 1871. Timothy J. Hurley with his brother 
Thomas started the printing establishment of Hurley Bros, in 1870, and also pub- 
lished the Sunday Telegram, which was discontinued in 1871. In 1S75 Mr. Hurley 



344 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

moved to his present quarters in the Harmony Hall building and conducts a general 
job printing business in a successful manner. He was president of the Young Men's 
Catholic Literary Association for two terms, also president of the Robert Emmet 
Association and treasurer of the same society for six years. He served as a member 
of the School Board for a term and has held other positions of honor and trust. 

Phelan, Michael F., M. D., was born in Troy in IHfiT. His father, Michael Phelan, 
was born in Ireland and came to this country in 1867. He manufactures the Boiler 
Cleaning Compound. His mother, Ellen (Crewe) Phelan, died in 1873. Dr. Phelan 
was educated at the La Salle Institute and after graduating taught one year, when 
he entered the Albany Medical College, during which time he was also professor of 
physiology in the Albany Brothers' Academy; after graduating from the Medical 
College he began practice in Troy He is attending physician of the out-door patient 
department of the Troy Hospital. He was secretary of the Medical Association of 
Troy and Vicinity and is a member of the New York State Medical Association, the 
Rensselaer County Medical Society and the B. P. O. E. He was appointed by the 
Board of Health as inspector during the cholera scare. 

Ricketts, Palmer Chambeiiaine: Born '56. Elkton, Md. ; was graduated at the 
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1875; assistant in mathematics R. P. I. '75; 
assistant professor, '82; professor of Rational and Technical Mechanics since '84; 
director since '92. Consulting bridge engineer T. & B. R. R., '86-87 and for the 
R. W. & O. R. R., '87-91 ; engineer Public Improvements Commission, city of Troy, 
'91-93; also engineer in charge of design and construction of various hydraulic 
works, bridges, etc. Societies: M. Am. Soc. C. E. ; M. A. S. M. E. ; Fellow A. A. 
A. S. ; and others. Publications: "History of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute:" 
contributor to Rep. V. S. Comm. Ed., Rep. N. Y. State R. R. Comm., Trans. Am. 
Soc. C. E., Proc. Soc. Prom. Eng. Ed., Engineering News, Railroad Gazette, Rail- 
way Review, Trans. Eng. Club of Philadelphia, etc. 

Rousseau, Zotique, M. D., was born in Three Rivers, Canada, Augu.st 26, 1846. 
He is of French descent on both paternal and maternal sides. He was educated and 
graduated at St. Joseph's College in Three Rivers; and in 1864 entered the medical 
department of Laval University, Quebec, from which he graduated in 1869 with the 
ciegree of M. D., and practiced medicine for one and a half years in Three Rivers. 
He came to Troy, N. Y., and began practice in 1872. He is and has been medical at- 
tendant at the Troy Hospital since 1874 with the exception of six years. Upon the 
organization of the Home of the Aged Poor in 1873 he became medical attendant 
which position he still holds, and was physician at the house of the Good Shepherd 
from 1886 to 1894. He is one of the founders and a member of the New York State 
Medical Association, and is a member of the Rensselaer County Medical Society and 
the Medical Society of Troy and Vicinity. He is a member of the Troy Club. He 
was married in 1877 to Serena Connolly of Troy. 

Sanford, Samuel Brown, son of Gay R. and Hannah Brown Sanford, was born in 
Bennington Centre, Vt., April 26, 1833, and received a common school education in 
his native town. In 1847 he came to Troy to enter business life as a clerk in Mather's 
dry goods store. Later he accepted a clerkship with Harris & Wilcox, jewelers, and 
remained with them until he went to New York, where he entered the firm of Carter, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 345 

Hale & Co., manufacturing jewelers. In 18G4 he returned to Troy and. with George 
S. Robinson, organized the firm of Sanford & Robinson, to manufacture collars and 
cuffs. In 1890, this firm, and those of J. K. P. Pine, S. A. Hou.se's Sons. Marshall & 
Briggs, and Beiermeister & Spicerwere incorporated as the United Shirt and Collar 
Co. Mr. Sanford was elected president of this company, and held that office until 
his death. Mr. Sanford's tireless energy and business ability were given not only 
to the manufacturing interests of Troy but he was prominently connected with many 
financial and benevolent institutions of the city. He was a trustee of the Troy Sav- 
ings Bank, a director of the Troy City National Bank, and had served as trustee or 
director in the Emma Willard Seminary, the Marshall Infirmary, and the Troy Or- 
phan Asylum. He was president of the trustees of the Second Street Presbyterian 
church and treasurer of the Board of Trustees of the Young Women's Association, an 
enterprise in which he was deeply interested from its inception. During his long 
and active life in Troy, he was universally honored, as a useful and benevolent cit- 
izen, whose uprightness was unquestioned. Mr. Sanford's death occurred at his 
summer residence in Bennington Centre, Vermont, August 4, 1896. 

Sawin, Rev. Theophilus Parsons. D.D., was born at Lynn, Mass., January 14, 1841. 
His ancestors came to this country in 1632 and settled in Boston. His grandfather, 
Robert Mason, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was a participant in the 
battle of Saratoga when Burgoyne surrendered to Gen. Gates. His father, the Rev. 
T. P. Sawin, was a prominent Congregational minister of New England, who died 
in January, 1886. His mother, Martha Mclntyre Mason, was born in Andover, Mass., 
and died in 1895. Rev. Theophilus graduated from the high school at Manchester, 
N. H., and prepared for college at the Kimball Union Academy and entered Yale in 
the class of 1864. He left college in the sophomore year on account of poor health. 
He subsequently went to New York city where he taught in the Mount Washington 
Collegiate Institute two years, later he engaged in newspaper work and still later 
went to Milwaukee, Wis., where he was a professor of Latin and mathematics in 
the Milwaukee Academy, during the time pursuing his theological studies, and was 
ordained to the gospel ministry at Racine, Wis., where he preached for four years. 
He was then called to the Congregational church in Janesville, Wis., where he served 
for .six years. During this period his well known interest in educational work led to 
a State appointment as lecturer before the Teacher's Institute. He was also made a 
member of the Board of Examiners at the Whitewater Normal School. From Janes- 
ville he received a unanimous call to the Mystic Congregational church in Medford, 
Mass. After serving here for nearly five years he was called to the First Presbyte- 
rian church of Troy, the oldest church in the city, and was installed June 17, 1886. 
This church celebrated its centennial anniversary in 1891, and Dr. Sawin prepared the 
historical records of the same, which were published in a volume of 140 pages. During 
his ministry here he has been in demand as a lecturer on literary and historical sub- 
jects. He has been invited to deliver the Baccalaureate sermon befere the R. P. I. 
five times, and every year since his coming here he has delivered the Memorial Ad- 
dress before the Grand Army Posts on the Sunday evening preceding Memorial Day. 
He is an associate member of Post Griswold, G. A. R. He is also a trustee of the 
Troy Academy. He received the degree of D.D. from Williams College. Many of 
his sermons and addresses have been published in pamphlet form, but his most 



346 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

extensive work is a volume entitled The Transfiguring of the Cross. He was 
married in 1864 to Emeline T. Farel, and has had two children, the younger of 
which died m 1887. The elder, Cara Angenette, was graduated at the Lasell Sem- 
inary, Auburndale, Mass., in 1896. 

Sage, James H., was born in Fredonia, N. Y., in 1S4(I. His father, William C. 
Sage, was born in 1814 in Brunswick, N. Y., and was a produce buyer. He was a 
brother of Russell Sage, the celebrated financier of New York city. He died in 1887. 
His mother, Lucritia (Jones) Sage, born in Jonesville, N. Y., in 1811, died July 2, 
1885. James H. was educated at the public schools and entered the fruit and pro- 
duce business and has been m that business since. He married Helen E. Young of 
Montpelier, Vt., in 1885, a step-daughter of the Hon. William Lord, speaker of the 
House of Representatives of the Vermont Legislature. 

Shields, William H., was born in Troy in 1853. He is the son of Hamilton L. 
Shields, who graduated from West Point in 1847 and served in the Mexican war, and 
on General Wool's staff, but resigned in 1854. He died in 1889. His mother is 
Caroline (Hart) Shields, a daughter of Richard P. Hart. William H., after leaving 
the Troy Academy, took a position with the Troy Steel and Iron Co., where he 
remained nine years and then accepted a position at the J. Wool Griswold Wire 
Works of Troy as manager, and still occupies that position. In 1885 he married 
Miss Anna Thalimer, a daughter of the late Peter Thalimer; she died in December, 
1888. They had two children, William and Anna. His present wife was Sarah 
Johnston of Cohoes, N. Y. He is a member of the Troy Club, was for seventeen 
years a member of the Citizens' Corps, and is now a member of the Old Guard. 

Simons, William, was born in Rochester, N. Y., where he received his education 
and went into the oflfice of Garson, Kerngood & Co. Seven years later he came to 
Tro}^ and with Leo August, of Denver, Colo., formed the firm of August & Simons, 
better known as the Model Clothing, which is the double store located on the corner 
of River and Fulton streets. On September 19, 1894, they opened their store, since 
which time they have been doing a very successful business. On July 15, 1896, they 
admitted as partner S. I. Hirshberg of Rochester, who was connected with the 
wholesale manufacturing business. They are live advertisers and liberal in all their 
dealings. They manufacture most of their clothing and also do a large business in 
gents' furnishing goods and hats. The store is lit by arc and incandescent lights 
and gas, and is one of the best equipped stores for the clothing business in the State. 
Leo August is a member of the B. P. O. E. 

Tompkins, Albert, was born in Rhode Island in 1829. His father, Clark Tompkins, 
came to Cohoes in 1840 and was employed to do the repair work for the Harmony 
Mills, where he remained until 1846, when he came to Troy and started a machine 
shop. In 1870 he went to California on account of ill health where he remained until 
his death, which occurred in 1876. His mother, Eliza A. (Cook) Tompkins, came 
from Rhode Island. She is now living in California and is eighty-nine years of age. 
He received his education in district schools and when fourteen years of age entered 
the machine shop and learned the trade, and with his brother Ira. manufactures 
knitting machinery on Ida Hill. He is a commander of Post Griswold, G. A. R., and 
a member of King Solomon's Primitive Lodge, F. & A. M. He belongs to the 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 347 

Exempt Firemen's Association, and was for twelve years school commissioner of 
Troy, and fire commissioner for nine years. He was married to Miss Julia Skeels 
of Albia in 1870. His present wife was Mrs. Sarah E. Sprung, to whom he was 
married in 1873. He has one son and four daughters. 

Van Santvoord, Seymour, was born December 17, 1858. His ancestors on his 
father's side were Holland Dutch. The progenitor of the family in this country was 
the Rev. Cornelius Van Santvoord, a graduate of the University of Leyden and 
preached in Dutch, French and English on Staten Island. His father, George Van 
Santvoord, was at one time a member of the Troy bar practicing in partnership 
with the late David Seymour. He also published several legal books, a life of 
Algernon Sydney and Lives of the Chief Justices of the United States. His great- 
grandfather on the maternal side was Dr. Peter Van Schaack, a graduate of King's 
College, and a celebrated lawyer. His grandfather was a lawyer and the founder 
and for many years the editor of the Kinderbrook Rough Notes, one of the oldest 
papers in the State. Seymour received his education at the Kinderbrook Academy, 
after which he entered the printing office of his grandfather, where he remained six 
months. He later entered Willist.)n Seminary at East Hampton, Mass., and after 
six months entered the sophomore class of LTnion College and graduated in 1878. 
In the fall of 1878 he entered the law office of Warren & Patterson as a student and 
graduated from the Albany Law School in 1880 and opened an office where he prac- 
ticed alone until January 1, 1894, when he formed a copartnership with George B. 
Wellington, the firm now being Van Santvoord & Wellington. He is a member of 
the Holland Society of New York, a director of the Mohawk and Hudson River 
Humane Society, a trustee in the Second Street Presbyterian church, and president 
of the Troy Good Government Club. At present he is one of the receivers of the 
Walter A. Wood Mowing and Reaping Machine Co. He is a trustee of the Albany 
Law School and the Samaritan Hospital. He married a daughter of the late Capt. 
N. L. Shields of the LTnited States Army. He has five children. He is a Democrat 
in politics. 

Vanderbogart, John H., was born in Columbia county in 1835. His father, John 
M. Vanderbogart, was a farmer of Columbia county and belonged to the Relief 
Corps in the Civil war, assigned to fort duty, and died in August, 1882. His mother, 
Sophia M. (McAlpin) Vanderbogart, died in 1871. John H. when nine years of age 
went to work in the cotton mills at Valatie, N. Y., until nineteen years old, when in 
1854 he came to Troy and entered the employ of B. F. Thompson, who was in the 
fruit business, and later was a messenger for the National Express Co. until 1863, 
when he went to work in the Starbuck Iron Works on Center Island, and was later 
with A. AV. Orr & Co.. and started in bu.siness for himself in 1870 in the manufacture 
of boilers and also does all kinds of boiler and tank work. His factory is in the city 
of Watervliet, N.Y. He belongs to Trojan Lodge No. 27, I. O. O. F., and also the 
John W. Nesbot Encampment No. 110; also a member of Canton Leo, and a mem- 
ber of Rebecca Eclipse Lodge No. 154. In 1857 he married Miss Susan Graver of 
Troy. He has one son, the Rev. A. J. Vanderbogart, who is now the pastor of an 
Episcopal church in Salisbury, Md. ; a daughter, who was the wife of Joseph H. 
Martin, died April 26, 1886, 

Willets, John H., was born in Enfield, Tompkins county, N. Y., September 15, 



{?48 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

1845. His father, Henry Willets, was born in White Plains, N. Y., and was a 
farmer. His mother, Jane (Hooper) Willets, was born in Enfield. He prepared 
for college at the Ithaca Academy and entered Cornell in 1869, but did not graduate. 
He began teaching in 1869. He came to Troy in 1875 and taught until March, 
1895, when he was elected superintendent of schools. He belongs to the Royal 
Arcanum. In 1870 he was married to Mary H. Jennings of Tompkins county, by 
whom he has one daughter. 

Williamson, Rev. Robert D., was born in Millersburgh, Ohio, February 23, 1838. 
He is of Scotch-Irish descent. His early ancestors settled in Lancaster, Pa., about 
1780. His father, David Williamson, was born in Pennsylvania and died in Ohio in 
1860. His mother was Catherine Duncan, who died in 1882. Rev. Williamson grad- 
uated from FrankUn College, New Athens, Ohio, in 1853, and entered the Theologi- 
cal Seminary at Xenia, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1857, and was licensed to 
preach in the spring of the same year. He has been pastor of the Lansingville, 
N. Y., Florida, N. Y., and Paterson, N. J., United Presbyterian churches, and of the 
United Presbyterian church of Troy smce December, 1871. He has been stated 
clerk of the Albany Presbytery for twenty-two years, and superintendent of mis- 
sions ten years. May, 1857, he married Phebe L. Cruikshank, of Troy. He has 
three sons, Isaac Hasbrouck, who is connected with the firm of Tom S. Wotkyns &• 
Co., E. B., who is a member of the firm of Alexander & Williamson, successors to 
J. W. Cusack and William T., a bookkeeper at the Ludlow Valve Works. 

Stout, Edward L., was born in New Haven. Conn., in 1840. His paternal ances- 
tors came originally from the North of Ireland, and his ancestors on his grand- 
mother's side are descendants of the famous "Sands" family of England. His 
mother was a lineal descendant of Roger Sherman. His father, the Rev. Edward 
S. Stout, was a Methodist clergyman, prominent in New York East Conference, and 
died at Troy in 1859. His mother, Julia R. Foote, was born in Alford, Mass., and 
died at Troy in 1861. Edward L. Stout received his education m the common 
schools and the Montgomery Academy, and entered the Mount Vernon College in 
Iowa, where he remained for one year. On coming to Troy in 1859, he entered the 
employ of Corning & Winslow, and was with them and H. Burden & Sons until 1864. 
He was paymaster for Winslow & Griswold when they were building the Monitor 
and Galena. Later he entered the insurance business, the firm being Allen, Rogers 
& Stout. In 1872 he entered the oyster business with J. H. Gqodsell, the firm being 
J. H. Goodsell & Co. Mr. Goodsell retired in 1874, and Mr. Stout has since carried 
on the business. In 1894 the firm became Stout & Metcalf, and besides their large 
oyster business they carry on a very extensive fruit and produce trade. He is a 32d 
degree Mason. He is also director in the R. R. Y. M. C. A., and clerk of Joint Board 
State Street Methodist Episcopal church, recording secretarj^ Rensselaer County 
Bible Society, vice-president of LTnion Mission. He married Miss Mary Goodsell of 
New Haven, Conn., by whom he has two children: Dr. E. G. Stout, a physician of 
Troy ; and Mary J. Stout. 

Schneider, Henry, was born March 27, 1856, at Troy, N. Y. He is a son of Louis 
and Margaret (Cook) Schneider, who came to this country in 1854. He died in 1863 
and his wife died in 1870. Henry was educated in the schools of Troy and in 1869 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 349 

went to Germany where he attended school one j'ear. He then returned to Troy 
and entered the store of L. Burton & Co. as clerk, where he remained until 1875, 
when he again went to Europe and returned in 1876 and went to Colorado, and was 
for several years in the drug business. In 1883 he returned to Troy and opened a 
drug store, where he is still in busmess. He is a member of the Masonic bodies of 
Troy. May 16, 1880, he was married to Eleanor Golightly, of Leadville, Col., by 
whom he has had one son and two daughters: the son Louis, died in infancy; Jo- 
hanetta (who also died in infancy), and Gretchen, now living, is a bright little girl 
of ten years. 

Magill, David F., was born in Belfast, Ireland, January 24, 1841, and came to this 
country with his parents, Andrew and Mary Magill, in 1846. His mother died in 
1867. Mr. Magill received his education in the common schools, and later went to 
work in the paper store of Tonsley & Teal. He later went to work in a drug store, 
that of Dr. Taylor, on Broadway, where he learned the business, and was in the 
business with J. Walter Jones for eight years. In 1870 he started in the business 
for himself on King street, where he carries on an extensive drug business, also 
making a specialty of laundry supplies. He belongs to the Masonic bodies of Troy, 
being a 32d degree Mason. He has been an active fireman since 1859, belonging to 
Trojan Hook and Ladder Co. since 1860, of which he has held the office of assistant 
captain four years, and captain one and a half years. He married Esther Mont- 
gomery of Lansingburgh. January 6, 1864. Her father, John Montgomery, has 
been with D. Powers & Son over fifty years. Their children are Samuel B., a drug- 
gist of Lansingburgh, Walter, James, and Ida. His brother James was killed at 
Southside Railroad, March 81, 1865, while in the service of his country, having en- 
listed in the 169th Regt. N. Y. Vols. Another brother, Thomas H., was formerly a 
dry goods merchant of Troy, now retired; his elder brother Frederick, has charge of 
the crematory at Oakwood Cemetery. , 

Hislop, Thomas W., was born in Troy, N. Y., November 3, 1861. His father, 
James Hislop, was born in Scotland and came to Troy in 1854, and for many years 
ran a grocery store on the corner of Second and Madison streets. He died April 30, 
1882. His mother, Elizabeth (Glass) Hislop, now lives in Troy. Thomas W. Hislop 
received a common school and business college education, and entered the drug 
store of his father, where he remained until his death in 1882, and since that time 
has had charge of the estate. In 1895 he bought an interest in the firm of Foot & 
Thorne of New York city, wholesale dealears and jobbers in all kinds of glass. He 
is president of the concern, and belongs to Mount Zion Lodge No. 311, F. & A. M., 
Apollo Chapter, Bloss Council, Apollo Commandery, of which he is captain gen- 
eral and generalissimo in the Drill Corps, and the Mystic Shrine. He belongs to 
the Laureate Boat and Troy Yacht Clubs, and is a general trustee in the Third 
Street M. E. church. He is first lieutenant in the Troy Citizens Corps, and has been 
captain for a number of years in the City Central Staff, a Republican campaign 
club. He married Miss Nellie Bitley of West Troy, March 9, 1888, by whom he has 
two children: Thomas W., jr., and Mabel Elizabeth. He is a half owner in the 
Troy and West Troy Ferry. 

Goldthwaite, Abel G., was born in Sandgate, Vt., and comes from old New Eng- 



350 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

land stock, many of his ancestors having taken part in the Revolutionary war. He 
is the son of Elias and Angelina (Squier) Goldthwaite of Vermont. His mother 
died in 1894. Abel G. Goldthwaite was educated in the common schools of Ver- 
mont, and went as a millwright's apprentice. He came to Troy in 1862 and entered 
Tolhurst's machine shop, where he has held all positions from working at the bench 
to his present position as designer and draughtsman for that concern. He belongs 
to Apollo Lodge, F. & A. M., of which he is past master; of Apollo Chapter, Bloss 
Council, Apollo Commandery, of which he is past commander, being a 32d degree 
Mason. He married Kate H. O'Brien of Bennington, Vt., in 1847. He has two 
sons: Bert L., a physician of Williamstown, N. Y., and Fred A., a machinist. 

Faulkner, Thomas, was born at Whitehall, Washington count)', in 1842. He is a 
son of Charles and Mary Faulkner, who died when he was quite young. He lived 
on a farm in Easton until he was eighteen j^ears of age, and during the time he at- 
tended the district school. He came to Troy and was employed in the store of C. 
H. Garrison as clerk, and after a few years formed a partnership with Stephen W. 
Holton. He entered the grocery business under the firm name of Holton & Faulk- 
ner. The firm afterwards became Faulkner & Hamlin, and two years later he 
bought Mr. Hamlin's interest in the concern, and in 1869 took possession of the 
store on King street, where he has since carried on the business. He is a member 
of King Solomon Lodge, F. & A. M. In 1863 he married Anna E. Law of Troy. 
He has one son, a lawyer of Troy, and one daughter, Lidie M. 

English, Lawrence A., was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1863. Ho is the son of John 
and Hannah (Lyons) English. His father came to this country from Ireland in 
1855 and settled in Troy, and in 1860 opened the bakery at 349 Second street. In 
1865, in connection with other business, he opened a coal yard. Mr. English re- 
ceived his education in the common schools, and entered the coal office of his father 
and in 1886 became a partner, the firm being John English & Son, which continued 
until 1895, when he became proprietor, still retaining the name of John English &• 
Son. Besides this large wholesale and retail business, he is a large real estate 
owner. In September, 1888, he married Mary C. Fitzgerald, daughter of the late 
John Fitzgerald of Troy. He has three sons: John, Lawrence and Joseph. 

Dougrey, Howard M., was born in Lansingburgh, September 1, 1839. His great- 
grandfather came from Ireland and settled in Lansingburgh. His grandfather, 
James Dougrey, was born in Ireland, and for many years was a maltster and brewer 
in Lansingburgh. His father, James Dougrey, was also in the brewing business, 
and was later secretary of the Rensselaer County Insurance Company and also gen- 
eral agent for same. He was justice of the peace, assessor, and was supervisor for 
two terms. He died in 1863. His mother, Frances E. (Moulton) Dougrey, was born 
in Troy, where she died Feb. 18, 1887. Howard M. Dougrey was educated in the com- 
mon schools and the Lansingburgh and Kinderbrook Academies, and went to work in 
the wholesale grocery business of Haight & Gillespie, where he remained for about eight 
years, when he went to work for John Warr ; after a short time he took a position as 
messenger for Chapin's Troy & New York Steamboat Express. Later he went in the 
employ of the National Express Co., and after filling nearly all the positions in the 
office, was made an agent of the American National Express Co. for Troy. He is a 
33d degree Mason, and was for many years a member of Osgood Steamer Co. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 361 

Chase, Theodore T., was born in Mechanicville, N. Y., in 1866. He is the son of 
E. Corning and Gertrude (Lewis) Chase. Mr. Chase was educated in the common 
.schools and the Mechanicville Academy. He then entered the music store of Cluett 
& Sons as clerk, where he remained for three years. He then engaged with Gilbert 
Geer, jr., & Co., m the insurance business, where he remained for .seven years. 
January 1, 1892, he formed a partner.ship with Charles McCarthy, the firm name 
being McCarthy & Chase, and opened the insurance and real estate office at No. 'M') 
River street. He is a member of Trojan H. & L. Co., Trojan Wheelmen, Laureate 
Boat Club, Riverside Club, and King Solomon Lodge, F. & A. M. He married 
Mabel Farley of Troy, December 25, 1889. She died July 9, 1896. 

Carl, Herman, born in Prussia, Germany, February 17, 1831, was educated in the 
common schools and learned the knitting trade, which he followed until 1854, when 
he came to America. In 1856 he settled on Green Island, Albany county, and secured 
employment in the Gilbert Car shops, where he remained until 1864. In 1865 he 
opened a cigar and tobacco store in Troy, but the poor tobacco crop of 1870 forced 
him to give up the business and he started a restaurant. He moved in 1876 to No. 
1 Fulton street, where he remained until he opened a wholesale wine and liquor 
store at No. 351 1 River street. In May, 1884, he moved to No. 139 Fourth street, 
where he is still doing business. Mr. Carl is a member of Apollo Lodge No. 13. F. 
& A. M , Apollo Chapter No. 48, R. A. M., Apollo Commandery No. 15, K. T., 
Oriental Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Mistletoe Grove No. 11, U. A. O. D., 
Rhein Lodge No. 248, I. O. O. F., Guttenberg Lodge No. 112, K. P., Troy Maenner- 
chor and Saengerbund; he is a charter member of the Germania Hall Association 
and its onlj' treasurer since its organization; he was for three years president of the 
Troy Turn Verein. He joined Boring's Band in 1860, but resigned in 1878 because 
of pressure of business. In 1857 he married Walburga Teschan of Rastadt, Baden, 
Germany; she died November 3, 1880, and in 1882 he married Katrina Baken of 
Kirdorf Hessen, Germany. Mr. Carl has eight children living: Carrie, Amelia, Annie, 
Marie A., Edward, George, Fred and Louis B. 

Coutie, George S. , was born in Troj-, N. Y., in 1861. He is the son of William and 
Christina (Stewart) Coutie, who came from Scotland and settled in the United States 
in 1848. William Coutie was the first to manufacture compound engines in the 
United States. George S. Coutie has charge of- the business established by his 
father in 1850. The firm is now William Coutie & Son. They manufacture stove 
foundry machines, tools, and compound engines. He was supervisor from 1890 to 
1896 and is now clerk of the board. Mr. Coutie was married March 19, 1891, to 
Henrietta Bennett, daughter of H. O. and Mary E. (Seward) Bennett of Troy. 

Bayer, William F., was born in Troy, N. Y., May 28. 1858. His parents, Thomas 
and Regina Baver. were born in Germany and are of the oldest and most respected 
German residents of this city. His father, Thomas Bayer, died in 1873, his mother 
is still alive and has been a resident of this city for over fifty years. Mr. Bayer re- 
ceived his education in the public schools and left the Troy High School to accept a 
position in the Troy City Bank, where he remained several years; the practical busi- 
ness and financial education he received there has been of great value to him. Owing 
to ill health he left the bank, and went to Colorado, where he remained on a ranch 



352 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

until linding his health restored he returned to Troj' and entered the lumber office 
of Howes & Weaver which was soon succeeded by Weaver & Thompson. He soon 
acquired a knowledge of the business and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his 
employers. When the firm of Weaver & Thompson was dissolved in 1887 Mr. Bayer 
negotiated for the purchase of the business, and having associated with him as part- 
ner Mr. Alonzo McConihe, succeeded to the business. The firm of Bayer & McCon- 
ihe was thus formed and by enterprise and maintaining a reputation for fair 
dealing, it has steadily increased its business, so that it is now the largest and best 
known wholesale and retail lumber firm in this vicinity. Their office is located at 53 
River street, Troy, N. Y. Mr. Bayer was married in 1893 to Wilhelmina, a daugh- 
ter of Werner Strecker of the firm of Macdonald & Co. 

Berry, Rev. George T., the eldest son of the Rev Charles T. Berry of Brooklyn, 
was born at Valatie, N. Y., where his father spent the first five years of his ministry 
as pastor of the First Presbyterian church, afterwards serving for a quarter of a 
century as the pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Caldwell, N. J. Rev. 
George T. received his early education at the Caldwell high school and prepared for 
college at the Newark Academy. In 1883 he entered Princeton college and was grad- 
uated with the class of 1887. After teaching two years in Ohio he returned to Prince- 
ton and entered the Theological Semmary, graduating in 1892. He was licensed to 
preach by the Presbytery of Newark one year previous to his graduation, and he sup- 
plied the First Presbyterian church of Boston the summer following. In June, 1892, 
he was ordained by the Presbytery of Newark and came to Troy as a supply for the 
Second Presbyterian church during the absence of the Rev. Dr. Hall in Europe. In 
the fall of the same year he returned to Princeton for a post-graduate course, at the 
conclusion of which he devoted a year and more to foreign travel, completing the 
journey around the world. He returned to Troy in .September, 1894, and since 
that time has supplied the pulpit of the Second Street Presbyterian church, of which 
he was installed pastor in November, 1895. He was married in 1893 to Carrie E. 
Packer, daughter of George A. Packer of Troy, N. Y. 

Aliendorph, John H., was born in Ogdensburgh, N. Y., in March, m 1866. He is 
of German descent and the son of H. E. Aliendorph, who was born in Moreau, N. Y. , 
and came to Troy in 1840, and for a short time was in the employ of John O. Mariom 
in the manufacture of pocket-books. He afterwards went with the auctioneer, A. 
M. Priest. In 1842 Mr. Priest and himself started a store at No. 318 River street, 
under the firm name of Priest & Aliendorph, and sold toys, notions, etc. Two years 
later they opened a branch store in Albany. The Albany store was taken five years 
later by Mr. Priest, and Mr. Aliendorph continued in the Troy store with his brother 
William. They opened a branch in Ogdensburgh in 1854, which was discontinued 
in 1870. Mr. H. E. Aliendorph died in 1891. His mother, Isabell (Salisbury) Alien- 
dorph, is still living in Troy. In 1890 John H. Aliendorph in connection with George 
I. Johnson reorganized the business of his father under the firm name of J. H. Alien- 
dorph & Co., and do a large business in notions, toys, fire works, etc. He was 
elected alderman from the Third ward in 1890, and re-elected in 1892. He belongs 
to Apollo Lodge F. & A. M., and is a member of the Trojan Hooks and was secre- 
tary of the same for five year.s. He married Susie J. Ostrom of Rochester, N. Y., 
in 1892. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 353 

Houghton, William H., was born in Troy, N. Y., December 4, 1843, and was edu- 
cated in the public schools of Troy. April 17, 18fil, he enlisted in Co. H, 2d N. Y. Vols. , 
serving in the Army of the Potomac, Hooker's Division, 3d Army Corps, and was 
honorably discharged May 26, 1863. He graduated from Troy Business College, and 
has been a merchant tailor in Troy for the past twenty years. April 30, 1874, he 
married Wilhelmina A. Knower of West Troy, Albany county, and have had two 
childred: Maud and Edith; the last named died at the age of six. Mr. Boughton's 
father, Samuel, was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., in 1791. He married Pamelia 
Hayner, and had one son, as above. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and his 
father, John, was captain of a Connecticut troop in the Revolutionary war. Mr. 
Boughton's father died in 1851, and his mother in 1884. In his political choice he is 
a thorough Republican, and is a member of William B. Tibbits Post, No. 141, G. A. 
R., Troy, and is past commander. This family on the paternal side are of French 
Huguenot stock, having descended from Count Nicholas Bouton ; their later an- 
cestry is French, English and Dutch. 

Dauchy, Charles H., was born in Troy, N. Y., August 14, 1843. He was educated 
in private schools and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute of Troy, and was graduated 
from the Albany Business College in 1861. He was engaged in the grocery business 
on River street for about seven years, then became a dealer in paints and oils and 
in 1888 glass was added to his stock. December 15, 1869, he married Esther A., a 
daughter of Albert E. and Frances (Hanford) Powers of Lansingburgh, N. Y. They 
have two children living: William Powers and Frances Hanford, now students in 
Williams College, Wiliiamstown, Mass., and Howard Seminary, West Bridgewater, 
Mass., respectively. Mr. Dauchy's father, Charles, was born in Troy in 1804. He 
was well educated and was a dry goods merchant, afterwai'ds becoming a lumber 
merchant. He married Hannah Waterbury, of Darien, Conn., by whom he had 
seven children: Nathan, Jessie M., Frances L., Georgiana, Charles H., Henrietta E., 
and John B. The ancestry of the family is French. 

Hagen, Joseph H., son of William and Jane S. (Jones) Hagen, was born July 1(>, 
1839, in Troy, was educated in the public schools, the Troy Academy, and the Lan- 
singburgh Academy, and in 1855 became a member of an engineering corps on the 
Erie Canal, where he worked two years. He was employed by William Barton and 
Charles L. Fuller, engineers, until the war broke out, when he enlisted in Co. E, 2d 
N. Y. Vols., as first sergeant. June 20, 1861, he was commissioned second lieuten- 
ant, July 27, first lieutenant and November 23, as captain. He returned to Troy 
after the war and was for three years with the Rensselaer Works and later with Bus- 
well, Durant & Co. as bookkeeper. In 1873-74 he was in Philadelphia as agent for 
the Domestic Sewing Machine Company. In the spring of 1876 Mr. Hagen entered 
the employ of the Troy and Lansingburgh and Troy City Railways and is now sec- 
retary and treasurer of the latter company and also of its leased lines. He is a 
member of the military order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and of Post 
Griswold and the Royal Arcanum. April 19, 1869, he married Sara, daughter of Or- 
ville Reed of Lansingburgh and they have two children living: Charles and Orville 

Ives, Truman, was born at Poestenkill, September 24, 1816. He was educated in 
a private school in Fourth street and one year in the Lancaster school in Troy, N. Y. 



354 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

He was a clerk in a grocery store for one year; since that time he has devoted his 
whole life to the growing of and dealing in vegetables, growing them on his 
farm in Lansingburgh, and selling them to the trade in Lansingburgh and 'lioy, 
chiefly the last named place. He was the greatest worker in the county, which work 
was intelligently directed by his strong brain and will-power. Mr. Ives was one <>f 
the originators and promoters of the Fulton Market in Troy, and one of the first to 
occupy it, which has been continually used since by some member of the Ives family. 
He has four sons in the bu.siness on their own account. He was married twice, first 
on June 2.5, 18:^H, to Martha A. Cushing, of Poultney, Vt. They have had seven 
children: Catharine, Sarah, Charles, Lionel C, Myron C, Walter T. and one who 
died in infancy. They are all dead at this date except Lionel. Mrs. Ives died Janu- 
ary 16, 1861. For his second wife he married Mary A. Bates of the town of Bruns- 
wick, by whom he has had seven children: Truman C, Lillian B., George H., Reuben 
G., Mary F., Charles C. and Gracie. Mr. Ives is a self-made man in every sen.se. 
The Iveses are of Puritan stock of Scotch extraction. 

Kirkland, Ralph Thornton, was born in Rome, Oneida county, in 1848. He was 
educated in the public schools and the Rome Academy. He was with Dr. S. F. 
Tremain for three years, and afterwards attended the Philadelphia Dental College 
and was graduated in the spring of 18T2. He practiced at Adams, Jefferson county, 
and in October, 1889, he came to Lansingburgh where he has since been successfully 
engaged. He has married twice, first, to Antoinette V. Daw, and had one son, 
Ralph A. D. Mrs. Kirkland died June 29, 1878, and for his second wife he married, 
April 28, 1884, Mrs. Elizabeth Shapley, born Horth. Upon the completion of his 
education, September 1, 1862, he enlisted in Co. G, 146th Infantry N. Y. Vols., and 
was honorably discharged, August 14, 1865. He is a member of Bolton Post No. 471, 
G. A. R., of Lansingburgh. The father of Mr. Kirkland, Ralph W., was born in 
Clinton, Oneida county, February 5, 1814. He married Eliza W. Weightman of his 
native town; they had three children: Silas H., Amy J., and Ralph T. Mrs. Kirk- 
land died June 8, 1885, and he survives at this date, 1896. The ancestry of the 
family is Scotch and English. 

Lewis, Dr. Nathaniel B., was born near Binghamton, Broome county, N.Y., Feb- 
ruary 21, 1840, son of George W. and Lovina (Bishoj:)) Lewis. He was educated in 
the public schools and the old Binghamton Academy, and began to study medicine 
at the age of eighteen in Kane county. 111. He immediately put his knowledge into 
practice, making a specialty of electro-therapeutics, in which he was very successful. 
He belonged to an independent military Co. there, and when the Rebellion broke out 
they were mustered into the United States service for three months at Springfield, 
Ills., and were honorably discharged at the end of that time. He then enlisted in 
Co. G. 52d Infy. 111. Vols., and they were mustered into service September 25, 1861, 
He was wounded in the face with a gun shot in the battle of Pittsburg Landing. He 
was promoted first sergeant for gallant conduct, and was honorably discharged No- 
vember 16, 1864. After being discharged he went through to the sea with Sherman 
as a citizen employee of the government. He returned to Illinois in January, 186."); 
about two years after he went to Iowa where he was freight conductor for the Chi- 
cago & Northwestern Railway Company, and afterwards fence contractor for the 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 355 

Illinois Central Railroad Company. In 1875 he came to Troy, N. Y. , and perfected 
himself in his chosen profession with Dr. Benton, where he remained as partner for 
two years. May 2, 1880, he married Siisan (Gray) King, of Waterford, Saratoga 
county, N. Y. bhe died September 30, 1896. In 1881 he came to Lansingburgh, 
where he has since practiced with success. He kept his office in Troy until May, 1896, 
when he removed it to his residence. He is a member of Apollo Lodge No. 13, F. & 
A. M., Troy, of which he is past master. The ancestry of the family is French and 
English. 

Magee, John, M. D., son of James P. and Mary (Bradley) Magee, was born Augi;st 
10, 1855, in Athol, Warren county, N. Y., where he attended the common schools. 
In 1877 he entered the LTniversity of Vermont where he remained for one term, and 
in 1878 entered the medical department of the same university and took one course 
there in 1879, began the study of medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, 
Baltimore, Md., graduating with the degree of M. D., in 1881. He then commenced 
active practice in Lansingburgh. Dr. Magee was graduated from the New York 
Post-Graduate Medical School in 1887. He was elected president of the village of 
Lansingburgh in March, 1895, and still holds that office. He was, up to 1894, health 
officer of the village for eight consecutive years, resigning to go abroad. He was 
school trustee from 1893 to 1896, when he declined re-election because of the pressure 
of professional business. Dr. Magee has a large stock farm at Chestertown, N. Y., 
where he keeps a number of fine horses of the Wilkes and Electioneer blood. No- 
vember 12, 1882, he married Addie S. , daughter of Abram and Maria Wilcox of 
Chestertown, and they have two sons; Clarence Ashley and John Abram. 

Stanley, Rev. Charles F., was born in the village of Victory Mills, Saratoga county, 
and was educated in the public schools at home and Saratoga vSprings. He was in 
the employ of the Delaware and Hudson Railway Company for eleven years in 
various positions. He was locomotive engineer the last five of the eleven years, 
and for some time was engineer of the Saratoga special passenger train. He de- 
cided to change from an engineer and set about educating himself for the gospel 
ministry. He took a partial course in the Colgate Academy, and was graduated 
from the Theological .Seminary at Hamilton in 1884. In 1881, when yet a student, 
he began to preach at the First Baptist church at Lansingburgh, was ordained in 
1882, and has been its pastor ever since with success. In 1884 he married L. Estella 
Holloway of Lansingburgh, by whom four children have been born: Ruby May, 
Flossie Millis, Myrtle Estella, and Lila. He is an honorary member of Division 87 
of B. of L. E. The father of Mr. Stanley, Frederick A., was born at the old home- 
stead, and married Delila Dickinson, by whom five children were born: Ethelbert 
A., Charles F., Frank I)., Fred A., and Hattie M. Mr. Stanley died about 1874 and 
his widow survives at this date, 1896. 'I'he ancestry of the famil)' is English and 
Dutch. 

Winslow, Joseph IL, was born in Argyle, Washington county, N. Y., January 11, 
1836. He was educated in the common .schools and Argyle Academy, coming to 
Troy at the age of si.xteen, where he was clerk in a grocery store for six years, then 
became proprietor of the concern with a capital of 850. In 1868-63 he did a business 
of 862,000 a year, and continued in this line for thirteen years. He then embarked in 



356 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

the real estate business, which he has since followed, having handled $20,000,000 
worth of real estate in twenty-seven years. Mr. Winslow has been married twice ; 
first in 1856 to Lany A. Hayner of the town of Brunswick, by whom he had two 
children : Edgar W. and Henrietta. Edgar W. is in partnership with his father in 
the real estate, loan and insurance busines at 13 State street, the firm name being 
J. H. Winslow & Co. Mrs. Winslow died in 1868 and November 17, 1870, he mar- 
ried Maria H. Dusenburgh of Brunswick, by whom he had one daughter, Jessie E. 
Edgar W. married Emma Chism, formerly of Schenectady, by whom he had one 
daughter, Viola M. Henrietta married Calvin H. Roberts of Troy, and they have 
one son, Leroy. Jessie E. married Fred L. Wheeler of Lansingburgh, assistant 
draughtsman in the employ of the Ludlow Valve Works. Mr. Winslow is a member 
of Trojan Lodge No. 27, L O. O. P., and trustee of the Ninth Presbyterian church 
of Troy. The ancestry of the family is English, German and Scotch. 

Strecker, Werner, was born in Alsfeld, duchy of Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany. 
February 26, 1837, being one of six children of a woolen manufacturer, five of whom 
have made this their adopted country. Werner Strecker attended the public schools 
until his fifteenth year, when he began the study of law in his native town with a 
prominent lawyer named Koch. Not feeling inclined to spend his best years in the 
German army, he took advantage of the law allowing young men under eighteen to 
leave their country and came to America in the vessel Merrimac, arriving in 
New York October 28, and in Troy, November 3, 1854. He learned the barber's 
trade, which he followed for several years. In 1860 he became a citizen of the 
United States, cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln for president, and has ever 
since been a staunch Republican. In 1861 he married a daughter of Lorenz Kirch- 
ner, who for many years conducted a custom boot and shoe business in Troy. His 
health failing he bought a farm near Egg Harbor, N. J., and left Troy on the mem- 
orable night of Lincoln's assassination, April 14, 1865. Two years later he removed 
to Boston, Mass., where he resumed his trac'le and joined the Turn Verein, of which 
he was president two years. In 1872 he removed to Greenfield, Mass., and engaged 
in the grocery business and in 1874 returned to Troy, where he opened a German 
school in Apollo Hall, which, with the assistance of his eldest daughter, he con- 
tinued for several years, having at times as many as eighty scholars. Meantime ho 
became interested in fire and life insurance, finally relinquished his school and is 
now a member of the insurance firm of MacDonald & Co. He has often i)resided at 
(lerman meetings, is a leader among his countrymen, assisted in organizing the 
(ierman Hall Association and is its secretary, is president of the German Repub- 
lican Club and is secretary of the Troy Turn Verein and German Club ; he is past 
master of Apollo Lodge No. 13, F. & A. M., whose members on February 24, 1885, 
presented him with a gold watch and chain, in appreciation of his labors among 
them. He was also the successful candidate in the Freie Deutsche Presse voting- 
contest as the most popular German of Troy. He is a favorite orator, an enterpris- 
ing citizen, and a successful business man. His children are Lorenzo, a druggist of 
(jloversville, N. Y. ; Edward, receiving teller of the Union National Bank of Troy; 
Minnie, wife of William Bayer of the firm of Bayer iV McConihe, and Bertha L. and 
Pauline E., at home. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 357 

In tracing the history of the Masters family, one of the oldest and most prominent 
in the county, we find that in 1716 Nicholas Masters, navigator and landed proprie- 
tor, came to this country from the Isle of Guernsey, crossing the Atlantic in a small 
vessel of which he was owner and commander. He landed at Stratford, L. I., and 
remamed there several years, engaged in trade with the West Indies. He married 
Elizabeth Shelton and removed to Woodbridge, Conn., where he purchased a large 
tract of land, known then, as now, as Grassy Hill. He left a large family of sons 
and daughters. One of the sons, James Masters, removed to Schaghticoke in 1783. 
bringing his family and household goods in three covered wagons. He also brought 
several slaves. The last night of the journey was passed at the Van der Heyden 
tavern in Troy, which at that time was a .small settlement of a few log houses. He 
purchased of Daniel Toll, of Schenectady, who married Maria Van Rensselaer, 
daughter and heir of the first patroon, a tract of land two miles square, on the north 
bank of the Hoosick River four miles east of the present village of Schaghticoke. 
and built the first frame house in that section, and moved into it from his tent in si.x 
weeks. He also built a saw mill, gristmill, and a mill for carding and dressing 
wool. He married three times and left three sons, Nicholas, James Shelton, and 
Josiah, and two daughters. Nicholas married Sally Phelps of Rupert, Vt. They 
had two sons, Nicholas Merrit and Albert Phelps, who were the pioneers of the pow- 
der manufacture in Schaghticoke, and were esteemed for intelligence and integrity 
of character. James Shelton, a farmer and merchant, was twice married, and had 
five sons and three daughters. Two of the sons died young. Robert was a mer- 
chant in "Saratoga county; James E. A. was a major in the U. S. navy and served 
in the war of 1812, and Phineas, a midshipman in the U. S. navy. The daughters 
were Mrs. Munson Smith and Mrs. Daniel Curtis of Schaghticoke and Mrs. Claudius 
Harrold of Cambridge, N.Y. Josiah was a prominent politician and statesman. He 
represented the county of Rensselaer in the Legislature four years, his district in 
Congress from 1806 to 1810; was for twenty five years first judge of the county, 'and 
for the last twelve judge of the Common Pleas. He held correspondence with the 
most distinguished men of his times, De Witt Clinton, John Randolph and many 
others. He married three times and was the father of four sons and five daughters. 
Of the sons Josiah was an ofiicer in the U. S. army; Samuel, a sea captain and con- 
sul to British Guiana under President Pierce; Augustus, who with Captain Nye, 
built the first elevators at the Atlantic docks, Brooklyn, was for many years engaged 
in the warehousing business. Justus was a merchant in Western New York. The 
married daughters were Mrs. Charles Stebbins, of Cazenovia; Mrs. A. B. Johnson, of 
of Utica, and Mrs. King, of New Haven, Conn. Nicholas Merrit, son of Nicholas, 
was a graduate of Union College, studied law at .Sandy Hill, was admitted to the 
bar in 1814, when he formed a partnership with Samuel Cheever of Troy, and prac. 
ticed for several years, until his health failing him he returned to the homestead in 
Schaghticoke. He was largely interested in the manufacture of gun powder, and 
was active and influential in all matters of public interest. He was for many years 
an elder in the Presbyterian church, held many offices in his town and county, was 
twice a member of the Legislature, and presidential elector when the vote of the 
State was cast for James K. Polk. In politics he was a Democrat until 1848, when 
his party refused to endorse the Wilmot proviso, he cast his vote for Martin \'an 
Buren and was one of the first and most active and infiuential supporters of the Re- 



358 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

publican party. He married Miss Ann Thomas of Sandy Hill m 1815 and was the 
father of John T. Masters, who was engaged with him in the powder business and 
also held the office of revenue collector for many years. Mr. Masters was an ardent 
Republican from the formation of the party, and from his personal popularity and 
influence occupied a prominent position in his locality, both politically and socially. 
He married Miss Mary Mowry of Greenwich; they had four children, all of whom 
died in youth and early manhood; a granddaughter, Mrs. Walter Cottrell of Green- 
wich, is the only descendant. Albert Phelps married Sally Rising of Rupert, Vt., 
in 1817. He died in 1854, leaving three sons, Josiah Rising, Edward Nicholas and 
Marshall, and one daughter, Mrs. George G. Arnold of Washington, D.C. Josiah R. 
was unmarried. Marshall married Lucy M. Benjamin of Pittstown ; they had three 
children, Frank A. and E. Shelton, who are engaged in the grocery trade in Troy, 
and Mrs. Calvin Lock wood of Brooklyn. Edward N. was born at Rupert, Vt., edu- 
cated at Burr Seminary, Poultney, Vt., studied law and was admitted to the bar in 
Utica, N. Y., in 1846, when he formed a partnership with Judge Isaac McConihe of 
Troy, but soon abandoned his profession and returned to Schaghticoke, where he 
was engaged in farming for many years. In 1850 he married Alice A., daughter of 
John R. and Clarissa (Goodrich) Le Barnes, of Sheffield, Mass. They had eight 
children: William B., Alice A., Mary E., Ellen, Annie, Edward B., John A. and 
Marshall A. ; of these, three died in childhood. In 1889 he removed with his re- 
maining family to Montrose, Col., where a daughter and two sons had preceded him, 
and where he recently died in January, 189fi. Mary E. in 1882 married Sterling S. 
Sherman, a prominent attorney <jf Montrose, formerly of Salem, N.Y. Edward H., 
a farmer, married in 188C Martha M. Ritter, of Williamsport, Pa. Marshall A., 
l)r()prietor of Montrose Wood and Metal Works, married Virginia F. Wright of 
North Branch. Va., in 1895. John A. removed to Jamestown, N I)., in 1894, where 
he is owner and manager of an electric light plant. In his j^olitical choice Mr. Mas- 
ters was a thorough Republican from the formation of the party, always a prominent 
leader in local politics and contributed largely to the success of the cause he sup- 
ported. The farm to which reference has been made and upon whose .soil the most 
of Ihe family whose history is here recorded were born, was a part of the original 
purchase of 1,600 acres by James Masters. It lies upon the l)road and beautiful 
highway running north and nearly parallel with the Hoosick River, on the bluff 
overlooking it, and is one of the most sightly and beautiful places in the county. 
This highway has been known as Masters street for nearly a century, and for a long- 
distance is shaded In' huge maples, which were saplings during the Revolutionary 
war. Until it passed out of the possession of the Masters family it had only been 
owned by the Dutch government and the Van Rensselaer family, and there had 
been but two sales of it since the discovery of the country by Columbus. 

Sambrook, George T., was born in London, England, in 181^9, married Susan 
Uignam in 1857 and later came to America and settled in Albany. Four and a half 
years afterward he removed to West Troy, now Watervliet. At the breaking out of 
the Civil war he enlisted in the9;^d Regiment, N. Y. Vols., and was wounded in the 
arm in the battle of the Wilderness. He is a member of (iriswold post, G. A. R. 
In 1865 Mr. Sambrook started in business as a florist at 712 to 72s Fifth avenue, for- 
merly called Groton street, with one greenhouse 70 t)y 16 feet in dimensions. He 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 369 

continued to extend the same until June, 1892, when he formed a copartnership with 
his son, George T., jr., at which time they demolished the old plant and built an 
entirely new plant in the newest style. The property comprises five greenhouses, 
each 10(1 by 20 feet, in which are grown all varieties of flowers, such as roses, car- 
nations, violets, smila.x, lilies, ferns, chrysanthemums, palms and orchids. They 
employ three expert florists and the plant is valued at $10,000. In August, 1887, 
the firm started a store at 413 Fulton street, Troy, which was enlarged and improved 
in 1892. George T. Sambrook, jr., entered the employ of Louis Menand in 1876 and 
remained thereuntil 1892, when he formed a copartnership with his father under 
the firm name of George T. Sambrook & Son. 

Anthony, J. Erwm, was born in Troy, N. Y., July 5, 1864, and is a son of Aaron 
C. and Lydia B. (Robinson) Anthony. He was given a common school education, 
and at the age of seventeen entered the employ of H. B. Nims&Co., later he became 
the assistant bookkeeper of the Wheeler & Wikson Machine Co., with whom he re- 
mained until July 1, 1884, when he entered the Troy Savings Bank as junior clerk 
and since has served as assistant receiving teller, and on April 7, 1898, was elected 
secretary and treasurer, succeeding Mr. Charles E. Hanaman who had been elected 
to the presidency of that institution. When the City Club was organized Mr. An- 
thony was elected its secretary. He married Mina A., daughter of Mr. Charles 
Moore of Troy. 

Roberts. John Wesley, was born in Valatie, Columbia county, N. Y., July 28, 1870, 
and wnth his parents moved to Troy, N. Y., in 1882. His father is John H. Roberts, 
who was born in Chatham, N. Y., and his mother was Sarah Helen Gilbert. He 
received his education in the public .schools of his birth-place and his adopted city 
and also by private instruction. He began the study of law in 1888 and was admitted 
to practice from the office of Rutus M. Townsend of Troy, in 1892. He began prac- 
tice alone in 1893. having then opened his office, and has built up a profitable and 
extensive law business. 

Harper, William J., was born in Troy in 1859. His father, Peter J., was born in 
Irelandand came to this country in 1840. He was for a number of years in the drug 
business in Cohoes. He died June 28, 1892. His mother, Mary E. (Rogerson) Har- 
per, was born in England and is at present living in Troy. William J. received a 
common school education ; he entered the Quackenbush dry goods store as clerk, and 
later was in the .same business with William Wilkinson, N. C. Winne &• Co., and 
later with Church & Phalen, and when the firm was made a stock company, he be- 
came one of the stockholders, and now Mr. Harper has charge of the ribbons, laces, 
etc. He is a member of King Solomon Lodge F. &• A. M., and is a tru.stee of the 
M. E. church of Lansingburgh. In 1889 he was married to Anna L. Blumer of vSyra- 
cuse, N. Y. His children are Edward and Viola. 

Tompkins. Clark J., was born in Dutchess county, November 12, 1838. He is a 
son of Jesse H. and AnnaTompkins. The grandfather of Mr. Tompkinswas Nathan- 
iel Tompkins of Dutchess county where he lived most of his life. The maternal 
grandfather was Aaron Tompkins, a native of Dutchess county, N. Y., who came to 
Nassau at a very early date. He spent his last days in Columbia county, N. Y. 
The father of Mr. Tompkins was a clothier by trade and also followed farming. He 



;?60 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

spent his last (lays in Westchester county, N. Y., and died October 11, 1894, and 
his wife died March 11, 1S88. Mr. Tompkins was reared at North Chatham and 
educated at that place. He has followed farming and lived in Columbiacounty until 
twenty-three years of age. He then moved to Saratoga county and then returned 
to Nassau; after a time he went to Columbia county and then to Westchester and 
remained there for thirteen years. In 1893 he bought the farm he now owns of 117 
acres. In 1861 he married Mary E. Bogert, a native of Albany county and daughter 
(if Jacob and Polly (Lester) Bogert; he spent his last days in Kansas, where his wife 
still lives. To Mr. and Mrs. Tompkins were born seven children: Edwin J., decea.sed ; 
Enoch J , Ella L., Frank B., Jennie H., all four of Westchester county, Je.ssie A. 
and Kittie M. at home. 

Haussler, Mrs. Marie, born Marie E. Healy, daughter of M. C. Healy of Benning- 
ton, Vt. Her late husband, Joseph H. Haussler of Hoosick Falls, died November 
29, 1895, and his death was felt as a pensonal loss by the whole community. His 
father, Joseph Haussler, came to Hoosick Falls in 1859, carrying on an extensive 
furniture and undertaking business on Classic street. Joseph H. Haussler was pos- 
sessed of many noble and generous qualities, aud his personal popularity was re- 
markable. In 1888 he was appointed postmaster under Cleveland and his admini- 
stration of that office was thoroughly efficient and prai.seworthy. He was a fine 
musician and always prominent in local musical circles, being musical director and 
organist of the Roman Catholic church for many years. Always actively instru- 
mental in advancing local business and social interests, his untimely death was a 
source of universal regret. 

Copeland, William H., first became associated with the Walter A. Wood Company 
in 1875, having prior to 1878 led a somewhat itinerant life. He was born at Holly, 
N. Y. , son of the late Jonathan Copeland, who was for fifty years a clergyman of the 
Presbyterian church and whose chosen field of labor of necessity precluded fixed 
residence. Mr. Copeland is very highly esteemed in the village of his adoption for 
his many sterling qualities. Since 1892 he has been paymaster of the Walter A. 
Wood Company. In 1881 he married Miss Julia Burchard of this place, daughter of 
an early settler here and an old family of much note. 

Sands, George E., was born in Troy, N. Y., March 10, 1861. His father, Daniel 
Sands, belonged to the 169th Regiment N. Y. Vols., and was killed in the battle of 
the Wilderness in 1864. His mother, Ellen (Maddigan) Sands, who died in 1885, 
came to this country from the county of Limerick, Ireland, when but achild. After 
receiving a public .school education he entered the Troy high school from which he 
graduated in 1879. He was for a number of years engaged in newspaper work. 
He has written atdifTerent times for the Standard, Telegram, and Troy Press and 
was at one time local managing correspondent of the Troy edition of the Albany 
Sunday Telegram. He was accountant in the city controller's office in 1889 and 
1890, during which time he pursued his study of law. He was court clerk for two 
years, and in 1894 resigned to give his attention to his law practice, which had be- 
come very extensive. He has been county committeeman of the Democratic party 
for several years. 

Rising, Charles H., was born in Westport, N. Y. , October 19, 1825. His early 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 361 

ancestors came from England about 165(3 and located in Boston, Mass. His great- 
grandfather, Benjamin Rising, settled in Southwick, Mass. His grandfather, 
Asahel Rising, was born in Southwick, Mass., and by trade was a clothier. He 
moved to Willsborough, N. Y., in 1796 and there built a woolen mill. He served in 
the war of 1812, as did his son, Roderick R. Rising. In 1816 he sold out his busi- 
ness and removed to Aurora, O., where he died. Charles H. Rising's father, Rod- 
erick R. Rising, was born in Southwick, Mass., January 19, 1794, and worked with 
his father in the woolen mills under the firm name of Asahel Rising & Son. He 
afterward removed to Westport, N. Y., where he continued the same business. He 
was married in 1820 to Lydia A. Fitch of Litchfield, Conn., a sister of Timothy 
I'^itch, who was secretary of the interior under President Fillmore. In 1832 he 
moved to Middlebury, Vt., where he was in the woolen manufacturing business for 
a time, returning to Westport four years later. He went out of business in 1850, 
and with his wife removed to Troy in 1859 to reside with his son, Charles H., where 
he died in 1880. Mr. Rising's mother died in 1878. Charles H. Rising received his 
education in the public schools at Middlebury, Vt., and the Westport, N. Y. , Acad- 
emy. In 1838 he went to Ausable Forks and was employed in stores there and at 
Clintonville three and a half years. In July, 1842, he came to Troy and worked in 
the dry goods stores of Jared Brewster and Augustus C. Taylor about four years, 
when he became a partner of E. B. Strout, the firm name being E. B. Strout & Co. , 
who conducted a wholesale millinery business. Three years later Mr. Strout re- 
tired, James F. Stephens and Charles H. Rising having purchased his interest m the 
concern, the firm being Stephens & Rising. Three years later Mr. Stephens retired, 
he being succeeded by Rufus S. Munn, the firm being Rising & Munn. Mr. Rising 
continued in business alone until 1873, when his son, Charles G., was made a part- 
ner, and the firm was Charles H. Rising & Son until the death of the latter in 1881. 
When Mr. Rising entered upon a business career in Troy the transactions in his es- 
tablishment were comparatively small, but by his untiring zeal and energy and the 
display of rare business tact, within a few years his store became one of the largest 
of its kind in the State outside of New York city. Mr. Rising retired from business 
soon after the death of his son and partner. He is one of the oldest members of 
Mt. Zion Lodge, F. & A. M., in which he holds a life membership. He was elected 
supervisor from the Second ward in 1871 and was the first Democrat to hold that 
office in over twenty years. He was also a director in the Central National Bank 
for twenty-five years. His grandparents, as well as his mother's family, were 
Church of England people. Mr. Rising has always attended the Episcopal church 
and his family are communicants. He married Elizabeth R. Gould, daughter of 
Col. Samuel P. Gould, one of the earliest settlers of Rochester, N. Y., in 1853. She 
died in 1859, leaving one son, Charles Gould Rising. His present wife is Emma, 
daughter of Anthony Seiler of Troy, to whom he was married in 1867. They have 
one son, Harold C. Rising, a lawyer of Troy, who was born in 1872. 

Collins, Hon. Michael F., son of Patrick Collins, a tailor by trade, was born in 
Troy, September 27, 1854. His father came to Troy from County Limerick, Ireland, 
in 1848 and died here in 1876. Mr. Collins was educated in the public and high 
schools, and the Christian Brothers' Academy. He learned the trade of printer on 
the " Troy Weekly " under A. S. Pease, and later held a case on the " Troy Press" 
ti 



362 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

imder Palmer & Clark. Durin;^ the printers' strike of 1877, he and seven others 
started the "Troy Evening Standard," of which he was city editor He resigned 
this jiosition in 1879 and purchased of A. B. Elliott, the " Sunday Trojan," which he 
changed to the "Troy Observer" and of which he has since been the proprietor. 
He has made the Observer one of the best and most influential Sunday papers in 
Eastern New York. Mr. Collins has always been an active Democrat and in 1885 
was appointed a civil service examiner by Mayor Fitzgerald and held the office two 
years. In the fall of 1885 he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the Assembly 
from the First Troy district over James P. Hooley, the workingmen's candidate, and 
Samuel Morris, Republican, and was re-elected in 1886, serving in both sessions on 
the committee on commerce and navigation, printing and military affairs. In 1887 
he was nominated and elected State Senator for the Rensselaer-Washington county 
district over James H. Manville, Republican, by about 2,800 majority. The district 
was ordinarily Republican by about 3,500, which was his majority in 1889, when he 
was re-elected over James C. Rogers. In the Senate he served on the committees 
on state prisons, printing, canals and villages. In 1890 he ran for Congress against 
John A. Quackenbush and was defeated by about 1,100. The next year he was again 
nominated for State Senator, but was defeated by John H. Derby by 6C1 votes. In 
1893 he was renominated by the Democrats in the new Rensselaer-Columbia district 
and was again elected to the Senate by 5,876 over Sheppard Tappen. During this 
term he was a member of the committees on taxation and retrenchment, villages, 
state prisons and affairs of towns and counties. Mr. Collins has been a member and 
secretary of the Democratic County Committee for several years, is secretary of the 
Troy Democratic Club and is a member of the Elks and Robert Emmet Association. 
In 1880 he married Caroline E., daughter of William O'Sullivan of Troy, and they 
have six children: C. Alice, Francis M., Catherine, J. Edward, Helen and Marie. 

Hartigan, Morris H., was born in Troy, N. Y. , November 12, 1865. His father, 
Richard K. Hartigan, was born in Ireland and came to Troy in 1852 and for many 
years he was a shipper in the firm of Robinson, Church & Co., then went on the 
Troy city police force where he remained for eight years and has since retired. His 
mother, Mary (Day) Hartigan, was born in Ireland and died in Troy June 3, 1878. 
Morris received his education in the public schools and the Christian Brothers' Acad- 
emy ; at the age of thirteen years he entered the dry goods firm of J. B. Hall as 
cash boy, and later entered the dry goods house of Church & Phalen, now the Andrew 
M. Church Co., where he remained sixteen years, when with his cousin the firm of 
J. J. & M. H. Hartigan, was established at 79 and 81 Congress street in 1894. He is a 
member of the Robert Emmet Association. 

Goldstone, Michael, now deceased, was born in Karnick, Germany, in 1824; at the 
age of twenty he went to Berlin and learned the tailoring trade and came to 
America in 1846; after one year in New York city he married a Miss Goldie Jerkow- 
ski and later came to Troy, where he engaged in the tailoring business and soon 
had a small store. He was then located opposite the old court house ; from this place 
he removed to 116| Congress street, where he remained for fourteen years, when he 
purchased the buildings at 105-107 Congress street. After the death of his wife, 
which occurred March 8, 1870, the business was conducted by Nathaniel, who built 
up so great a trade that it became necessary to further enlarge the establishment in 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 363 

order to keep up with the demands of trade, and in 1888 the younger sons James 
and Benjamin, were added to the firm and Nathaniel entered the manufacture of 
clothmg in New York city and is at present located at 721 and 723 Broadway 
Michael Goldstone died March 31, 1894. He was a member of the Third Street 
synagogue, also a member of Jermah Lodge No. 78, K. S. B., and Bnai Berith 
Since his death the business is conducted by James and Benjamin under the firm 
name of Goldstone Brothers. The business has gained fast in reputation and to-day 
among our business men none are more highly respected. 

Adams. Myron J., was born in Troy, N.Y., November 10, 1872. He was educated 
in the public schools of Troy and the Troy Business College. He has had a variety 
of occupations. On January 1, 1894. he was made secretary and treasurer of the 
Troy Carriage Works here : he had been nominally so for some time. He is also a 
dealer in the talking machine, graphophones, and cuckoo clocks, having a large 
assortment and variety on hand continually. His father, Charles H.. was born in 
Troy in 1845; he was educated in the public schools, and was in business with 
Fuller & Warren in manufacturing stoves for several years. He was internal 
revenue collector for several years. About 1876 he became associated with J. T. & 
P. Pine with a Mr. Dunham in the collar and cuff business until 1878. He married 
IdaE. Viets of the town of Schaghticoke, by whom he has had three children: 
Myron J. (the subject of this sketch), Lottie E., and Kate, who died in infancy. Mr. 
Adams died August 2, 1878; his widow survives at this date (1896). The ancestry of 
the family is German and New England stock. 

Schmidt, Neil, was born in Germany, October 25, 1860, and was educated in their 
schools, and in the spring of 1878 came to the United States and located in Lansing- 
burgh. He was a manufacturer and upholsterer in furniture, which business he 
followed for nine years with success. March 13, 1882, he married Helena Paterson 
of his native country, by whom six children have been born, four sons an* two 
daughters, Joanna. Iyer, Charles, Alfred, Helen and Neil, jr. Mr. and Mrs. 
Schmidt are members of the Danish Lutheran church. He is a member of Phoenix- 
Lodge No. 58, F. &• A. M., of Lansingburgh. The family are of Danish origin on 
both sides. 

Derrick, Charles E., was born in Pittstown, November 12, 1842, and was educated 
in the public schools and Lansingburgh Academy, and has always followed farming. 
He came to Lansingburgh and took up his residence with his parents. April 1, 1858. 
it was originally a land grant to Florris Banker for services rendered in the Revo- 
lutionary war. This residence was erected in 1789. December 6, 1865, he married 
Sarah E. Brewster of Brunswick, by whom two children have been born: Willard U. 
and Bessie F. Mr. Derrick and son have a milk route in Lansingburgh. conducted 
under the firm name of C. E. Derrick & Son. The father of Mr. Derrick. Hiram, 
was born in the town of Brunswick, September 18. 1810. He married Caroline Der- 
rick, by whom three children have been born: Jane C, Sarah F^., and Charles E. 
Mr. Derrick died May 28, 1892, and his wife died September 13, 1852. The grand- 
father of Mr. Derrick, Adam Derrick, was born in 1788. The father of Mrs. Derrick, 
Benjamin Brewster, was born in this town in 1814. He married Marcia Ladd. by 
whom four children were born: Peter A., Sarah E., Alice P.. and Benjamin O. L. 



364 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Mr. Brewster died in 1852 and his widow survives at this date, 1890. The family on 
both sides were soldiers in the Revolutionary war and in the war of 1812. The an- 
cestry of the family is Dutch. 

Frazer, Ira G., Dr., was born in Cherry Valley, N. Y., April 20, 1808, and was edu- 
cated in the schools of that early day. His parents moved to Warren county when 
he was about nine years old, and when about sixteen years of age he ran away with 
the Seminole Indians to Florida. They were at war with the United States, who 
were trying to drive the Indians out of the swamp. The doctor was with a medicine 
man all the time he was with them. He learned much of his skill in treating cancers 
and other chronic diseases with his natural ability, and his fame is well known at 
home and abroad; he has resided in Rensselaer county for over fifty years. He has 
married three times, first, to Nancy Green of Cambridge, Washington county, and 
had one son, Ira E. ; for his second wife he married Eunice Webb of Chenango 
county, and had two daughters: Adelaide and Kate; for his third wife he married 
Mrs. Harriet Gaylord, born Watkins. His son Ira E. married Ruth Wilson, by 
whom three children have been born: Ira, Jesse, and Jane. Adelaide married Will- 
iam Ingalls of this place, and has four children : William J., John, Adelaide, and 
Lillie. Kate married Walter Coon of Troy. The ancestry of the familj' is New 
England stock of Scotch extraction. 

Wood, George C, was born in Lansingburgh, February 25, 1846, and was educated 
in the public schools. In August, 1863, he enlisted in Co. I, 21st Cavalry, New York 
Vols., and was honorably discharged May 29, 1865. He returned to Lansingburgh 
and engaged in the teaming business and was for eighteen j'ears with a large drj- 
goods store in New York city. He afterwards returned to Lansingburgh* and re- 
sumed the teaming business, and also contracting the excavations of foundations of 
l)uildings. He had two brothers in the war: Artumes and Frank B. November 24, 
1867, he married Myra Van Antwerp who bore him four children; Nellie F. , Benja- 
min C, Clara B., and Louisa W. Mrs. Wood died February 12, 1884. His father, 
Artumes R. , was born in Boston in 1804, and was educated in the common schools, 
and came here when a young man. He was married twice, first, to Marj'^ Curran, 
and had three sons: Henry, Charles, and Artumes. For his second wife he married 
Louise Wilson of Albany and had four children: Caroline A., Frank B., George C, 
and Harriet. Mr. Wood died in 1856 and his wife died December 12, 1872. The 
ancestry of the family is English and Dutch. 

Brown, Amos W., wasljorn in Lansingburgh, N.Y., January 32, 1828. His parents 
removed to Troj' when he was nine years old, where he was educated in the public 
schools. He then learned the trade of brush making and has manufactured brushes 
for the last thirty years. In 1858 he married Jane Hackett of Lansingburgh, by 
whom he had three children: Asa W., Addie, who died at the age of nine, and 
Alfred. Asa W. married Harriet Niel of Staten Island, where the}' reside; and 
Alfred lives at home. Mr. Brown's father, Malachai, was born in Albany county 
about 1805, and was a cabinet maker by trade, coming to Lansingburgh when 
twenty-three years of age. He married Eliza Dunlap of this place, by whom he had 
five children: Asa, Emma, Amos W., and two who died in infancy. Mr. Brown 
died in 1858, and his wife, in 1842. The grandfather, Asa Brown, was l)orn in Con- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 365 

necticut. A relative of his, Robert Wendell, bought the Stone Arabia Patent here. 
The family is of Scotch origin. 

Mathisen, John, was born in North Schleswig, Denmark, April 8, 1863. He was 
educated in their schools, and afterwards learned the blacksmith trade. He came 
to the United States in 1882 and worked for others until 1887, when he began busi- 
ness on his own account on the Brunswick road, and came to Lansingburgh in 1891, 
where he is doing general blacksmithing. He makes a specialty of horseshoeing 
and fine plate work for trotting horses. In March, 1884, he married Annie Nesan, 
of Lansingburgh, formerly of his native place, by whom he had two children: Lillie 
and Carl. The family are of Danish origin. 

Chase, Alanson P., was born in Easton, Washington county, N. Y., February 2, 
1821. He was educated in the district schools and has always been a farmer. He 
has married twice, first in 1851 to Esther Wood of this town; they had one son, Am- 
brose S. Mrs. Chase died in 1876. For his second wife, on February 22, 1877, he 
married Mrs. Mary D. Searles, born Herbert, of Saratoga Springs. They have one 
son, Herbert P., who is a farmer at home with his father. Ambrose S. has married 
twice, first to Hattie De Freest of the town of Halfmoon, Saratoga county, N. Y. 
They had one daughter, Florence S. Mrs. Chase died in April, 1888. For his sec- 
ond wife he married Nellie Hornby of Cohoes, N. Y., and they have two children: 
Nina and Ralph. Mr. Chase's father, William, was born in Rhode Island in ]S()2, 
and came to this part of the State with his parents when he was two years old. He 
married Adeline Peckham, and they had four children: Alanson P., as above, Mary 
J., William J., and Albert. Mr. Chase died in 1876; his wife died in 18?,8. The 
family attend the Reform church. In his political choice he is a staunch Republican. 
There were five brothers in his father's family, all over six feet tall. The family are 
of English and New England origin. 

Breese, WiUiam H., was born in Hoosick, N. Y., in 1840. He is of Dutch descent 
on the paternal side and French on the maternal side. His great-grandfather was 
in the Revolutionary war. His grandfather, Ichabod Bump, died in Hoosick at the 
age of 100 years, 6 months and 10 days Henry Breese, grandfather on his father's 
side, was a mason and lived in Sandy Hill and was a canal contractor, and died at 
the age of ninety-three. His father, William Breese, was also born in Hoosick and 
at one time. lived in Troy. He died in 1852. His mother, Deborah (Bump) Breese, 
is now living in Hoosick. William H. received his education in the schools of 
Hoosick and entered a hotel as an employee. He later moved to Cohoes and came 
to Troy in 1856 and went in business on Union street opjjosite the depot. He was 
burned out in 1862, losing everything he had. He then started a restaurant in 
Rand's Hall on Congress street, and later opened a restaurant on Third street, where 
he is at present. He married in 1861 Miss Ellen Cook of Troy, by whom he has one 
son, William Breese, jr. 

Winkler, Emil F., was born in (Jermany, March 1!), 1854, received a good educa- 
tion in his native country, came to America in 1871, and first settled in Holyoke, 
Mass., where he engaged in the wool industry. In 1877 he removed to Troy, and 
since then has been engaged in the restaurant business, becoming proprietor of the 
Alhambra Hotel, March 24, 1887. He is prominent in secret societies and other or- 



366 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

ganizations; in March, 1882, he was initiated in Rensselaer Lodge No. 53, LO.O.F., 
(jf Troy, and in July, 1884, became its noble grand. In January, 1885, he was ap- 
pointed grand secretary by D. D. G. M. William Hare and in August of the same 
year, grand marshal by D.D.G.M. Porter; he held the latter position two years and 
in August, 1891, was reappointed by D. D. G. M. D. G. Face. In March, 1893, he 
he was elected D. D. G. M. He is one of the foremost and ablest Odd Fellows in 
the State. In 1888-89 he was grand master of the Order of Druids of the State of 
New York, and since 1888 has been one of the grand representatives to the Supreme 
Lodge of the United States. He is a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias, 
was one of the founders of the German Hall Association, and for several years has 
been president of the body. In 1875 he married Bertha Page of South Hadley Falls, 
Mass. 

Randel, Charles D., son of Adonijah and Catherine (Van Houten) Randel, was 
born in Goshen, N. Y., November 18, 1839, and is of English and Holland descent. 
He first associated himself in the manufacture of brushes with his father in Williams- 
burgh (now a part of Brooklyn), N. Y., and when nineteen learned the trade of 
watch case making with Samuel S. Bowman of New York city. He followed this 
for two and one-half years and then moved with the family to Ballston, Saratoga 
county, where he was employed for two years in his father's saw mill. Returning to 
New York, he engaged in brush making, but soon learned the wax trade and fol- 
lowed it eight years. In 1882 he came to Troy, bringing a ha3'-band plant to the 
Griswold Wire Works and operating it until 1887, when he began the manufacture 
of buttonholes on contract. In 1888 he purchased the GifFord House on Congress 
street and has since been its proprietor. He is a member of Atlas Lodge No. 31(i, 

F. & A. M., and Silver Brook Lodge No. 722, I. O. O. F., both of New York. In 
1870 he married Mary Frances Stine of New York city, and they have one son: 
Francis Sylvester. 

Campbell, William G. P., was born in Nottingham, England, December 25, 1825. 
He was educated in their schools and came to this country with the family of seven 
including himself, when he was eighteen years of age. They located in Troy, N.Y., 
where he found employment as a dry goods clerk, and was as a father to the whole 
family. August 31, 1850, he married Charlotte Clarkson, of his native place, one of 
his school-mates, by whom he has had nine children: Murray P., Anne M., Charles 
W., Agnes S., Charlotte, George, who died when he was two years of age, Albert S., 
Harvey C, and Nellie G. Murray P. married Annie Stryker of Lansingburgh, by 
whom he has had six children: Matilda S., Charlotte Mabel, Paul W., Stryker J., 
Clarkson M., and Annie W. Annie W. married Harry Lee, formerly of England ; 
they had five children: Annie M., John ()., Elizabeth, Caroline H., and Elsie C. 
Charles W. married Elizabeth Austin of Lansmgburgh, by whom he has had three 
children: Grace, Leslie and George W. Agnes S. married Frederick Sanford of 
Green Island. Charlotte married married Arthur Keefe; they have had one daughter, 
Helen. Albert S. married Elmira Bell, by whom he had two children : Harold J. 
and Laura. Harvey C. married Martha D. Washburn, of Vineland, N. J. Nellie (L 
resides at home. Mr. Campbell's father, Murray, was born m England about tlie 
year 1785. He married Annie Webster, by whom he had seven children: William 

G. P., subject of this sketch, Sophia, John, and Frederick (two girls and one boy 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 367 

died in infancy). Mr. Campbell died in 1832, and his widow in 1885. The subject 
has 100 acres of fruit and market gardens, with eleven hot-houses, and seven miles 
of under drams. The ancestry of the family is Scotch and English. 

Snyder, James M., was born in Ballston Spa, Saratoga county, N. Y. July 21 1845 
His parents moved to Troy when he was a young boy, and he was educated in the 
public schools. In July, 1862, he enlisted in Co. F, 125th N. Y. Vols., was made 
prisoner at Harper's Ferry under General Miles, and was paroled. He afterwards 
served in the department of the Army of the Potomac, and was honorably discharged 
at the close of the war. He returned to Troy, N. Y., and entered the employ of the 
Chamberlain Coach Manufactory of North Troy, and after two years entered the 
employ of Du.senbury & Anthony, wholesale dealers m coffee and .spices, with whom 
he remained ten years He has held different positions in the post-office in Troy for 
seventeen years. He has been in the employ of Earl & Wilson, collar and cuff man- 
ufacturers, for the past ten years and superintendent six years. He has married 
twice, first in 1866, to Elizabeth Hardy of Troy; they had two children, Harry H. 
and Elizabeth R. Harry H. married Mamie Bagley of Troy, and is inspector in the 
laundry department of Earl & Wilson. Mrs. Snyder died in 1883, and for his .second 
wife, in July, 1886, he married Helen L. Colden, of Lansingburgh, N. Y., and they 
have two children, Arthur C. and Katherine L. He is a member of Jerusalem Lodge 
No. 355, F. & A. M. and has been its master two years; he is also a member of Will- 
iam B. Tibbitts Post No. 141 G. A. R. and at different times has been its commander 
for four years. The ancestry of this family is German and English. 

Hart, William Howard, was born in Troy in November, 1820, and was the oldest 
son of Richard P. Hart, one of the most successful merchants Troy ever produced, 
who accumulated a large estate and left a large family. When twelve years of age 
William Howard Hart was placed in the school of George W. Francis, one of the 
most celebrated teachers of that day. Here the foundation of a fine education was 
laid. In 1837 Mr. Hart went to Canada, where he was placed under the instruction 
of Father Migneau, where he remained one year. In 1838, in company with E. 
Thompson Gale, he made a tour of the United States, and the year following both 
began a two years' trip through Europe, Asia and Africa In 1845 Mr. Hart married 
MaryE., daughter of Jacob L. Lane, who survives him. He was always promi- 
nently identified with the business interests of Troy, and as a public-spirited citizen 
he was counted among the best that Troy ever produced. He spent his business life 
in the care of the large estate left by his father and in the care of his mother's estate, 
which he conducted under her supervision up to the time of his death. His mother's 
estate was very large, aggregating several millions. He was also a director of the 
Troy City Bank, a trustee of the Troy Savings Bank and a director of the local rail- 
roads. He was deeply versed in the literature of the day and a most genial com- 
panion in social life. He never cared to assume the duties of a political position, 
but the city of his nativity was his pride and its every onward step in the march of 
commercial progress gave him unbounded delight. Within his bosom there beat a 
heart .so warm and true that men were proud of his acquaintance and jealous of his 
friendship. To the friendless and unfortunate he was ever kind, and many young 
orphans of Troy were often made glad through his bounty. 

Kelly, John P., was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1860. His father, Patrick Kelly, was 



368 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

born in Ireland, came to this country and settled in North Greenbush, N. Y. For 
many years he took contracts, he afterwards was assistant superintendent of the 
Troy Gas Light Co. He went to the public school in the town of North Greenbush 
and afterwards studied law with Thomas Neary of Troy. He then learned the 
moulder's trade and worked at that for some time. He was admitted to the practice 
of law from the office of Judge Strait, and with the late Judge Robertson and Sam- 
uel Foster under the firm name of Robertson, Foster & Kelly, which continued until 
January 1, 1888, when he having been appointed assistant district attorney by the 
Hon. L. E. Griffith, left the firm and was afterward appointed district attorney by 
Governor Hill to fill a vacancy caused by the promotion of L. E. Griffith to the ofticc 
of county judge. He was elected district attorney in 1890 and re-elected in 1892, 
and he is now serving his second term. He was attorney for the Board of Super- 
visors in 1886. He was president of the Young Men's Catholic Literary Association, 
when it was the leading young men's association of the kind in Northern New York. 
He is now a member of the firm of Foster, Kelly & Isenbergh. 

Marsh, Peletiah J., was born in the town of Grafton, Rensselaer county, N. Y., 
September 14, 1829, and came to the town of Brunswick with his parents, when a 
boy, where he was educated in the district schools, and prepared for college with the 
Rev. John Smith. He was graduated from Union College in 1853. In the year 1858 
he came to Troy, N. Y., and entered the Troy Cordage Co., until the war was com- 
menced. He was then actively engaged in many ways in connection with supplying 
the government with war material in connection with George C. Strong, who had 
charge of the Arsenal horses, hay, oats, etc. His first marriage was to Eliza A. 
Bailey, and had one son, James P., who is a physician in the city of Troy. For his 
second wife he married Elizabeth Bailey, and had one daughter, Lucy, and for his 
third wife he married Selia E. Tracy, of Parma, Monroe county, N. Y., and had two 
children, a daughter and a son. Ada, who is a graduate of Lascelles College, Au- 
burndale, Mass., and George T., who is a junior in Yale University. Mr. Marsh's 
father was Prentiss W., who was born in Hebron, Conn., in 1800. He married 
l^aura Filley, of Petersburgh. They had two children: Lucy A. and Peletiah J. 
The family are members of the Westminster Presbyterian church. In his political 
choice he is a Democrat. His son George T. is a member of the celebrated Henley 
Crew of 189G. They trace the ancestry to Salem, Mass., to 1635, English and Welsh. 
Mr. Marsh is a real estate dealer with his office in Albany, N. Y. 

Gooding, Mrs. Charlotte S., widow of the late Hiram M. Gooding, was Charlotte 
S. Fenton, daughter of Zalmon Fenton, w^ho died in 1882 at the advanced age of 
eighty-five. He was born in the town of Jackson in 1797, .son of Benjamin and Anna 
Wells Fenton, from whom he inherited a vigorous constitution. He also posses.sed 
a shrewd business policy, and, although thrown on his own resources, made a finan- 
cial success. He married in 1823 Pamela Hickok, by whom he had eight children 
and all lived to witness the celebration of the golden wedding of their parents. He 
conducted the Fenton House at Cambridge many years and was familiarly known 
as "Uncle Zal," and by his cheerful disposition and kind and generous nature his 
memory will live in the hearts of both young and old. Only one sister of the 
twelve children of his father's family survived him. Mrs. Gooding was left at the 
death of her husband with six children; Mary Amelia, Julia Parnell, Hetty Maria, 



i 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 369 

Walter Cyrus, Emily J., and Edna Sidelia. One infant son died in 1871 aged six 
months. 

Ennis, George H., was born in Albany, N. Y., October U, 1844. He is the sou of 
William Ennis, who was born in Troy and for many years was an inventor in New 
York city, and died in 1880. His mother's name was Ehzabeth Roderick of Albany, 
now dead many years. His grandmother's name was Esther Orr, a sister of Alex- 
ander, William and David Orr, of Albany and Troy, who died a few years ago at an 
advanced age. George H. received his education in public schools and entered the 
College of the City of New York, and was afterwards a bookkeeper for Rufus Hatch 
on Wall street. He later came to Troy and entered the employ of Orrs & Co. where 
he remained until 1883, when he entered the firm of McLeod, Reardon & Co., after- 
wards Reardon & Ennis, and the concern was incorporated and name changed to 
the Troy Sheet Metal Co. He was president of the Crown Horse Nail Co., which 
closed business in 1893, and he is an inventor among other things of a hat felting 
machine, paper engine, ventilator and power ventilation system, high tension 
dynamic electro-motors; several inventions for household uses, as round dustpan, 
ventilated dinner pail, ice cream freezers, gas engines, &c. He is an associate mem- 
Ijcr of the Rensselaer Society of Engineers and one of the managers of the Troy 
Scientific Association, and served in the N. Y. National Guard, 32d Regt., and was 
in the Gettysburg Campaign. He is P. C. of Post Griswold G. A. R., and belongs to 
Apollo Lodge, F. & A. M. Was secretary of Electric Manufacturing Co., manufac- 
turers of electric instruments; also secretary of Rollason Gas Engine Co. ; was also 
president of Master Builders' Exchange of Troy. He was married to Jessie Ferguson 
in 1872. She was a graduate of the Willard Seminary. They have one son and a 
daughter. 

Averill, James Knox, was born in Sand Lake, Rens.selaer county, N. Y., October 
12, 1846, and is the son of James Gill Averill and Clarissa Sluyter. He is line&Uy 
descended in the fifth generation from Isaac Averill, the original Puritan emigrant, 
who settled in Topsfield, Mass. Mr. Averill married Rebecca Jane, daughter of John 
F. Davis, of Warren, Pa.. February 4, 1886. He entered Yale College in 1865, but 
temporary illness and straitened finances interrupted his studies and induced him to 
teach school at Berlin, N. Y. In 1867 he entered Columbia Law School, graduating 
two years later, and was admitted to the bar in Troy. From 1869 to 1873 he prac- 
ticed in New York in connection with his brother, Horatio F. Averill, and Hon. 
Thomas Allison; from 1873 to 1877 he practiced alone; while from 1877 to 1883 he 
practiced in Troy in partnership with the late Hon. Albert E. Wooster, then district 
attorney of Rensselaer county. Since 1884 he has practiced alone in New York 
city, where he has been the attorney in many cases of great importance. In recent 
years Mr. Averill has spent much time and money in the development of that part 
of his native town now known as Averill Park. In May, 1895, he organized a syn- 
dicate of Troy capitalists and built so much of the Troy and New England Railroad 
as is located between Troy and Averill Park. He has since conveyed more than 300 
acres of his holdings there to the Averill Park Land Improvement Company. From 
1877 to 1880 Mr. Averill was somewhat active in local politics, and as a delegate to 
the Democratic State Convention in 1879 the resolutions adopted by the conven- 



370 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

tion were, in the main, prepared by him. He has never been a candidate for public 
office. 

Finder, jr., William, M. 1)., was born October 11, 1855, second of eleven children 
born to William and Martha Finder, who came from Germany in 1858. Dr. Fmder 
was educated in the common schools and Troy Academy, and began the study of 
medicine with Dr. William S. Cooper; in 1879 entered the medical department of 
Columbia College, and was graduated in 1882 with the degree of M. D. June 15, 
1883, he was graduated from the Long Island College Hospital with the degree of 
M. D. In the latter institution he was instructor in histology and pathology. He 
began the practice of his profession in Troy in 1883, and has been successful. He 
is a member of the New York State Medical Association, of which he was one of the 
organizers, a member of the Rensselaer County Medical Society, and was one of the 
organizers and has been president of the Medical Society of Troy and Vicinity: is 
a member of the Troy Scientific Association, the Troy Microscopical Society, and of 
the Medical Board of the Troy Hospital, of which he is pathologist and bacteriologist, 
and is instructor in physiology and hygiene in Troy Academy. He is a 82' Mason, 
a member of all the Masonic bodies of Troy, the Albany Consistory, and Nobles of 
the Mystic Shrine ; also the Laureate Boat, Ionic, and Pafraets Dael Clubs. He is 
medical examiner for several insurance companies. In 1883 he married Elva A. De 
Freest of Troy, who bore him two children, Elva and Martha (twins), who died 
young. Mrs. Finder was principal of the Third Ward Intermediate School before 
her marriage. Dr. Finder is a Republican; he attends the First Presbyterian 
church, and his wife is a member of the State Street M. E. church. 

Van Schoonhoven, William H. , son of Jacob Lansing and Mary Jane (Haight) Van 
Schoonhoven, was born in Troy, N.Y. , August 35, 1849, and descends from an old 
and honored Holland family. His father, Jacob L., married, first, Harriet M. 
Yvonnet, of French descent, who died August 1, 1842; second, Mary Jane Haight, 
who died February 19, 1858; and third, Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. John Chester, 
one of the early presidents of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. His children 
were Harriet M., James, Jane, Elizabeth (deceased), Francis Y., Mary, William H., 
Elizabeth L. (deceased), Alida L., and Lan.sing. William H. Van Schoonhoven was 
born in Troy, August 35, 1849, was educated at the Troy Academy and at private 
schools in Westchester, N. Y., and was graduated from Yale College in 1870. He 
read law with Gale & Alden of Troy, was admitted to the bar in January, 1874, and 
since practiced his profession in his native city. He is a director of the Central 
National Bank and the Samaritan Hospital, a trustee of the Second Street Presby- 
terian church, and a member of the board of managers and house committee of the 
Troy Club. 

Abbott, Joseph J., was born in Amsterdam in 1884. He learned the business of 
wagon and carriage building in Pittstown, and started in business in 1860. He 
came to Lansingburgh in 1871, where he started in business for himself, engaging 
in the manufacture of carriages. Mr. Abbott employs power in his business and 
does all parts of the work, not employing any of the common machine parts in his 
business at all. His work has a reputation all through the vicinity. He married 
Helen Ives, by whom six children have been l)orn: Jo.sephine, Jennie L., F. Van 
Celia, William J., Charles H., and Bertha. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 371 

Angeleum, Timothy F., was born in Albany county, December 20, 1859. He is a 
son of Timothy and Catherine (Cron) Angeleum, who came from Ireland to this 
country in 18B7. He died in 1888 and his wife is living in Albany county, and is a 
sister of Terrence Cron, a prominent man in Ireland and a great friend of Daniel 
O'Connell. Timothy F. was graduated from the Albany High School in 1874 and 
went as fireman of a locomotive on the New York Central railroad for about five 
years, when he went to clerk in a dry goods store and later sold goods for the mills 
in Cohoes, and also took the entire product of the G. A. Hubbard factory of ladies* 
underwear and sold on commission for twelve years, and during that time never 
lost an account. In 1892 he formed a partnership with C. R. Ralston who have 
since manufactured ladies' waists, wrappers, etc., under the firm name of T. F. 
Angeleum & Co. They have a factory in Voorheesville, where they employ eighty 
people. In 1885 he married Kitty Noonan, of Troy. 

Allendorph, William P.. was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1850. He is of Holland 
Dutch descent. William Allendorph, sr. , was born in Troy, and died in 188G. His 
mother was Mary E. (Simmons) Allendorph. He received his education in the pub- 
lic schools, took a course in the R. P. I., and became connected with the National 
Bank of Troy in 1883 as bookkeeper; five years later he was made teller, and in 
April, 1896, was elected cashier, which position he now holds. He married, in 1S73, 
Miss Anna Lape of Troy, N.Y. 

Frezon, jr., William H., was born in Schodack, July 7, 1867. He was a son of 
William H. and Catherine (Litch) Frezon, he born in Schodack in 1836. The father 
of Mr. Frezon was a carpenter and stonemason by trade. He has also followed 
farming, but now lives a retired life. He has been commissioner and ta.x collector. 
Mrs. Frezon died November 5, 1886. Mr. Frezon was reared and educated in Scho- 
dack, and is an engineer and machine tender for Engles & Co., who manufacture 
heavy building boards in Castleton, N. Y. Januarj' 17, 1869, he married Annie 
Lenhard of Schodack, by whom have been born three children : Jennie, Minnie and 
Edward. Mr. Frezon is a member of Shadyside Lodge No. 721, 1. O. O. F. He has 
been inspector and trustee of the Union Free School of Schodack, N. Y. He now 
owns twenty-eight acres of land, which was once owned by Tobias J. Woodbeck, 
who is now buried in the place, and was also owned by the grandfather and father 
of Mr. Frezon. The grandparents of Mr. Frezon were Barent Frezon and Elida 
(Hawes) Frezon, both born in Schodack. The father of Barent was John, a son of 
Peter Frezon, who came from France to Ghent, Columbia county, N. Y. 

Brenner, Fred G., born in Germany, October 18, 1860, came to America with his 
parents, who settled in Elmira, where he was educated in the public schools. He 
entered the office of the Husbandman and learned the printer's trade and afterward 
was placed in charge of the mechanical department of the Elmira Free Press, which 
was consolidated with the Elmira Gazette, after a two years' e.xistence. In 1882 he 
left newspaper work, having received an appointment from" Lieutenant-Governor 
Hill (he was the latter's first appointee). He remained at the capitol in Albany 
three years, acting as Mr. Hill's private messenger, and then engaged in the hotel 
business. He was at the Brunswick Hotel in Albany three years, when he accepted 
a clerkship at the Mansion House, Troy. He was subsequently with the Troy 



3*72 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

House until 1893, when he opened his present restaurant. He is a member of the 
German Hall Association, the Maennerchor Singing Society, the Turn Verein, King 
Solomon's Primitive Lodge No. 91, F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter No. 48. R A. M., 
Clinton Lodge No. 7, L O. O. F., and New York Encampment No. 1, L O. O. F. In 
the fall of 1895 Mr. Brenner was elected alderman of the Second ward on the Dem- 
ocratic ticket. He was married at Albany, April 2;"), 1888, to Mary E. McDonald, 
and they have one son : Louis H. 

Himes, George H.. son of Joseph and Margaret (Betts) Himes, was born in Troy 
August 1, 1866, received his education in the public schools and learned the trade of 
stove mounter. He worked for Fuller, Warren & Co. nine years, leaving them in 
1890 to accept a position in the Watervliet gun foundry. While there he worked for 
the Morgan Engineering Company, erecting a crane, of which he has been given 
full charge. Mr. Himes is a member of Apollo Lodge No. 13, F. & A. M., Apollo 
Chapter No. 48, R, A. M., Bloss Council No. 14, R. & S. M., Apollo Commandery 
No. 15, K. T., and the Watervliet Mutual Aid Association, and was at one time 
captain of Hope Steamer Company. 

Livingston, William, son of John and Christina (Alexander) Living.ston, was born 
in Glasgow, Scotland, January 21, 1854, and was graduated from the Polytechnic In- 
stitute of Glasgow in 1872. He then engaged in the sewed muslin business with 
Gibson Brothers, where he remained until he came to America in 1878. His first 
employment here was with Daniel & Sons of New York city. He met during that year 
James B. Hall, who offered him a position in Troy, which he accepted, but he remained 
with Mr. Hall only nine months, when he accepted a position with William H. Frear, 
with whom he still continues. In 1895 he also interested himself in thcvStar dry goods 
store of Troy. Mr. Livingston is a member of Diamond Rock Council, I. O. O. F., 
of Lansingburgh and Trojan Council No. 86, R. A. He was the organizer of Troy 
Council National Union, and is a member of the Republican Club and Troy Yacht 
Club. In 1877 he married Jane V., daughter of Matthew Thompson, of Glasgow, 
Scotland, and they have three children : John, Edwin Frear, and Dorothy S. 

Skillman, E. A. — The late William J. Skillman was born in Kingston, N. J., Feb- 
ruary 9, 1802, and was educated in the schools of that early day and came to Lans- 
ingburgh about 1823. In 1825 he married Catherine Wickware, by whom have been 
born nine children: Sarah C, William H., Ellen C, Frances A., Edward A., John 
J., Charles E., Albert W., and George E. Edward A. is foreman in a brush factory. 
William H., on account of ill health, has retired from business. Edward A. is a 
member of Phoeni.x Lodge No. 58, F. & A. M., and was also master of the lodge for 
two years, and is a member of Phoenix Chapter No. 133, R. A. M., and held the 
office of high priest for four years. He is also a member of Bloss Council No. 14, 
R. & S. M., of Troy, of Apollo Commandery No. 15, K. T., and of the Masonic \'ei- 
eran Association, and was its grand marshal. 

Van Pelt, E. A. and F. R. — Eugene Van Pelt, born in Lansingburgh, January 22, 
1845, is the son of Daniel N. and Malissa ((Gardner) Van Pelt, and Daniel N., a son of 
Christopher and Hannah Van Pelt, and he a son of Daniel who came from Trenton, 
N. J., and was one of the first overseers of highways of the town of Brunswick. His 
children were Christopher, Sally Ann, Rachael, Rebecca, Lydia. Christopher's chil- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 373 

dreu were Daniel N.', Judd A., George H. He was the first man in Brunswick to 
raise potatoes for market ; he planted ten acres, which was considered a poor ven- 
ture by his neighbors. Daniel N. spent his early life on the farm where he married 
and moved to Lansingburgh where he was interested in navigation between Lan- 
singburgh and New York city, also owned several boats. He has been president of 
Lansingburgh, highway commissioner, also supervisor of the town of Brunswick and 
justice of peace. His children were Warren C, Eugene A., Sarah E., Franklin N. , 
and Stephen H. Eugene A. spent his early life on a farm. He was associated with 
his father in business until his death August 4, 1884, since which time he has con- 
tinued the business of farming, also deals in agricultural implements and wagons. 
September 24, 1868, he married Maria, daughter of Henry J. Abbott, and has one 
child, Daniel Henrj-. His second wife was Emma Abbott. Eugene A. is actively 
interested in the town and county affairs. He has been highway commissioner and 
member of the Board of Health. He is active in school, church, religion, and Sun- 
day school work. He is a member of Phoenix Lodge, No. 58, F. & A. M., and Phoe- 
nix Chapter No. 133, Apollo Commandery No. 15, and Oriental Shrine of Troy. Judd 
A. spent his early life on the farm. His early education was received in the district 
school but through his own exertions he qualified himself as a surveyor and civil 
engineer, also worked as a carpenter, cider manufacturing and blacksmith and has 
surveyed 'most of the town of Brunswick. March 18, 1851, he married Catherine, 
daughter of Peter and Catherine Roraback, and has one child, Franklin R. He was 
active in town and county affairs, also the church. He was justice of the peace six- 
teen years and member of the Board of Health many years and has acted in a legal 
capacity for estates, etc. Franklin R spent his early life on the old homestead with 
his father in his business until his death November 29, 1893, since which time he has 
had entire charge of it. He is public spirited and is interested in all affairs of his 
town and county. 

Weaver, James H., was born in Lansingburgh, N. Y., November 9, 1831. He was 
educated in the common schools and in the Lansingburgh Academy. He followed 
boating on the Hudson and James rivei'S for twenty-three years. On the James 
river he was employed by the government transporting soldiers and munitions of 
war. He has been a grocery merchant for twenty years. In the year 1855 he mar- 
ried Mary C. Noyes of this place. He is a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 58, F. & A. M. 
of Lansingburgh, and is treasurer of the lodge. He is a member of Phoenix Chapter 
No. 133, R. A. M., and has been master of Phoenix Lodge. His family is one of the 
oldest here. The Noyes family are also identified with early settlers of the county. 
The ancestry of the family is Dutch. (See full account of Weaver family in another 
article.) 

Yates, William B., born in Oneida county, N. Y., July 18, 18fi0, is a son of Mont- 
gomery and Caroline L. (Brown) Yates, both born in Pittstown, N. Y., he in 1819 
and she in 1818. The grandfather of William was Jacob P., a native of England 
and early came to Pittstown and here lived and died. The father of William was a 
farmer by occupation. His father was a teacher and large real estate owner. He 
was a member of Victor Lodge No. 680, F. & A. M. He died in 1881 and his wife 
died in 1888. They had a family of six sons and two daughters, of whom six are 
'living; J. P., of Pittstown; Mary N., at home; II. Adell, at home; Montgomery, of 



374 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

Pellston ; William B., and Gilbert. William was reared on a farm and educated in 
the common schools and Wilson's Academy of Troy, N. Y. He is a farmer and also 
a contractor and builder. He is a member of Victor Lodge No. G80, F. & A. M., 
and Phoenix Chapter No. 133 R. A. M., Bloss Council No. 14 of Troy, and Apollo 
Commandery No. 15 of Troj'. He is also a member of the Reymertown Lodge No. 
673, L O. O. F., a charter member. William was married June 8, 1892, to Altha C. 
Eddy, of Brunswick, N. Y., daughter of Willard and Elizabeth (Smith) of Brunswick. 
The family attend the Presbyterian church. 

Sharp, Alfred, was born in Bedfordshire, England, April 29, 1849. He was edu- 
cated in their schools and by occupation is a blacksmith, and now owns a liver\^ In 
1871 he came to the United States, and located in Lansingburgh, N. Y., February 
11, 1874. He married Esther Patton of Troy, by whom he had three children: Jes- 
sie M., Joseph W., and Alice E. Mrs. Sharp's father, Joseph Patton, was born in 
the north of Ireland in the year 1806, he was educated there and came to the United 
States when a j-oung man and located in Troy. He was a gunsmith by occupation, 
and afterwards a paper manufacturer. He married Eliza Irwin of Lansingburgh by 
whom he had six children: William N., David C, Mary E., Phebe J., Esther as 
above, and Josiah. Mr. Patton died in 1892, William N. m 1898, and Mrs. Patton in 
1880. The ancestrj' of the family is English and Scotch. 

Shortsleeves, Isaiah, was born in Troy, January 31, 1831. His father, Ezra Short- 
sleeves, was born in Northern Maine about the year 1800. He came to Troy and en- 
tered the Iron Works. He made all the steel for the Monitor which was famous in 
the Civil war. He is now over ninety years of age. His mother, Mary Como Short- 
sleeves, was born in Berkshire county, Mass. Isaiah received a common school edu- 
cation and when young went west where he remained until 1873. He wrote the his- 
tory of the Cardiff Giant from which he realized a small fortune. In 1876 he went 
into the painting and decorating business and is now in the same business. Sep- 
tember 5, 1877, he married Ellen Costello of Troy, by whom he has four daughters. 
He has one brother and four sisters. 

Phelan, Michael Francis, M. D., was born in Troy in 1867. His father, Michael 
Phelan, was born in Ireland and came to this country in 1867. He manufactures the 
Boiler Cleaning Compound. His mother, Ellen (Crewe) Phelan, a native of England, 
died in 1873. Dr. Phelan was educated at the La Salle Institute and after graduat- 
ing taught one year, when he entered the Albany Medical College, during which time 
he was also professor of physiology in the Albany Brothers' Academy; after gradu- 
ating from the Medical College he began practice in Troy. He is attending physi- 
cian of the out-door patient department of the Troy Hospital and attending physi- 
cian to St. Joseph's Seminary, now occupied as a novitiate by the Christian Brothers- 
He was secretary of the Medical Association of Troy and Vicinity and is a member 
of the New York State Medical Association, the Rensselaer County Medical Society 
and B. P. O. E. He was appointed by the Board of Health as inspector during the 
cholera scare. 

Magill, David F., was born in Belfast, Ireland, January 24, 1841, and came to this 
country with his parents, Andrew and Mary Magill, in 1846. His mother died in 
1867. Mr. Magill received his education in the common schools, and later went to 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 375 

work in the paper store of Tousley & Teal. He later went to work in a drug store, 
that of Dr. Taylor, on Broadway, where he learned the business, and was in the 
business with J. Walter Jones for eight years. In 1879 he started in the business 
for himself on King street, where he carries on an extensive drug business, also 
making a specialty of laundry supplies. He belongs to the Masonic bodies of Troy, 
being a 32d degree Mason. He has been an active fireman since IBoO, belonging to 
Trojan Hook and Ladder Co. since 1860, of which he has held the office of assistant 
captain four years, and captain one and a half years. He married Esther Mont- 
gomery of Lansingburgh, January 6, 1864. Her father, John Montgomery, has 
been with D. Powers & Son over fifty years. Their children are Lemuel B., a drug- 
gist of Lausingburgh, Walter, James, and Ida. His brother James was killed at 
Southside Railroad, March 31, 1865. while in the service of his country, having en- 
listed in the 169th Regt. N. Y. Vols. Another brother, Thomas H., was formerly a 
dry goods merchant of Troy, now retired. 

Rhoda, William H., was born in Schodack, N. Y., June 1'2, 1836. He is a .son of 
Charles and Christina (Hulsapple) Rhoda, she born in Schodack, N. Y., and he m 
Columbia county, she a daughter of William Hulsapple, a native of Dutchess county, 
who when a young man came to Schodack, and there lived and died. The father of 
Mr. Rhoda was a carpenter by trade and served as orderly sergeant in the war of 
1812; he died June 1, 1877, and his wife died November 24, 1885. William H. Rhoda 
was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He is now a farmer and 
has forty-two acres of land, his father's homestead, he being the only son. He had 
two sisters of whom one is living. He was married September 11, 1853, to Elizabeth 
Link, a native of East Greenbush and a daughter of William Link. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Rhoda were born four daughters: Hattie, Mary, Annie, and Alice. The wife 
of William Hulsapple was Susannah Link who died November 7, 1889. They were 
married March 1, 1795. 

Galbraith William J., was born in Troy in 1870, and was educated in the public 
schools, and afterwards became assistant shipper in the ^^tna Mills, where he re- 
mained for four years, when he accepted a position with the Boutwell Milling and 
Grain Co., at their warehouse on Green Island. He is a member of the Apollo 
Lodge F. & A. M., Laureate Boat Club, of the Bussey Fire Co., and at one time 
was president of that company. He is also second lieutenant of the 21st Separate 
Company, N. G. N. Y October 16, 1895, he married Helen A. Sipperley, of Lans- 
ingburgh. 

Steenberg, Col. George Taylor, was born in Middletown, Saratoga county. His 
father, Jonathan Steenberg, was a tailor by trade, and later a carpenter and builder ; 
he died in Cohoes in 1882. His mother, Jane Tayler Steenberg, was born in Sara- 
toga county and died March 10, 1880. Col. George T. Steenberg was educated in 
the public schools at Waterford and Middletown, Saratoga county. He came to Troy 
September 1, 1851, and served three years as an apprentice in learning the trade of 
barber with Thomas Rath. In 1855 he started in business for himself in Rand's Hall, 
corner of Third and Congress streets, remaining three years. In 1858 he leased the 
stock and fixtures of Thomas Rath, 8 Third street, for a term of years and after- 
wards bought the property where he carried on th6 barber business until 1884. He 
then engaged in the grocery business at the corner of Broadway and Fifth avenue. 



376 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

He returned to his old business at the Troy House for two years, then took a lease 
for a number of years of the Mansion House barber shop and bath rooms on Broad- 
way. He joined the old Troy Citizens Corps, February 23, 1853, as a private. Au- 
gust 4, 1858, he was appointed and commis.sioned by Gov. John A. King as surgeon's 
mate on the staff of Col. Henry A. Mercer, commanding the 24th Regt. N. G. S. 
N. Y. June 10, 1859, he was promoted to quartermaster by Gov. E. D. Morgan ; 
elected major of the 24th Regiment June 4, 1860; elected lieutenant-colonel of the 
24th Regiment August 2, 1867; commissioned by Gov. Reuben E. Fenton ; elected 
colonel of the 24th Regmient January 6, 1869, commissioned with rank by Gov. John 
T. Hoffman; resigned in 1874. April 15, 1878, he was elected a captain of the old 
Troy City Artillery (afterwards known as the Fourth Battery, N. G. S. N. Y.) He 
was connected over thirty years with the National Guard of the State of New York, 
and at the present time is a member of the Old Guard, Senior Company, Troy Citi- 
zen's Corps. He served his time in the Fire Department of Troj', having belonged 
to the General Wool Ho.se and Arba Reed Steamer Companies. He represented the 
Arba Reed Steamer Co. No. 1 in the board of trustees of the Troy Fire Department 
in 1879. He is also active in Odd Fellowship, being past grand of Trojan Lodge 
No. 27, L O. O. F. He was deputy sheriff under sheriffs James McKeon, Eben C. 
Reynolds and C. V. Collins. February 11, 1856. he married Julia H., daughter of 
Harvey Mosher. His children are George C, Walter S. and Delia G. Steenberg. 

Ross, Adam, was born in Scotland, May 29, 1839, and came to this country in 1855 
and settled in Troy. He was a stonecutter by trade and worked at his trade in New 
York and Troy. In 1869 he started in business for himself, under the firm name of 
Connell & Ross, for three yenrs. Mr. Ross fitted the granite for the crematory in 
Oakwood Avenue Cemetery. The firm name is now Adam Ross & Son, of 2748 to 
2750 Sixth avenue. He is a member of the Caledonian Club of Troy, a member of 
the Oakwood Avenue Presbyterian church, and is a trustee of the Samaritan Hos- 
pital. In 1865 he married Agnes Connell of Troy, and they have ten children: 
Charles, a member of the firm; William, a pattern maker; Kate, George A., a drug- 
gist at Hoosick Falls; Belle, John, Jessie, Lillia, Adam A. and Agnes. Mr. Ross 
is an uncle of Robert Ross, who was killed in the election disturbances in 1894. 

Hartigan, John J., was born in Troy, N. Y., October 31, 1853. His father, Maurice 
Ilartigan, came from Ireland in 1849 and .settled in Troy; he was alderman and 
supervisor of the Eighth ward for many years. His mother, Ellen (Hogan) Hartigan 
was born in Ireland, and died in 1889. John J. was educated at the Christian 
Brothers' Academy and entered the store of George Bristol & Co. as cash boy in 
1867 and was with Bristol and his successors until 1888, when he started in the dry 
goods business on King street where he still remains. In 1895 he formed a copart- 
nership with his cousin and started a branch store at 79 and 81 Congress street. He 
was president of the Robert Emmet Association in 1888, 1890 and 1891 ; also presi- 
dent of the La Salle Alumni Association in 1890 and 1891. November 26, 1883, he 
married Elizabeth Clogan of Chicago, 111., by whom he has one daughter. 

Schermerhorn, Frank, was born at Schodack Landing, Rensselaer county, where 
his ancestors had resided since 1682. He was educated at the Greenwich Academy. 
He studied the profession of dentistry under Dr. Crosly of Greenwich, N. Y., and 
in 1864 associated with his brother, began the practice of his profession in Co hoes 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 377 

under the firm name of Schermerhorn Brothers. His father, Barent C, was born 
January 28, 1804, and on January 8, 1827, married Catherine Witbeck, who was a 
lineal descendant of Jan Thomase Van Witbeck and Herr Hendrick Van Dyck. 
Barent C. died March 12, 1872; his wife was born May 15, 1810, and survives him at 
this date, 1896. He was a large land owner and a colonel in the State militia. The 
grandfather of Dr. Frank Schermerhorn was Cornelius I., born August 15, 1764, and 
married in 1785 to Elizabeth Mundon. He was a member of the Assembly in 1809 
and 1810 and and a colonel in the war of 1812. His father, Col. Jacob C, was born 
May 25, 1743, was an officer in the Revolutionary army in 1776 and 1777. and 
was present at the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne at Saratoga. He was a member of 
the Assembly in 1795. He was the son of Cornelius J., born 1719; who was the son 
of Jacob, jr., born 1685, who was the son of Jacob Jacobse, born in Albany' in 1662 
and went to reside at Schodack Landing in 1682, who was the son of Jacob Janse 
Schermerhorn born in Waterland, Holland, in 1620, emigrated to Beverwycke (Al- 
bany) in 1634 where he died in 1688. All the Schermerhorns in the L'nited States 
are descended from this emigrant. Dr. Frank Schermerhorn is a member of the 
Third District Dental State Society and was its president for one term. He is 
also a member of Athenian Lodge No. 96 I. O. O. F. of Troy and a Son of the Rev- 
olution through his great-grandfather. Col. Jacob C. Schermerhorn. 

Richmond, Theodore C, born in Pittstown, X. Y., October 20, 1815, is a son of 
Josiah and Phoebe (Warren) Richmond, he born in Taunton, Mass., in 1786, and she 
at Fall River, Mass., in 1788. Edward Richmond, the grandfather of Theodore C, 
came to Hoosick in 1792 and lived and died there ; he was a lieutenant in the Revo- 
lutionary war. The father of Theodore C. was a wagonmaker by trade; he was 
afterwards a farmer and hotel keeper at Potter Hill in the town of Hoosick, and died 
there September 12, 1835, and his wife in July, 1843; he was commissioner of high- 
ways and held other minor town offices, and, also, served in the war of 1812. Tfeeo- 
dore C. was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools and at Benning- 
ton, Vt. He has been a farmer and was in early life a dealer in wool and produce. 
Most of his life has been spent in Pittstown, where he has bought and sold land and 
in 1863 settled on the farm of 125 acres he now owns; he also owns in Pittstown and 
elsewhere 243 acres and 200 acres in Grafton. He has been justice twenty-four 
years and supervisor two terms. He was active in his town during the late war, and 
Mrs. Richmond was president of a ladies' association during the war for the pur- 
pose of raising money and supplies for the suffering. The family attend the M. E. 
church. He was married first in 1838 to Emily C. Geer. She died in 1853, and in 
1854 he married Caroline Baucirs, daughter of William L Baucus. They have had 
five children; the eldest, Charles T.. graduated in 1876 from Yale, soon after became 
president of the Thompson-Houston Company at Fremont, O. ; now he resides at 
Cleveland as superintendent and stockholder of the National Carbon Company; 
Emily C, who is at home; Phoebe, wife of William S. Gunnison of Lansingburgh; 
Mary R., at home; William I. graduated at Greylock Institute, is now in the estab- 
lishment of W. & L. E. Gurley, Troy, N. Y. The daughters were educated at 
Pittsfield, Mass. 

Westervelt, E., was born in Grafton, Rensselaer county, in 1850. He is of Hol- 
land Dutch ancestry on both his father's and mother's side. His great-grandfather 



378 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

was a Dutch Reform minister; his j^randfather a physician; his father the village 
blacksmith at Ouackenkill and also justice of the peace and postmaster for thirty 
years; he died in 1890; his mother, Judith M. Ives Westervelt, lives in Long Island 
City. Mr. Westervelt received his education at the Poestenkill Academy, then 
came to Troy, where he was salesman in the carpet department of G. V. S. Quack- 
enbush & Co. for eleven years. He then started in the steam carpet cleaning busi- 
ness on Spring avenue, removing from there to 102 Ferry street, where he has a 
fine plant for cleaning carpets by machinery arid renovating by steam, and has built 
up a large and profitable business. He was married to Sarah E. Simpson of Jersey 
City in 1874 and has four sons: Vincent R., Clarence B., Eugene S. and Nelson H. 
The eldest, Vincent R., is now in the College of Dentistry in Philadelphia, Pa. 

Reichard, Elmer E., M. D., born in Nassau, March 12, 1866, is the son of Calvin 
T. and Almedia (Bartle) Reichard, both natives of Rensselaer county. Calvin T. 
Reichard was the son of John Reichard, whose father, John Reichard, sr. , came 
from Germany and settled in Rensselaer county, where he lived and died. The 
father of Dr. Reichard was a farmer; he died June 12, 1887, and his mother lives 
with Dr. Reichard. Dr. Reichard was reared on a farm and educated in the com- 
mon schools and Averill Park Seminary. He then taught school one year, and be- 
gan the study of medicine with Dr. Arlington Boyce of East Schodack. He grad- 
uated from Albany Medical College in 1892, and practiced his profession in East 
Schodack for a short time, then located at Poughkeepsie, and after six months left 
on account of health and located at Hoag's Corners, where he has since had a suc- 
cessful practice. He is at present health physician for the town of Nassau. He was 
married February 27, 1895, to Charlotte M. Hitchcock of Guthrie, Oklahoma, but 
formerly of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., a daughter of Mark H. and Maria (Dewey) Hitch- 
cock. Dr. Reichard is a Republican in politics. He is a member of Schodack 
Union Lodge No. 87, F. & A. M., and Tsatsawassa Lodge No. 356, I. O. O. F. 

Putnam, William B., M. D., one of the leading physicians of Hoosick Falls, was 
born in Putnam, Middlesex county, Ontario, in 1855, a place named in honor of his 
father, Thomas Putnam, who was a magisti'ate of that county. His family is of 
English and German ancestry ; his grandfather served as lieutenant in a New Hamp- 
shire regiment at Bunker Hill ; his mother was Nancy Harris and grandniece of 
General Herkimer. He left his native place at sixteen, and having decided on the 
medical profession as his life work, entered in 1872 the class of '76 at Woodstock Col- 
lege, but entered Brantford Institute for two years before completing his course at 
the former school. In 1876 he went to Cleveland, O.. and entered the homoeopathic 
college there, graduating in 1879 and at once began practice hei'e, where he has re- 
sided for seventeen years. He has enjoyed a successful practice from the first. Dr. 
Putnam, determined to profit by an opportunity presented to acquire such knowledge 
as he desired, went to Europe in 1885 and there pursued his investigations, making 
a specialty of pulmonary affections. 

Ingalls, Henry Harlow Gross, was born in the town of Milton, Saratoga county, 
N.Y., May, 1850, and is a son of Daniel T. and Sally M. (Dake) Ingalls, he born at 
Bellows Falls, Vt., and she in Greenfield, Saratoga county. Daniel T. was a jour- 
neyman papermaker from the time he was fourteen years of age until 1860, when he 
began leasing and operating mills on his own account and superintending for others 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 379 

until 1873, when he and H. H. G. Ingalls (his son) bought a mill in South Manches- 
ter, Conn., and were in business until 1888; Daniel T. then sold out his interest and 
lived retired in Castleton, where he died in 1892, and where his widow still resides. 
H. H. G. Ingalls entered a paper mill at the age of twelve years and continued as a 
journeyman papermaker and superintendent for others up to 1873, when he formed 
a partnership with his father, as above stated. Upon the retirement of his father 
from the firm, H. H. G. formed a partnership with his successors, and afterwards 
formed a stock company in Castleton and built the Oak Grove Paper Mills, of which 
company Mr. Ingalls is secretary, treasurer and general manager. In 1872 Mr. 
Ingalls was married to Jane E. Reese of Fonda, N. Y., who died August 30, 1881. 
April 16, 1885, he was married to Hattie Rosalia Tracy of South Manchester, Conn., 
who has borne him four children : Luella Estelle, Maud Huntington, Florence Lillian, 
and Edmund Harvey. For the past twenty years he has been a member of the Meth- 
odist church and has been superintendent of the Methodist Sunday school of Cas- 
tleton for two years, and for fifteen years has occupied an official capacity in the 
church. He wa? a member of the Board of Trustees of Castleton for two years, and 
in politics is a staunch Republican. 

Halstead, De Witt C, was born in the town of Pittstown, November 19, 1824. lie 
obtained his education in the public schools, taught twelve winters, and has always 
been one of the county's thrifty farmers. He married twice, first, on March 14, 1849, 
to Eliza McChesney of the town of Brunswick ; they had one daughter, Eliza M., who 
married Arthur Cady of North Adams, Mass., and had one daughter, Marion. Mrs. 
Cady died January 29, 1883. Mrs. Halstead died December 16. 1855, and for his 
second wife, on September 9, 1857, he married Harriet Stover of the town of Pitts- 
town ; the}' had three children: Harriet J., F. Eugene, who died in infancy, and 
Francis De Witt. Harriet J. married Leonard Morrison now of Lansingburgh, N.Y., 
of the firm of Morrison & Westfall Co., of Troy, agricultural implements and leed 
store. Mr. Halstead's father, Jonas, was born at the old home in Pittstown, April 
24, 1783, and educated in the schools of that early day. He married Anna McCoon, 
who was born January 20, 1784, they had nine children: Alexander G., Charlotte C, 
Lydia M., Anna C, Joseph J., Charles M., Emily E., De Witt C, and Ambrose L. 
Mr. Halstead died July 16, 1861,, and his wife August 13, 1860. Mr. Halstead's 
grandfather, Joseph Halstead, was born in Dutchess count}', N. Y. His great- 
grandfather, was Samuel Halstead, a Baptist minister. Mrs. Halstead's father, 
Jacob M. Stover, was born in Pittstown November 9, 1784, and educated in the 
schools of his day; he was a farmer; November 14, 1805, he married Christine Wet- 
sel of the town of Schaghticoke ; they had ten children, Martin J., Maria, George, 
Elizabeth, John, Harriet, who died in 1821; Jacob, Margaret A., Jane C, and Har- 
riet A. Mr. Stover died Sei:)tember 5, 1849, and his wife August 28, 1858; both were 
descendants of early Dutch settlers. De Witt C. Halstead began life withont capi- 
tal, and through indtstry, integrity, and sobriety has secured a fine competency. He 
has been an elder of the Presbyterian church for many years. The ancestry of his 
family is English. 

Burton, Charles W. , was born in Nassau, August 22, 1837. He is a son of Isaac 
and Roby (Tabor) Burton, he born in Chatham and she in Nassau. Isaac was a son 
of Ruben Burton, who lived in Columl)ia county and liually went to Sand Lake wliere 



380 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

he (lied in 1810. The maternal grandfather was William Tabor, who lived and died 
in Nassau. The father of Mr. Burton was a blacksmith by trade, but died a farmer; 
he came from Nassau to Schodack in 1839 and died September 20, 1884, and his wife 
died in 1852. Mr. Burton was reared and educated in Schodack. He is a farmer 
and owns ninety-two acres of land. In October, 1860, he was married to Maggie 
Palmateer, of Greenbush, by whom one son has been born: Peter P., born in Scho- 
dack April 1, 1862. He was educated in Claverack College and followed farming 
at home. His wife was Alvina Kate Pockman, by whom one son has been born : 
Charles R., born April 25, 1895. The Burton family is of English descent. 

Webster, Stephen H., M.D., was born in Troy, N. Y., October 27, 1865. His father 
is Jasper Webster who was abridge builder by trade; he came to Troy in 1855; 
he built all the wooden bridges on the Troy and Boston Railroad. His mother is 
Emily De Sylva (Gushing) Webster. Stephen Webster received a public and high 
school education and was graduated from the Albany Medical College in 1886, after- 
wards entering the Polyclinic Institute of New York city. In 1889 he went to Europe 
and studied medicine in Prague, Vienna and Berlin, returning to Troy in 1890 and 
opened an ofifice at 811, afterwards removing to 817 River street. He belongs to 
the Rensselaer County Medical Society of which he was vice-president one year. 
He was married, November 12, 1895, to Miss Mabel Carpenter of Troy, N. Y. He 
is a member of King Solomon's Primitive Lodge, No. 91, Apollo Chapter, No. 48, 
Bloss Council No. 14, Apollo Commandery No. 15, and Oriental Temple, Nobles of 
the Mystic Shrine. 

Heermance, Emily. — Ryer Heermance was born in Nassau, November 16, 1799, 
He was a son of Garret Heermance, a native of Dutchess county, and one of the 
early settlers of Nassau, where he died. From church records it has been ascer- 
tained his father, Garret, was baptized in the Reformed church of Rhinebeck, having 
a religious ancestry as far back as family history has been traced. Ryer Heer- 
mance was descended from a Duke and Duchess Heermance, natives of Holland. 
The name itself (Heermance) means Lord 'o Man. Ryer was a farmer and wool 
dealer. He represented his district in the Assembly and was a man of good judg- 
ment and high integrity, and was an enthusiastic worker in all charitable enter- 
prises. He was an office bearer in the Reformed church for many years and one of 
its most liberal supporters, and as long as able physically, with earnest helpful 
prayer and exhortation lent aid to its sjDiritual interests. He died April 16, 1876. 
His wife, to whom he was married December 20, 1820, was Elizabeth Miller, who 
spent her life in Nassau, dying April 23, 1877. She was the mother of seven chil- 
dren ; Garret, an infant unnamed (aged but a week), Mary A. , Peter Miller, Sarah E. , 
Cornelia and Emily. The two last mentioned and youngest, Cornelia and Emily, are 
the only surviving members of the household. Emily now owns the old homestead, 
where she resides. 

Cox, Edward Bowdoin, was born in Greenwich, Conn., February 27, 1837. He is 
the son of Robert Cox who came from Dowlais, Wales, in 1812 and died in 1839. His 
mother is Sarah Rogers Husted, who is now living at Newark, N. Y. After attend- 
ing the academy at Stamford, Conn., he accepted a position in a dry goods store at 
Newark, N. Y., and in 1854 he was engaged by Messrs. Mills & Parker, merchants 
at Clinton, N. Y.. remaining there for eight years as salesman and bookkeeper. He 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 381 

then came to Troy and entered the Rensselaer Iron Works store as bookkeeper. In 
1867 he formed a partnership with Mr. Henrj- Snyder, the proprietor of the store and 
remained there m business until 1877 when he sold his interest in the .store to his 
partner and estabhshed a retail grocery business at 140 Second street, Troy, N. Y., 
where he is now conducting an extensive grocery business with bakery annexed. In 
1872 Mr. Cox married Miss Emily Dickinson, the daughter of the late Capt. Daniel 
Dickinson of Stillwater, N. Y. Mr. Cox has given Masonry considerable attention 
in his younger days. He has served the order in various offices in each of the fol- 
lowing bodies: King Solomon's Primitive Lodge, Apollo Chapter, Bloss Council, 
Apollo Commandery, Delta Lodge of Perfection, and the Mystic Shrine. For twenty- 
one consecutive years he was secretary of Apollo Chapter No. 48, and has been for 
the past six years a trustee and the treasurer of the Troy Masonic Hall Association. 

Reynolds, "William Van Veghton, was born on the homestead which he now owns; 
it is situated near Reynolds Station, named in his honor; the residence and out- 
buildings are elegant and commodious, while the farm surrounding it, consisting of 
350 acres, is one of the finest in Rensselaer county. He was educated in the public 
schools of Troy and other places, and graduated from the law department of the 
University of New York City in 1872. In early life he was a farmer. When the 
Boston, Hoosac Tunnel and Western Railroad was constructed he became oneof the 
directors and secretary, and afterwards general manager of the same. He resigned 
from his position and accepted the responsible one of receiver of the Lebanon Springs 
Railroad, which position he still holds. He has been engaged in the promotion and 
development of various business enterprises. In his political choice he is a thorough 
Democrat. He has served his townsmen as justice of the peace two terms, and has 
represented his party as delegate to State conventions on fourteen different occasions. 
He has been a director of the old bank in Lansingburgh, also a director of the First 
National Bank of Mechanicsville, and is a promoter, director and secretary of Ifiam- 
ilton Shell and Iron Co. in the province of Ontario, Canada, which is the largest of 
the kind in the Dominion of Canada. February 9, 1895, he married Estella Garbur 
of Albany, N. Y. Mr. Reynolds's father, Noyes H. W., was born in Petersburgh, 
this county, in 1822, and was educated in the public schools, subsequently studying 
law and politics. He married Derica Van Veghton of the the town of Schaghticoke, 
N. Y. They had one son, William Van Veghton. Mr. Reynolds died in 1874, and 
his wife died in 1888. Mr. Reynolds is a member of Victor Lodge No. 680 F. & A. 
M., Montgomery Chapter No. 257, R. A. M., Apollo Commandery No. 15, Troy, K. 
T., and Bloss Council No. 13, R. & S. M. The ancestry of the family is Dutch. 

Hudson, Dr. F. R., after an academic education at Rockford, 111., where he was 
born in 1858, began at eighteen years of age medical research at Cleveland Ho.spital 
College, now Cleveland University, and graduated in 1882 after a four years' course. 
Later he took a special course at Chicago in surgery and began practice at North 
Bennington, Vt., in 1881 where he remained but a short time, then proceeded to 
Newton, N. J. Dr. Hudson located in Hoosick Falls eight years at the same office 
on Church street he now occupies; he has been eminently successful as a practi- 
tioner; he has been health officer for five terms and was successful during the epi- 
demic of diphtheria in 1890 by prompt and energetic measures in checking its rav- 
ages; he has also been surgeon of the Fitchburg Railroad smce 1888. Dr. Hudson is 



382 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

a Republican and first lieutenant in the Thirty-second Separate Co. of National 
Guard of the State of New York. He was one of the originators of the " Hoosac 
Club" and has since been a member of the house committee. He was manager of 
the kirmess held here in 1892 under the auspices of the Knights of Pythias. Other 
orders of which he is a worthy member are the Masonic fraternity, Odd Fellows, and 
the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 178, of which he was ex- 
alted ruler for three years, and grand exalted ruler for the State of New York in 
181)4. 

Campion, Thomas H., secretary of the International Shirt and Collar Co., was 
born at Troy, N. Y., in August, 1860. His father, Edward Campion, was born in 
Ireland and came to Troy and for many years was a wholesale licjuor dealer on the 
corner of Congress and Third streets. He was supervisor of the Eighth ward two 
terms, and represented the Eighth ward in the Board of Aldermen in 1858. He died 
, in: 860. His mother, Ellen McLaughlin, was born in Ii-eland and is still living in 
Troy. Thomas H. received his education in the public schools and the Brothers' 
Academy and went to work in the insurance office of Jared L. Bacon & Son, and 
afterwards was employed as bookkeeper in the dry goods store of George W. Wilber. 
In 1880 he went to Richmond, Va., as bookkeeper for the Alleghany Coal and Iron 
Co., and in 1883 he returned to Troy and entered the shirt and collar factory of Beir- 
meister & Spicer as bookkeeper, and held that position after the consolidation with 
the United Shirt and Collar Co., and later when the International Shirt and Collar 
Co. was formed he became a stockholder and was elected secretary of that company, 
which position he now holds. He is a member of Pafraets Dael and Laureate Boat 
Clubs, also a member of the B. P. O. of Elks and the Knights of Columbus. He is 
now serving as one of the park commissioners of Troy, having been appointed in 
1896, succeeding George J. Brennan, who resigned. He married Mary T. Winslow 
of Troy, in April, 1879, daughter of the late Samuel 1j. Winslow. His children are 
Edward W. and T. Nina. 

Coon, William H., was born in Sand Lake, Rensselaer county, N. Y., in 1872. 
II is father was George Coon, came to Troy in 1880, and was in the grocery business 
for several years. His mother, Arville (Johnston) Coon, was born in Albany, N. Y., 
and died in 1884. William received his education in the high school and business 
college of Troy and was with the Wiles Laundry Co. two years, and later with Cor- 
liss Brothers <& Co., and in February, 1895, with his brother, D. B. Coon, started the 
shirt and collar business under the firm name of Coon Brothers. He is a member of 
the East Side Club. 

Donnelly, Dr. James Moore, was born in Harpersfield, Delaware county, N. Y., 
October 17, 1850, and was educated in the public schools and Stamford Seminary, 
N. Y. He studied medicine in the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York 
city, and was graduated in March, 1876. He practiced medicine one year at Stam- 
ford, N. Y., and for eleven years at Davenport, N. Y. In 1888 he removed to Troy, 
where he remained two years, and in 1890 came to Lansingburgh, where he has a 
successful practice. He is a member of the Delaware County Medical Society, also 
of Rensselaer County and Vicinity Association. In 1878 he married Frances M. 
Clark, of his native place, bj' whom he has two children: Bessie Edith and Harry 
Clark. Dr. Donnelly's father, Thomas Donnelly, was born in the north of Ireland 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 383 

in 1818, and came to the United States when a young man and located in Delaware 
county. He married Catherine Moore, of that county, by whom he had six children 
who grew to maturity: Thomas A., Elizabeth A., James M., as above, Henry H., 
Sarah J., and Mary C. Mr. Donnelly died October 4, 1884, and his widow, April 20, 
1892. The doctor is a member of Diamond Rock Lodge, No. 568. I. O. O. F., of Lan- 
singburgh, N. Y., and is proprietor of a drug store at 384 River street. 

Bristol, David N., was l)orn in the city of Troy, N. Y., October 7, 18;>7. He was 
educated in the public schools. When he attained his majority he entered the em- 
ploy of Gunnison & Stewart, manufacturers of collars and cuffs, as apprentice. He 
has devoted thirty-eight years of his life to the shirt and collar industry with different 
firms in the capacity of cutter to superintendent. He says one would hardly believe 
that tho.se who commenced this great industry began with purchasing twenty-five 
yards of linen, making a few dozen collars and going out to find a purchaser for their 
goods. Undoubtedly they met with difficulties for want of experience, but the end 
in view was success, they hardly realizing then that it would reach such a growth 
as it presents to-day. Perfection has been the aim of all who engaged in this indus- 
try from that time forward, in workmanship and finish. In the year 1890 he, in com- 
pany with his eldest son, George H., fitted up a building at 7 Second street, Lans- 
ingburgh, and engaged in the manufacture of custom shirts and collars, under the 
firm name of D. N. Bristol & Son, which business is increasing successfully. In 
1860 Mr. Bristol married Miss Maria Smith, of Lansiugburgh, by whom he had one 
son, George H. Mrs. Bristol died in 1870, and in 1871 he married for his second wife 
Miss Anna E. Davis, formerly of Saratoga Springs, by whom he has five children: 
Anna L., Julia E., David N., jr., Charles R. and Grace S. His son George H., was 
married to Miss Kate Holt of Troy in 1889 ; they have one son, Frank R. Mr. Bristol's 
father, David Bristol, has been a resident of Troy for many years, he now being the 
only per-son livmg whose name appeared in the first directory of that city. He<»\'as 
born in Edinburg, Saratoga county, N. Y. , November 23, 1798. He is now ninety- 
eight years of age and, with the e.xception of the loss of sight is hale and hearty. 
He was married at Sand Lake. N. Y., to Mrs. Aseneth Fox Nichols, bj' whom he 
had three children: Julia M., Sarah M. and David N. She died May 18, 1848. He 
afterward married Miss Grace Winnie, by whom he had one daughter, jNIary. Mrs. 
Bristol died November 11, 1888. 

Fox, Joseph, was born in Lansingburgh, N. Y., August 10, 1816. He was edu- 
cated in the district schools and the Lansingburgh Academy, of which he has t)een a 
trustee for many years. He was a cracker manufacturer until he retired some years 
ago. He first began to make crackers in the cellar of the hou.se in which he was 
born, but it grew to such dimensions that he was obliged to erect a factory on the 
corner of Second avenue and Sixteenth street. June 10, 1841, he married Martha 
W. Corbett, by whom he has had two children: Mary, who died in infancy, and 
Hamilton, who was a college graduate and died when in the full bloom of his young 
manhood, at the age of twentj'-two. Mr. Fox has been trustee and president of the 
village of Lansingburgh; he was also a director in the Farmers' Bank of Lansing- 
burgh. His father, Joseph, was born in England and came to this country when a 
young man with his youngest sister. He married Sarah Gitcomb, by whom he has 
had eight children. Martha W. Fox died October 8, 1892, mourned by a devoted 



384 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

huslmnd. Mr. Fox has led an ujiright life, which we and the rising generation would 
do well to emulate. 

Galbraith, Robert, came to Troy, N. Y., in 1868, and entered the pattern making 
establi.shment of N. S. Vedder and later was engaged as draughtsman for the concern 
and in 1870 entered the business as a partner, the firm being the N. S. Vedder Pat- 
tern Works, Bascom, Galbraith & Co. ; later he retired from the firm as a member, 
but remained as mechanical expert and general superintendent of the works. Mr. 
Galbraith as an inventor is known throughout the country and his patents on heat- 
ing and cooking devices are innumerable. He enlisted in the United States Marine 
Corps in 1861 and remained until the close of the war. He belonged to the South 
Atlantic Squadron, participating in all the engagements around Charleston, S. C, 
and was at the first battle of Bull Run. He has been chaplain of Post John A. Gris- 
wold, G. A. R., for two years. He married in 1872 Rachel A. Hinchman of Water- 
vliet, Albany county. His children are Ella G., Robert, John P. and William H. 

Galvin, Thomas F., was born in Troy, N.Y., in 1866. His father, Thomas Galvin, 
who was born in Ireland, came to this country and settled in Troy, N. Y., in 1850. 
He was supervisor from 1863 to 1866. and alderman from the First ward in 1867 and 
1868. He was in the grocery business on Fourth street for thirty years, and was ap- 
pointed special deputy county clerk in 1878, which position he now holds. In 1861 
he married Hanna (Conlon) Galvin, of Albany, N. Y. Thomas F. received his edu- 
cation in the public schools of Troy, N. Y., afterwards entering the Albany Law 
School, and studied in the office of Smith & Fursman for three years. He was ad- 
mitted to the bar in 1892, and from that time carried on an extensive law practice. 
In 1896 a partnership was formed with John T. Norton, under the firm name of 
Norton & Galvin. He was married April 14, 1896, to Miss Mary McLoughlin of 
Lansingburgh. 

Kellogg, Justin, was born in Troy, N. Y., April 18, 1845, son of Giles B. and Ad- 
eline K. Kellogg ; the former was a prominent lawyer of Troy many years, now retired 
and living at ninety years of age. He has always resided in Troy with the excep- 
tion of summers, when he goes to Bennington, Vermont. He was graduated at 
Williams College in 1865 with the degree of B. A., and in 1868 received the degree of 
M. A. from the same college and is now a trustee thereof. He was graduated from the 
Albany Law School in 1866 with the degree of LL. B. and admitted to practice at Troy 
the same year, and practiced with his father until 1883, who then retired from prac- 
tice, since which time he has practiced alone. He is corresponding secretary of the 
N. Y, Bar Association, a member of Sons of the Revolution, president and trustee of 
the Troy Young Men's Association, president of the Board of Trustees of the First 
Presbyterian church, president of the Board of Trustees of the Troy Academy and 
is the secretary of the Troy Club. In 1871 he married Mary, daughter of Frederick 
Leake, an old citizen of Troy. Mr. and Mrs. Kellogg have two children, daughter 
and son. In politics Mr. Kellogg is a Republican. As a lawyer, he is engaged in a 
general civil practice and is recognized as of the highest character and standing 
among the members of the bar of Troy. 

Norris, Fred H., was born at Glens Falls, N. Y., in 1864, and is a son of George E. 
Norris, who came from Glens Falls to Troy in 1879, and has been superintendent of 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 385 

several collar and cuff factories. In 1895 he bought an interest in the business of 
his son, under the firm name of F. H. & G. E. Norris. His mother was Ann M. 
Haviland, daughter of Roger Haviland, at one time one of the largest land owners 
of Glens Falls. Fred H. was educated in the public schools and Lansingburgh 
Academy, and afterwards worked in the collar and cuff factory of J. K. Pine, and 
was later with the firms of Miller, Hall & Hartwell, and Holmes & Ide. In 1892 he 
bought the interest of J. A. Leggett in the manufacturing company, and the firm 
was changed to Wooster & Norris, which continued until 1895, when Mr. Wooster 
sold his interest and the firm became F. H. & G. E. Norris. This firm invented a 
patent turning machine, by which great economy is secured in the manufacture and 
greater uniformity in the goods. July 7, 1896, a stock company was formed, called 
the Norris Company. The officers are George E. Norris, president; A. H. Chad- 
wick, vice-president; and F. H. Norris, secretary, treasurer and general manager. 
F. H. Norris is a member of King Solomon Lodge F. & A M. In 1889 he married 
Laura P. Jacobs of Troy, a niece of the late Jacob Jacobs, a prominent Mason of 
Troy. They have one son George H. 

Draper, William H., was born in Rochdale, Worcester county, Mass., June 24, 
1841, and came to Troy with his parents when abotit five years of age. He obtained 
his education in the public schools. In 1856 he became a clerk and teller in the 
Farmer's Bank at Lansingburgh, until August 1, 1861. He then entered the employ 
of a firm in Schenectady until 1869, since which time he has been manufacturing 
braided sash cords, fish lines and wire picture cords. His son, Andrew L. , was 
taken in as a partner under the firm name of S. Draper & Son, which has continued 
successfully. Mr. Draper is a trustee and treasurer of the Westminster Presbyterian 
church of Troy; he is also director and the treasurer of the Boutwell Milling and 
Grain Co., of Troy. November 15, 1864, he married Magdalene Livingston, by whom 
three children have been born, Andrew L. , Edward E., and Bessie M. Andrew L. 
married Mary R. Thompson of Lockport, N. Y. The first of the family of Drapers 
was one James Draper, who came from England in the year 1620. The ancestry of 
the family is English and Scotch. 

Piatt, Frederic T., was born in West Stockbridge, Mass., in 1864. He is the son 
of Charles S. Piatt who was a member of the Massachusetts Legislature from West 
Stockbridge, Mass., in 1861, and died at Great Barnngton, Mass., in March, 1896. 
His mother, Mary M. (Tobey) Piatt, is the daughter of Captain Tobey of West Stock- 
bridge, Mass. He received hiseducation atWilliston Seminary at Easthampton, Mass., 
entered the employ of Pratt & Whitney and served an apprenticeship as a machinist 
and draughtsman. He came to Troy in 1889 and was employed by the Richardson 
Estate as draughtsman, and two years later took a position with the Ludlow Valve 
Co. as clerk and was afterwards traveling salesman for that concern. In 1894 he 
joined C. F. Crosby in the shirt manufacturing business under the firm name of C. F. 
Crosby & Co., of which he is treasurer. This firm has six branch manufacturing 
establishments at Mechanicville Port Henry, Plattsburgh, and Keysville, all of New 
York State, Fair Haven, Vt, and Orange, Mass. He was married to Annie Sher- 
man, daughter of William Sherman, in 1894, and they have one son. 

Townsend, Rufus Martin, was born in Troy, N. Y., October 37, 1858. He is a son 



;J86 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

of Rufus Marsh Townsend, who was born in Hancock, Berkshire county, Mass., in 
1806, and practiced law in Troy all his life. At the time of his death, which occurred 
in 1887, he was the oldest lawyer in practice in the county. He was a brother of the 
well known lawyer, Martin I. Townsend. His wife, mother of our subject, was 
Cornelia (Roessle) Townsend, who was born in Albany, N. Y., and died in 1884. 
Rufus M. received his early education at a private school, afterwards having a tutor 
four years. He studied law with Townsends & Browne of Troy, N. Y., and was 
admitted to the bar November 21, 1878. In 1888 he formed a copartnership with his 
father, which continued until the death of the latter. He was appointed United 
States Circuit Court commissioner April 2, 1890. Since 1887 he has been attorney 
for the Police and E.Kcise Boards of the city of Troy. He is prominently connected 
with the National Guard of the State. At present he is first lieutenant of the Twelfth 
Separate Co., N. G. S. N. Y. He is also a member of the Troy and East Side Clubs 
of the city and the United Service Club of New York city. He is a member of the 
Sons of the Revolution, and secretary and treasurer of the Troy Chapter thereof ; 
also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, and of the Society of the 
Colonial Wars, and the New York and Philadelphia Societies of the war ol 1812. 
He was married to Harriet Goodspeed of Troy, N. Y. , December 24, 1889. In poli- 
tics he is a staunch Republican. Since his admission to the bar he has carried on a 
general practice in the courts of the State and is recognized an an able all around 
,awyer. 

King, Harvey J., now one of the senior members of the bar of Rensselaer county, 
was born in Jonesville, Saratoga county, Jul}? 16, 1824, and was the youngest son of 
Roger and Christina King. The family came originally from Ugborough, Devon- 
shire, England, from which place his ancestor, William King, came about the year 
1650 with his two sons, James and William, to New England, and settled first in 
Ipswich, Mass. Later, and in 1678, his ancestor, James King, removed to Suffield, 
Conn., of which town he was one of the original proprietors and settlers. His father. 
Roger King, was born there in 1771 and resided there until 1795, when he removed 
to this State. Harvey J. King was graduated at Union College in 1848 with two 
college honors, ranking among the first in a class of ninety-eight in number, one of 
whom was Chester A. Arthur. In 1851 he received the degree of A. M. Immedi- 
ately upon leaving college he came to Troy to complete his law studies, in which he 
had already made considerable progress, and henceforth to make that city his home. 
For over two years he was a student in the office of the late Judge Gould and Hon. 
Job S. Olin, and having been admitted to the bar, he commenced the practice of 
law in 1850. Mr. King formed a partnership with the late John A. Millard, which 
continued until the death of that gentleman in 1869. During all those years the 
business of his firm was very extensive and important. In 1854 Mr. King was ap- 
pointed city attorney, which office he filled for a full term in a manner alike credit- 
able to himself and satisfactory to the public. In 1867, the United Stales bankruptcy 
law having been enacted, he was by Chief-Justice Cha.se appointed register in bank- 
ruptcy for the Congressional district embracing Rensselaer and Washington coun- 
ties, and held that responsible position for the ensuing twelve years, and until the 
repeal of the law. In 1871 he was elected trustee of Union College, and at the expi- 
ration of his first term was re-elected, and served for a second term of four years. 



FAMILY SKETCHES 387 

He had previously for several years been president of the Union College Alumni 
Association of Troy and vicinity, and always an active friend of the college. In 
1SC5 he was elected a trustee of the Troy Orphan Asylum which office he slill holds. 
He has also for a still longer period been a member of the board of trustees of the 
Troy Academy. At the breaking out of the Rebellion in 18G1 he was among the 
foremost in the matter of procurmg enlistments and filling the local regiments, and 
until the close of the war in every way manifested his earnest desire for the triumph 
of the cause of freedom and his deep sympathy for its noble defenders in the field. 
As a consequence of his undeviating courses, when the "Draft Riots" occurred in 
1863, his house was one of those designated in advance for destruction by the mob 
which sacked the office of the Troy Daily Times, and destroyed the furniture and 
nearly demolished the residence of Hon. Martin I. Townsend, who was his near 
neighbor. Notice of their design had been given to Mr. King .several hours previ- 
ously, a kindly warning from others who knew and desired to thwart their plans, 
and his family was consequently sent out of the citj' for safety ; but Mr. King, with 
large numbers of other loyal citizens, remained on the ground. The arrival of a 
military force on the scene caused the mob to scatter before their designs could be 
accomplished. During the last two years of the war he spent much of his time and 
labored devotedly as chairman of the Troy branch of the United States Christian 
Commission, an organization embracing large numbers of the best and most liberal 
citizens of Troy and its vicinity, as well as the best and most patriotic citizens of the 
United States, who not only gave freely in money and supplies, but also their per- 
sonal service in camps and hospitals, for the relief and comfort of sick and wounded 
soldiers. Though not born in Troy, Mr. King is very closely identified with the city, 
his father having resided in it for twentj'-five years, having become a citizen here in 
1795. He married, in 1851, Ellen B. L. Bayeux, a granddaughter of Jacob D. Van- 
dertieyden, the "patroon," of Troy, and once the owner of its present site. H^ has 
two living children: a son, Edwin A. King, and a daughter, Mrs. William S. Ken- 
nedy. Mr. King is now senior member of the law firm of King & King, his partner 
being his son Edwin A. Since the organization of the Republican party he has 
been one of its staunchest supporters. 

Wotkyns, Tom S., was born in Troy m 1852. His father, George Dana Wotkyns, 
was born in Walpole, N. H., and came to Troy in 1845; he formed a copartnership 
with Joseph Stackpole, and entered the wholesale and retail coal business under the 
firm name of Stackpole & Wotkyns. He was vice-president of the State Bank 
and supervisor of Troy, and died in 1881. His wife, Sabra A. (Stevens) Wotkyns, 
was born in Plainfield, N. H., and died in 1891. Mr. Wotkyns, subject of this sketch, 
received a common school and academic education, afterwards attending the R. P. 
I., subsequently going into the coal business with O. E. Van Zile as partner in 1875, 
and in 1883 he bought Mr. Van Zile's interest in the business and was alone until 
1893, when he took a partner, I. H. Williamson, the firm being known as Tom S. 
Wotkyns & Co. In 1894 John M. House also became a partner. He is a director in 
the State Bank. In 1893 he married Blanche J. Bruce, born in Troy. Mr. Wotkyns 
is a Mason, being a member of Mt. Zion Lodge, Apollo Chapter. Bloss Council, the 
Mystic Shrine, and has attained the 32d degree in Masonry. Socially, he is a mem- 
ber of the Trov Club, Pafracts Dael Club, and the Manhattan Club of New York 



388 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

city. In politics he has always been independent, voting for the best man in his 
opinion. 

Morrill, William W., was born in Gilmanton, N. H., August 81 1851. His father, 
Josiah R. Morrill, is living. His mother, whose maiden name, was Filinda Week, 
died in March, 1895. Mr. Morrill can trace back his English and New England, 
ancestry to an unusual extent. He is of the eighth degree of descent from 
Abraham Morrill, who came from England about 1632, and settled in either Maine 
or New Hampshire ; and of the seventh degree from Leonard Weeks, who came 
from Suffolk county, England, as early as 1655. A curious circumstance in the his- 
tory of this family is that Captain Samuel Weeks, a son of Leonard, erected about 
1710, at Greenland, near Portsmouth, N. H., a residence known as the "Brick 
House," which has been handed down continuously from father to son and so occu- 
pied, at least until 1889, at which time it was owned and occupied by Robert B. 
Weeks, of the fifth generation from the builder. Mr. Morrill was prepared for col- 
lege at the New Hampton (N. H.) Literary Institution, entered Dartmouth College 
in 1870, and was graduated in 1874. After teaching awhile elsewhere, he came to 
Troy in 1877, having accepted a position as instructor in the Rensselaer Polytechnic 
Institute, which he retained until 1882. Meantime he had entered upon and com- 
pleted a law clerkship, and was admitted to the bar in September, 1880, since which 
time he has been in the continuous practice of his profession :n Troy. He has no 
specialty in law practice. During the incumbency of Shepard Tappen as sheriff of 
Rensselaer county, Mr. Morrill was retained as his legal adviser in matters pertain- 
ing to that office. He is general counsel for several estates and corporations, many 
of which latter he assisted in organizing. His services are quite frequently sought 
as referee, and he has acted as such in several important litigations. He has never 
taken any active part in politics; though quite often retained professionally in what 
may be styled political litigation. During the earlier years of his practice he pub- 
lished two law textbooks, "Competency and Privilege of Witnesses," and "City 
Negligence." He has recently supervised the preparation of the series of law re- 
ports known as "American Electrical Cases." Mr. Morrill was married in 1876 to 
Nina M. L. , daughter of Col. William E. Lewis, of Norwich, Vt. 

Keenan, James, was born in Keeseville, Essex county, N. Y., December 29, 1831. 
His father, John Keenan, came to this country from Ireland in 1812 and settled in 
the northern part of the State and came to Troy about 1839, where he died in 1887. 
His mother, Ann (Martin) Keenan, died shortly after the removal of the family to 
Troy. James left home at the age of eleven and at the age of eighteen learned the 
bricklayer's trade with Jesse Van Zile and worked at the trade until 1856, when, 
with John Magill, he formed the firm of Magill & Keenan, contractors and builders, and 
continued in that business until 1878, when he retired. He was constable of the old 
First ward from 1855 to 1865, was city commissioner in 1868, was county clerk from 
January, 1878, to 1884, was sheriff three years and was delegate to the Democratic 
National Convention in 1892. He was foreman of the old Hand Engine Company 
No. 7. He married Sarah A. Nelligan of Troy, in 1853. There are two children, 
William M., a lawyer, and Mrs. Mary F. Dowling. Mr. Keenan died suddenly, Sep- 
tember 24, 1886. 

Christensen, John B., was born in Denmark, August 10, 1S67, was educated in 



FAMILY SKETCHES 389 

their schools, and learned the blacksmith's trade. He came to the United States 
May 37, 1,S89, and located in Lansingburgh, N. Y., and began business on his own 
account in 1893 on First street, doing a successful business. He was married twice, 
Hrst on May 2, 1889, to Marie K. Krog, who was a German lady, and died April 5^ 
1891. For his second wife. August 11, 1893, he married Anna M. B. Larsen of this 
place, formerly of Denmark; they have had two children : Saren, and a daughter, 
Nielsena K., who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Christensen are members of the 
Lutheran church, and are of Danish origin. 

Betts, Edgar K., was born in Norwalk, Conn., June 22, 1842. He was educated 
in the common schools, and came to Troy, N. Y., in 1856. He was first employed 
as errand boy and clerk ; he was afterwards in the dry goods business in company 
with James S. Keeler, under the firm name of Keeler & Betts; afterwards the firm 
was known as Betts & Medbury. In 1876 he became associated with Earl & Wilson 
in the collar business, which association has continued until the present time with 
success. He married Harriet L., daughter of Jefferson Gardner of Lansingburgh, 
in 1875, by whom he has had four children: Anson Gardner, Edgar Hayes, Ethel 
Keeler and Arthur Wilson. Mr. Betts's father, Henry, was born in Norwalk, Conn., 
November 26, 17$ 4, and married Nancy Ketchum of Westport, Conn., by whom he 
bad one son, Edgar K. Henry Betts died in 1881 and his wife died in 1866. The 
grandfather of Edgar K., Capt. Hezekiah Betts, was born July 31, 17G0; he was a 
captain in the Revolutionary army under Major Wyllys and General Webb in the 
Yorktown campaign, leading one division (October 21, 1781) of the forlorn hope that 
attacked and captured the British position, being wounded during the battle. He 
died May 31, 1837. The founder of the family in America was Thomas Betts, liorn 
in Smithfield, England, in 1618, came to America in 1639— being one of the original 
settlers of Guilford, Conn. — moved to Norwalk, Conn., and assisted in the founding 
of that place in 1660. Jeffer.son Gardner was the pioneer in the application of the 
sewing machine to the collar business in Troy. Edgar K. Betts is treasurer of the 
Leonard Hospital of Lansingburgh, and of Lansingburgh Academy, vice-president 
of the Board of Education, and one of the directors of the Union Bank of Trov, a 
member of the New England Society of New Yoik city, Troy Club and Sans Souci 
Club of Lansingburgh. 

McClellan, Charles H., was born Colrain, Mass., February 15, 1845. His early 
ancestors were Scotch-Irish and came from Ireland in 1749 and settled in Colrain, 
but on account of the Indians, moved to Pelham ; after the close of the Indian war 
the family moved back to Colrain. Col. Hugh McClellan was a prominent man in 
Massachusetts; he was in the Revolutionary army and commanded at various times 
three companies of minute men, and later was for thirty years a member of the Massa- 
chusetts Legislature ; he died in 1816. Michael McClellan, the grandfather of Charles 
H., was also a member of the Massachusetts Legislature; he died July 29, 1858. His 
father, Hugh, was born in Colrain and died in February, 1869. His mother, Mar- 
garet T. Washburn, was born in Colrain in November, 1816. Charles H. received 
a common school education and later in life took a course in the Troy Business Col- 
lege. He remained on the farm until he was twenty-one years old, and for many 
years was in the dry goods business in Greenfield, Mass., and in November, 1886, 
came to Troy and purchased an interest in the collar and shirt business, the firm being 



390 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

McClellan, Miller & Co. This firm was established in 1864 under the firm name of 
Gallup & Tucker. Their successors were S. D. Tucker & Co., in 1867 S. D. 
Tucker, in 1868 Tucker & Flack, in 1876 Flack & Dennison, in 1879 Flack & Wales, 
in 1886 McClellan, Miller & Co. Since January 1, 1889, Mr. McClellan has been sole 
proprietor. He has always been interested in his native town, and in 1891 wrote a 
partial history of it. He is a member of Republican Lodge F. & A. M. of Green- 
field, Mass., and is also a member of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. October 
8, 1873, he married Mary A. vSmart of Troy, who has borne him two sons: Hugh H., 
of Cornell University, ' 97, and Josejih W. 

Stowell, Henry, was born at Vergennes, Vt., in May, 1839. His father. Ratio L. 
Stowell, was born in Connecticut; when a child he removed to Vergennes with his 
])arents; he was in the war of 1812 and was later a captain in the Vermont State 
militia; he died at the age of eighty-nine. His mother, Julia A. (Deming) Stowell, 
was a native of Vermont, and died in 1895, aged eighty-nine. Henry Stowell re- 
ceived his education in the common schools and entered the office of the Vergennes 
Vermonter to learn the printer's trade, where he remained three years and came to 
Troy in 1857 and completed the trade with A. W. Scribner, with whom he remained 
until 1861, when he enlisted in Co. B, 7th Vermont Vols. He served as private, 
corporal, sergeant, second and first lieutenant, and captain in 1864. He was mus- 
tered out of service at Brownsville, Texas, in March, 1866, when he returned to Troy 
and again entered the printing office of Mr. Scribner. In 1871 he started in business 
for himself in the Harmony Hall building, and in May, 1894, moved into the Masoliic 
building, 15 Third street, where he has the most extensive printing plant in the city. 
He is a member of King Solomon's Primitive Lodge No. 71, F. & A. M., Apollo 
Chapter, Bloss Council, Apollo Commandery, Delta Lodge of Perfection, Albany 
Sovereign Consistory, Oriental Temple of the Mystic Shrine, and Apollo Drill Corps. 
He also is a member of the Masonic Veterans Association, Post Willard No. 38, G. 
A. R., and Tibbets Veteran Corps, of which he is treasurer. He married, October 
2 1866, Jennie M. Van Ness of Troy. He has a son, William Van Ness Stowell, one 
of the printing firm of Henry Stowell & Son, and a daughter, Julia W., a graduate 
of the Troy Female Seminary. 

Collins, Cornelius V., was born in Greenwich, Washington county, N.Y. , June 20, 
1856. His father, Thomas Collins, came from Ireland in 1848 and settled in Green 
wich. He was a builder. He moved to Troy in 1866. His mother, Elizabeth (Vall- 
ance) Collins, was born in Glasgow, Scotland. Cornelius received a public school 
education and went to work for W. P. Kellogg in the curry comb business as a clerk 
in the office. In 1877 he went with Converse, Peckham & Vilas in the wholesale dry 
goods business on River street, as commercial traveler, and in 1884 entered the con- 
cern as a partner under the firm name of Converse, Collins, Merrell & Co. He was 
elected police commissioner in 1888, which office he held for three years. He was 
elected sherifi:' of Rensselaer county in November, 1894, commenced duties in Janu- 
ary, 1895. He belongs to King Solomon Lodge F. & A. M., and is a member of the 
Pafraets Dael Club. He married Ida S. Salmson in 1879. She is a daughter of P. 
H. Salmson, the jeweler. Mr. and Mrs. Collins have two daughters, Bessie and May. 
In politics Mr. Collins has always been a Republican, being very influential in the 
ranks of his party, not only in Rensselaer county but also this portion of the State. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 391 

At the State Convention at Saratoga in 1895, he was made a member of the Re- 
publican State Committee and re elected in 1896. In the fall of 1896 he was made a 
member of the executive committee. He is recognized as one of the strongest work- 
ers in the interest of the party in this section. 

Waters, M. B., was born in Duxbury, Mass., in 1831. His ancestors came from 
old New England stock. His father, B. S. G. Waters, was born in Marblehead, 
Mass., and came to Troy in 1842 and died in 1847. His mother, Margaret (Winsor) 
Waters, was born in Duxbury, Mass., and died in 1839. Mr. Waters when eleven 
years of age went as cabin boy on board a ship. He began railroading in 1851 on 
Hudson River Railroad and from there he went with the Troy & Boston Railroad, 
now the Fitchburg, where he filled the various positions of baggage master, ticket 
agent, freight and passenger conductor, and was the first traveling passenger agent 
of the line. He then returned to the Hudson River Railroad Co. and remained with 
them eleven years. He later went with the People's Line of Steamers and he has ably 
filled the position of general passenger agent of the Hne for the past seventeen years. 
He has published several pamphlets discriptive of the Hudson River and the People's 
Line and is known for his unique and novel way of advertising which has tended 
largely to popularize the famous People's Line. Mr. Waters is known as a very in- 
teresting correspondent of the Troy Budget. He has been a large contributor to 
magazines and papers. He is a member of the various Masonic bodies from the Blue 
Lodge to the Mystic Shrine and is a life member of all. His motto has been " Pluck, 
patience and perseverance," combined with the golden rule, and has always main- 
tained that " Honesty is the best policy," and his word has proven as good as a gov- 
ernment bond. In 1866 he married Lucia M. Allen, of North Dorset, Vt. 

Morey, David, was born in New Ashford, Berkshire county, Mass., in Februarv, 
1850. His education was received at the Taconic Institute at Lanesboro, Mass., and 
in 1868 he removed to Troy, which has since been his home. Twenty years ago he 
embarked in the grocery business in the southern part of the city, and he still con- 
tinues in that line. He early espoused the cau.se of Democracy, and by reason of his 
I)rominence in that party, was chosen .school commissioner, which position he held 
for three years. In 1891 the Democratic convention named him its candidate for 
county treasurer, his oppenent being Shepard Tappen. Mr. Morey was elected by a 
majority of 2,694 votes, and the number of votes received by him exceeded those re- 
ceived by any other candidate on his ticket. His administration of that important 
office was entirely successful. He was nominated for the same office in 1894, but 
was defeated. In June, 1896, he was appointed by Mayor Molloy to the important 
office of city chamberlain, which position he now holds. 

Willard, William Wallace, was born in Troy, N. Y. , July 30, 1843, and received 
his education in the ward schools of the city and the Troy Academy. He is the son 
of Levi Willard, one of Troy's oldest residents, having commenced his business 
career in the year 1840, and had until the time of his death been engaged in the 
book, stationery and newspajjer business; he died in the year 1892; his mother was- 
Mary E. Plumb, born in Stockbridge, Mass., and died in Troy, in February, 1895. 
Mr. Willard has always been a resident of the city and was connected with his father 
in business; from a young man he was active in politics and has always been a 



392 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

prominent Democrat; was elected school commissioner in November, 1868, by the 
board of commissioners to fill a vacancy in the board, L. E. Gurley retiring. He 
was appointed police commissioner by the Hon. Edward Murphy, jr., mayor, in 1876, 
which office he held until 1880; he was also at one time clerk of the Board of Excise, 
and in the reorganization of the present police force m the year 1885, he was ap- 
pointed sujDerintcndent of police, and has held that position until the present time. 
In his younger days he always took an active part in the elections of the Troy Young 
Men's Association, and held office therein. He is a member of the Elks Lodge of 
this city and an exempt fireman of the Arba Read Steamer Co. He was married to 
Miss Kittie S. Dorlon, daughter of Philip S. Dorlon, m June, 1869. His wife died in 
December, 1894. He has one daughter living, Mary E. Willard. 

Large, William E., was born in the town of Watervliet, Albany county, N. Y., 
October 4, 1847. He was reared and worked on his father's farm until he was four- 
teen years of age, when he became a clerk in a country store, and at nineteen years 
of age he went to California, where he was engaged in the supply department of the 
Central Pacific Railway Company until 1870. He then returned to Mechanicsville, 
where he engaged in general merchandise until 1883, and in 1884 came to Troy and 
associated himself with Daniel Wing in the wholesale grocery business, under the 
firm name of Wing & Large, until 1891, when the copartnership was dissolved and 
Mr. Large conducted the business alone until May, 1896. He was married twice ; 
first in May, 1874, to Nellie, daughter of Thomas and Betsey Badgley of the town of 
Half Moon, Saratoga county, N. Y., by whom he had three children: Bessie B. , 
(ieorge and Daisy L. Mrs. Large died in December, 1884, and in 1887 he married 
Elizabeth, daughter of Lewis and Phoebe Smith, of Mechanicsville, N.Y. Mr. Large 
is a member of Montgomery Lodge No. 506, F. & A. M. ; of Stillwater Chapter, R. 
A. M. ; and of Washington Commandery, No. 33, K T., of Saratoga Springs. The 
ancestry of the family is English and Scotch. 

Flack, Clarence N., was born in Lansingburgh, and educated in the public schools 
and Lansingburgh Academy. He completed his education in 1871, and was connected 
with his father in the wholesale flour and commission business ; in 1894 he sold his 
interest in that business. He is president of the Troy Waste Manufacturing Co., 
and is director of the Manufacturers' National Bank of Tro3^ of the Troy City Rail- 
way, of the Albany Railway, and is also director of the People's Bank of Lansing- 
burgh. February 28, 1894, he was appointed single-head police commissioner of 
Lansingburgh by the Board of Trustees; took the oath of office March 4, 1884, and 
was re-elected a year later. The office is without salary. He is a member and trus- 
tee of the M. E. church. Mr. Flack's father, David H., was born in Washington 
county, September 19, 1818. He came to Lansingburgh in 1841, and in 1845 he 
married Sarah, daughter of Doctor Simon Newcomb of Pittstown. Of this marriage 
seven children were born, four of whom .survive: Clarence N., Mrs. N. E. Russell, 
Mrs. Henry Graham, and Mrs. William M. Brundage. Mr. Flack died December 
33, 1892, and his widow survives at this date, 1896. 

Kennedy, Howard S., was born in Troy in 1858. His father, Peter H. Kennedy, 
came to Troy in 1845 and worked at his trade of cabinet making. His mother was 
Elizabeth Van Volkinburgh of Columbia county. He attended common schools and 
took a short course at Troy Business College. When thirteen years old he went to 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 393 

work for Coon & Van Volkinburgh in the shirt and collar business which was con- 
solidated with the Cluett factory in 1889, and became superintendent of that concern. 
He is a member of Trinity M. E. church, and is president of the Troy Conference 
Epworth League. He married Josie A. Sharp of Troy in 1879. 

Parks, Charles Wellman, son of Granville and Elizabeth Parks, was born at Wo- 
burn, Middlesex county, Mass., March 22, 1863.. He graduated from Woburn High 
School and entered the Polytechnic Institute of Troy, from which he was graduated. 
In September, 1881, he was assistant on the Missouri River survey at Omaha, Neb., 
ten weeks, on the Arkansas Narrow Guage Railroad fifteen weeks, and in April, 
1884, was engineer in charge of surveys for the Denver, Memphis and Atlantic Rail- 
road seventeen weeks ; in September, 1884, he was topographer on the Burlington 
and Missouri Railroad in Nebraska; in 1885 he was assistant in geodesy at the R. P. 
I. ; in 1886 he was professor /re tern, in physics in that institution until 1892. In 
1889 he was superintendent of the Liberal Arts Group at the Paris Exposition, and 
was a member of the International Jury, class six. He had charge of the United 
States Bureau of Education at the Columbian Exhibition and compiled the catalogue 
for the library of 5,000 volumes. He belongs to the Troy Scientific Association for 
the Advancement of Science and the Cosmos Club of Washington county. His wife 
is M. B. (Frear) Parks, to whom he was married April 15, 1887. She was a daughter 
of the late Will Frear. 

Mann, jr., Hon. Francis N., was born in Troy, N. Y. , August 2, 1849. On the 
paternal side he is a descendant of Richard Mann, who came from Europe previous 
to the year 1644 and lived in Scituate, Mass. Thomas Hooker, on the maternal side, 
was the founder ot the city of Hartford, Conn., and a very prominent man in New 
England. His father, Francis N. Mann, was born in Milton, Saratoga county, N.Y., 
June 19, 1802. H^e was a lawyer and moved to Troy in 1828. He was judge of the 
Court of Common Pleas, and had held the offices of alderman, supervisor, and 
mayor of Troy in 1847, 1848 and 1849. He was a director in the Mutual Bank, a 
trustee of the Troy Orphan Asylum, and a senior warden of St. John's Episcopal 
church; he died Februarys, 1880. His mother, Jane (Hooker) Mann, was born in 
Hampton, Washington county, N. Y. , and died July 28, 1875. The subject of this 
sketch was educated at the Troy Academy and entered Mr. Harrington's Prepara- 
tory School in Westchester county to prepare for college. He entered Yale in 1866, 
and was graduated in 1870. He was graduated from the Albany Law School in 1872, 
and admitted to the bar. He is a real estate dealer. He was elected alderman -and 
served from March 2, 1873, to 1877 inclusive; was elected to the Assembly of the 
State of New York in 1879 as the candidate of the Republican party ; was on the 
staff of Governor Cornell from 1880 to 1883, as aid-de-camp. In 1890 he was a can- 
didate for maj'or, but was defeated. He was appointed quartermaster with rank of 
lieutenant-colonel, November 1, 1873, and was later promoted to judge advocate 
with rank of colonel and served until 1880. He is one of the original members of 
the Troy Citizens Corps, and has been its president from the beginning. He was 
appointed in 1895 one of the managers of the State Hospital at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 
He is vice-president of the Mutual Bank, trustee of the Troy Savings Bank, vice- 
president of Troy City Railroad, trustee of Troy Academy, Emma Willard School, 
Troy Orphan Asylum, Marshall Infirmary and Bible and Prayer Book Society of the 



394 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

diocese of Albany, and is also provisional dejiuty to the General Convention of the 
Episcopal Church, and vestryman of St. John's Episcopal church. He married 
Jessie M. Patchin of Troy, January 9, 1878, who is the daughter of Thadden W. 
Patchin, who was an old resident of Troy. They have six children. Her grand- 
father was Judge George R. Davis, who was speaker of the House of Repre.senta- 
tives of New York State two years. 

Murray, James T., was born in Ireland in 1859. His father, Martin Murray, came 
to this country in May, 1862, and settled in Troy, N. Y., and was for manj^ years in 
the National Express Company's office. His mother, Ellen (McLoughlin) Murray, 
was born in Ireland. James T. received his education in the public schools and La 
Salle Institute and High School of Troy and afterwards taught in the Nintii Ward 
School four years, during which time he studied law in the office of Smith, Fursman 
& Cowen and was local editor of the Observer; later he attended lectures at the Al- 
bany Law School and was admitted to the bar in Saratoga in 1882, whereupon he 
resigned and commenced the practice of law and has been in very active practice 
since. He was counsel for the Board of Supervisors from 1884 to 1880 inclusive, and 
was appointed extra assistant district attorney under District Attorney Rhodes. He 
was elected justice of the City Court in the fall of 1895 for a term of two years. He 
was president of the Young Men's Association a number of years and has been 
prominently connected with the Y. M. C. A., and is a member of the Robert Emmet 
A.ssociation, and has been a trustee for a number of years of the Osgood Steamer 
Co. He is also a member of the State Bar Association, also of the Elks, and of the 
La Salle Alumni Association. November 11, 1896, Mr. Murray was married to Miss 
Catherine Frances Barrett of Troy and now resides at 2426 Fifth avenue. 

Schenck, Martin, was born in Palatine Bridge, N. Y., January 24, 1847. His an- 
cestors origmally came from Holland in 1631 and settled on Long Island. His great- 
grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His father was Benjamin 
Schenck, who was born in Johnstown, Fulton county, in 1804, and later removed to 
Palatine Bridge, where he was for many years a farmer and lumber dealer; he died 
in 1873. His mother was Susan (Martin) Schenck, born in Florida, Montgomery 
county; she died in 1892. Martin graduated from Union College, Schenectady, N.Y , 
in the class of 1869, as a civil engineer and has worked at his profession for twenty- 
eight years. From 1887 to 1891 inclu.sive he was chief engineer of the Hudson River 
Improvement. In 1892 and 1893 he was State engineer and surveyor, and con- 
sulting engineer to the State Board of Health in 1894 and 1895. In 1894 he was 
appointed chief of engineers with rank of brigadier-general on the staff of Governor 
Flower. He was a member of the Legislature in 1875 from Montgomery county, 
N. Y. He has been employed on various railroads as constructing engineer. He is 
at present city engineer of Troy. Mr. S. is the author of various reports and papers 
on civil engineering. He is a member of the B. P. O. Elks, and the Royal Arcanum. 
In 1879 he married Miss Adele Van Evra of Sprakers, by whom he has two children. 

Edmunds, Frank W. , was born in Boston, Mass., vSeptember 5, 1858. He is the son 
of Benjamin F. Edmunds, a native of New Hampshire, who was one of the organizers 
of the first Masonic lodge in that State; he died in 1880. His mother, Lucy (Bald- 
win) Edmunds, is now living in Brooklyn, N. Y. Frank W. when ten years of age 
became an office boy in the office of John A. Griswold & Co. in New York, and work- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 395 

ing his way up was given charge of the sales in the vicinity of New York. He re- 
mained with that concern until the formation of the Albany and Rensselaer Iron 
and Steel Co., when he remained with the New York department of that com- 
pany until 1882, at which time he came to Troy, where he has since had his head- 
quarters. He became the general sales agent for that company and later occupied 
a similar position for the Troy Steel and Iron Co. In 1890 Mr. Edmunds was placed 
in charge of the Madison street office where he conducted his department from the 
general office and continued as general sales agent for the rest of its existence. Mr. 
Edmunds has charge of the sales department of the Troy Steel Co. on Breaker Isl- 
and. He belongs to Post D, Commercial Travelers Association, of which he is 
president and also president of the Troy branch of the Commercial Travelers' Home 
Association of America. He has been president of the Pafraets Dael Club, and is a 
member of Phoenix Lodge, F. & A. M., of Lansingburgh. He married Frances 
M. Ferine of Paterson, N. J., in 1879. 

Beiermeister, jr., Frederick, was born in New York city, February 1, 1854. His 
father was born in Germany in 1830, came to Troy in 1863, and in 1874 engaged in 
the manufacture of collars and cuffs; later the firm went into the combination of the 
shirt and collar industry. His wife, mother of the subject, was Barbara (Slosser) 
Beiermeister; she died in 1894. Frederick, jr., received a public and high school 
education in New York city and Troy, afterwards entering the shirt and collar busi- 
ness, at which he is engaged at present. Their manufacturing plant is one of the 
largest in Troy, known as the International Shirt and Collar Co., of which Mr. 
Beiermeister is president and one of the largest stockholders; the general office is in 
Troy and the company maintains salesrooms in New York, Chicago and Boston, and 
do a large and successful business. Frederick, jr., is also president of the Pioneer 
Building and Loan Association, and vice-prcL-ident of the First National Bank. He 
is a member of Trinity M. E. church, and president of its board of trustees. In 
1881 he married Miss Charlotte McPherson of Troy and has four children. In poli- 
tics he is a Republican, and is a member of the Masonic order, having attained the 
degree of Knight Templar; he is also a member of the Mystic Shrine, the Troy Club 
and other social organizations. 

Pine, Charles L., son of J. K. P. Pme and Clara (Adams) Pine, was born July 18, 
1866, in Lansingburgh and was educated in the Troy Academy and Colgate Acad- 
emy at Hamilton, N. Y. He entered Williams College in the fall of 1885 and re- 
mained there until the spring of 1886, when he entered the shirt and collar factory 
of his father, with whom he continued until 1890. The United Shirt and Collar 
Company was organized with his father as treasurer; Charles L. was in 1892 elected 
a member of the Board of Directors and assistant treasurer of the organization, and 
in August, 1896. was elected treasurer. Mr. Pine is a member of the Sigma Phi fra- 
ternity, the Troy Club, and the Troy Yacht Club, and was one of the organizers of 
the Riverside Club of Lansingburgh, of which he is now a director. November 26, 
1890, he married Grace E. , daughter of Warren T. Kellogg of Lansingburgh and 
they have two children : Ruth K. and Warren Knox. 

Cluett, Coon & Co. — This firm owns and carries on what is probably the largest 
shirt, collar and cuff manufactory in the world, and its practical founder may be 
considered in the person of George B. Cluett, who was born in Wolverhampton, 



396 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

England, November 21, 1838, and who arrived in America and settled in Troy with 
his parents, William and Ann Cluett, on July 19, 1850. Receiving a liberal education 
he became, when sixteen (1854), a clerk for Joseph Maullin and E. D. Blanchard, 
collar manufacturers under the firm name of Maullin & Blanchard, who had estab- 
Itshed themselves in business in 1851, and in whose employ his brother, J. W. A. 
Cluett, had been since 1852. In 1856 the firm became Maullin & Bigelow by the 
retirement of Mr. Blanchard and the admission of Charles H. Bigelow, and in 1861 
the style was changed to Maullin, Bigelow & Co. In 1858 J. W. A. Cluett joined his 
father in the book and music business under the firm name of William Cluett &- 
Son. George B. Cluett continued as clerk for Maullin & Bigelow until 1861, when 
he became a partner with Mr. Maullin, Mr. Bigelow having withdrawn. Mr. Cluett 
had charge of the manufacturing department from 1858 to 1863. In the latter year 
Mr. Maullin died and a new firm was organized under the style of George B. Cluett, 
Brother & Co., consisting of George B. and J. W. A. Cluett and Charles J. Saxe. At 
this time the partnership existing between J. W. A. Cluett and his father was dis- 
solved. Another brother-, Robert Cluett, became a clerk for Maullin & Cluett in 
1862, and in 1866, on the withdrawal of Mr. Saxe, he was admitted to the firm of 
George B. Cluett, Brother & Co. In 1873 the company opened a retail men's fur- 
nishing store in Troy, and soon began the manufacture of shirts to order. Their 
success in this line induced them to add shirts to their large and growing collar 
and cuff manufacturing business, and for several years these branches have been 
])rofitably carried on. The establishment has steadily increased in capacity until 
it has reached its present extensive proportions. From the first attention has been 
given mainly to the manufacture of fine goods, which have a national reputation. The 
celebrated " Monarch" shirts and the various brands of collars and cuffs are known 
all over the United States as well as in many foreign countries. From 1862 to 1874 
the factory was located at No. 390 River street, and from 1875 to 1880 at Nos. 74 and 
76 Federal street, where they were burned out on March 20 of the latter year. In 
1878 a five-story building was erected for laundry purposes on North Fourth street, 
and in 1880 the manufacturing business was moved to No. 556 Fulton street. In 1881 
the first of the five immense factory buildings on River street was erected, and covered 
an area of 100 by 100 feet. On November 1, 1889, the firms of George B. Cluett, Brother 
& Co. and Coon & Co. were consolidated under the name of Cluett, Coon & Co., which 
still continues. The firm of Coon & Co. was originally started in 1856 by John H. 
Coon and H. W. Cole, as Cole & Coon, for the manufacture of collars. It was located 
on the northwest corner of Grand Division and North Third streets until 1859, when 
(juarters were obtained and occupied in the Manufacturers Bank building. In 1859 
J. M. Van Volkenburgh was admitted under the name of Cole. Coon & Co., and in 
1861 the business was removed to No. 7 Union street, where it was burned out in 
1862. Mr. Cole withdrew in 1861 and the name was changed to Coon & Van Volken- 
burgh. Mr. Van Volkenburgh withdrew in 1868, and J. H. and Daniel W. Coon and 
W. H. Reynolds formed the firm of Coon, Reynolds & Co. Mr. Reynolds died in 
1879, and the firm of Coon & Co. was organized by J. H. and D. W. Coon, H. C. 
Statzell, and F. F. Peabody. This comj^any continued business until the consolida- 
tion of the two firms in 1889. George B. Cluett is a trustee of the Troy Orphan Asy- 
lum, has been a director in the Mutual National Bank since 1890, and is an active 
member of Christ church, Troy, a public spirited, liberal and influential citizen, and 



1 



FAMILY SKETCHES 397 

a representative business man. He was married, first, in 1863, to Miss Sarah B., 
daughter of G. D. Golden, of Troy, who died in 1864. In 1867 he was married to 
Miss Amanda R. Fisher, niece of Judge N. J. Rockwell, of Illinois. Mr. J. W. A. Cluett 
was born in Wolverhampton, England. Was married to Miss Elizabeth B. Bontecou 
of Troy, N. Y., in June, 1863. They have two daughters now living, Jessie A., wife 
of C. Vanderbilt Barton, residents of Colorado Springs, Col.; Louise B., at home. 
Mr. Cluett and family are members df Christ Episcopal church. Mr. Cluett with 
his brother George B., during the year 1896, erected the stone spire of the State 
Street M. E. church in memory of their parents, who were members of that church. 
J. W. A. Cluett, as well as his brothers, are all staunch Republicans. Mr. Cluett 
has devoted much of his leisure to literary and scientific pursuits, and for many years 
has been a member of the Troy Scientific Association, making a specialty of the study 
of Microscopy. 

Roche, Hon. William J., was born in Troy, N. Y. His father, William Roche, 
was born in Ireland and came to the United States in 1841 ; three years later he set- 
tled in Troy and was for many years with the Burden Iron Works and as salesman in 
Francis S, Thayer's mill in Troy and died in 1891. His mother, Margaret (Guiry) 
Roche, was born in Ireland, came to United States in 1845, and died in 1886. Will- 
iam J. received his education at St. Mary's Academy in Troy and studied law in the 
office of Townsends & Browne, was admitted to the bar in 1874. In 1878 he succeeded 
Mr. Browne in the firm and the firm name was Townsends & Roche until 1891 when 
Mr. Henry T. Nason was taken in and the firm name was changed to Townsend. 
Roche & Nason, and so continued until January 1, 1897, when Mr. Nason became 
county judge. In 1888 he was appointed city attorney and held that office until 1SS6. 
In December, 1886, he was appointed by Mayor Whelan to the office of city comp- 
troller to fill an unexpired term, afterwards was appointed for a full term and held 
that office until October, 1890, when he was appointed corporation counsel, yhich 
position he now holds. In 1894 he represented the Eighteenth Senatorial District 
in the Constitutional Convention, being member of committee on powers and 
duties of the Legislature and on corporations. He is a member of the Alumni A.sso- 
ciation of the De La Salle Institute and was president of same two terms; has been 
president of the Robert Emmet Association and is still a member. In 1880 he 
married Mary L. Campion of New York city, by whom he has five sons. In politics 
he has long been recognized as among the leading Democrats in this part of tlie 
State. 

Sherman, William H., was born in Arlington, Vt., October 26, 1828. His ances- 
tors came of old New England stock. His grandfather, Caleb Sherman, of Conway, 
Mass., was a Revolutionary soldier. His father, Caleb Sherman, jr., was born in 
Conway, Mass., and was for many years a resident of Cambridge, N. Y., until his death 
in 1871. His mother, Lucy (Holden) Sherman, was born in Sunderland, Vt., and died 
in 1875. He received his education in the common school and in Washington County 
Academy in Cambridge, N. Y. He then entered a store in Cambridge and remained 
there until he was eighteen. He came to Lansingburgh in 1848, and was there a 
salesman in the dry goods store of S. C. Bull. In 1848 he came as clerk for Mr. G. 
V. S. Quackenbush, and became a partner in the concern in 1865, having charge of 
its financial alfairs. He is a member of the Second Street Presbyterian church and 



398 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

has been an elder of that church since 1859. In 186U he married Annie E. Sheldon, 
daughter of Cyrus D. Sheldon, who was a prominent lawyer in Troy. She died in 18'J1. 
lie hastwosons and two daughters: Henry, who is connected with the H. C. Curtis 
Collar Manufacturing Co., in which he has charge of a certain department; William 
P., who is connected wMth his father in their large dry goods store; Mrs. F. T. Piatt, 
and Miss Lucy Sherman. He has also two grandchildren. In politics he is a Re- 
publican. 

Alden, Joseph J., was born in Newton, Mass., in 1815. In 18BG he came to Troy 
and with Jared Brewster formed the firm of Alden & Wight, doing a dry goods 
busmess in what is known as the " Granite Store." For five years he was in the 
manufacturing business at Sand Lake, the product being satinet warp, and returned 
to Troy in 1855. In 1856 with Stephen P. Hunt he started a grocery business in 
Harmony Hall building under the firm name of Alden & Hunt. In 1865 Mr. Hunt 
retired and Mr. Alden became sole proprietor. Harry M., his son, was taken in as 
a partner in 1870 and in 1895 Edward was admitted, the firm name being J. J. Alden 
& Sous. Thus it will be seen that Joseph J. Alden had been a citizen of Troy sixty- 
one years, and that for more than forty years his business life was confined to one 
place. The deceased was a member of the First Presbyterian church. He is sur- 
vived by his wife, who was Miss Sarah Marshall, daughter of Capt. Benjamin Mar- 
shall of this cit}', two sons, Water Commissioner Harry M. Alden and Edward M. 
Alden ; a daughter, Mrs. Jonathan Alden of Brooklyn ; a sister, Mrs. George Preccott 
of Albany; and two brothers, (ien. Alonzo Alden and Charles L. Alden. Joseph 
J. Alden's life was confined mostly to business pursuits. His business career was 
characterized by industry, integrity, well directed efl^ort and conscientious practice. 
He achieved well deserved success and leaves behind him a record worthy of emula- 
tion. Many sympathizing friends mourn with the bereaved relatives. Mr. Alden 
was of the seventh generation, in direct descent from John and Priscilla Alden, of 
Puritan fame. Mr. Alden died March 11, 1896. 

Harrington, jr., Arvin W. . was born in West Troy, Albany county, N. Y. Arvin 
W. Harrington, his father, was born in Stephentown, Rensselaer county. May 1, 
1825. About fifty years ago he entered the concern of Whipple, Thompson & Co. of 
West Troy in the lumber business; he was also the founder of the firm of Harring- 
ton & Co. The mother of our subject is Caroline S. (Rousseau) Harrington, daugh- 
ter of Louis Rousseau. He received a public school education, entered the Troy 
Academy and was graduated in 1875. He then entered the office of G. Parish 
Ogden & Co., in the insurance business. In March, 1887, he formed a partnership 
in the firm name of Ogden, Calder, Van Alstyne & Co., which was continued until 
1887, when Ogden and Calder retired and Mr. Harrington and Mr. Van Alstyne 
took the business, which is carried on under the firm name of Van Alstyne & Har- 
rington. Mr. Harrington is president of the Laureate Boat Club. He was one of 
the founders and is now vice-president of the Troy Choral Club. He was married 
in 1884 to Harriet Sheldon, daughter of Henry Sheldon, who was for many years a 
druggist on River street. He has one daughter. 

Holmes, John B., was born in West Davenport, N. Y., August i:>, l.S,52. He is 
the son of Elkanah Holmes of West Davenport, N. Y., and Betsey (Burdick) Holmes, 
who died in 1857. He attended the public schools and Stamford Seminary, Stam- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 399 

ford, N. Y., then taught school for several terms and subsequently entered the law 
office of A. Raymond Gibbs of Oneonta, N. Y., for the study of law and graduated 
from the Albany Law School in 1878, and was admitted to the bar soon thereafter 
He commenced the practice of the law in the village of East Worcester N Y in 
1878, where he remained until April, 1883, when he removed to the village of Wor- 
cester and formed a copartnership with Frank L. Smith under the firm name of 
Holmes & Smith and continued the practice of the law in that village until April 
1893, when he removed to Troy. N. Y., and formed a copartnership with Hon. James 
Lansing of that city, under the firm name of Lansing & Holmes and is still a mem- 
ber of the said firm. He was supervisor of the town of Worcester from 1884 to 1888 
inclusive, and was for two years during that time chairman of the Board of Super- 
visors of Otsego couuty. He ran for district attorney of Otsego county in 1889 against 
Burr Mattice, who is now a justice of the Supreme Court for that district, and al- 
though he ran ahead of his ticket, the county being largely Republican, he'was de- 
feated by a small majority. He was the nominal cashier of the Worcester Bank 
from 1880 to 1888 and a member of the Board of Education of the Worcester Acad- 
emy for several years. He belongs to the Cobleskill, N. Y. Lodge No. 304, F. & A. 
M. He married Mary E. Tobey of West Davenport, N. Y... in 1878, by whom he 
has one son, Northrup R. Holmes. In politics he has always been a Democrat and 
for a number of years was a member of the Democratic County Committee of Otsego 
county and attended several State conventions as a delegate from said countv, 
among which was what is known as the "mid winter convention" held at Albany in 
1892. 

Harrison, George B., was born in Troy, N. Y., December 14, 1865. His father, 
George Harrison, was born in London, England, in 1823 and came to this coun- 
try in 1844 and resided in New York city for two years. He came to Troy in 184(i 
and in 1850 went into the manufacture of malleable iron castings with \Villiam 
Knight, under the firm name of Knight & Harrison. In 1865 the firm was suc- 
ceeded by that of Harrison & Kellogg, and in 1884 became the Troy Malleal)le Iron 
Company, Mr. Harrison retiring from the bu.sinessin 1882. He died January 10, 188s. 
George Harrison married Susannah Taylor of Troy. They had one .son, William, 
who lived to the age of twenty one; he was married and left a daughter. On tlic 
death of his first wife George Harri-son subsequently married Miss Margaret A. \'an 
Woert of Athens, N. Y. ; of that union three children are living, of whom George 
B. is the eldest and manager of the estate. Mrs. Harrison is still living. Mr. and 
Mrs. Harrison were members of the First Baptist church of Troy. In politics he was 
a Republican. George B. Harrison, the subject of this sketch, attended the public 
schools, after which he entered the Troy Academy, graduating in 1882, and Williams 
College, graduating in 1886. He took a two year course in the Albanv Law vSchool, 
graduating in 1892. He studied law with William Shaw and was admitted to the 
bar in May, 1892. He now devotes his time to the management of the estate of 
George Harrison. He is a member of the Pafraets Dacl Club, of which he is the 
treasurer, also a member of the East Side and Laureate Boat Clubs and Troy Citi- 
zens' Corps. 

Coffey, James W., was born in Troy, N. Y., June 19, 1853. His father, Michael 
Cofl'ey, came from Ii eland in 1850, and died February 3, 1888. His mother, Sarah 



400 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

(Welch) Coffe3% is still livinj^. He received a common school education and entered 
St. Mary's Academy. In 1805 he went into the law office of Runkle & Flagg, after- 
wards going in with Neher & Calder as bookkeeper. He then entered the office 
of Flagg & Neary and continued with them until the death of Mr. Flagg, which 
occurred in 1874, remaining with Mr. Neary until his death, which occurred Februarj', 
1886, since which time he has practiced alone. He was admitted to the bar in 1875 
previous. He was the mayor's private secretary from 1882 to 1889. He was appointed 
assistant police magistrate in June, 1889. In 1890 he was made comptroller and re- 
appointed in 1893 and is the present incumbent. He belongs to the Alumni of La 
Salle Institute. He is a member of the Contracting Board, Board of Local Assessors, 
Board of Health, Board of Estimate and Apportionment, and one of the commission- 
ers of the funded debts of the city. He is a member of the Robert Emmet Associa- 
tion and of the Knights of Columbus. He married Nora A. Hartigan June 22, 1875, 
who died February 13, 1896. She was the daughter of Maurice Hartigan, who was 
alderman and supervisor of the Eighth ward. He has two children living, James 
Vincent and Sarah Louise, and has lost two by death, Michael Joseph and Helen 
Gertrude Coffey. 

Lloyd, James H., was born in Albany, N. Y., July 25, 1853. He received his edu- 
cation in the public schools and went as apprentice in a photograph studio in Albany. 
After he learned his trade he worked in several galleries and in 1874 bought out a 
gallery in Waterford, N. Y., where he remained eight years. He then came to Troy 
and opened a gallery on Third street where he is at present. In 1875 he joined 
Knickerbocker Steamer Company of Waterford, N. Y., and at various times held the 
office of president, vice-president, and captain of the company; also chief engineer. 
As captain he got the company so that they were invincible in competing drills, 
always winning the first prize. On coming to Troy in 1882 he joined the Arba Read 
Steamer Co., and shortly afterward was elected captain and held that position four 
years; he was also president of the company, and is still an active member. In De- 
cember, 1882, he enlisted in the 6th Separate Co., N. G. S. N.Y., serving five years; he 
received a full and honorable discharge, and immediately re-enlisted. On March 
15, 1888, he was elected captain of the 21st Separate Co., which office he still holds, 
and has brought the company to the highest state of efficiency, ranking among the 
very best in the Guard; he is also a member of the Third Brigade, N. G. N. Y. ex- 
amining board. He joined Clinton Lodge F. & A. M., in 1877, and Waterford Chap- 
ter, R. A. M., in 1889, located at Waterford, N. Y. ; he held several offices in the 
lodge and was high priest of Waterford Chapter in 1882 and '83; in 1891 he affili- 
ated with Apollo Lodge No. 13, F. & A. M., and Apollo Chapter No. 48, R. A. M., 
of this city : he is at present Master of Apollo Lodge. He jomed Apollo Commandery 
No. 15. K. T. , of this city in 1879, and is a past commander of that body. He is at 
present commander of Apollo Commandery drill corps, which office he has held 
thirteen years; they have been very successful; it was due to him that they received 
the most commendation at the Triennial Conclave at Boston in 1895. He is also a 
member of Bl'oss Council No. 14, R. & S. M., and Albany Sovereign Consistory. He 
is a 33d degree Mason, a member of the Supreme Council of the Northern Jurisdic- 
tion of the United States; also a member of Oriental Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of 
this city. He held the office of town clerk of Waterford three years. On July 25, 
1883, he married Miss Clara Hendrickson of Albany, by whom he has one daughter. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 401 

Corliss, John Moore, was born in Orford, N. H., June 7, 181H,, and was a lineal 
descendant in the sixth generation from George Corliss, the founder of the family in 
America, who was born in County Devonshire, England, about 1617, came to this 
country in 16:39, and settled in Newbury, Mass., where he died in 1686. The farm 
purchased by him in 1640 has been in the family ever since and is now owned by 
George Corliss of the sixth generation. The descendants of this pioneer have been 
prominent in civil, military, and commercial affairs, many of them being minutemen, 
volunteers and officers of rank in the wars of 1757, 1776, 1812 and 1861. John M. 
Corliss was the second son of four children of John Moore and Rosamond Corliss, 
natives respectively of Alexandria and Deerfield, N. H. His minority was spent on 
the parental farm, in attendance at the district school, and as a student at the Brad- 
ford and Haverhill Academies, and as a teacher for five terms. In 1886 he settled 
permanently in Troy, .where in the spring of 1837he engaged in the grocery business. 
In 1838 he formed a copartnership with Arnold H. Holdridge, under the firm name 
of Holdridge & Corliss, and began the manufacture of linen collars and .shirt fronts 
on the corner of Sixth and State streets. In 1839 he became sole owner and man- 
ager of the establishment. The following year John M. White became his partner 
under the style of Corliss & White, and from 1842 to 1846 he was again alone. From 
1846 to 1868 Hiram House was associated with him, the firm being Corliss & House 
except between 1854 and 1857, when it was Corliss, House & Co., Samuel N. Ida 
being the third partner. In 1868 his son, Wilbur F. Corliss,, became his partner in 
the place of Mr. House under the firm name of J. M. Corliss & Son. Mr. Corliss re- 
tired from business in 1882, and on November 1 of that year the firm of Corliss 
Brothers & Co., was formed, consisting of Wilbur F., Charles H. and John A. Corliss 
and Elmer H. Garrett. On November 1, 1890, Charles H. retired, and on July 1, 
1895, Mr. Garrett withdrew. The present firm of Corliss, Coon & Co. was then or- 
ganized by Wilbur F. and John A. Corliss and John H. Coon, jr., Albert E. Coon, 
the latter being sons of John H. Coon, sr. , the senior member of the old firm of Coon 
& Co. and now one of the firm of Cluett, Coon & Co. In 1878 the concern occupied 
its present quarters on the corner of Broadway and Fifth- avenue. At the time of 
his retirement in 1882 John M. Corliss was the oldest manufacturer of collars and 
cuffs in Troy and had been connected with the business longer than any other man. 
He was one of the pioneers engaged in that industry and many manufacturers ac- 
quired their first experience in his establishment. He was continuously in the busi- 
ness for forty-three years, and as early as 1860 started a branch in New York city. 
He has been a director of what is now the Union National Bank of Troy since 1853 
and vice-president since November, 1870. On May 5, 1881, he was elected a trustee 
of the Troy Savings Bank. In politics he was originally a Democrat, but since the 
election of Lincoln he has been a staunch Republican. He married, first, in 1839, 
Mary H., daughter of Benjamin R. Hoyt, of Newbury, Vt., who died in 1842. In 
1848 he married, second, Antoinette H., daughter of Alfred Masher, of Lenox, O., 
who died in 1887. Mr. John M. Corliss died June 7, 1892. 

Earl & Wilson.— Probably no firm engaged in the manufacture of collars and cuffs 

has a wider reputation than Earl & Wilson, whose celebrated " E. & W" trade mark 

is not only well known throughout America, but in many foreign countries. The 

" E. & W." brand carries a guarantee for fineness and durability wherever it goes. 

yy 



402 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

William S. Earl had his first experience as a manufacturer of collars and cufl's as an 
employee in the factory of his father-in law, Jefferson Gardner, in King street, in 
1848. Two years later he began business for himself at No. 51 North Third street, 
and from 1856 to 1858 he was associated with Edwin D. Blanchard, in the manufac- 
ture of Unen in the Manufacturers Bank building. On January 1, 1867, he and 
Washington Wilson formed the present firm of Earl & Wilson and began the man- 
ufacture of collars and cuflfs at No. 5 Union street. In 1873 his only son, Gardner 
Earl, was admitted as a partner and continued until his death March 3, 1887. Arthur 
R. Wilson, a brother of Washington, was admitted in 1881 and Edgar K. Betts in 
December, 1887. In 1876 the new building on the corner of Seventh street and 
Broadway was occupied by the firm, and is the first structure in Troy specially de- 
signed architecturally for the purpose. Mr. Earl is a prominent citizen and a rep- 
resentative business man, and was fire commissioner from 1880 to 1887 and has been 
a director of the Manufacturers National Bank since March 29, 1887. 

Rodgers, Spencer C, was born in Lyons, N. Y., December 12, 1844. After receiv- 
ing a common school education he learned the printers' trade in the Lyons Republi- 
can office, at the same time devoting himself to acquiring a knowledge of stenogra- 
phy. He afterwards followed the printing business in New York and Brooklyn, 
where he also pursued stenography, his first actual practice being the reporting of 
Henry Ward Beecher's sermons, and subsequently acting as stenographer in the 
secret service of the government and in the United States Courts of the Northern 
District of New York for two years. In 1868 he was induced by the late Hon. Wm. 
A. Beach to locate at Troy, and was at once appointed an official stenographer of 
the Supreme Court of the Third Judicial District, embracing seven counties; for 
many years he has also been the official stenographer of the county courts of Ren.s- 
selaer, Albany, Schoharie and Ulster. From 1872 until 1880 he also acted officially 
as stenographer for the courts of Bennington, Rutland and Franklin counties, Vt. 
In 1875 and 1883 he was elected official stenographer of the New York Assembly. 
He is one of the charter members of the State Stenographers' Association, serving as 
president in 1880 and 1892, and in 1883 was preidentof the International Congress of 
Stenographers of the United States and Canada. In 1883 he formed a partnership 
with James M. Ruso, of Albany, under the firm name of Rodgers & Ruso, and in 
1893, by the addition of John E. Kelly, of Troy, the firm became Rodgers, Ruso & 
Kelly, which partnership still continues, and also conducts the largest typewriting 
and lawyer's supply house in this section of the State. During about thirty years of 
official court service he has reported seventy-five capital cases, and nearly every noted 
trial in eastern New York. He has been official stenographer of the National Asso- 
ciation of Stove Manufacturers for twenty years. 

Tunnard, Robert H., was born in England in 1839, and is a .son of John and Ann 
Tunnard, who came from England and .settled in Waterford, N. Y., in May, 1854. 
His father died in September of the same year, and his mother in 1880. Mr. Tun- 
nard received a district school education and started in as an apprentice to learn the 
machinist trade with J. M. King & Co., of Waterford, N. Y. Later he came to 
Troy, N. Y. , and learned the pipe fitting trade with Louis Southwick, with whom he 
remained nine years, and in 1871 entered the services of the Ren.sselaer Iron Works 
(which is now the Troy Steel Co.), and has been in their employ continuously since. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 403 

He has charge of the pipe fitting for that concern. He was elected school commis- 
sioner in 1883 and re-elected in 1886 to the same office ; appointed November 17, 1892, 
to fill vacancy, and afterwards appointed for a term of three years. He has always 
been a Republican and was a leader in the Ninth ward for years. He has held all 
of the offices in I. O. O. F. and the A. O. U. W., and has been a trustee of the Troy 
Co-operative Society since its organization, and was president of same for two years. 
In l.SOO he married Martha Rock of Pownal, Vt., and his children are William H., 
Hattie A. and Bessie M. 

Smith, Arthur T., was born in Troy in 1855. His father, George D. Smith, was 
born in England and came to Troy, where he was engaged in the meat business for 
many years. He held the office of supervisor for six years, and died in 1891. Arthur 
T. Smith, after graduating from the Troy Business College, entered the market of 
his father and since his death in 1891 has carried on the business alone. He was 
elected alderman from the Third ward in 1887, and has since held that office. He is 
chairman of the Republican Central Committee, and has been county committeman 
six years. He is a director in the National Bank of Troy, and belongs to all the Ma- 
sonic bodies of Troy. In 1877 he married Hattie A. Kendrick of Troy, by whom he 
had one daughter. 

Fiske, Edwin Jay, M. D., was born in Rome, N. Y. , December 26, 1848. His 
father. Squire Gilbert Fiske, born in Connecticut, was a descendant of Symond Fiske 
(lord of the manor of Stadhaugh, Suffolk county, England), and removed with his 
father to Rome, N. Y., in early life, and in 1850 went to Oswego, N. Y., where he 
engaged in general teaming, and later marine commission business, which he con- 
tinued until time of his death in 1880. The doctor's mother was Christiana M. Borst, 
born in Johnstown, N. Y., of German parents, her father being John Borst, a very 
well known business man in Mohawk Valley. The doctor began school life in 
Oswego, leaving the High School in 1866, and soon after was a student two years at 
Falley Seminary, Oswego county. The doctor was a clerk in the Oswego post-office 
in 1864 and part of 1865, and at the time of President Lincoln's assassination. On 
February 22, 1868, "he came to Albany and began the study of medicine; he at once 
entered the office of the late Dr. Alden March, founder of the Albany Medical Col- 
lege, and remained with him until the time of his death in 1869. May 10, 1870, he 
came to Troy as medical assistant at the Marshall Infirmary, where he remained 
four years, attending during the time in 1871 his last year of lectures at the Albany 
Medical College, graduating in the class of 1871, and on the anniversary of his birth- 
day, May 10, 1874, the doctor was appointed by William Kemp, then mayor, and 
without application or knowledge of such an office, city physician, which office he 
accepted, and removed soon after from the Infirmary to his first office No. 72 Second 
street. Four years later he resigned this office to accept a position on the Medical 
Brief. He was after made editor of this publication, which position he held until in 
1880, his health failed. He soon recovered and returned to Troy, where he has since 
enjoyed a very large practice. The doctor was one of the original members of the 
Citizens Corps, and a member of the Rensselaer County Medical Society, the Medical 
Society of Troy and Vicinity, and honorary member of the Albany County Medical 
Society. He was married, in September, 1894, to Miss Harriet A. Newton, of Al- 
banv, N. Y. 



404 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COtJNTt. 

Bell, John, was born in Bath-on-the-Hudson, N. Y., November 21, 1843. He was 
the son of Adam and Margaret Bell, natives of Berwickshire, Scotland, who came 
to Bath-on-the-Hudson about 183S. His father died July 29, 1882; his widow is now 
living, ninety-three years old. They had a family of six children of whom four were 
born in Scotland: Mrs. James Cown of Bath: Adam of Washington, spent thirty 
years in Wisconsin ; Thomas, deceased; Elizabeth, John, the subject of the sketch ; 
and Sarah, who had taught school in Bath for twenty-five years. The father of Mr. 
Bell was a gardener and was in the employ of the Van Rensselaers for a number of 
years. He was also in the employ of the Forbeg family ; he bought the place which 
John Bell now owns, on Walton, Ferry and First streets, of the Forbes estate and 
built his residence. John Bell was reared and educated in Bath ; he spent two years 
at the carpenter trade, then engaged with Marshall & Travers in the manufacture 
of pianos; he then set up a business for himself in Bath which he finally abandoned, 
and was employed in the stove pattern works of Fuller & Warren ; he also spent one 
year with H. Clay Bascomb of Troy in the pattern works. He was school treasurer 
for about eleven years. He has been a member of the Royal Arcanum, Fort Orange 
Council, Albany. Mrs. Bell's brother was John Brodie, who came to Bath-on-the 
Hudson and settled in Baltimore. He had a brother, Alexander, who was here in 
Bath about 1836; he went to Baltimore. Another brother, Thomas, spent most of 
his life in Ohio. He was active in church matters as were the other brothers. Mr, 
Bell was married in 1877 to Sarah L. Cornelius, sister of John Cornelius, by whom 
he has had five children : Sarah (a graduate of the Albany Normal School), Jean 
Elizabeth, Walter, John, and Ella L., deceased. Mrs. Bell died in March, 1894. 
She was principal of No. 22 School in Albany. 

Ludden, William J., was born in Ireland in 1849 and came with his parents to 
America in 1801. He received a full university course in St. John's College in New- 
York and graduated as Bachelor of Arts in 1870. In the fall of that year he entered 
the Albany Law School and finished with a class of ninety-one students. Immediately 
after his admission to the bar he commenced the practice of his profession in Rome, 
N. Y., as partner with the late Milton D. Barnett, at that time district attorney of 
Oneida county. After remaining with him a short time he removed to Binghamton 
where he opened an office for the practice of his profession associating himself with 
Edmund O'Connor, the late vState senator from that district. While in Binghamton 
he held the office of corporation counsel in that city for two successive terms. In 
1881 he moved to Troy where he opened an office in the Times building which he has 
ever since occupied. He was elected justice of the City Court of the city of Troy in 
1889 and held that office until January 1, 1896. He married in 1877 a daughter of 
James Prendergast, a merchant of Binghamton, N. Y., and they have a family of 
five sons and two daughters. Among his immediate relatives are the Rev. Dean 
A. P. Ludden of Little Falls and the Rev. James M. Ludden of Albany, his brothers, 
and the Rt. Rev. P. A. Ludden, D. D., bishop of Syracuse, his first cousin. Among 
the many important cases he has had in his practice are the Denuin will case and the 
People vs. James Horace Jones whom he defended for homicide. While Mr. Ludden 
was in Binghamton he was president of the Irish Land League and has always taken 
a deep interest in Itish National affairs. He enjoys a large and lucrative practice 
and is considered among the first lawyers in Rensselaer county. He has always 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 405 

been a Democrat in politics and has always taken an active part in every presidential 
election in furthering Democratic principles. His voice has been heard in almost 
every town of any importance in this State and the. northern part of Pennsylvania 
previous to every presidential election since he has become a voter in the interests of 
the Democratic cause. While a party man in the strict sense of the word in local 
matters he has been ever ready to help a friend and espouse the cause of good local 
government irrespective of party affiliation. 

Solomon, Clarence B., established in 1890 a first-class steam laundry on Church 
street, Hoosick Falls, a business which under his able personal management has 
grown to very satisfactory proportions. Mr. Solomon lived at Williamstown, Mass., 
where he was born, until 1887, and was then at Fort Edward two years, meantime 
fitting himself for business life by a course at Albany Business College. He recently 
married Miss Bertha May Welch of Hoosick Falls. He is a Republican, a member 
of the Hoosac Club, and in short one of the energetic and popular young men who 
will help make the future of their town. 

Parsons, William H., foreman of the repair shops at the Walter A. Wood Mower 
and Reaper Works, is an expert machinist and mechanical engineer. He has made 
that class of work a life study, and for twenty-five years in the town of Hoosick. 
He was born in New York city in 1840 and lived there until 1871, when he came to 
Walloomsac to superintend the construction of the cotton factory, now occupied by 
Stevens & Thompson as a paper mill, and continued in the employ of that company 
for fifteen years, coming to Hoosick Falls in 1887. His elder son, William H. Par- 
sons, jr., is also a foreman in the iron works, and where he learned his trade, rising 
from the rank and file by personal ability. Mr. Parsons's wife, to whom he was 
married in New York in 1863, died soon after coming to Hoosick Falls, leaving three 
children. Mr. Parsons is a member of the Masonic brotherhood, of the Hoosick 
Club, has served as town assessor, and has for six years been chief of the Fire' De- 
partment, proving a most competent and popular official. 

Ross, Ogden E., was born in Troy, February 3, 185(5. He is the son of Elias and 
Mary E. (White) Ross. His father was a Scotchman, the American branch of the 
family settling in Elizabeth, N. J., in 1616. He died in Troy, January 2, 1874. His 
mother died in 1882. Ogden was educated at the Troy Academy and the Rensse- 
laer Polytechnic Institute and entered the city comptrollers office June 2, 187o, as a 
clerk. In August, 1866, he was made chief clerk and secretary to the contracting 
board, which position he has held since. In September, 1888, he was admitted to 
practice as counselor at law, having studied with Hon. R. A. Parmenter. He en- 
listed as a private in the Sixth Separate Company, Troy Citizens Corps, and a month 
later did duty at the labor riots in West Albany. He is a member of the East Side 
Club and the Laureate Boat Club. He is a trustee of the Second Street Presbyterian 
church and for five years was secretary and treasurer. November 14, 1888, he mar- 
ried Jeannie M. Nely, of New York city, by whom he has two son.s. 

McNutt, Col. J. G., was born in Amsterdam, N. Y., April 4, 1833. His progen- 
itors in this countr\' came from the North of Ireland not far from 1750. Colonel 
McNutt attended the common schools, and the knowledge there secured was sup- 
plemented by an academic course. When eighteen years of age he became engaged as 



406 LANDMARKS OP RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

an agent for fire insurance, which engagement continued for several years, during 
which period he found time to pursue the study of law at Warrensburgh, N.Y., with 
the Hon. D. B. Stockholm. In 1858 he was appointed the general agent for his in- 
surance company for the State of Iowa. On his way to Iowa he stopped at Troy, 
N. Y., to visit a brother, who was a teacher in that citj', and while there his brother 
died; Colonel McNutt assumed his deceased brother's place in the school and com- 
pleted the term. His short service as teacher gave such satisfaction to the School 
Board that he was asked to remain as principal of the school. He settled on Green 
Island as principal of School No. 1, where he was engaged at the breaking out of the 
Civil war. He resigned his principalship and recruited a company of men, of which 
he was elected captain, and which formed a part of the 2d Regiment, N. Y. Vols. 
He served in the Department of the Gulf, and was promoted to major and was 
recommended for colonel and for governor of Florida with the rank of brigadier- 
general. At the close of the war he re-entered the insurance bu.siness, which he 
followed for twenty-two years, when he took up the prosecution of claims agamst 
the government, and has been successful therein. Colonel McNutt has established 
more than a local reputation as a lecturer upon literary and scientific subjects and in 
every way merits the high esteem in which he is held. 

Doring, Charles, was born in Germany, October 29, 1826. He received his musical 
education in Germany and when a young man came to America and enlisted as cor- 
netist in the United States Army Band stationed at the Watervliet (N. Y.) Arsenal. 
The Mexican war was then being fought and the band was sent to the front and 
spent four years in Mexico. When they returned the old regimental band was reor- 
ganized, with E. P. Jones leader, and Mr. Doring solo cornetist. In 1857 Mr. Dor- 
ing was chosen leader and has maintained the position with great credit to himself 
and the band ever since, nearly forty years. In 1850 the name was changed to the 
Troy Cornet Band, and they became known every where as one of the best in the 
country, and when the Civil war broke out they were sent to the front, October 17, 
1861, and for ten months led the old 2d Regt. N. Y. Vols, during the Peninsular 
campaign. An order from headquarters which disbanded all but brigade bands, 
sent the musicians back to Troy, where they were discharged in June, 1862. De- 
cember 18, 1869, the band was incorporated as Troy Military and Orchestra Band, 
consisting of twenty-two members and with \V. T. Crary as president. In 1891 the 
name of the band was changed to Doring's Military and Orchestral Band, and 
although the name was not changed until this late date, the organization was known 
for a long time previous as Doring's Band of Troy, so completely was the personal- 
ity of the leader felt. The band has had remarkable success, but one that is de- 
served in every sense. E. S. Thornton is now president, Edward Martin vice-presi- 
dent, and George F. Doring has been acting leader since 1894. The band, consist- 
ing at present of eighteen members, has achieved an almost national reputation and 
has made a number of noted trips. It accompanied the Albany Burgesses Corps to 
both of Grant's inaugurations, and in 1881, to Cleveland, St. Louis and other west- 
ern cities. "' 

Beiermeister, John M., superintendent of the International Shirt and Collar Co., 
was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., received a public and high school education in Troy, 
N. Y., and has been in the collar business since with the concerns of Beiermeister & 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 407 

Spicer, the United Shirt & Collar Co., and when the International vShirt & Collar 
Co. was formed he was made superintendent of that industry. He married Carrie 
Lutz of Elizabeth, N. J. , daughter of the Rev. John Lutz, a Methodist clergyman of 
Elizabeth, N. J. He has one son, John, and a daughter, Edna. 

Beiermeister, Charles P., vice-president of the International Shirt & Collar Co., was 
horn in Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1862, and was educated in the public and high schools 
of Troy, N. Y. He entered the factory of Beiermeister & Spicer and was superin- 
tendent of same until the formation of the United Shirt & Collar Co., when he be- 
came Inanager of the Anchor factory where he remained until the International 
Shirt & Collar Co. was formed, of which he was elected vice-president and also acts 
as general manager. He belongs to the Pafraets Dael and Laureate Boat Clubs. 
He married, in 1886, Carrie Vaughn of Troy, N. Y. , by whom he has two children: 
Vaughn and Ellen. 

Parks, Charles Wellman, son of Granville and Elizabeth Augusta Parks, was born 
at Woburn, Middlesex county, Mass., March 22, 1863. In 1879 he was graduated 
from the Woburn High School and entered the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, from 
which he was graduated in 1884. At the end of the second year at the R. P. I. he 
spent one year engaged in engineering work in the West, a part of the time as as- 
sistant on the United States survey of the Missouri River in the neighborhood of 
Omaha, Neb., and the rest of the time as assistant on the .survey of the Arkansas 
Narrow Guage Railroad between Van Buren, Arkansas, and Joplin, Mo. Returning 
to the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in September, 1882, he remained there until 
April, 1884, when he left to take charge of surveys for the Denver, Memphis and 
Atlantic Railroad between Baxter Springs and Earned, Kan. After completing the 
survey of this road he was employed by the Burlington and Missouri Railroad in 
Nebraska to make surveys in Colorado for a line across the mountain range to join 
Bowlder Park and Middle Park. In 1885 Mr. Parks became assistant to the director 
of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and in 1886 was made professor pro tcvi. in 
physics in that institution, which position he held until 1892. During the early years 
of this period he acted as electrical engineer for the Electric Manufacturing Com- 
pany of Troy. In 1888 he was appointed United States superintendent of the 
Liberal Arts Group at the Paris Exposition of 1889. The Educational Exhibit was 
collected and installed by him. He served as a member of the International Jury 
of Awards and was assigned to duty in one of the classes of Education. At the close 
of this exposition he received the decoration of Officier de I'lnstruction Publique. Dur- 
ing the years 1892-93 he had charge of the preparation and exhibition of the display 
made by the United States Bureau of Education at the Columbian Exposition. The 
principal features of this exhibit was a model public library of 5,000 volumes. This 
exhibit, which was prepared with the co-operation of the American Library Asso- 
ciation formed, the nucleus of the Carnegie Library at Allegany, Pa., and several of 
the smaller towns in the country have since that time received presents of public 
libraries which are duplicates of this collection. Since the close of the Columbian 
Exposition Mr. Parks has visited expositions held in Antwerp, Lyons, and Milan, 
and the Forestry Schools of France. Germany, and Switzerland, and has prepared 
reports for the United States Bureau of Education upon the educational features of 
these exhibitions and schools. In 1896 he received an appointment to the examin- 



4 



408 LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

ing division (jf the United States Patent Office in Washington. Mr. Parks is a mem- 
ber of the Troy Scientific Association and the Rensselaer Society of Engineers of 
Troy, N. Y. ; of the Anthropological Society and the Cosmos Club of Washington, 
D. C, and of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, and the American 
Association for the Advancement of Science. Mr. Parks's wife, to whom he was 
married April 15, 1887, is Martha Bessac Parks )ice Frear, daughter of the late Will- 
iam and Deborah A. Frear. 



INDEX 



PART I. 



Abbott, IJr., 171 
Frank, 547 
I. W., 190 
Joel, 419 
Leonard J., o89 
Peter P. , 472 
Abele, G., Rev., 833 
AV)ercrombie, James, Gen., 30 
Ackart, Matie, Miss, 446 
Adams, George D., Rev., 324 
James, 388 
Nathaniel, 241, 310 
Parker, Rev., 138 
Adancourt, Clinton L. , 203 
Adincourt, Francis, 88 
Ad.sit, John B., 544 
Agricultural Society, Rensselaer County, 

l37, 250 
Aken, James, 515 

Nelson P., 515 
Akin, John H., 516 
Mary E., 252 
William, 406 
Akhurst, James, 452 
Albany county, division of, 67 
Albertsen, Hendrick, 403 
Albertson, John P., 272, 338, 391 
Albridge, Conrad 515 
Alden, Alonzo, 114, 116, 117, 119, 121, 
125, 131, 300, 301 
Charles L., 314, 355 
Harry M., 131, 301 
John, 550 
c\: Son, J. J., 320 
Algonquins, the, 10, 12 
Alien, Albert, 449 

Amos, Dr., 351, 564,565 
Arthur H., Rev., 324 
Caleb, 388 
Charles S., Dr , 407 
Ethan, 44 



Allen, Daniel, 494 

Fred P., 355 

George, 247 

Isaac A., 192 

James, 550 

James W., 192 

John, 480 

Joseph C, 119 

Joseph H., 121, 123, 525 
Allendorph, Lewis W., 514 
Almshouse, the first, 133 
Alps, 551 
American Laundrv Journal, the, Trov, 

351 
Amidon, John, 558 
Anderson, Daniel G., Rev., 329 

jr., Elbert, 244 

George B., 350 

Kerr C. Rev., 320 
Andrew M. Church companv, the, 318 
Andrews, E. W., Rev., 323 ' 

Norman D., 191 
Andros, Frank A., 187. 188 
Anson, Dr., 169 

William, Rev., 553 
Anthonv, Charles H., 189 

Jesse B., 188, 189, 193, 196, 19s, !!(!( 
Anti-rent troubles. 91-94 
Appleman, William, Rev., 488 
Arniitage. John W., 95-97 
Armory, the, 216 
Armstrong, Asher, Dr., 422, 430 

Je.sse B., 448 

J. P., 430 

Lebbeus, Rev., 477 

P. A., Dr.. 170 
Arnold, Anson. 256 

David, 516 

E. D.,310 

Isaac. 301 

Oliver A.. 189. 445 



410 



LANDxMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



Arnold, S. v.. 398 
Arts, lohn, 96, 100 
Ashley, Edwin E., 340 

Stephen, 225, 226 
Ashton, Lurie, Dr., 170, 21.") 
Askins, Henry A., 444 

John W., 445 
Assemblymen, list of, 143-146 
Atwood, Anson, 312 

Noel, 397 
Aufsesser, F. M., 314 
Auringer, O. C, Rev., 323 
Austin, Charles M., 188 

James M., 190 
Averill, Franklin, 513 

Horatio, 134 

James K., 512, 514, 517 

Park, 517 
Ayers, Daniel H., 196 

Babcock, Edward W., Rev., 329 

George, 196, 198 

Le OVand, 194 

Reuben, 90 

Samuel, 497 

U. P. , 506 

Varnum, 549 
Bachman, John, Rev., 527 
Backus, C. F.. 310 
Bacon, Jesse, 185 
■ John, 448 
Baert, Andreas, 511 
Bailey, Amaziah, 544 
Baker, Alderman, Elder, 556, 559 

Benjamin, 423 

Clark, 423 

D. Bryan, 442 

Ezekiel. Dr., 172, 440, 494 

Lorenzo, 446 

Remember, 44 

William, 209 
Balch, E. A., 475 
Baldwin, 'George C, Rev. Dr., 132, 269, 

295, 330 
Balentine, Ebenezer, Dr., 170 
Ball, Albert, Dr., 513 

Bros. , 309 

Chandler, 425 

David, 191, 197, 424 

Dr., 168 

George H., 353 

James H., Dr., 546, 548, 551 

John C, 309 

L. Burke, 423 

Marcus, 189, 196 

seminary, Hoosick Falls, 425 
Bancker, Flores, 226, 522, 523 
Bank, Central National, of Troy, 339 



Bank, Farmers', Lansingburgh, 236 
location of, settled by lot, 237 
Manufacturers' National, of Troy, 

•>OQ 

Market, Troy, 272 

Merchants' and Mechanics', Troy, 
256 

Mutual National, of Troy, 338 

National State, of Troy, 338 

of Castleton, National, 460 

of Hoosick Falls, First National, 430 

of Lansingburgh, 388 

of Lansingburgh, People's, 393 

of Troy, 241 

of Troy, National, 339, 570 

Rensselaer County, Lansingburgh, 
390 

Troy City National, 337 

Troy Savings, 252, 337 

Union National, of Troy, 338 

Ignited National, of Troy, 339 
Banker, Ezra, 450 
Baptist churches of Trov, 330, 331 
Barber, John, 377 

Luther H., Dr., 557,559 
Barhuydt, Wouter, 458 
Barker, Calvin, 388 

C. J., 190,197 

Stephen W., 357, 447 

William, 308 
Barkman, Dr., 171 
Barnes, Frank Coe, Prof., 345 

Gilbert, 423 

Joseph, Rev., 487, 499 
Barnet, Benjamin, 432 

Gates, 314 

Jonas M., 314 

William, 314 
Barnett, J. N., Rev., 527 
Barnhart, John, 566 
Barnum, Theodore F., 314 
Barr, J. P., 191 
Barringer, George E. , 461 

George and Philip, 535 

H. v., 189 

Jacob, 533 
Barron, Henry D., 484 
Barrows, Delia, Miss, 446 
Barsett, Ebenezer D., Dr., 168 
Bartlett, Philip G.,310 
Barton, Richard C, 203 

William, 279 
Bascom, Henry Clay, 295 
Bassett, Ebenezer, Dr., 546 

Ebenezer D., Dr., 550 
Bateman, Rensselaer, 549 

Reuben, 544, 545 
Battershall, Joseph F., 284 



INDEX. 



411 



Battershall, Ludlow A , ;J19 
Rattle of Bennington, account of by Lieut. 
Glick, 59-61 

advance of Lieut. -Col. Breyman, 

5?> 
anxiety of the colonists preced- 
ing the,, 51 
arrival of Gen. Stark's brigade 

at Bennington, 54 
Baum's advance to Cambridge, 

55 
Baum's expedition to Benning- 
ton, 49 
Baum's reportof the engagement 

at Van Schaick's Mills, 55 
Burgoyne's instructions to Baum, 

50 
Burgoyne's proclamations, 51 
capture of Ethan Allen and de- 
feat of Seth Warner, 53 
distraction of the people upon 

Burgoyne's approach, 52 
effects of the victory at the, 02 
events preceding the, 47 
force of Gen. Stark at the, 56 
Gen. Stark's assumption of com- 
mand and its effects, 54 
Gen. Stark's plan of battle at 

the, 57 
Gen. Stark's report of, 58 
impropriety in the appellation 

of, 46 
increase of terror caused by mur- 
der of Jane McCrea, 52 
orders of the Council, 54 
positions of the contending troops 

at, 62 
preparations for defense, 53 
recognition by Congress of Gen. 

Stark's services at, 63 
Schuyler's counter proclamation 

and its effects, 51 
.Schuyler's stand at Haver isl- 
and, 48 
second engagement at the, 61 
superseding of Gen. Schuyler by 

Gen. Gates, 48 
trophies of the, 61 
Baucus, John A., 193, 445 

J. Bryan, 446 
Baum, Frederick, Col., 49, 61, 62 
Bayard, Stephen N.. 406 
Beach, Miles, 278, 279 

William A., .sketch of the life and 
services of, 157; 352 
Beale, E. Newton, 193 
Beals. John, 559 
Niles, 566 



Beam, Adam, 224 
Beattie, David, 296, 340 
Beaudry, Louis N., Rev., 535 
Becher, Otto, Rev., 296 
Beck, Lewis C, 254 
T. Romeyn, 254 
Beckett, James A., 192 
Beck with, Dr., 168 
Bedell, Caleb C, Rev., 194 
Beekman, Hendrick, 458 
Beeman^ Nathan S. S., Rev 269 :','V) 
432, 433 . . , ^ , 

Beiderbecke, H., Rev., 335 
Beiermeister, Charles F., 317 

jr., Frederick, 317, 399 
Belcher, Franklin, 187 
Belden, Charles A., 191 

Edwin E., 318 
Belding, W. A., Elder, 335 
Bell, David, 89, 194 

George A.. 310 

William, 392 
Bellinger, Henry, Rev., 559 
Bench and bar, extract from address 

touching upon the, 154 
Benedict, H. S., 189 

Joseph, 89 

T. Lee, 319 

W. F., Rev., 535 
Beneway, John, 442 
Bennett, Francis, 419 

Lyman, 276 
Bentley, Caleb and sons, 483 

Rensselaer, 484 

Richard C, 109 

Zadoc T. , 484 
Berkowitch, Isaac, Rev., 336 
Berlin Chess club, 486 
Berlin, town of, 482-489 

churches of, 487, 488 

early physicians and lawyers of, 484 

early tavern keepers in, 484 

in the Rebellion, 485 

in the Revolution, 484 

list of earl}'- settlers of, 483 

list of justices of the peace of, 489 

list of supervisors of the town of, 488 

list of town clerks of, 489 

settlement and settlers of, 482-484 

topography of, 482 

villages in, 485 

village, 485-487 

manufactures of, 485 
secret societies of, 486 
Sheldon's Cornet band of, 487 
Berry, E. Pay.son, Rev., 433 

George T., Rev., 323 
Berwick, Joseph, 564 



412 



LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



Betts, Edgar K., 306 

Nathan, 528 
Beveridge, A. M., Rev., 483 
Beverwyck, separation of, from Rensse- 
laer wyck, 24 
Bible society, Rensselaer County, 13S 
Bicycle Dealer, the, Troy, 351 
Bickford, Thomas, Rev., 330 
Biddle, Daniel B., 566 
Bigelow, Charles H., 805 

Thaddeus, 352 

Thaddeus B., 134, 851 
Bingham, E. W., 307 

Samuel S., 189, 190, 196 
Birch, George H., 194, 195 
Bird, John, sketch of, 159; 185, 283, 288, 

289 
Birdsall, Daniel, 506 

William S., 118 
Birge, John T., 355 
Bishop, Dr., 170 

Nathaniel, 419, 421 
Bissels, Adam, 18 
Black, Frank S., 869, 870 
Blackall, Robert C, 191 
Blair, George T., 189, 300 
Blanchard, A. E., Rev., 560 

Dr., 170 

Edwin D., 203, 305, 806 

Joseph, 876 
Blatchford, Samuel, Rev., 188, 251}, 254, 
392 

Thomas W., Dr., 181 
Bleecker, Barent, 78 
Bliss, William M., 247 

William P., 445, 448 
Block, Adrian, 1 
Bloemaert, Samuel, 18 
Bloss, Richard, 187, 196 

Richard D., 97, 99, 100, 208 
Boage, Aaron Jordan, Rev., 499 
Boardman, Derick L. , 387 

William, 499 
Boese, F. W. , Rev. , 888 
Bogart, Isaac, 877 
Bolmer, William B., Rev., 329 
Bolster, Cyrus, Rev., 392 
Bolton, Jo.seph, 357, 899 

jr. Samuel, 399 
Bolton's Sons, S., 399 
Bonesteel, Charles W. , 453 

Reuben, 483 
Bontecou, George, 189 

Reed B., Dr., 97, 189 
Boone, Harvey H., 514 
Booth, Burton S., Dr., 207 

David, 195 

Robert R., Rev., 820 



Bork, Christian, Rev., 552 
Bosworth, Foster, 273, 800 

Nathaniel, 428', 472 
Boughton, E. W., 320 

Smith A., Dr., 547 
Boutwell, Charles A., 316 

Oliver, 187 

& Son, O., 316 
Bowen, James, 208 
Bowles, John, 505 

Ralph H., Rev., 414 
Bowman, Cassius M., 817 

jr., Joseph, 317 

& Sons, Jo.seph, 308, 817 
Boyce, A., Dr., 169, 171 

J. W., 468 
Bradley, Arthur W., 301 

William, 286, 251, 252, 892 
Bradt, Daniel B., 70 
Brainard, 551 

David 544 

Joseph, 551, 552 
Braman, E. A., Rev., 500 
Bratt, Barnardus, 418, 507 
Braun, Anthony T., Rev., 526 
Breaky, Isaac, Dr., 407 
Breese, Henry, 419 
Breslm, John H., 301 

Thomas C, 301, 357 
Breweries of Troy, 816 
Brewster, P. A., 190 
Breyman, Col., 61 
Bridges, William R. , 869 
Briere, John, 187 
Bries, Anthony, 538 
Briggs, Amos, 270, 446, 447 

David C, 399 
Brigham, Erastus F., 201, 208 
Brimmer, Daniel, 507 

Godfrey, 490 

Godfrey, and sons, 482 

John George, 482, 504 
Brinsmade, Thomas Clark, Dr., 169, 177 
Brintnall, Charles E., 109, 208 
Bristol, Abram, 511 

Flavia, Miss, 318 

George, 318 

Henry R., 203 

Joel, 89 
Brock, Jonathan, 566 
Brockeway, Nathaniel, 78 
Brockway, Justus, 497 
Brokaw Manufacturing company, ;)08 
Brookins, Wooster, 187, 442 
Brothers' Academy of St. Mary, the, 846 
Brouwer, William, 408 
Brown, Alexander, and sons, 491 

Andrew, 194 



INDEX. 



413 



Hrown, Charles A., 314 

Daniel, 497 

David, 70 

Ebenezer, Rev., originator of the 
collar industry, 370 

Erastus, 494 

George J., Rev., 3;>4 

George W., Rev. Dr., 395 

Henry, Dr., 484 

Jonathan, 70, 71,' ;592 

Joseph, 453 

Roswell J., 453 

Thomas, 419 

William, 194 
Browne, Irving, sketch of, 163 
Browning, Thomas, Dr., 513 
Bruce, Charles E., 307 
Brunswick, town of, 531-530 

churches of, 526-528 

Eagle Mills in, manufactures of, 534, 
535 

early physicians of, 523 

early tavern keepers of, 523 

first officers of, 523 

in the Revolution, War of 1812 and 
the Rebellion, 524 

list of earlv settlers and residents of, 
523 

list of justices of the peace of, 529 

list of supervisors of the town of, 528 

list of town clerks of, 529 

schools of, 523 

settlement and settlers of, 521, 522 

topography of, 521 

villages and hamlets in, 524-536 
Bryan, David, 443 

Richard S., 187 
Buchanan, Edward, 193 
Buchman, Edwin, 474 
Buck, C. W., 197 
Buckley, Joseph, 435, 437, 430 

Lawrence E., 437 

P. H., 351 
Bucklin, Aubrey C, Dr., 169 

Daniel D., Dr., 169, 534 
Buel. Clarence, 96, 115, 116 

David, 336, 339, 347, 300, 314, 357 

jr., David, 138, 351-353, 269, 351 

Elam, 421 

James, 339 
Bulkley, Dr., 171 

George W., 459 
Bull, Abner, 494 

Archibald, 187, 196 

jr., David sketch of life and .services 
of, 158 

George H., 1S7 

Isaac, 419, 421 



Bull, Norris, 392 
Bullions, Peter, Rev., 325 
Bullis, John, 550 
Bumstead, James, 535 
i^.nrden, Henry, 309,310 

Iron company, the, 310 

I. Townsend, 311, 334 

James A., 311, 334, 357 

William. 398, 447 

William P., 311 
Burdett, Edward. 313 

Smith & Co., 313 
Burdick, A. B., Rev., 56S 

Benjamin, 566 

Matthew, 566 
Burgoyne, John, Gen., 47-53, 61, 6:'., 64 

discouraged, 63 

surrender of, 64 
Burke, William J., Rev., 334 
Burlingame, Edward, 190, 193. 446 
Burns, Cornelius P., 131, 3!»7 
Burr, Jonathan, 242, 388 
Burrage, Edwin W., 209 
Burritt, Ely, Dr., 138 ~- 
Burroughs, Robert, 516 

Robert J. W., 548 
Burrows, Amos, Rev., 476 
Burt, Asa, 388, 397 
Burtis, jr., John, 256 

Lewis, 256 
Burton, C. V. W., Dr., 169, 175, 190 

George B., 193 

John, 194, 195 

Matthew Henrv. Dr.. 131, 179, 301 

Nathan, 194, 195 

Piatt, Dr., 513 
Bush, Abijah, 495, 544, 545, 548 

Stephen, Rev., 413 

Walter R., 311 

jr., Walter R., 311 
Buskirk (Buskirk's Bridge), 431 
Bussey, Esek, 313 

jr., Esek, 313 

& McLeod Stove companv, :>13 
Butler, David, Rev., 239, 255,' 327, 395 
P.utton, David, 448 

Ira, 451 

Ira A., 524 

Isaac B., 523 

J. Warren, 448 

Levi H., 198 

Simeon, 71, 473 
Butts, Julius E., 445 
Butz, William, 512 
Byers, Charles, 191, 193 

jr., James G., 192 

Cahill, Dr , 17(» 



/^ I 



414 



LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



1 



Caird, James, Rev., 302, 329 
Caldwell, Jame.s, 228 

James H., 857 

Thomas, 187 
Callender, Thomas S., 197 

William N., 541 
Campbell, Alan D., Rev., 4(!5 

Henry. 448, 449 

John H., 390 

Robert, Rev., 194 
Campion, Thomas H., 317 
Caudee. Joel G., 195, 19(; 
Caufield, Daniel, 241 
Cannon, Le Grand, 134, 25S 
Capron, E. W., Dr., 169 
Card all, W. S., 198 
Carey, Joseph, Rev., 302 
Carhart, J. W., Rev., 199 
Carmic'hael, Eber W., i )r , 1(19, 178 

John, 511 

William, 89, 137 
Carpenter, Benjamin, 494 

Daniel, 226 

F. A., Dr., 495 

James M., 192 

John, 420 

jr., John, 137 

Philip, 511 

William, 511 
Carr, Ambrose, 425 

Andrew, 194 

Caleb, 90, 494, 497 

Kdward and Caleb, 491 

I'rederick, 197 

Joseph. B,, 97, 102 lOG, 131, 132, 
207, 297; death and fnneral 
vices of. 301, 302 

W. G., 131 
Carriage Dealers' Journal, the, Troy 
Carter, A. B., Rev., 328 

Edward, 295 
Case, Jacob, 423 

Jonathan, 433 

Joseph, 137 
Casey, Philip, 204 
Cass, David, 419 

Job, 423 
Catholic churches of Troy, 333-335 

Weekly, the, Troy, 350 
Centre Brunswick, 520 
Chadwick, Eli, 194 
Chamberlain, Edwin, 397 

Lee, 131, 190, 301, 320 
Chambers, John M., 160, 197 

Thomas, 30, 31 
Chapman, P. R., 190 
Chapin, Edward, 187 

Francis L. R., Dr., 109 



Chapman, Stephen, 423 

William. 472 
Charette, Josei)h, Rev., 334 
Charlotte county, 67 
Chase, Daniel, 453 

Ezra, 498 

E. P.. 480 
John, 419 
Tallman, 423 
Waldo K., 131, 311 

• Cheeseman, J. K., Rev., 47S 
Cheever, Samuel S., 407 
Cheney, Benjamin, 187 

Charles A.. 430 
Chesbrough. D. P., 190 
Choat, Jonathan, 189 
Christie, John S., 338 
John T., 315, 357 
, 514 Church, Andrew M., 318 

F. C, 475 
Walters., 93, 94 

of Christ of Troy, 335, 3;!6 
Churches of Berlin, 487 

of Brunswick, 526-52S 

of East Green bush, 542 

of Greenbush, 412-414 

of Hoosick, 431-435 

of Lausingburgh, 382, 3.S8, 389, 
396 

of North Greenbush, 534 

of Petersburgh, 507 

of Pittstown, 476-480 

of Sand Lake, 517-519 

of Schaghticoke, 450-454 
205- of Schodack. 464-466 

ser- of Troy, 229, 233, 238, 240, 255, 

268, 290, 320-337 
Cipperly, Lieutenant, 123 
, 35] Circuit judge, 142 

Citizens Corps, the Old, 200-204 

Troy (Sixth Separate Co.), 
207 

Steamboat company of Trov, 29' 
Civil list, 141-147 
Clapper, Frank, 461 

William H., 193 
Clark, Aseph, Dr., 170, 171, 513, 532 

Frederick G., Rev.. 323 

George W. , 429 

Gideon, 505 

Henry, 420 

Jeremiah, 533 

Otis G. , 359 

Peter G., 193 

Robert, 429 
Classon, John M., 215 
Clatworthy, John, 369 
Clement, Arthur G., 426 



394- 



256, 



204- 



534 



INDEX. 



415 



Cleminshaw, Charles, lUS, ;3()9 

Charles G., 131 
Cleveland, William, 241 
Clexton, T. H., 315 
Clinton, De Witt, 353, 354 

George, Gov., 41 

H. Meneely Bell company, the, 315 

Stove works, the, 312 
Clowes, Thomas, 137; sketch of, Ki:!- 

253, 300 
Close, John T. , 242 

Cluett, Coon & Co., changes in and 
growth of the firm of, 304-306 

Edmund, 294 

F. H., 307 

George B., 304, 305, 331, 337, 356, 357 

J. W. Alfred, 295, 304, 305, 331 

Robert, 304, 305, 337 

& Sons, 320 
Cluever, H., Mgr.. 334 
Clum's Corners, 526 
Coates, Michael, Rev., 241 
Coe, Tonas, Rev., :38, 229, 383, 392, 450, 

477", 552 
Coit, Thomas W., Rev , 327 

William, 226 
Colbv, John H., sketch of, 164; 391 
Cold' winter of 1646-47, 23 
Colden, Cadwallader, Lieut. -Gov., 42 
Cole, Edmund, 318 

Edmund L., 210, 211 

Frederick S., 453 

H. W., 305 

Jacob, 449 
Colegrove, John B., 187, 189 
Coleman, A. N., Rev., 296 

Joshua, 551 

Thomas, 339. 352, 355 
Collar, cuff and shirt industry, history of 

the beginning of, 275-277 
Collins, Cornelius v., 318 

Edward, 221 

Michael F., 350 

Robert, Dr., 179, 523 

William H., 191 
Colony, collision between the provincial 
government and the, 23 

the, organized by Killiaen \'an Rens- 
selaer, 17 
Colvin, James A., Ill, 117, 122, 123 
Colwell, Thomas, 302 
Conmiercial Knitting Mills comi)auv, the, 

314 
Comstock, James C, Prof., 392 

John, 419. 421. 432 
Conant, Charles C, 351 
Conde, John H., 448 
Congdon, Sidney S. , 445 



Conkey, John, 187 

Converse, Collins, Merrcll & Co. 318 

John, 310 

Perrin W. , :518 
Conway, Daniel E., 350 
Cone, Timothy, Dr., 169 
Cook, Alanson. 189 

Charles R., Dr., 174 

George H., 341 

John L.. Rev., 332 
Cookson, John, Rev., 330 
Coon, Albert E., 307 

Brothers, 316 

C. A., 317 

D. B., 316 
Daniel W., 304-306 
Henry, 89 
Hezekiah, 503. 506 
John H., 304-306 
L., 194 

William, 423, 505 
W. H., 316 

Coons, David, 566 

Henry, 532 
Cooper, John G., 191, 535 

William, 535 

William C, 558 
Coorn, Nicolaus, 29 
Copeland, I. W., 131 
Corbin, Edwin, 191 

Pliny M., 338 
Cordell, James G.. Rev., 413 
Corliss, Charles H., 307 

Coon & Co., 306 

John A., 307 

John M., 307 

Wilbur F., 307 
Cornelissen, Cornells, 403 
Cornell, A. B., 301 

James, 528 
Corning, Erastus, ;!09 

jr., Erastus, 309 

Gurdon, 247, 251-253, 268, 337 
Corpe, Benajah, Elder, 499 
Corry, John, Rev., 414 
Corstiarnsen, Hendrick, 1 
Co.st, R. J., Rev., 334 
Cottrell, Benjamin, 558 

John, and sons, 556 
Counties, division of the colony of New 

York into, 66 
County buildings, the first, 76, 77 

clerks, list of, 142 

effort to divide the, 139 

judges, list of, 141 

superintendent of schools, list of, 142 

treasurers, list of, 142 
Court house, the second. 80 



410 



LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



Covell, Benjamin, 225, 22(j, 229, 857 

Silas, 233, 238, 247 
Coventry, Dr., 168 
Cox, Richard, Rev., 328 
Cozier, William C, 350 
Co/.y.ens, Gorton P., 198 
Crabb, John, 442 
Craig, Sewall W.. 191 
Cram, De Witt C, 189 
Cramer, John, 242, 254, 258 

Le Grand C, 204. 207 
Crandall, Alfred D., 191, 191 

Levin, 131 

Louis S., 369 

Nathan R., 515 

Thomas, 488 
Crandell, Irvin, 203 
Cranston, John, 497 

William M., 191, 192 
Crawford, E., 194 

F. W., 302 
Cridge, E. J., 302 
Crippen, Lieutenant, 121 
Crisse\', Isaac W., 359 
Croat, John, 516 
Crocker, E. C, 191, 19^ 
Croffut, Isaac, 494 
Cronm, John H., 427 
Cropsevville, 526 
Crosbee, J. L., 191, 192 

Samuel, 191 
Crosby, John Schuyler, 203 
Cross, Ebenezer, 423 

James A., 99, 101 

Robert B., Rev., 327 

Robert W., 109 
Crossen, Asa, 226 
Crum, John H., Rev., 488 
Cummings, M. P., 291, 295 
Cunningham, John P., 475 

William O., 314 

-Young company, 320 
Cure, Burrows, 189 
Curry, John, Rev., 333 
Curtis, Comfort, 419 

jr., Daniel, 234 

Dr., 170 

Simeon, 421 

& Co., H. C, 309 
Cusack, Edward, 20;! 

James W., 131, 19(), 199, 203-207. 
297, 320 
Cushman, John Paine, 132; sketch of life 
of, 157; 253, 258 

Robert T. , 476 
Cusick, David, account of the origin of 

the Six Nations by, 8 
Cuyler, Henry, 403 



CuyJer, Jacob C, 301 
'John C, 78 

Dailee, Waterman and Pield, 421 
Dailev. E. A., Rev., 434 

J' B., Rev., 434 
Dalaby, John, 247 
Daley, Thomas, Rev., 333 
Dana, Stephen W., 134 
Daniels, Hosea, 433 
Dano, E., 506 
Darby, H. S., 319, 337 
Dargen, Frank, 109, 390 
Darling, Brother & Co., Henry H , 319 

Ebenezer, 71 

Edwin E., 319 

John, 78 
Darragh, J. A., Rev., 434 
Darroch, John G., 192, 435 
Dascam, jr., Samuel, 189 
Dater, John H., 559 

Philip, 524 
Dauchy, Henry B., 295 

Jeremiah, 80, 81, 251. 268 

& Co., Charles H., 320 
Davenport, Nelson, 355, 366 

Thomas C, 392, 397 
Davey, (t. H., 190 
Davidson. Gilbert C, 309 

R. A., Rev., 413 
Davies, Arthur, Rev., 507 

Richard, Rev., 331 
Davis, Charles M., 484 

D. P., 195 

E. H., Dr., 169 

George R., 137, 187, 300, 331, 420, 423 

jr., Richard, 242 

Robert, 488 

Thomas, 90, 239, 241 

Walter L., 209 
Davison, Daniel H., 565 

J. Reed, Dr., 171 

Paul K., 565 
Davitt, George, 557 
Davry, George H., 197 
Day, Horace W., 389 
Deane, D. S., Rev., 477 
Dearstyne, Cornelius, 534 

John, 531, 533 

Henry, 533 
Dc Camp, Henry and John, 229 
De I'reest, Charles R., 355 

David M., 203 

Jacob, 532 

]ames, 89 

John, 533 

Peter, 532 

Philip, 224, 533 



INDEX. 



411 



De Freestville, 534 
de Hooges, Anthony, 20 
Deiniuger, J. C, Rev., ;53;> 
De Laet, Johannes, 220 

John, 18 
Delamater, Samuel, 514, T).")? 
Delavan, Henry, 310 
De La Vergne Isaac, 442 
Delo, I. J., Rev., 527 
Demers, George W., 96 
Denison, George T. , 484 

Griswold, 191 
Denman, Mark A., Rev., 454 
Dennin, Owen, 398 
Dennison, James, 388 
Depredations of the New Hampshire 

raiders, 43-45 
De Reue, Gerrit Tunnis, 29, 30, 217 402 
(le Reus, Gerrit, 20 
Dermott, S. C, 189 
Derrick, Charles E., 190 

Charles W., 190 

R. A., 190 

W. H., 190 
Development after the Revolution, G8 
Devery, William P., 301 
Dewey, Jared, Rev., 413 

Julia M., Mrs., 425 
De Witt, Abner. Rev. , 323, 324, 425 

Samuel, 254 
Dexter, J., Rev., 508 
Diamond, George T., 191 

Thomas S., 377 
Dickerman, C. D., 203 

L. H., 351 
Dickinson, George H. and George F., 
Drs., 495 

John, 406 

John B., 423 

John D., 71, 236, 237, 247, 253-255, 
268, 383. 392 

Melville Day, 209 
Dietrich, C. W., 337 
Dill, Herbert H., 448, 449 
Dinger, F. W., Rev., 333 
Dingman, Joel B., 559 
Dings, Albert J., 197 
District attorneys, list of, 141 
Doane, William C, Rt. Rev., 302, 329 
Dobson, Robert, 447 
Dolan, Edward, 300 
Dole, James, 233, 383 

Sidney, 89, 244 
Don, John, 131, 198, 301, 357 
Donehue, Francis, Rev., 333 
Doran, James F., 197 
Doremus, Thomas L., 445, 446, 448 
Dorian, Elias G., 302 



Dorr, Charles M., 420 

Francis O., 295 

Joseph, 99, 419, 421, 422 

Seneca, 191 
Doughty, William H., 337, 355, 357 
Douglas, Alanson, 242, 252, 256 

Asa, and family, 491 ^^ 

Beriah, Dr., 495 

William B., 497 
Douglass, Samuel, 472 

William, 71, 491, 495-497 
Dougrev, James, 388 
Douw, Peter, 403, 538 

Volkert Janse, 217 
Downer, Frank H., 4()1 

James R.,461 

Russell, 460 
Downs, Henry, Dr., 171, 532 
Dox, H. L.. Rev., 466 
Drolshagan, Father. 334 
Drum, jr., Nicholas, 194 
Drumm, W. A., Rev., 334 
Dumbleton, Alpheus, 566 

Nathaniel, 564 
Dunbar, John, 191 
Dunham, Harvey C, 319 

Hollow, 551 

Isaac, 551 
Dunlap, John, Rev., 465 
Dunn, C. W., 446 

James H., 123 

John, 311 
Dunspaugh, Merrill M., 210 
Durand, Hamilton H., 310 
Durfee, C. S., 324 
Durry, Nathan, 89 
Duryea, J. T., Rev., 98. 322 
Dusenberry, Charles E.,453 
Dutch control, extinction of, 37 

occupation, 1 

settlers, condition of, in 1630, 27 

trade with the Indians, 27-29 

traders, three years' license granted 
to, 6 

West India company, grant to the, 2 

West India company's charter of 
"Freedom and Exemptions," 15 
Duvster, Dierck Cornelissen, 16 
Dyer, John L., 191 

Eagle Bridge, 431 
Earing, Osborn, 193 
Earl, Gardner, 306 

Hannah M., 297 

WilHam S., 297," 306, 355. 357 

& Wilson, 306 
Eldridge, Aaron, 566 
Early, M. J., 192, 425 



418 



LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



Early, Thomas, 463 
East Brunswick, 526 

Grafton, 566 
East Greenbush, town of, 537-543 

an anti-rent incident in, 540 

churches of. 542 

early physicians of, 538 

early tavern keepers in, 538 

first town officers of, 540 

in the Rebellion, 541 

in the Revolution and the War of 
1812, 539 

list of justices of the peace of, 543 

list of supervisors of the town of, 542 

list of town clerks of, 542 

railroads and turnpikes in, 541 

settlement and settlers of, 537 

Van Rensselaer mansion in, the old, 
540, 541 

village, 542 
East Nas?au, 550 

Poestenkill, 559 

vSchodack, 464 

Side club, Troy, 369 
Easton, C. W., 430 
Eastman, George B., Rev. ,452 
Eaton, Amos, 254, 341 

A. H., Rev., 488 

Edward O., 271 

J. J., Rev., 478 

Orsamus, 271 
Ebbingh, Johanna, 220, 2211 
Eberson, Bernard, Rev., 336 
Edams, George D., 192 
Eddv, A. C 425 

Charles W., 215 

Gilbert, 90, 338, 4S1 

Jonathan, 420 

r.uther D. , 523 

Rose, Mr,s.. 476 

Tisdale, 90 

Winslow, 472 
Edge, Louis M., Rev., 452 
Edmunds, jr., Charles C, Rev., 435 

Frank "W., 310 
Edson, O. W., 276 
Edwards, Charles, Rev., 333 

Jonathan, 272 
Efnor, John, 185 

Egolf, Joseph, 207, 209 ' 

Eighmy, George L., 195 
Eirich. Peter, Rev., 335 
Eldredge, Charles J., 430 

Charles Q., 430 
Eldridge, Stephen, 256 I 
Elking, Jacob Jacoby, 2 ' 
Elliot, David, Dr., 169, 538 
Ellis, George S., 475 



Ellis, Lvman, 185, 194 

Marvel, 185 
Ells, W. N., 337 
Elmendorf, Conrad J., 228 

Peter E., 71 
Elmer, Mary J., 475 
Elmore, Joseph H., Dr., 513, 514 

William C. , 551 
Emerson, Oliver, Rev., 332 
Emma Willard Female seminary, 250 
Empire Stove works, the, 312 
Engle, John R., 190 
English government of New York, 38 
Evans, George H., 301 
Enos, Edgar A., Rev., 295, 302, 327 
Episcopal churches of Troy, 325-330 
Equalized valuation corrected by State 

assessors, 139 
Ericsson, John, 101, 280-282 
Esmond, F. W., 190 
Estabrook, Ezra R., 426, 430 

James E., 192 

Job A., 191 
Evangelical Lutheran churches of Trov, 

335 
Evans, Benjamin, 197 

C. P., Rev.. 323 

E. J., 190 

Joseph D., 190 
Evening Standard, the, Troy, 350 
Ewart, David, 448 
Expeditions against Canada, 34 

Faden, A., 398 
Fagan, Thomas E., 303 
Fairbairn, James, 194 

R. B., Rev., 302, 328 
Fairchild, Frederick S., 191 
Fales, Andrew B,, 204, 313 

Francis A.. 339 

Frank M., 198 
Fancher, Milford L., 398 
Farnam, Franklin W., 329 
Farr, A. A., Rev., 535 
Farwell. E. C, Rev., 528 
Fa.Kon, Reuben, 198 
Feathers, Bugbee, 558 
Feldt, Justin, 197 

Fellows, Jacob, Nicholas and Zachanah, 
511 

& Co.. 308 
Felton, Amory, 189, 313 

William A., 312 
Fenton, I. C, Rev., 535 
Ferguson, Daniel, 123, 190, 390 

E. D., Dr., 357 

Fenner, 546 

Samuel D., Rev., 331, 394 



INDEX. 



419 



Ferrin, George E., Rev., 395 
Ferry, first, 22 

Feudal system of land tenure, attempt to 
establish a, 1 

tenure abolished, 39 
Field, Mary U., 252 

Thomas P. , Rev. , 322 
Filer, Henry P., 189, 353. 
Filkins, Cornelius, 478 
Finch, George W., 193 

L. S., 197 
Finckel, Samuel G., Rev., ..39fi 
Finne, Jesse, 472 

First Presbyterian church of Troy (illus- 
tration), 321 
Firth, Frank, 449 

Seth E., 449 
Fischer, Christian, 409 
Fish, Hamilton, 301 

Joseph, 194 
Fisher, A., 189 

George, 193 

Samuel, Rev., 413 
Fitch, John, 420 
Fitzgerald, Edmund, 316 
Fitzpatrick, Cornelius, Rev., 414 
Five Nations, the, 7 
Flack, L. G., 191 

& Co., 319 
Flagg, John, 317 

John L., sketch of, 164; 198 
Fletcher, Thomas, Rev., 450 
Flood, James, Rev., 335 

Roger A., 319 
Fogarty, Rev. Father, 302 
Follett, Andrew, 478 

Fonda, David, 78, 224, 300, 418, 521, 538 
Fonerden, William H., Rev., 553 
Foote, E. B., 392 
Forbes, John, Dr., 484 
Ford, Alpheus, 566 

E. Henry, 191 

J. W., Rev., 330 

S. V. R., 307 
Forsyth, James, sketch of , 161 ; 327 

Frederick, 397 
Fort, Jacob A., 90, 138, 418 

Nassau, 2 

Orange, contention over the juris- 
diction of, 24 

settlement at, 1 

William H., 451 
Foster, Ellis, 90 

Samuel, 210, 211 
Fouler Jeremiah, 191 
Fountain, Felix, 190, 197 
Fourth Battery, 215 
Fowler, Dr., 169 



Fowler, Thomas and Samuel, 431 
Fox. Dr., 170 

Isaac B., 515 
Foyle, John C, 197 
Francis, Charles S., 131, 301 

F., Rev., 334 

John M., 301 

& Son, John M., 34S 
Franklin, John H.. 191 
Frats, Casper, 226 
Frazee, Henry, 532 
Frear, Charles W., 317 

Edwin A., 131, 317 

W. H., 337 

& Co., William H., 317 
" Freedom and Exemptions" charier, 15 
Freeman, Henry R., Rev., 32H 

J. W., 300 
Freie Deutsche Presse, the, Trov, 349 
Freiot, John, 478 

S., 196 
Frehnghuysen, Theodore, Rev., 451 
French and Indian war, beginning of 
the last, 35 

causes which led to the, 33 

Benjamin, 377 

George W., 192 

Sam.uel B., 204 
Frere, Adam, 511 
Freshet of 1647, 23 
Frisbie, L. C, Dr., 407 
Frisby, Edward, 109 
Frost, Nathan, 464 
Frothingham, Thomas, 515, 516 
Fryenmoet, Johannes Casparus, ftev., 

464 
Fulcher, Rev. Canon, 302 
Fuller, Amos, 507 

Jonathan, 419 

Joseph W., 312. 325.355 

& Warren company, the, 312 
Funda, Nicholas, 71 
Furbeck, Peter R., 392 
Fursman, Edgar L., 296, 301 

Gaflfney, Peter, 430 
Galbraith William J.. 210 
Gale. E. Courtland, 357 

E. Thompson. 293, 339. 355 

John B.. 269 

Joseph, Dr., 546 

jr., Samuel. Dr., 168, 173, 185, 226, 
229, 252, 300 
Gallagher, Father, Rev.. 479 
Gallup. William H., 309 
(Jalnsha, Henry, 319 

Gardinier (or Gordinier), Henry IL, 214 
Ciardner, Asa, 137 



420 



LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



Gardner, Benjamin, 491 

George, 229 

George and Asa, oOfi 

James, 194 

Jefferson, 277 

Joseph, 494 

Joshua, 419 

Laban, 318 

Philip, 511 

T. B., Rev., 528 

Warren S., 296 
Garlick, George L., 189 
Garnett, Henr\' H., Rev., :^23 
Ciarnsey, J. Spencer, 355 
Garrett, ?:imer H., 307 
Gary. John, 252, 268 
Gates, Horatio, Gen., 48, 64 
Gaul, Edward L., 131 
Gay, Willard, 338. 428 
Geddis, David, 449 

WiUiam. 449 
Geer, Danforth, 427. 429 

jr., Gilbert, 188, 312 

W. C, 337 
Genet, Edward Charles. 137. 201, ",39 
Geography of the county. 72 
Geology of the county, 73-75 
Gerichten, William V.. Rev., 335 
(iermond, Smith, 137 
Gerritson, Wolfert. 17 
Gettv. Addison. 430 

Andrew C. Dr.. 407, 538 
Gibbs, L. H.. 447 
Gifford. Aaron, 195 

E. W.. 194. 506 

Gideon, 423 

Horace C. 484 
Gilbert. Angelica, 251 

jr.. Ashael, 351 

Car company, the, 311 

Edward G.. 311. 354 

Elisha. 78 

Liberty. 362 

Uri. 272, 277. 279. 311 

William E., 297. 311. 355 
(;iles. John, 190 
(iiUespie, James, 190 
Gillespy, Jason J., 320 
Gilligan, Bernard, 109 
Gillis, George H., 131 
Gilman. Charles H.. 197 
Gilmore, John, 190 

William, 191, 197 
Glass House. 517 

James. Rev.. 432 
Gleason, David, 256 

Thomas, 427 
Globe Ventilator company. 320 



Gnadendorff, Herman Heinrich Julius. 

Dr.. 184 
Godyn, Samuel. 18 
Goessling, Fr. , Rev., 335 
Goldthwaite, A. G., 196. 302 
Goodermote, A., 506 
Goodman, John R., Rev., 527 

Titus, 406 
Goodrich, Henrv, 550 

Silas, 442 

Stephen V. R., 191, 407 

William, 198, 431 
Gordinier, H. C, Dr., 357 
Gordon, Thomas, 425 

William B., 133 
Gorham, Shubael, 388 

Stephen, 70, 382 
Gorsline, William, 514 
Gorton, Benjamin, 185, 22!t 
Goss, Ephraim, 189, 190 
Gould, David, 497 

George, 98, 101 ; sketch of the life 
and services of. 158; 273, 278 
Grafton, town of. 561-570 

anti-rent murder in, 565 

churches of, 567. 568 

early merchants of. 564 

early physicians of, 564 

early tavernkeepers of, 564 

first town officers of, 564 

in the Rebellion, 567 

in the War of 1812. 566 

industries of, 565, 566 

list of early settlers of, 563 

list of justices of the peace of. 569 

list of town clerks of, 568 

list of supervisors of the town of, 568 

Revolutionarv pioneers of, list of, 
566 

schools of, 564 

settlement and settlers of, 562, 563 

topography of, 562 

villages of, 567 

Centre, 567 
Granger, Austin, 276 
Grant, Eleazur, 78 

Gurdon, 268, 351 
Grant's Hollow. 450 
Gratz. F. G., Rev.. 333 
(Graves, Aaron H.. 324 

Dr.. 168 

John, Rev., 333 

Page & Co., 320 
Gray, Charles Osborne, 203 

Daniel. 71, 78 
Greenbush, town of, 402-416 

acts erecting town of, 404, 405 

churches of, 412-414 



INDEX. 



-121 



Greenbush, duel fought in, 410 

early merchants of, 407 

early taverns in, 406 

execution of a deserter in, 40S-410 

in the War of the Rebellion, 412 

industries of, 412 

list of justices of the peace of, 41.") 

list of town clerks of, 415 

list of supervisors of, 414 

newspapers of, 411 

physicians of, 407 

post-office, 411 

resolutions relating to, 404 

settlement and settlers of, 402-404 

territory comprising the town of, 
40'2 

transportation facilities of, 412 

village, East Albany Banking and 
Trust company in, 412 
founding of, 406 
incorporation of, 411 
list of clerks of, 416 
list of early residents of. 406 
list of presidents of, 415 

Cantonment. 407, 408 
Green, Amos, 488 

Arba R., Dr., 370 

Edward Murray, 131, 301 

Elbridge D., 448, 449 

(reorge P.. 360 

Hannibal, 338 

James M.. 203 

John, 484, 488 

J. Crawford, 188 

Moses C, 203 

Philetus, Rev., 465 

R. H., Dr., 170 

& Waterman, 320 
Green's Son & Co., Hannibal, 320 
(ireene, B. Franklin, 341 

D. M., 131, 301 

John and Mansur, 505 
Greenman, E. W., 337 
Gregg, Isaac P., 301 
(iregory, Charles H., Dr., 513 

Daniel S., Rev., 322 

Ebenezer, 514 

Stephen, Daniel M., Justus and 
Eben, 512 

Uriah M., 512-514, 516 
Greuzebach, J., Rev., 518 
(iriffin, T. A., Rev., 191, 478 

Thomas W. , 453 

William A., 311 
Griffith, Edwin H., 460 

Griffith P., 351 

J. H., Rev., 33(1 

Lewis E., 299 



Griffith, Smith, 548, 550 
Griggs, Joshua, Dr., 494 

Willard, murder of, 94 
(iriswold Cavalry, the, 128-130 
list of officers of the, 12.S 

Chester, 309, 310, 550 

George, 258 

John A., 96, 124, 129, 279, 280-282 
285, 309, 338, 370. 447, 546 

John Wool, 357 

Russell, 484 

Simeon, 548 
Groesbeck, Daniel F., 442 

Harmon I., 442 

Peter W. , 442 

Stephen, 221 

William C, 389 
Grover, Charles, 191, 192 X 

Guest, Lorenzo, 448 

William, 397 
Guile, Joseph, 419 f 

Gulick. N. J.. Rev., 413 
Gunner, R. C, 193 \ 

Gunnison, Albert C, 272 

& Marvin, 309 
Gurlev, Ephraim, 268, 312 

Lewis E., 284-296, 316, 337, 342, 343, 
480 

Lewis E., Mrs., 344 

Walter, 316 

William, 342, 355, 359 

W. P., 337 

W. &L. E.. 316 
Guy, Thomas, Dr., 334 

Hagan, William E., account of the 
cholera in Troy by, 257 ; 294, 295, 297. 
326 
Hagen, J. J., 301 

William, 353 
Haight, Jacob, 423 

Leonard, 189 
Haines, Charles D., 299 
Hakes, Jeremiah S., 272 

Justus, 507 
Hale, Charles, Dr., 407 

Moses, Dr., 173, 247 
Hall, Benjamin H., 133, 156-158. 295 
296, 344, 355 

Hector, Rev., 322 

Rowland, 71. 494 

William L., 307 
Hallenbeck, Gerrit, 423 

John, 423 
Halley. Ebenezer, Rev., 323 
Halstead. William C. 203, 454 
Ham, Casper, 458 

Coonradt, 566 



422 



LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



Hamilton, R. G.. Rev., 829, 452 
Hamlin, A. P., 307 

Tohn S., 191 

Tennis S., Rev., 324 
Hammond, Alonzo G., 483, 484 

Bnrton, Dr., 137, 483-485 
Hammonds, William, 472 
Hampshire Grants struggle, the, 40-45 
Ilanaman, Charles E., 337 
Hand, Nathan, 78 

S. H., 194 
Handy, Isaac F., 131 
Hanks, Alpheus and Truman, 312 

Benjamin, 11 

Julius, 315, 31(1 
Ilauners, H. D. C, Dr., 170 
Hannon, J. C, Dr., 170 

T. C, Dr., 170 
Hanson, L. C, 311 
Harden, George H., 191 
Hardendorf, C. W. Rev., 413 
Harder, Andrew, 460 

Franklin P., 193, 461 

Horton, 462 
Harison, Francis, Rev., 327 
Harmon, G. I., 194 
Harris, John R., 353 

Morgan, 549 

Nicholas B., Dr.. 168, 172, 494, 513 
Harrington, jr., A. W., 296, 369 
Harrison, Dr., 171 

George, 311 
narrower, P. P., Rev., 535 
Hart, Jacob, 319 

jr., Philip, 247 

Richard P., 240, 242, 251, 252 258 
261. 268, 337, 351 

William Howard, 355 

William Howard, .Mrs., 352, 355, 356 
Hartshorn, E. A., 447 
Hartwell. Charles E.. 307 

Frank C, 188 

Thomas, Dr., 420 
Harvey, Henry B., 19(> 
Harwood, Abel, 472 
Hasbrouck, Robert, 449 
Haskell, Dr., 171 

Robert C. , 393 
Haslehurst, Theodore E., 196 
Hastings, Frank H., 46t) 

Seth, 550, 553 
Hathaway, B. G., 190 
Haverly, Sylvanus, 317 
Plavermans, Peter, Rev., 131, 285-287, 

295, 333, 334, 434 
Hawley, Alvan, 189 

James C, 369 

Lemuel, 239, 247 



Hawley, Ralph, 352 
Hayfield, Thomas H., 430 
Havner, Adam M., 453 
'Henry Z., 260 

Irving, 369 

William, 478 
Haynerville, 526 
Haynes, Aaron, 422 

Edmund, 421 

John H., Dr., 168, 170, 423 

L. M. S., Rev. Dr., 295, 302, 330, 
352 

Philip, 419 
Haywood, Charles, 452 
Heartt, Albert Pawling, 247 

Jonas C, 134, 203, 313. 359 

Philip, 137 
Heath, W. J., Rev., 478 
Hegeman, James, 196 
Heim.street, T. B., Dr., 353 
Heinck, Perry J., 189 
Heller, H. M., 189, 199 
Helling, William, 419 
Hem.ingwav, Erastus, 549 
Hemstreet,' H. A., 451 
Henderson & Co., J. C, 313 
Hendricks, A. M., Rev., 480 

James, 197 
Henry, H. Ashton, Rev., 327 

Jacob, 313 

John v., 71 

Michael, Dr., 169, 392 
Herbert, Oliver, 191 
Herbertsen. Anderies, 404 
Herfkens, Henry, Rev., 3:U 
Herlihy, Timothy, 448 
Herman, Max, 308 
Hermance, Edgar L., Rev., 465 

R., 548 

William B., 550 

William P., 549 
Herrick, Castle W., 460 

John, 194. 195 
Herring, E. C, 506 
Herrington, Benjamin F., 430 

Philip, Rev., 4:56 

Willard, 425 
Heven, Jacob, 220 
Hewett, Dr., 170 
Hewitt, Sterry, 505 

Ziba, 137 
Heywood, Mary, 251 
Hicks, Benjamin, 70, 71 

Charles R., 189 

John A., Rev., 256, 327, 328 

M. W., 276 

Thomas, 544, 545 
Hickock, James, 236 



I 



INDEX. 



423 



Hickok, James, 388 
Higbie, Benjamin, 24o 
-Hill, Alonzo W., 209 

Beniamin M., Rev., ;]:!() 

Clark C.,44fi 

Frederick, 193 
Hillebrand, Aug., o49 
Hillhouse, Thomas, 289 
Hinds, Herbert C, Rev., 325 
Hines, Arthur W.,l97 

jr.. John, 448, 449 
Hinsdale, R. E., Rev., 323 
Hiscox, H. vS., Rev., 330 
Hislop, Thomas W., 207 
Hitchcock, George A., 9') 

James H., 315 
Hitt, Galen R., 303 
^Hoag, Jonathan, 78, 545, 546, 550 

Samuel W., 550 

William, 551 

WilHam B., 551 

William L. , 559 
^Hoag's Corners, 551 
Hodges, Samuel, 419 
Hogeboom, James, Dr., 108, 169, 171, 
459, 460 

James L., 138, 171 
Hogan, W. P., Rev., 395, 453 
Hogle, Pitt, 418 

Holbrook, G. A., Rev., 302, 330 
Holdridge, Arnold H., 307 
Hollenbeck, Edwin F., Rev., 413 
HoUey, Alexander T., 309 

O. L., 256 
Holliday, Harri.son, 109 
Hollister, William H., 350 

jr., William H., 294, 337 
Holmes, Abraham, 544 

Charles S., 190, 390 

Epenetus, 442 

G. F., 196 

Henry, 308 

H. G., 196 

J. L., 278 

& Ide, 308 
Holsapple, William, 542 
Holt, John L., 195 
Ilolton, Henry W., 187 
Hooker, Herman, Rev^, 328 
Hooley, James P., 299 
Hoosac tunnel, the, 270 
Hosick district, 420 
Hosick Falls, 423-430 

B. P. O. of Elks at, 430 

first bridge at, 420 

First National Bank of. 430 

first physicians in. 420 

incorporation of, 424 



Hosick Falls, list of clerks of, 437 

list of presidents of, 437 

Miller, Hall & Hartwell shirt manu- 
factory at, 429 

newspapers of, 425 

Noble & Johnston machine works at, 
430 

police department, 427 

post-office, 424 

public buildings of, 427 

schools of, 425 

sewerage system of, 426 

Superior Knitting company of, 429 

Walter A. Wood Mowing Machme 
company at, 427-429 

water works, 426 

William Howland Paper Box factory 
at, 430 
Hoosick patent, the, 416 
Hoosick, town of, 416-437 

battle of Bennington, so called, 
fought in, 422 

churches of, 431-435 

early lawyers in, 420 

early settlers of , 418-420 

early tavern keepers of, 420 

first town officers of, 421 

in the War of the Rebellion, 423 

in the War of 1812, 432, 423 

list of justices of the peace of, 436 

list of supervisors of town of, 435 

list of town clerks of, 435 

Schneider patent in, 417 

schools of, 421 

territory comprised in town of, 416, 
417 

topography of, 417 

village or Hoosick Corners, 430 

Walloomsac patent in, 416 

vallev devastated in 1746, 418 
Hoossett' Gillis, 16, 17 
Hopkins, Edward J., Dr., 329 

Erastus, Rev., 322 
Horner, James, 309 
Horr, Benjamin W., 189, 190 
Horton, George, 558 

John, 497 
Hostilities, renewal of, in 1745, 34 
Houghstine, August, 460 
Houghton, C. S., 196 

S. S., 196 
House. Abel. 229 

Edward O.. 399 

Hiram, 307 

John, 242 

John C, 189 

of the Good Shepherd, Troy, 357 

of Industry, 81 



424 



LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



Houston, DavM Walker, 210, 212 
Howard, John, 566 

Jonathan, 491 

Leland, Rev., 202. :380 

Nathan, 497 
Howland, Clarence, 429 

Gardner, 'M4 

Peleg, 314 
Howe, A. H., 203 
Hoyle, Henrv, 137 
Hovsradt, Albert, 301 

'A. W., 131 
Hovt. Alden S., 475 

'Frederick M., :^9K 
Hubbard, George H.. Dr., 1«2 

Ruggles, 215. 300 
Hubbell, Charles B., 204 

Charles L., Dr., 182 
lluberdeaullt, Gedeon, Rev., 334 
Hudson, Frederick R., Dr., 215, 430 

Henry, account of his explorations 
and discover}' of Hudson river, 2-5 

river visited by early navigators, 5 
Huested, Titus, 544 
Hull, Alexander H.. Dr., 169, 178, 513 

A. D. Dr., 169 

A. D. and A. E., Drs., 172 

Daniel, 483, 484 

D. H., 506 
Emerson, Dr., 172, 484 

E. C. W., 197 
Hezekiah, 71, 484 
Justus, Rev., 138, 487 
N. L., 189 
Thompson, 566 

Humane societv, Mohawk and Hudson 

River, 138 
Hun, Abram, 71 

Thomas, 78 
Hunt, Jonathan. 226 

Leigh R., 369 

Lewis, 448, 449 

Seth B.. 447 
Hunter, A., 475 

John, 320 
Huntington, Elizabeth P., 251 

Joseph 516 

Samuel G., sketch of, 160; 187 
Ilutlon, Christopher, 228, 236, 237, 392 

Timothv, 228, 245 
Hyatt, Eugene, 190, 197 
Hvde, Samuel, 472 

William R., 187 
Hyland, William, 425 

Ide, Alba N. , 307 

George P., 307, 308, 365 
James M., 307 



Ide. John C, 308 

Samuel N., 307 

& Co., George P., 307 
Incorporated companies liable to taxa- 
tion, list of, 148-153 
Indian occupancy, early, 6 

wars. 10-14 
Ingalls, Charles R., 296, 297, 337 

Sarah W., 251 
Ingersoll, Edward, PLev. , 328 
Ingram, Henry, 338 
International Shirt and Collar company, 

the, 317 
Iroquois, the, 7, 9-12 

form of government of the, 9 

war policy of the, 9 
Irwin, William, Rev., 322 

W. P.. 412 
Ives, Chauncey. 189. 196 

Edward A. . 203 

Lazarus. 556 

Jacobs. Nathaniel. 71 
Jacobsen. Rutger. 404 
Jacques, Edward. 548 
Jail, the second. 81 
Janes, Elijah, 236. 388, 392 
Janssen, Dirck, 20 
Jansz, Andries, 20 
Jauss, Henry L. , 191 
Jenks, Dr., 171 

G. P., 459 
Jewell, F. S., Rev., 413 
Jewish churches of Troy, 336 
Johnson, Elias 312 

Herrick, Rev., 320 

Isaiah Y., Rev., 465 

Leonard, Rev., 413 

Moses, 267 

Noble S., 233 

William, 473 

William, Sir, 35, 36, 67 
Johnsonville, 472, 473 
Johnston, A. L., 430 
Jones Bell Foundry companv, the, 315 

Ebenezer, 233, 242, 357 ' 

Eber, 315 

E. B., 392 

H. G., 194 

J. M. Warren, 203 

N. P., 190 

Octavus, 315 

P. L., 189, 203, 204 

Varnum, 566 
Joris, Adriaen, 2 

Journal of Arendt Van Corlaer, 20 
Jov, Benjamin, 447 

Charles, 441, 445, 447 



INDEX. 



425 



Judah, Henry R., Rev., 328 
Judson, Benjamin, Dr., 513 
Justices of the Supreme Court, list of, 
142 

Kane, James, 515 

John H., 195 

Nicholas P., 515 

P. D., 313 
Keach, Abram, 423 

Lsrael, Rev., 433 
Keating, John, 383 
Keefe, Michael O., 448 
Keeler, James S., 189 
Keeling, Adam, 233 
Kelleher, Cornelius, 390 
Kellogg, Day O., 270, 351 

Giles B., sketch of, 162; 352 

James H., 311 

Josiah, 228 

Justin, 294, 296, 355 

L. S., 461 

Stephen, 419 

Warren, 268 
Kelsey, H. L., Rev., 535 
Kelyer, William, 430 
Kemp, William, 98, 188. 301, 302, 310, 

366 
Kennedy, Duncan, Rev., 323 

H. S., 337 

William, 310 

& Murphy, 316 
Kent, Moss, 70, 71 
Kenvon, George S., 189 

John, 449, 475 

R. Wells 97, 100. 189, 19(i 

Stephqn L., 442 
Kerr, John, 338 
Keveny, James, Rev., 333 
Keyes, John, Rev., 518, 527 
Kidder, Jephtha, 515 
Killeen, William M., 197 
Kimball, Isaac, Rev., 479 
Kimberly, George H., 315 

Howard, 241 
Kindler, J., Rev., 333 
King, Alexander, 190 

Alexander B , 188 

Alexander C, 198 

Charles C, 191 

Daniel, 190, 196 

Edwin A., 295 

Eliphalet, 241 

Harvey J., 296 

Henry A., 369 

H.J.,315 

James, 430 

J. E., Rev., 434 

bbb 



King, Moses, 78 

Philip's war, 14 

Reuben, 388 

Samuel, 109, 190, 390 
Kingman, James, 461 

James H., 461 
Kinney, Ezra D., Rev., 552 

Henry S., 533 

Roswell, Dr., 171 

Walter, 407 
Kinnicut, John, 194 
Kip, Isaac L., Rev., 465 
Kipp, Walter L., 189 
Kirkpatrick, A., 197 
Kisselburgh, WiUiam E., 114, 116, 203. 

205 
Kittle, Nicholas, 458 

Peleg, 497 / -.' ^-' 

Kline, David, Rev., 527 
Klock. jr., D., 337 

jr., & Co.. Daniel, 320 
Knapp, Israel, 228 

Lena, 475 
Knibbs, James, 189 
Knickerbacker, H., 196 

John, 258, 357, 387 

jr., John, 441 

Thomas A., 387 
Knickerbocker, Harmon, 137, 440, 441, 
449 

John, 71 

jr., John, 70 
Knight, Charles B., 357 

Joseph, 355, 369 

William, 311 
Knowlson, Andrew B., 516 

Boynton W., 203 

Richard J., 515 
Knowlton, Manasseh, 463 
Knox, Frank H., 337, 350 

John H., 294 

Mary Alice, Miss, 343 
Kosciusko, Thaddeus, 48 
Krol, Bastiaen Jansen, 16 
Kurth, William H , Rev., 333 

Liieke, Robert, 418 

La Fayette, visit of, to Troy. 253 

Lafeura. Josepii, 203 

Lafite, Philip, 516 

Lamb, A., 89 

Milton H., Dr., 169 
Lambert, J. Leavitt, 192, 197 
Lamphere, Elmer, 194 
Lamport, John T., 203 
Landon, Gardner, 351 

John M.. 203, 204 
Lane, Aaron, 71 



426 



LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



Lane, Derick, 188, 238, 240, 252, 253, 337, 
360, 388 
Ebenezer, 516 
J. Lansing, 297 
Lansing, Abraham, 194, 195 
Abraham C, 388 
Abraham H., 90 
A. L., 190 

Cornelius, 77, 392, 397 
Jacob A., 70. 77 
Jacob C, 137 
Jacob D., 351 
John E. and Obadiah, 458 
Levins, 70 

Obadiah E., 171, 513, 532 
Sanders, 71, 78 
Lansingh, Abraham Jacob, 375-378, 382 

Levinus, 377 
Lansingburgh academy, 384, 392 

Hbrary, list of incorporators and first 
trustees of, 383 
Lansingburgh, town of, 374-402 
addition made to, 389 
changes in the bounds of, 389 
churches of, 382, 388, 389, 394-396 
in the war of the Rebellion, 390 
in the war of 1812, 388 
land patents in, 375 
list of justices of the peace of, 400 
list of Revolutionary patriots in, 378, 

379 
list of soldiers who died in the Re- 
bellion from, 390 
list of supervisors of, 399 
list of town clerks of, 400 
patriotism of the people of, in the 

Revolution, 377 
schools of, 391 

territory comprising the town of 
374-376 
Lansingburgh village. Bank of D. Powers 
& Son at, 392 

Bank of Lansingburgh at, 388 

changes in charter of, 384-386 

early industries of, 397 

early prospects of, 379 

fire department of, 393 

first charter of, 380 

first government of, 376 

first lots laid out in, 376 

first Masonic lodge in, 379 

first newspaper in, 379 

first post-ofifice in, 382 

first serious fire in, 390 

first water works in, 384 

Gazeette, and other newspapers, 

385 
Leonard hospital at, 393 



Lansingburgh village, list of business 
men in, between 1787 and 1789, 380 
list of clerks of, 401 
list of presidents of, 401 
list of treasurers of, 402 
newspapers of, 396 
paving streets of, 383 
People's Bank of, 393 
Phoenix lodge in, 389 
Powers Home for Old Ladies at, 

391 
Powers oilcloth factory in, 393 
Rensselaer County bank in, 390 
seal of, 384 
slander case in, 385 
stage line franchises granted be- 
tween, and other towns, 385 
transfer of Exchange bank from, 

to Troy, 391 
LTnion bridge between, and 

Waterford, 387 
Union Shirt and Collar companv, 

398 
visit of Commodore Macdonough 
to, 388 
Lape, Frederick A., 454 
Thomas, 447, 475 
Thomas J., 193 
Lapham, Charles, 190, 197 
La Salle institute, 346 
Lasell, Elias, 351 
Luther R., 203 
Samuel, 318 
Lasser, Frederick P.,. 453 
Launt, George, 549 
Lavender, Stephen, 190 
Lawrence, John D., Rev., 518 
Lawton, George P., 131, 3<n 

W. H., 131 
Lawyer, J. D., Rev., 560 
Layton, Nathaniel P., 11)1 
Leach, James A., 204 
Lease granted to Van Corlear, copy of 
the, 25 
to Chambers in 1646, 30 
-hold tenure of lands 25 
Leavens, J. P., 450 
Lee, Chauncev, 392 
Elias, Elder, 233 
William, 318 
Leeds, Frederick A., 319 
Leggett, Joseph A., 188, 337 
Leke, John B., 190 
Lemon, George F., 203 
Leonard, Edmund, 433 
Elmer F., 447 
E. H., 389 
Frederick, Dr., 169 



INDEX. 



427 



Leonard, Frederick Baldwin, Dr., 174 

Joseph F., 334 

Samuel, Dr., 170 

Samuel M., Dr., 459 

Timothy, 388 
Lester, Guy, 508 

Nicholas, 464 .y 

Letcher, Cornelius, 503^ 
Leving, Noah, Rev., 478 
Levins, Joseph, 442 
Levy, Alex. A., 430 

Edward, 430 
Le-vvis, Benjamin, 422 

Edwin F., 191 

H. J. S., Rev., 5GS 

Jabez Y., 507 

Jacob W., 463 

John W., 199 

Nathan, Rev., 507, 567 

WiUiam H., 191 

Zebulon, Rev., 507 
Lincoln, J. O., Rev., 329 
Lipowski, Henry C, Rev., 334 
Little Sisters of the Poor, Troy, 357 
Litz, Daniel, 544 
Livingston, George, 525 

Henry, 90 

James H., 425 

Richard M., 215 
Lloyd, James H., 195, 196, 210-212 
Lockrow, Anthony, 478 
Lockwood, Joshua, 511 
Lodewick, C. C, 412 

Peter, 458 
Lohnes, G. W.. 475 

Henry, 524 
Lomax, Joseph D., Dr., 267, 303 
Long, Jeremiah K., 299 
Lord, Archelaus, and sons, 556 

Robert, 191 
" Lord of the manor of Rensselaer- 

wyck," the first, 24 
Loring, Tobias, 397 
Lottridge, Robert A., 484 

Thomas, 420 
Loudon, John, Dr., 173, 247 
Lounsberry, Edward, Rev., 328 
Lovell, John, 392 

Lorenzo O., Rev., 330 
Lovett, John, 71, 392 
Lowndes, Frederick, Rev., 528 
Lowrie, George M., 191 

Matthew B., Rev., 324 
Lowry, Robert, Rev., 414 
Loysance, Joseph, Rev., 334 
Luce, David, 558 
Luddeu, A. T., Rev., 527 

F. A., Rev., 333 



Ludlow, Henry, 546 

Henry G., 315 

Henry S., 337, 850 

jr., Peter, Rev., 330 

Samuel B., 546, 550 

Valve Manufacturing company, the, 
815, 898 
Lusk, Frank, 197 
Lutz, sr., J. G., Rev., 333 
Lyman, Aretus, 515 

Jeannie, Miss, 295 

Lewis, 251, 252 

Phineas, Gen., 36 

Solomon, Rev., 477 
Lynd, Archelaus, 558 
Lynsen, David B., 185 
Lyon, John, 433 

Oliver, 241, 243 

Zachariah, Dr., 440 
Lyons, Lewis, 201 

Zachariah, 452 

Maas, Theodore, Rev., 385 
MacArthur, Arthur, 131, 189. 196, 301 

Charles L., 97, 102, 130-188, 208, 301 

Charles L., Mrs., 343, 844 

& Son, C. L., 349 
McAdam, H. P., Rev., 325 
Mc Alpine, William J., 362 
McCagg, John, 544 
McCali; Alexander, 190, 362, 892 
McCarthv, Peter, 313 

William, Rev., 527 
McChesney, James, 525 

James J., 528 

sr., John, 229 

Joseph, 566 

L., 187 

S., 564 

Samuel J., 187 

William, 139 
McClellan, Hugh W., 546 

Robert, 226 

Robert Henry, sketch of, 161 ; 315, 546 

Samuel, Dr., 168, 182, 550 

Samuel, Dr., the j-ounger, 169 

Samuel P., 869 

& Co., C. H., 309 
McClintock, John, Rev. Dr., 285 
McClung, James, 194 
McConihe, Isaac, 269, 279, 300, 891, 515 

jr., Isaac, 96 

John, 114, 116, 117, 118, 203 

WilHam, 96, 101, 106 
McCoun, John T., 208, 351 

Samuel, 268 

Townsend, 80, 237, 240, 247, 252, 
258, 837 



428 



Landmarks of Rensselaer county. 



McCrea, Jane, murder of, 52 
McDermott, John, Rev., 4R4 
McDonald, J. A., 131, 801 
McDonou^h, Commodore, 244 
McFarland, George H., 318 
McGilligan, Father, 333 
McGilton, A., Rev., 478 
McGrath, Michael, 446 
McGregor, Donald, Rev., 323 

John, 449 
McKearin, P., 192 
McKnight, John W., 193 
McKovvn, James, 70, 78 
McLaren, John, 516 
McLaughlin, Dr., 171 

John, Rev., 508 
McLean, George E. , 324 

H. K., Dr., 169 

LeRoy, Dr., 97, 301 
McLeod, Charles A., 313, 314 

Harvey S., 313 

Sayre, 313 

& Henry, 313 
McManaway, Thomas, 427 
McManus, William, 216, 247 
McMillan, Thomas, 448, 449 
McMurray, David, and sons, 397 

William, 196 
McNair, D. C, Rev., 413 
McNamara, Timothy, 431 
McNutt, Joseph G., 96 
McPartlin, John, 427 
McQuaid, J., Rev., 302, 334 
McQuide, James, 398 

Joseph, 398 
McSorley, Charles vS., 296 
Madison, Job W., 507 
Maessen, Cornelis, 403 

Van Buren, and family, 403 
Magoffin, J. Hooker, 392 
Mahar, George S. , Rev. , 453 
Main, James, 484 

John E., 78 
Maine, Isaac B., 19S 

Lyman, 505 
Male, Emma, 475 
Malev, John, 78 
Mallary, Joel. 338 
Mallory, Henry, 247, 252 

James, 192, 251, 253 
Maltbie, Ebenezer B. , 392 
Manchester, A., 194 

Edwin, 194 
Mandeville, Assistant Surgeon, 121 

Yalles, 226 
Mann, Asa, 533 

Daniel J., 392 

Elias P. , 207 



Mann, Francis N.. sketch of, 161; 294, 
296, 298, 301, 343, 355 

jr., Francis N., 131, 204, 300 
Herbert R., 313 
Timothy, 189 

Manning, John A., 315 
William H., 314, 315 

Marcy, William L., sketch of life of, 156- 
201, 247, 352, 370 

Margquardt, J. G., Rev., 518 

Markham, E. P., 430 

Mark stone, Louis, 430 

Marselus, Nicholas J., Rev., 535 

Marsh, James P., Dr., 357 

Marshall, Benjamin, 133 
Infirmary, the, 133 

Martin, John E., 519 
Jonah, 70 
J. W., Rev., 331 
Robert, 551 
Swift, 302 
William D., 330 

Martyn, J. H., Rev., 413 

Marvin, Dwight E., Rev., 413 
Ebenezer, 377 
E. W. , 309 
Selden E., 302, 309 

Mary Warren Free Institute, the, 207 

Mason, Cyrus, 546 

Masonic temple, the, 198, 199 

Masonry, 185-199 

Apollo Commandery No. 15, 195 
Apollo lodge No. (49) 13, 185-187 
Gratitude lodge No. 674, 195 
Greenbush Chapter No. 274, 197 
• Greenbush lodge No. 337, 191 
Hiram lodge No. 35, 189 
Hiram lodge, Lansingburgh, 379 
Homer lodge No. 76, 192 
Hoosick Mark lodge, 198 
Jerusalem lodge No. 355 190 
King Solomon's Primitive lodge, 

187-189 
Mt. Zion lodge No. 311, 189 
Patriot lodge No. 39, 195 
Phoenix Chapter No. 133, 19() 
Phoenix lodge No. 58, 190 
Phoenix lodge, Lansingburgh, 389 
Raymond Chapter No.^248, 197 
Schodack Union lodge No. 87, 195 
Star lodge No. 670 193 
Star lodge No. 941, 198 
Sunnyside lodge No. 731, 193 
Van Rensselaer lodge No. 400, 191 
Victor lodge, Schaghticoke, 192 
Yates lodge, Schodack, 194 
in Troy, 233 

Mastin's Corners, 464 



INDEX. 



429 



Masters, Edward N., 449 
James S., 192 

Josiah, 70, 138. 192, 892, 442 
Nicholas, 442 
Mather, Bethel, 137, 441 

Thomas R., 191 
Matteson, L. J., Rev., 330 
Matthews, John, 432 
Maullin, Joseph, 305 
Maxcv, Carroll L., 207, 337, 345 
Eaton W. Rev., 302 
jr., Eaton W., Rev., 328 
Maxon, Dr., 503 
E. B., 506 
George, 488 
G. W., 485 
jr., Paul, 505 
Potter, 566 
May. Theedore E., Dr., 470 

Theodore E. and John, Drs., 171 
Mayberrv, Dr., 170 
Maver, G.. Rev., 333 
Mays, A. S., Rev., 295 
Mead, George H., 297 
Mearns, John, 210, 211 
Medical society, Rensselaer, 167 

list of presidents of, 16S 
Meeker, William A., 31S 

W. H., 486 
Megapolensis, Johannes, 22 
Meithew, Byron, 194 
Meittinger, Gustave, Rev., 334 
Melius, Charles, 191, 197 
Mellen, Dr., 168 
Melrose, 449 
Members of conventions to revise the 

Constitution, 143 
Meneely, Clinton H., 315 
Merchant, Abel 548 

Reuben, 550 
Meredith, Samuel, Rev., 535 
Merriam, John O., 313 

William A., 124 
Merrill, Alphonso, 445 

Carlton H., 318 
Merritt, Charles H., 425 

Daniel, 237, 238, 240, 357 
Jacob, 242, 351 
Merwin, Eugene and John W., 510 
Metcalf, John E., Rev., 535 
Methodist Episcopal churches of Troy, 

331-333 
Mey, Cornells Jacobsen, 1, 2 
Miles, James 1., 191, 197 

William T., 197 
Militia, complimentary order concernmg 
the early, 89 
early, 81-90 



Militia, Eighty-sixth Regiment, officers 
of the, 84 

Fifth Regiment, officers of the, 85 
First Battalion Artillery, officers of, 

88 
Forty-first Regiment, officers of the, 

83 
Forty-third Regiment, officers of the, 

86 
One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regi- 
ment, officers of the, 82 
reorganization of, 88 
Seventy-eighth Regiment, officers of 

the, 87 
Third Regiment Cavalry, officers of 
the, 87 
Milks, Benjamin, 71, 77 
Miller, A. H., Rev., 499 
Franklin, 453 
Frederick, 194 
Jacobs., Dr., 407 
James A., 317 
James H., 191. 197 
John, Rev., 323 
John I. and Stephen, 511 
John J., 194 
John M., 514 

John S., Dr., 168, 171, 194, 538 
Justus, 307, 357 
Martin, 191 
N. S., 463 
Phny, 551 
S. V. R., 442 
William A., Rev., 413 
William C, 318 
Hall & Hartwell, 307 
Milliman, N. B., 353 

Thomas, 432 
Mills, Daniel, 565 

George H., Rev., 465 
Miner, Samuel, 185, 233 ^ 
Mingael, Jan Tomase, 217 
Mitchell, A. G., 190 

George B., 195, 197 
Mitton, Robert, 197 
Moe, R. I., 1^<9 
Moelling, P. A., Rev., 333 
Moffit, Hosea, 70, 80, 138, 497 
Mohawk and Hudson River Humane 

society, 356 
Mohawks and Mohicans, the, 10, 11 

threatened attack by, 23 
Mohegans, the, 11 
Mohican Indians, the, 6 
Mohicans and Narragansetts, the, 12, 13 
Mollov. Francis J.. 319 

& Co., James E., 319 
Molther, John, Rev., 527 



430 



LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



Monitor and Merrimac battle, the, 101 

the story of its building, 280-282 
Montague, Orlando, 276 
Montgomery, Robert, 70. 71 
Monro, Thomas, Rev., 528 
Moody, Mathew, Dr., 179, 557 
Moore, A. B., 189 

Clement Clarke, author of " A ^'isit 
from St. Nicholas," 253 
Moran, John, 285 
Morey, Charles E. , 197 

Nathan, 189 

& Lee, 320 
Morgan, Ephraim, 70, SO, 81, 220, 229, 
23G, 238, 251, 253 

Jonas, 383 

Junius S., 310 
Morris, James A., 191 

J. N., Rev., 527 

Sheldon, 484 
Morrison, George H., 339 

Thomas, 558 
Morton, Eleazer and Ichabod, 497 
Moseley, H. S., 430 
Moses,'sr., H., 194 

Hiram, Dr., 171, 197, 503 

Salmon, Dr., 169, 172, 420 
Mosher, George A., 369 

Isaac, 432 

Wilson, Elder, 479 
Mostyn, John, Rev., 330 
Moulton, Howard, 185, 251 
Moussart, Touissaint 18 
Muitzes Kill, 464 
Mulcahy, James, Rev., 328 
Mulford, Joseph N., Rev., 328 

Samuel H., 189 
Mulhall, Henry, 122 
Mull, Isaac, 539 
Muller, Isaac, 458 
Munn, Eugene, 448, 449 

William H., 297 
Munsell, Hezekiah, 430 

jr., Hezekiah, 191, 420, 422 
Murphy, jr., Edward, 291, 299. 316. 366 

Father, Rev. , 479 
Murray, Edward P., 294, 297 

John F.,427 
Myers, David, 446 

Frost, 517 

Nairn, J. B., Rev., 331 

Nalle, Charles, fugitive slave. 277 

Nassau academy, 550 

town of, 543-555 

churches of, 551-553 

early physicians and lawyers of, 546 

early tavern keepers of , 545 



Nassau, first town officers of, 546 

floods in, 546 

in the Revolution, 548 

in the Rebellion, 549 

in the War of 1812, 549 

list of early settlers of, 545 

list of justices of the peace of, 554 

list of supervisors of the town of, 
554 

list of town clerks of, 554 

mills in, 549, 550 

Rensselaer County Agricultural so- 
ciety organized at, 548 

Schodack and Chatham Mutual In- 
surance association, 548 

settlement and settlers of, 544, 545 

the centre of the anti-rent troubles, 
547, 548 

topography of, 543 

villages and hamlets in, 550, 551 

village, 550 

first tavern in, 544 
National Guard, the, 200 
Nazro, Henrv, 319 
Neal, John G., 190, 391 
Neher, Dr. 169 

Newcomb, Simon, Dr., 137, 171, 470 
Newcome, D., Dr., 169 
Newman, William J., 190, 19(; 
Newspapers of Bath, 534 

of Greenbush, 411 

of Lansingburgh, 396 

of Troy, 346-3hl 
Newton, Abner, 70 
Nichols, William, 418 
Nicholls, W. S., 430 
Nicolls, Richard, 37, 38, 219 
Niles, A. C, 486, 487 

G. D., 487 

Jonathan, 70, 497 

N. H., 506 

Robert, Elder, 499 
Nims& Co., H. B., 320 
Nixon, John, Rev., 507 
Noble, J. H., Rev., 323, 433 

Sylvester, 421 
Norman, George H., 426 
North Greenbush, town of, 530-537 

Bath village m, 533, 534 

churches of, 534, 535 

early merchants of, 531 

early physicians and lawyers of, 532 

early tavern keepers of, 531 

first town officers of 532 

in the Rebellion, 533 

in the Revolution and the War of 
1S12, 532 

list of clerks of Bath in, 537 



INDEX. 



431 



North Greenbush, list of justices of the 
peace of, 536 

Hst of presidents of Bath in, 536 

list of supervisors of the town of, 536 

list of town clerks of, 536 

schools of, 533 

settlement and settlers of, 530, 531 

villages and hamlets in 534 
North Hoosick, 431 

Nassau, 551 

Petersburgh, 506 

Stephentown, 498 
Northern Budget, the, 235 

Centinel and Lansingburgh Adver- 
tiser, 226 
Northrop, James G., Rev., 413 
Northrup, Henry, 419 

J. M., 422 
Norton, Frank L., Rev., 328 

John T., 303, 309 

R. S., 305 
Noyes, George and Nathan, 460^ 
Nye, James W., 420 

Oathout, John, 207, 209 

Ober, M., 308 

O' Bryan, John G., 398 

O'Connell, P. J., Rev., 434 

O'Connor, Rev. Father, 302 

Odell, Jonas, 71, 77,484, 506 

O'Donnell, Michael, Rev., 333 

Ogilvie, James G., Rev., 477 

Ojers, R. J.. 190 

Old Schaghticoke, 450 

Olds, C. J., 475 

Peter T., Dr., 484 
Olin, Abraham, 352 

Jobs., 189 
Oliver, John, 189 

Robert Shaw, 301 
Olmstead, Stephen, Rev., 4(15, 553 

William A., 96, 97, 100, 102, 105, 106. 
203 
Onge, T- B., Rev., 334 
Oothoudt, Volkert, 224 
Oothout, Heuderick, 221 

Henrv, 228 

Jan, 418 

Jan Janse, 404 
Orcutt. Wilson A., 191 
O'Reilly, Philip, Rev., 333 
Ormsbie, E. f!, 131 
Orr, Alexander M., 314 

A. & W., 314,431 

Frederick W., 314 

S. Alexander, 314 
Orsons, Robert and Volkert, 533 
Orvis, Joseph U., 272, 338 



Osborn, Jeremiah, 236 

Thomas, 419, 422 
Osgood, Jason C, 359 
O'Sullivan, J., 308 
Ostrander, Peter, 419 
Ostrom, Thomas L., 351 
Otis, Charles G., 129 

George H., 96, 97, 100, 104, 203, 2U4, 
207, 210 
Ottenhues, Joseph, Rev., 334 
Ouderkirk, Jacob, 420 
Overocker, Michael L. , 454 
Owen, Abel, 562, 566 

Paddock, Stephen, 435 
Page, W. W., Rev., 323 
Paine, Amasa, 251 

E. Warren, 311, 315 

John, ^52, 258, 268, 269, 352 

John W., 311 
Palmer, Fenner, 137, 549 

John, 131, 132, 419,422 

William, 423, 425 
Paper mill, the first, in Northern New 
York, 229 

mills, 314 
Pardee, Calvin, Dr., 494, 550 
Park, Sidney A., 96 

Sidney W., 105,106,301 
Parker, J. W., 475 

WilHam S., 89, 239, 241, 247 
Parkman, F. T., 196 
Parks, Stephen, 308 
Parmele, Francis B., Dr., 184, 407 
Parmelee, Elias, 253, 388 * 

Parmenter, Franklin J., 296 

Jerome B., Ill, 114 

Roswell A., 157, 158, 296 
Parsons, A. C, 191, 192 

Hial, 425 

Jacob R., 197 

1. Russell, 425, 43(t 

Seth, 422, 424, 425 

sr., William H., 215 
Patchin, A. D., Dr., 172, 419 
Patroon, the, and his powers, 15 
Patten, Alonzo, Rev., 327 

Eliphalet Nott, Rev., 327 

Jacob H., 210, 211 

John, 419 
Patterson, Charles E., 296, 356 

Elias, 268 

Harvey, 425 
Pattison, Elias, 351 
Pawling, Albert, 71, 228, 238. 242. 246, 

247, 253 
Payne, Nathan, 89 
Peabody, Frederick F., 304, 306 



432 



LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



Pease, C. G., 392 

John and Jacob, 419 
Peasley, Dr., 171 
Peck, Arthur M., 514 

Daniel, 510, 558 

Isaac, Rev., 327 

Joel, 558 

Joel B., 514 

John Hudson, 337, 343, ;544 
Peckham, Reuben, 315, 560 

William M., 196, 315 
Peebles, Hugh, 137, 237, 239, 245, 247 
Peelen, Brant, 20 
Peirce, Alfred H., 201, 203 
Pennie, William, 472 
Penniman, SylvannsJ., 388 
Penney, Thomas, 191 
Peoble, Charles W., 188 
Perkins, William, 187 
Perry, jr., John D. , 453 

John S., 187, 189, 192, 196 

Oliver H., 453 

Richard L., 215 
Peters, M. V. B., 192 

Smith, 463 

Warren F., 192, 197 
Petersburgh, town of, 501-509 

acts establishing bounds of, 502 

capture of the Brimmers by the In- 
dians in, 504 

churches of, 507 

early physicians and lawyers of, 503 

early tavern keepers in, 503 

first town officers of, 503 

in the Rebellion, 505 

in the Revolution, 504 

list of early settlers of, 503 

list of justices of the peace of, 509 

list of soldiers from, in the War of 
1812, 505 

list of supervisors of the town of, 508 

list of town clerks of, 508 

schools of, 505 

settlement and settlers of, 502, 503 

territory comprised in, 501 

villages of, 505 

village, 505, 506 

industries of, 506 
Pettis, Julius R., 189, 196 
Ptister, Francis, Col., 55 
Phalen, Patrick, 318 
Phelps, Albert, 197 

Jonas H., 316 
Phibbs, Thomas, 197 

William A., 460 
Phillips, E. D., Rev., 331 

Hiram, 525 
Phisterer, Frederick, 131 



Phoebus, William, Rev., 241 
Physicians, early, in the county, 168-171 
Pickett, Charles A., 193 
Pierce, A. H. , 269 

Henry A., 392 

Jeremiah, 185, 239 

William, 300 
Pierpont, John, Rev., 269, 336 
Pierson, John, 442 

John B., 388 
Piersons, H. G,, 337 
Pieterse (or Coeymans), Lucas, 220 
Pine, James K. P., 350, 357, 393, 399 
Pinkham, Edward E., 448, 449 
Pittstown, town of, 468-481 

boundaries of, 471 

churches of, 476-480 

early physicians of, 470 

early tavernkeepers in, 470 

first town officers of, 471 

hamlets in, 476 

in the Rebellion, 472 

in the Revolution and War of 1812, 
471 

Johnsonville in, 472, 473 

Johnsonville axe factory in, 473 

list of justic-es of the peace of, 481 

list of town clerks of, 480 

list of supervisors of the town of, 480 

schools of, 472 

.settlement and settlers of, 469-470 " 

territory comprised in, 470 

topography of, 468 

Valley Falls in, 473 

Columbian Lodge, I. O. O. F. , 

at, 475 
industries of, 473, 474 
manufactory of James Thompson 

& Co. in, 474 
schools of, 474 
Water Power Co. , 474 

villages in, 472 
Planck, Jacob Albert.sen, 20 
Piatt, Ananias, 228, 382, 383, 392 

Henry, 137, 495, 496 

Israel, 497 
Plum, Francis M., 203 

Fred A., 189 
Poel, Anthony, 458 
Poestenkill, town of, 555-561 

churches of, 559, 560 

early merchants in, 557 

early physicians and lawyers of, 557 

early tavern keepers in, 557 

first town officers of, 558 

hamlets in, 558, 559 

in the Revolution, the War of 1812, 
and the Rebellion, 558 



INDEX. 



433 



Poestenkill, list of early settlers of, 55(i, 
557 

list of justices of the peace of, 561 

list of supervisors of the town of, 500 

list of town clerks of, 560 

schools of, 558 

settlement and settlers of, 556, 557 

topography of, 555 
Polock, Barent, 558 
Poor, Joshua, Rev., 413 
Population of county, 140 
Porter, Chauncey, 550 

George, 193 

Robert W., 189 
Post, Henry, 544 
Potter, E. N., Rev., 329 

Henry C, Rt. Rev., 302, 328, 329 

Hill, 431 

John C, 565 

Thomas W., 565 

William E., 189 

W. E., Rev., 536 
Powell, jr., William, 430 
Powers, Albert E., 393, 4.50 

Auer, 427 

Deborah, Mrs., 391, 393 

Home for Old Ladies, ;)91 

M. L., 194, 197 

Nathaniel B., 393 

Roger, 229 

William, 393 
Pratt, T. Choate, Rev., 568 
Presbyterian churches of Troy, 320-325 
Prescott, Ebenezer, 187 
Preston, Nathaniel O., 435 
Price, John, 189 
Primmer, Joseph, 544 
Proclamation, Gov. Colden's, 42 

Gov, Wentworth's, 41, 43 
Proseus, Joseph, 460 
Prosser, Ichabod, 505 
Proudfit, A., Rev., 323 

Ebenezer, 318 

Margaret E., Mrs., 324 
Pruyn, Dr., 171 

Robert C, 301 
Public officials furnished by the legal 

profession, 154 
Puissant, Peter A., Rev., 334 
Purves, jr., Thomas B., 191, 197 

Quackenbush, Benjamin V., 439 

Gerrit, 318 

Gerrit V. S., Mrs., 343 

John, 419 

John A., 301 

& Co., G. V. S., 318 
Quackenkill, 566 



(Juigley, Hugh, Rev., 434 
Ouimby, Ephraim, 511 
Quinn, Timothy, 97, 207, 209 
Quintan, John, 452 

Railroad, Castleton & West Stockbridee, 
135 *' 

Greenwich & Johnsonville, 135 
Mohawk & Hudson, 258 
New York & Albany, 134 
New York Central & Hudson River. 

134 
New York Central, Hudson River & 

Fort Orange, 136 
Rensselaer & Saratoga, 136, 258, 

259 
Schenectady & Troy, 263 
Southern Vermont, 135 
Troy & Bennington, 135 
Troy & Boston, 134, 269 
Troy & New England, 136 
Railway, Boston, Hoosac Tunnel K- 

Western, 135 
Randall, Benjamin, 71, 419 - 
Elias, 194 
Ichabod, 505 
P. D., 351 
Ranken, Hugh, 359 
Robert B., 198 
Rankin, David M., 189 
Rathbun, David, Rev., 421, 432 
Rawson, Keating, 397 
Ray, Evans, 472 
William, 471 
Raymertown, 476 
Ravmond, Ebenezer S., Rev., 330 
Read, Arba, 203, 316, 338 
Reading, David, 189 
Reagan, D. D., Rev., 434 
Recorder, The, the first ucw.si)aper in 

Troy, 229 
Reed, Benjamin, 472 
Charles H., 300 
Hugh, 427 
James, 398 
William, Rev., 324 
Reeve, John, 484, 485 
Regents of the University, list of, 14:! 
Regiment of volunteers, the first that 
served in the war, from Rensselaer 
county, 95 

One Hundred and Sixty-ninth, rec- 
of the, 111-125 

roster of officers of the, 112, 
113 
One Hundred and Twenty-fifth, 
record of the, 125-128 

roster of officers of, 127-128 



434 



LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



Regiment, Second, organization and ca- 
reer of the, 96-108 

list of first line officers of, 97, 98 
Thirtieth, organization and career 
of the, 109-111 

roster of line ofticers of, 110 
Reichard, Michael, 511 
Reid, Alexander B., 453 

James, 388 
Reilay, Gilbert, 251, 268 
Reilly, Charles A., 334 
J. T. O., Rev., 453 
Remick, N. B., Rev., 295, 325 
Renshaw, Alfred H., 357 
Rensselaer county brigade of militia, 
field and staff officers of the, 82 

description of in Revised Stat- 
utes, 72 
erection of, 69 
first court held in, 71 
first public buildings of, 76, 77 
geography of, 72 
geology of, 73-75 
Homoeopathic Medical society, 

369 
House of Industry, 81 
in the French and Indian War, 

32 
in the War of the Rebellion, 95- 

130 
Indian occupation of the terri- 
tory of, 10 
list of first officers of, 70 
population of, 140 
public buildings, 80, 81 
topography of, 66 
Medical society, 167, 168 
Polytechnic Institute, 253, 340 
list of officers of, 342 
Rensselaerwyck, classes of population 
composing the colony of, 24 

colonists of , overjoyed atBurgoyne's 

surrender, 65 
division of the grant of, 18 
during the French and Indian Wars, 

39 
erected a district, 67 
Renwick, John, 425 

Representatives in Congress, list of, 142 
Reynolds, Almond E. , 505 
Charles N., Dr., 495 
Eben C. , 506 
Frank. 506 
(iideon, 419, 548 
H. M., Dr., 173, 350 
John S., Dr., 171 
Thomas. 90 
W. H., 305, 306 



Reynolds, William W., 505 
Rhodes, La Mott W., 355 
Rice, Obed. 247 

Philip, 109 
Richards, Alpheus, 204 
Richardson, James, 463 
Richmond, William, 515 
Rider, Dr., 170 

J. B., 548 
Rightmyer, P. M., Rev., 527 
Riley, Francis, 427, 429 
Ripley, Thomas C, 440 
Rix, Thomas, 198 
Road improvements, early, 77, 78 
Robbery and terrorism in early years of 

the Revolution, 45 
Robbins, Amatus, Dr., 174, 247 
Roberts, Adolph, 191 

R. W., 196 
Robertson, jr., Gilbert, 164, 165,273, 296, 
300 

G. D., 204 

Gilbert H., Rev., 323 

William, 353 
Robinson, Charles E., Rev., 323 

Charles S., Rev., 323 

Ebenezer, Dr., 485, 503, 505 

Jabez, 460 

&Co., John A., 320 
Rob Roy Hosiery Companv, the, 314 
Roche, William J., 299 
Rockefeller, Peter G., 191 
Rockstroh, Johannes, Rev., 325 
Rodgers, Benjamin, 452 

J. D., Rev., 507 
Rogers, Daniel, 421 

H. H., 310 

Isaac, 228 

Joseph, 491 

Joseph D., Rev., 567 

Reuben, 549 

Samuel, Rev., 432 

William, 375 
Rollo, Eber M., Rev., 413, 497 ' 
Romeyn, James, Rev., 464 

James V. C, Rev., 542 
Root, William and Jared, 551 

Winthrop, 549 
Ro.se, A. M., 197 

Hugh L., Mrs., 394 

Nathaniel, 491 
Rosebrooks, J. M., 425 
Ross, Adam, 357 

Elias, 189 

George, 315 

Leonard, 497 

Robert, murder of, 302, 303 

Stephen, 137, 247, 256 



INDEX. 



435 



Ross Valve company, the, 315 
Roth, James C, 204 
Rouse, Jonathan, 472, 470 
Rousseau, A. C, IDO 

A. J., 187 

Lewis A., 190, 204 

W. W., BOl 
Rowe, Dr., 168 

E. L., 398 

J. P. W., 314 

M. C, 313 

William H., 313. 337, 356, 357 ' 

jr., William H., 313,337 
Rowley, C. W., Rev., 434 
Roy, John C, 191 
Rulison, Dr., 171 
Russ, Charles E., 109 
Russell, Andrew, 425 

Charles B., 337 

George H., 191, 197 

Horace. 197 

Joseph, 247, 251-253 

Marcus D., 131, 320 

Zephaniah, 441 
Ruyter, William, 197 
Ryan, John, 422 

Lieutenant, 123 
Rysedorph, Lawrence, 197 

vSafford, Lieutenant-Colonel, 01 

O. F., Rev. Dr., 295 
Sage, Russell, 189, 278, 348 

Russell, Mrs., 348 

William F., 362 
St. Ann's convent, 345 
St. Augustine's Free institute, 389 
St. Clair, General, 47, 48 
St. John, Daniel, 89 

David, 549 

Wallace, 89 
St. Joseph's convent, 345 

Provincial seminary, 345 
St. Mary's convent, 345 
St. Paul's church, interior of (illustratum), 

826 
St. Peter's convent, 845 
St. Vincent's Female Orphan asylum, ~'80 
Salisbury, Amos, 241, 247 
Salsbergh, Tobias, 538 
Samaritan hospital, Troy, 857 
Sanborn, Joseph, 506 
Sandford, Brownell, 553 
Sand Lake, town of, 510-520 

Averill Park Land Improvement 
company in, 514 

churches of, 517-519 

early merchants of, 513 

early physicians of, 513 



Rev., 199, 295, 



Sand Lake, early tavern keepers of , 512 
first town officers of, 514 
in the Rebellion, 516 
in the Revolution, 516 
in the War of 1812, 516 
list of justices of the peace of, 520 
list of pioneers of, 512 
list of supervisors of the town of. 519 
list of town clerks of, 519 
manufacturers of, 515 
Mutual Insurance company of, and 

other towns, 514 
schools of, 514 

settlement and settlers of, 511, 512 
topography of, 510 
turnpikes in, 513 
water privileges of, 515 
village, 516 

villages and hamlets in, 510, 517 -^ 
Sanford, Samuel B., 399 
Sands, T., 197 
Saul, Juhus, 320 
Saunders, Charles, 488 
Leonard R., 484 
Robert, 220, 375^ 
Savage, Simeon, 197 
Sawin, Theophilus P., 

299, 320, 343 
Saxe, Charles J., 305 
Saxton, Charles T., 801 
Schaffer, Dr., 171 
Schaghticoke Indians, the, 11, 13 
Hill, 449 

Lodge, I. O. O. F., 449 
Powder company, 548 
Schaghticoke, town of, 438-456 
boundaries of, 442 
bridge across the Hoosick in. State 

ownership of, 441 
Cable Flax Mills in, 447 
churches of, 450-454 
earlv merchants of, 440 
early physicians and lawyers of, 44(» 
early tavern keepers of, 440 
Empire Milling and Coal company 

in, 447 
first town officers of, 440 
Hart's Falls in, 444 
in the War of the Rebellion, 
in the Revolution, 444 
Kittle family in, massacre 

442, 443 

list of justices of the peace of, 45;j 
list of supervisors of town of, 454 
list of town clerks of, 454 
murders by Indians in, 44:5 
muster roll of officers of the 14th reg- 
iment from Hoosick and, 444 



444 

of the, 



43G 



LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



Schaghticoke, Post Hartshorn, G. A. R., 
in, charter members and officers of, 448, 
449 

road improvements in, 441 
schools of, 442 

settlement and settlers of, 439, 440 
sufferings of early settlers of, from 

Indians, 442 
territory comprised in, 4BS 
topography of, 439 
villages and hamlets in, 449, 450 
village, 444-449 

Empire club of, 449 

fire and police department of, 

445 
incorporation of, 445 
industries of, 446-448 
list of clerks of, 455 
list of presidents of, 455 
list of treasurers of, 45G 
schools of, 445, 446 
Woolen company, 446 
Schemerhorn, L. , Rev., 480 
Schermerhorn, Cornelius and Barney, 539 
Cornelius, 137 
Cornelius J., 89, 90 
Jacob Cornelius, 71, 78; and family, 

458 
John, 548 
John C, 462 
John W., 70, 71, 78, 495, 496, 544- 

546, 549 
N. A., 461 
Philip, 463 
Schevers, Heudrick, 458 
Schneider, John W., 544 
Schodack Centre, 463 
Depot, 463 
Landing, 462 
Schodack, town of, 456-468 

chief village of Mohicans located in, 

456 
churches of, 464-466 
early physicians and lawyers of, 459 
early roads in, 458 
erection of, 456 
first town officers of, 459 
Henry Hudson, the first white man, 

at, 457 
in the Rebellion, 459 
in the Revolution, 459 
in the War of 1812, 459 
list of justices of the peace of, 467 
list of supervisors of the town of, 

466 
list of town clerks of, 467 
settlement and settlers of, 457, 458 
villages and hamlets in, 462-464 



Schodack, Castleton village in, 459-462 
early merchants of, 460 
fire department of, 461, 462 
incorporation of, 460 
Ingalls & Co., paper makers 

at. 462 
list of clerks of, 468 
list of presidents of, 467 
National Bank of, 460 
paper mills in, 462 
schools of, 461 
Shadj'side Lodge, I. O. O. 

F., in. 462 
water works of, 460 
Woolworth & Graham, U. 
S. postal card contractors 
at, 462 
School commissioners, list of, 142 
Schoonmaker, C. C, 453 

J. E., 294 
Schoppe, Bernard, Rev., 334 
Schouler, Andrew, 447 
Schriver, Edmund, 267 
Schutt, William H., 211 
Schuyler, Abraham, 78 
Clarkson C, Dr., 207 
Myndert, 221 
John, Capt., 34 
Nicholas, 71, 239,383, 392 
Philip, 221 
Philip, Gen., 48 
Peter, Major, 84 
Peter Philip, 84 
Stephen J., 222, 224,316 
Stephen V. R., 137 
Schwerdfeger, Samuel, Rev., 526 
Scoby, Samuel, 241 
Scofield, H. C, 337 
Scott, George, 398 
L Seymour, 209 
Moses, 242 
William K., Dr., 546 
Scougal, W. H., 449 
Scram, William H., 514 
Scriven, Caleb W. , 565 

James, Zebulon and John, 566 
Thomas, 564 
Searing, Willian M., 109 
Searles, William, 452 
Seaton, William, 191, 197 
Seidel, J. P., Rev., 338 
Selden, Charles, 391, 392 
George M., 353 
Joseph D. , 242 
Seldon, Charles, 236 
Senderling, J. Z. , Rev., 527 
Seraphin, Frederic, Marquis de la Tow 
du Pin Gouveruet, 231 



1 



INDEX. 



437 



Servat, Nicholas M., 185 
Settlement at Fort Orange, 1 
Settler, first, in Rensselaer county, 2i) 
Seymour. David L. , review of life and 
services of, 155; 352 
Ebenezer, Rev., 328 
Walter J., 189 
William P., 189 
William Pierce, Dr., 183 
William Wotkyns, Dr., 207, 357 
Shackburg, Dr., author of Yankee 

Doodle, 36 
Shafer, Charles L., 50G 

John F., 196 
Shanahan, John, Rev., 333, 434 
Shannon, W. H., 475 
Shans, Henry, 458 
Sharp, John E., 210 
Sharpe, George, 535 
Shaver, L. E., 314 
Shea, Bartholomew, 302, 303 
Sheary, Michael F., 300 
Shedd, Isaac, 435 
Sheldon, C. P.. Rev., 330 
Daniel, 524 
M. Blanche, 475 
W. H., 487 
William J., 4S7, 499 
Shepard, Hazael, 472 
William, 469 
William A. , 339 
Shepherd, Silas E. , Elder, 528 
Sheriff sent from Holland and his in- 
structions, 22 
Sheriffs, list of, 141 
Sherman, Charles, Rev., 331 
Henry P., 207 
R. W., 254 
Wihiam H., 318 
Sherrerd, John M., 207 
Sherrill, Elizabeth, 251 
Sherrv, Arthur G., 319, 337 
James H., 319 
John, 292, 319 
Sherwood. A. H., 430 
Lemuel, 423 

Lyman and Lorenzo, 420 
Shields, Hamilton L., 202, 203 

William H.,207 
Shinn, Gregory W., Rev., 329 
Shipman, Nathaniel, original of Cooper's 

"Leatherstocking," 421 
Shirts, Joseph, Dr." 170 
Shull, John E.. 426 
Shumway, Alfred, 190 
George E., 190 
William H.. 190, 197 
Sickles, Daniel E., 131, 132, 301 



Sickles, Jacob, Rev., 552 
Thomas, 71, 77, 419 
Sidney, J. C, 269 
Silvester, Francis, 71 
Silliman, Robert D., 256 
Sim, Frederick W., 196 
Simmons, Daniel, 523 
George H., 197. 392 
Henry, 566 
J. C, Rev., 453 
Peter, 483 
Reuben, 525 
Simons, Ezra D., Rev., 330 

John W., 197 
Simpson, Dr., 168 
Sims, George F., 196, 198,303 

John A., 203 
Sinsabaugh, George W., 453 
Sippell, D. C, 190 
Sipperly, George, 516 
John J., 453, 454 

Peter, 516 
Sixth Separate Company, N. G., 204- 

207 
Skelding, Thomas, 251 
Skelton, Julius A., Dr., 109 
Skillman. E. A., 190, 197 

Avery Judd, Dr., 180 
Skinner, Adonijah. 385 

Roger, 242 

S. A., Dr., 169, 197 
Slade, Joseph, 421 

Luke, 191, 197 
Sleicher, jr., William, :'>1 1 
Sliter, Clement, 513 

Edwin A., 197 

William H., 197 
Sliter's Corners, 517 
Slocum, Chauncey B., 193,445 

Henry W., 131 
Sluvter, William, 558 
Smalley, Elam, Rev., 322 
Smart, Andrew J., 3 II 

Joseph W., 314 

Robert T., 314 
Smith, Albert, 29(1 

Benjamin, 229, 242, 253 

Bernard N., Ill 

Charles H.. 193 

C. T. R., 392 

Edwin, 318, 445, 452 

E. R., 390 

George, 251 

George D., 207 

George E., Rev., 295 

George B., 188, 196 

Gerrit, 403 

Harvey, 362 






438 



LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



Smith, Henry W., 369 

Horace K., 187 

Jesse, 549 

Joel D., 460 

John, Rev., 392 

John D., 193 

John F., 190, 197 

Jonas, 534 

J. Brinton, Rev., 328 

J. N., Rev., 331 

Leonard, 523 

Levi, sketch of, 1G4 

Lizzie, Miss, 446 

Munson, 442 

Paul, 525 

Philip, 392 

Rufus, Rev., 452 

Samuel, Rev., 432 

Samuel E., Rev., 329 

Sidney, 191 

S. D., 196 

William, 252 

William A., 301 

W. Stone, 313 
Smyth, WiUiam M., 191 
Snell, H. H., 426 

Snively, Thaddeus A., Rev., 328, 356 
Snodgrass, William D. , Rev. , 323 
Snyder, Cornelius, 533 \ 
' James M., 131, 190 

Philip, 516 
vSoldiers' and Sailors Monument, 130-133 
Somers, Charles G., Rev., 330 
Sommer, Peter Nicholas, Rev., 526 
vSouth Sand Lake, 517 

Schodack, -464 

Stephentown, 498 
Southwick, Daniel, 268 — 

Edward, 239 

P., 398 
Spear, vSamuel P., Rev., 395 
Spencer, Allen, 433 

Charles C, 427 

Daniel E., 197 

Joseph, 70 

Richard, 494 
Spicer, George A., 317 

Tobias, 138 
vSpoor, John, Elder, 478, 488, 499 
Sprague, John W., 202, 203 
Springer, Martm, 137 
Springsteen, Casparus, 450 
Squire, David, 185 
Squires, John, Dr., 169, '459, 463 

Norman B., 295, 319 

Sherry & Galusha, 319 
Staats, Barent G., 78 

Joachim, 403 



Staats, Joachim and Gerrit, 458 

Nicholas, 10 
Stancill, R. W., Rev., 336 
Stanley, C. P., Rev., 480 
Staples, Abraham, 239 
Starbuck, Charles and Nathaniel, 312 

George H., 301 
Stark, John, Gen., 54-63 
Starkey, Thomas A., Rev., 328 
.Starks, Independence. 276 

Ralph, 338 

R. E., 447 
State officers from Rensselaer county. 
143 

senators, list of, 146, 147 
Statzell, Henry C, 304, 306 
Staunton, Benjamin. Rev., 413 

Lodewick, 523 
Stearns, B. B., 189 
Steele, W. H., 192 
Steinberger, Henry, 460 
Stephentown Center, 498 

Flats, or Kinderhook Creek, 498 
Stephentown, town of, 490-501 

boundaries of, 495 

churches of, 498-500 

early physicians of, 494 

early tavern keepers of, 494 

in the Rebellion, 497 

in the Revolution, 497 

in the War of 1812, 497 

list of early settlers of, 491 

list of justices of the peace of, 500 

list of the supervisors of the town of, 
500 

list of town clerks of, 500 

old records of the survey of, 492-494 

schools of, 496 

settlement and settlers of, 490-492 

topography of, 490 

Turnpike corporation, 495 

village, 497, 498 

villages in, 497 

water privileges of, 495 
Stettheimer, jr., & Co., J., 308 
Stevens, Albertus, 566 

FitzH., 353, 354 

Frank L., 215 

S. S., 430 
Stevenson, George H., 447, 449 
Stewart, Lemuel, 563 
Stewart, Dr., 170 

John, 242, 388 

John J., 449 

M. F., 194 

Samuel, 236 

S. W., 197 
Stiles, Robert B., 190, 196 



INDEX. 



439 



Still, Josiah, Rev., 333 
S:illman, Asa, 505 

H. N., 486 

Paul, 506 

Wait H., 207 
Stillwell, Samuel, 4H» 
Stilson, John, 397 
Stimpson, Charles P., Dr., 369 
Stimson, Edward P., Rev., 465 
Stitt, James, 472 
Stockwell, Henry, 186 
Stoddard, Henry, 551 
Stoll, Jacob Janse, 217 
Stoller, Norbert, Rev., 334 
Stone, Edward L., 203 

George A., 338 
Storm of August, 27, 1891, 138 
Story, Helen, Miss, 446 
Stott, Charles H., 301 

jr., C. H., 131 
Stove industry in Trov, 312 
Stowell, Henry, 196 

Samuel, 566 
Strait, B. C, 546 

Ebenezer Smith, sketch of, 162; 546 

George W., Dr., 168 
Strasser, Solomon, 189 
Stratton, A. M., 313 

Charles, 445 

Edward, Rev., 413 
Streeter, Alonzo, Dr., 171 

Lorenzo D., 513 
Stroble, P. A., Rev., 527 
Strong, Charles K., 194, 195 
Stroud, C. E., 430 
Strvker, Barent W., 460, 461 
Sturtevant, S. V., 196 
Stuyvesant, interference of, with the 

rights of the colonists, 24 
Sullivan, Michael, 210 
Sunday News, the, Troy, 350 

School Union, Rens.selaer County, 
137 
Surdam, Henderso i S. , 215 

Peter, 419 
Surrogates, list of, 141 
Swahlen, J., Rev., 333 
Swan, Warren, 497 
Swart, Gerrit, 22 
Sweeney, Daniel, 190 
Sweet, Benjamin G., 423 

Elnathan, 491 ^ 

George W., 447 

Samuel N., 484 

Simeon, 432 
Swett, Frederick W., 369 

& Co., George W., 312 
Swift, John J., Rev., 335 



Sybrandt, William H., Rev., 324 
Symonds, Thomas, 279, 362 

Tackaberry, John, Rev , 331 
Tallmadge, John, 209 
Tamarack, 526 
Tanner, Abel, 497 

Cuyler, Dr., 495 
Tappan, Dr., 171 

Samuel, 423 
Tappen, Juriaen Teunise, 221 
Tappin, John H., 189 
Tarbell, Daniel H., 448, 449 
Tatlock, John, Rev., 324 
Taylor, John, Dr., 169 

Mahlon, 229 

Nathan, 187 

Nicholas, 559 

Solomon, 511 

Stephen, 191 

Tracy, 339 

William F., 484, 488 
Teller, William, 197 
Temple, Richard, Rev., 328, 414 
Ten Broeck, Dirck, 71 
Ten Eyck, Abraham, 228, 238, 240 

Anthony, 70, 71, 458 

Anthony, Dr., 171, 532 

James, 188 
Terry, Elijah, 564 
Thatcher, C. O., Rev., 323 
Thayer, Adin, 425 
Thebaud, August, Rev., 334 
Thomas, Eugene E., Rev., 465 

Henry B., 196, 369 « 

Jeffrey P., 19 

John, 252, 351 

Philander H., Dr., 169, 495, 513 

Porter, Rev., 477 
Thompson, Charles W., 338 

Clara, Miss, 446 

E. R., 131 

George L., 350 

H. W., 131 

Isaac Grant, sketch of, 163 

Israel, 70, 472 

James, 474, 475, 480 

James L., 207 

John, 197, 392 

lohn I., 302, 357 

John L., 134 

John L., Mrs., 327 

J. L., 131 

J. W., Rev., 131, 132, 352 

Rebecca, 472 

Sons & Co.. John L., 320 

Thomas, 516, 547 

Thomas and Calvin, 511 513,515 



440 



LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



ThompsQn, William A., 355 
Thorn, James, Dr , 182 
Thurber, Benjamin, 225 

O. D., 194 
Thurman, Richardson H., ;W!) 
Thurston, Joshua, 24'^ 
Tibbits, C. E. Dudley, 294 

Dudley, 355 

Elisha, 258 

George, 137, 238, 253, 2G8, 357, 392, 
452 

(George M., 269,291, 353 

T. B., 353 

Le Grand C, 131, 139, 211 

William B., 96, 105. 128, 129, 205, 
428 
Tibbitts, Benjamin, 236, 383, 392 

Briggs, 452 
Tifft, Jeremiah, 549 

vSimeon, 549 
Tiilev. Thomas, 110 

Tillnighast, Charles W., 205, 302, 312, 
319, 337, 352, 357 

2d, C. Whitney, 297, ;;i'.) 

Joseph J., 294,' 319 

Thomas A.. 319 
Tim, Louis, 308 

Solomon, 308 

& Co., 308 
Tiucker, Henry, 224 
Titus, Piatt, 240, 252 
Tobias, Thomas, 549 
Todd, Charles M., 470 
Tolhurst, Charles H., 316 

William H., 316 

& Son, W. H., 316 
Toll gates, abolishment of, 139 
Tomhannock, 475 
Tomlinsou, W. A., 189 
Tompkins, Albert, 297 

D. D., 314 

John B. and Peter C, 549 

J. D., 549 

StaatsD., 516 
Topping, John, 398 
Torrance, J. R., 189 
Town, Benjamin F., 203 
Towns of the county, organization of, 

78-80 
Townsend, John B., 203 

Martin I., 83, 96. 154, 155, 278, 296, 
320, 352 

Rufus March, sketch of, 160; 209 

William, 191 
Tracey, Henry, 90 
Tracy, Edward, 398 

Gardiner, 388 

Jedediah, 89, 254, 268 



Tracy, Solomon, Rev., 323 
Traver, Albert P., 191, 197 

Charles M., 191 
Travis, John, 441 
Treanor, John P., 209 
Treaty with the Iroquois in 1684, 39 

with the Mohawks, 2 
Trenor Thomas, 242 
Tripp, Job, Dr., 484 

Stephen, 89 
Trojan Car Coupler company, 320 

Greens, the, 241 
Trov academy, 344 

Board of Trade, 268 
boundaries of the town of, 238 
Century association, 2r)9 
Choral club, 369 

Citizens' Gas Light company, 365 
Troy, city of, 246-304 

added to from Lansingburgh, 262 
annullment of Vanderheyden ferry 

rights in, 272 
Arba Read Steam Fire Engine com- 
pany of, 360 
assistant police magistrates of, list 

of, 373 
banks of, 337-339 
banks started in, in 1853 and 1854, 

272 
beginning of the Troy & Boston rail- 
road at, 269 
Beman park in, 292 
Beman Park Hose company of, 362 
board of fire commissioners of, 359 
board of trade organized in, 2()8 
breweries of, 316 

celebration of the anniversary of the 
inauguration of President Wash- 
ington at, 297 
centennial celebration of, 294-297 
list of committee of arrange- 
ments for, 294 
chamberlains of, list of, 371 
change in wards in, 262 
Charles Eddy Steam Fire Engine 

company of, 361 
cholera in, in 1832, 257 
churches of, 255, 268, 290, 320-337 
city attorneys of, list of, 371 
city clerks of, list of, 372 
city hall of, 291 

city superintendents of, list of, 372 
city surveyors and engineers of, list 

of, 372 
collar, cuff and shirt industry, the, 

in, 275-277, 304-309 
Columbian Libert j' bell cast in, 298 
comptrollers of, list of, 371 



INDEX. 



441 



Troy, city of, Congress street bridge in, 
opening of, 290 

construction of first railroad to, 258 
corporation counsel of, 372 
Day Home for children in, 29;« 
development of transportation facili- 
ties with, 264 
draft riot of 1862 in, 284 
Edmond Stanton Steam Fire Engine 

company of, 361 
educational institutions of, 340-346 
Episcopal institute in, 263 
Esek Bussey Fire company of, 362 
establishment of Emma Willard Fe- 
male seminary in, 2.)0 
extract from " Historical Collections 
of the State of New York" in rela- 
tion to, 265 
extract from the Buffalo Gazette in 

relation to, 266 
lire department of, 357-362 
fire of June 6, 1841, in, 266 
fire of May 1, 1848, in, 268 
fire of October 28, 1852, in, 271 
fire of August 25, 1854, in, 274 
fire of May 10, 1862, in, 282-284 
fire of September 21, 1890, in, 298 
fire of February 17, 1896, in, 303 
fires of December 14 and 15, 1893, 

in, 298, 299 
first disastrous fire in, 250 
first officers of, 247 
first savings bank in, 252 
first steam ferry boat at, 255 
first street railway in, 279 
first Sunday schools in, 247 
fiood of February 8, 1857, at, 277 
fractional currency issued by, 284 
fugitive slave, rescue of, at, 277 
funeral ceremonies of Gen. George 

H. Thomas at, 287 
funeral services of Gen. Joseph B. 

Carr at, 301, 302 
F. W. Farnam Steam Fire Engine 

company of 361 
Gardner Earl Memorial chapel and 

crematory in, 297 
gas, introduction of, in, 267 
government building in, 299 
Grand Central theatre in, 293 
gubernatorial candidates from, 370 
Hope Steam F'ire Engine companv 

of, 360 
hospital of, 287 
Hugh Ranken Steam Fire Engine 

company of, 360 
increase in number of wards in, 287 
india rubber manufacture in, 260 

ddd 



Troy, city of, insurance companies in, 260 

in the panic of 1837, 262 

Jason C. Osgood Steam Fire Engine 
company of, 361 

justices of the justice's court of, list 
of, 373 

landslide in, 261, 277, 297 

males of militia age in, 374 

manufacture of railroad cars in, 
270 

manufacturing and mercantile estab- 
lishments of, 304-320 

market buildings in, 262 

mayors of, list of, 370 

mob in, on St. Patrick's day, 1837, 
261 

mobbing of Theodore D. Weld in, 
260 

Mount Ida cemetery in, 257 

munitions of war manufactured at, 
280 

nativity of foreign born population 
of, 374 

new court house in, 351 

newspapers of, 346-351 

new wards in, 271 

number of persons of school age in, 
374 

Oakwood cemetery in, 269 

opening of the Erie canal, celebra- 
tion of the, in, 252 

opening of Troy Union railroad and 
station in, 274 

organizations, miscellaneous, of, 368 

organization of "The Troy Steam- 
boat company " at, 254 

original charter of, 246 

paper mills in, 314 

parks of, 292 

part of, in creating the "Monitor" 
280-282 

pianos first manufactured in the 
State at, 247 

poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas," 
first published in, 253 

police magistrates of, list of, 373 

population of, 373 

post-oflfice of, 300 

President Lincoln at, 279 

progress of, up to 1825, 254 

protest against removal of tarifl <>n 
shirt, collar and cuff manufactures 
at, 299 

public schools of, 339, 340 

railroad rivalry between Albany 
and, 258, 263 

reception to La Fayette at, 253 

recorders of, list of, 371 



442 



LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



Troy, city of, removal of mayor, by Gov. 
Clinton, 247 

indij(naut article concerning, 248 
Rensselaer Polvtechnic institute in, 

2o3 
St. Vincent Female Orphan asylum 

in, 286 
sale of railroad interests by, 273 
sale of the old Schuyler mansion in, 

298 
Savings bank building in, completion 

of, 290 
secret societies of, 36(i-368 
steamer Empire from, 264 
steamer Troy from, 263 
steamers of the Citizens' Steamboat 

company of, 292 
street railroad extensions in, 286 
street railways in, equipped with 

electricity, 293 
street railway system of, 365 
stove industry in, 312 
telegraph, introduction of the, in, 

267 
theatre, the, in, 288-290 
" The Mary Warren Free Institute " 

in, 267 
trial of the supposed Henrietta Rob- 
inson in, 271 
Trojan Hook and Ladder company 

of, 360 
Union Railroad company in, 272 
voters in, 374 
Washington Volunteer Fire Engine 

company of, 3.19 
water department of, 362-365 
water works of, 259 
Troy club, the, 293 

Daily Sentinel, 256 

Daily Press, the, 349 

Daily Times, the, 348 

Episcopal institute, 163 

erection of town of, 228 

Female seminary, 342-344 

Fusileers, the, 241 

Gaslight company, 268 

Grenadiers, the, 241 

hospital, the, 287 

India Rubber company, 2()() 

Invincibles, the, 241 

Library, 236, 352-356 

Lyceum of Natural History, 247 

Malleable Iron company, 311 

Northern Budget, the, 349 

Observer, the, 350 

Orphan asylum, 351 

Record, the, 350 

Savings company, 272 



Troy vSteamboat company, the, 254 
Steel company, the, 3<l9 
Telephone Dispatch company, 365 
Turnpike & Railroad company, 256 
Union Railroad company, 272 
University, the, 285 
Troy, village of, 217-245 

amendments to charter of, 235 

boundaries of, 238 

business concerns of, in 1792, 230 

business in, in 1787, 226 

changes in boundary of, 23s 

churches of, 233, 238, 240, 256 

distinguished residents of, 231 

divided into wards, 240 

donation of land to, by Jacob D. Van- 

derheyden. 233 
establishment of cemetery at, 244 
establishment of post-office at, 233 
establishment of public library in, 

236 
events of 1797 in, 234 
first bank in, 236 
first church in, 229 
first countv clerk's office erected in, 

242 
first daily newspaper in, 256 
first fire protection provided for, 

234 
first Masonic Lodge in, 233 
first military company in, 224, 241 
first newspaper in, 229 
first paper mill in, 229 
first public water supply of, 240 
first settler on the site of, 218 
first steamboat from, 24 
importance of, over Lansingljurgh, 

235 
in the Revolution, 223 
in the War of 1812, 243 
in 1792, a visitor's description of, 230 
incorporation of, 230 
known as Vanderheyden, 226 
land purchases and transfers on the 

site of, 218-223 
militia of, sent to New York in 1814, 

244 
name of Troy adopted, 227 
new comers to, in 1787, 226; in 1789, 

228 
panic of 1814 at, 245 
population and prosoerity of, in 1815, 

245 
presidents of, list of, 370 
prosperity of, in 1827 and 1828, 255 
reception given to Commodore Mac- 
Don ough at 244 
recruiting in, in 1813, 243 



INDEX. 



443 



Troy, village of, reminiscences of, by 
John Woodworth, 232 

removal of county clerk's office to, 

second bank in, 241 

settlement of, 217 

statistics of, in 1812, 242 

term "Uncle Sam" originated in, 
244 

V^anderheydeu family, its impor- 
tance in, 224 
Troy Vocal society, 369 

Waste Manufacturing companj-, 320 

Water Works company, 259 

Young Men's association, 352-35(5 

Young Men's Catholic Literary asso- 
ciation, 346 

Young Women's association, 356 

& Cohoes Railroad company. 279 

t*t Lansingburgh Street Railway 
company, 279 
Truesdell, Chester, 185 
Trumansville, 431 
Tryon county, 67 

John, 78' 
Tucker, Francis C, 191 

Henry, 553 

Henry O'R., 349 

John Ireland, Rev., 267. 295; death 
and funeral of, 302; 328 

Mark. Rev.. 255. 322, 477 

Sidney D., 309 
Tupper, John H., 207, 337 
Turcotte, Father, 334 
Turner, Alexander I., 385 

Charles, 448 

Gershom, 550, 551 

Isaac, 419 

James, 549 

Thomas, 137, 201, 203, 248, 397 
Turnpike companies, 78 

Troy & Schenectady, 238 
Twelfth' Separate CompaQv, N. G., 207- 

214 
Twenty-second Separate Comjiany, N. 

G., 214,215 
Twining, Frank B.,307. 308 
Tylee, Edward, 233 
Tyner, W J., 350 

Uline, Barnhardt, 512, 513. 517 
Uncas and Miantonomoh, 13 
" Uncle Sam," origin of, 244 
Unitarian church of Troy, 336 
United States district attorney; 143 

officials from Rens.selaer county, 143 

senator, 142 
Universalist church of Trov, 336 



Upham, John, 512 

Morgan S., 278 

William, 514 
Upson, Anson J., Rev., 394 

Vail, D. Thomas, 269, 273, 280, 318, 44C. 
447 

Ezra R., 204, 207 

George, 232, 256, 258, 318, 351 

Henry, 233, 318 

Moses, 70, 71,232, 357 

Thomas, 357 
Valley Falls, 473-475 
Van Alen, James, 195 
Van Allen, John E., 70, 71, 78 
Van Alstyne, Jacob, 70, 224 

John S., 538 

Martin, 89, 533 

Rinier, 89, 531 

William L., 108, 285 
Van Arnam, Abraham, 226 
Van Arnum, Isaac, 377 
Van Avery, Michael W. and James, 

503 
Van Benschoten, Elias, Rev., 451 
Van Brabkle, James, 268 
van Breuckelen, Cornells Teunissen, 20 
\'an Brugh, Peter, 221 
Van Buren, Catherine (Mrs. Hannibal 
Finck), 461 

Charles, 193 

Cornelis Maas, 537 

Hendrick Maase, 457 

Jan, 221 

John, Dr., 171, 459 

Peter, 549 

Teunis, 538 
Van Burgan, G. A., 189 
Van Campen Jacobus, Rev., 534 
Van Corlaer, Arendt, 20-22, 418 
Van Den berg, John, 418 
Vandenbergh, Cornelius, 71 
Vandenburgh, Gerrit C. and William G., 
538 

Henry, 193 

Jacob. 423 

James, 251 

John H., 463 

Lyman, 550 

Volkert V.. 533 
Vandercook, Michael, 469 

Michael S., 88, 90, 137, 472 
van der Donk, Adriaen, 20 
Vanderheyden, Derick V., 240 

Dirck, 222 
Jacob, 224 
jr., Jacob, 71 
Jacob D., 77, 223 



444 



LA^TDMARICS of RENSSELAER COtJNTr. 



Vanderheyden, Jacob 1)., refusal of, to sell 
lauds, 225 ; 227, 229. 233, 2:57 

Jacob I., 223, 225 

John D., 185 

John G., 251, 272 

lands, survey of, into lots, 22G 

Matthias, 225 

Mattvs, 223 

Philip F., 204 
Van der Poel, Meldert, 53H 

Wynant Gerritse. 220 
Van Deurs, George, Rev., 324 
Van Deusen, Michael, 194 
Van Dvck, Peter, 421 

Peter D., 71 
Van Dyke, Cornelius, Dr., 459 

Henry P., Dr., 459 

Henry P. and Cornelnis. Drs., 170 
Van Evera, Vates, 215 
Van Everen, Anthony and Cornelius, 53S 
Van Heusen, John, 516 
Van Hise, George W., 197 
Van Kleeck, Robert B., 327 

Robert V., Rev., 269 
van Munickendam, Pieter Cornelissen, 20 
Van Name, James, 472 
Van Namee, John, Dr., 172 
Van Ness, Cornelius, 432 

Cornelis Hendrickse, and family, 404 

Gerrit Cornelis, 418 
Van O'Linda, Garrett M., 191 
Van Pelt, D. M., 190 

Eugene A., 190, 196, 197 
Van Rensselaer, David, 418 

Hendrick, 538, 539 

Henry K., 224 

Jean Baptist, 24 

Jeremiah, Dr., 181. 414, 5:?S 

Jeremias, 24 

Johannes, 23 

John, 70 

Killiaen, 14-19, 21, 25 

Killiaen, firs! purchases of land by. Hi 

Killiaen, son of Jeremias, 24 

Killiaen, (grandson of the patroon), 
537 

Nicolaas. 538, 539 

Stephen, Gen.. 91, 92 

Stephen, [jr.,] 92, 93 

Stephen, 240, 253, 375, 406, 418, 515, 
552, 558, 567 

William P., 92, 93 
Van Rensselaer's additional purchases, 19 

colony, court and court officers of, 20 

colony, government of, 19 

grant, confirmation of, 18 
Van Santvoord, Seymour, 357, 429 
Van Schaick, Gerrit W., 78 



Van Schaick, John S., 203 

\'an Schoonhoven, Edward, :)93 

Guert, 71, 236, 254 

James, 252, 268 

James L., 318,339 

William H,,357 
Van Slechtenhorst, Brant Arent, 23, 24 
Van Steltyn, Evert Pels, 217, 403 
Van Tuy], Abraham, 256 
Van Twiller, Wouter, 23 
Van Tyne, Robert, 194 
Van Valkenburg, Peter, 545 
Van Valkenburgh, Hanse, 45.S 

Jeronimus, 458 

Lawrence, 189, 276. 494 
Van Vechten, Teunis Cornelise, 217 

Teunis Cornelissep, 403 

Teunis Dirkse, 217 

Teunis Dircksen, 403 

Teunis T.. 78 
Van VegKten, Gerrit Teunis, 418 

Harmon, 71, 194 

John, 442 

John A., 451 
\'an Velsen, Sweer Teunise, 219, 220 
Van Volkenburgh, J. M., 305 
Van Vranka, Maus R., 377 
\'an Wely, Johannes, 23 
Van Wert, Myron L.. 449 
\"an Wesepe, Gysbert Cornelissen, 403 
Van Wie, C. H.', Rev., 454 
Van Woert, Isaac, 471 

John, 471 
Van Woggelum, Peter, 375 

Pieter Pieterse, 220 
Van Zandt, Jacobs & Co., 30S 
Varnum, Forest D., 430 
Vars, Benjamin, 488 
Vaughn, Augustus D., 121 
Veazie, Charles. 271 
Vedder, John N., 548 
Verheyden, Peter, Rev., 334 
\"iall, "Daniel H., 449, 450, 453 
N'iele, Lewis, 439 

Ludovicus, 469 

Stephen L., 472 
Vincent, James, 190 

Marvin R., Rev., 320 
Virgil, Ebenezer H., 189. 203 
Vosburgh, Geertruvt Pieterse, 220 

John, 514 
Vyselaer, (or Gow) Jan Cornelise, 220 



Waddell, James. 192, 197 
Wadsworth. Charles, Rev. 
Waite. Rufus S., Dr., 564 

William, 419 
Walden, George L., 215 



322 



INDEX. 



445 



Walden, J. H., Rev., 330 
Waldron, J. D., Rev., 4:'.4 
Wales, Henry L.. 440 

Henry N., 442 
Walker. James, Rev., 411! 

William B., Rev., 452 

William F., Rev., 328 
Wallace, A. D., 190 

Elijah, 420 

Thomas, 391 

Truman J., 430 

William H., 191 
Wallerstein, E., 308 
Walloomsac, 431 
Walloons, the, 2 
Walsh, Alexander, 389 

(ieorge H., Rev., 328, 329 

John, Rev., 132, 295, 299, 302, 33:5 
Walter, William H., Rev., 328 
Walworth, Benjamin, 419, 422 

Clarence A., Rev., 333 

John. 423 

J. C, 422 

Reuben H.. 420, 423 
Walz, A. F., Rev., 296, 335 
War meetings, the first, 95, 9G 

of the Revolution, 46-65 
Warden, W. S. S., Rev., 331 
Warner, Seth, 44, 61 
Warrant of Duke of York, authorizing 

the patent of Rensselaerwyck, 66 
Warren, Alonzo, 566 

Eliakim, 239, 242, 245, 249 

sr., George B., 338 

jr., George B., 353, 359 

(ieorge H., 267, 328 

John, Dr., 170 

J. (r.. Rev., 330 

John Hobart, 312, 435 

Joseph M., 319, 355, 362 

Martha C, Mrs., 325 

Mary, 267 

Moses, 137. 419 

Nathan, 240, 251, 252. 256, 258, 268 

Nathan B., 267. 328, 329 

Phoebe, 267 

Stephen, 89, 241, 253, 258, 337, 351 

Stephen E., 267, 269. 328 

Walter P., 204, 207, 294, 295, 297, 319, 
354, 357 

Walter P., Mrs., 327 

& Co., J. M., 319 
Washburne, Reuben, Rev., 434 
Wasson, James B., Rev., 329 
Waterbury, Adoniram. Rev., 41 1 

David, 544 

Sylvester, 548 
Wattenpaugh, Paul, 516 



Wayland, sr.. Francis. Rev., 138, 32(1 
Wayside Knitting company, the. 313 
Weatherwax, Andrew, 511 
Weaver, Charles, 190. 197 

G. Norman, 426 

James, 505 

J. H., Rev., 190, 527 

Nicholas, 190, 196 
Webb, Isaac. Rev., 233. 330, 419, 476 
Webber, George N., Rev., 320 
Webster. James. 451 

W. E., Rev., 433 
Weed, Alsop, 134, 256, 268 

Jared S., 337 
Weeks, George E., Rev.. 331 

Silas, 71, 441 
Weest. Philip. 197 
Weibel, John W. H., Rev., 329 
Welch, Samuel, 453 
Weld, Theodore D., mobbing of. 260 
Weller, John, 185 
Wellman, Jedediah, 565 
Wellington, George B., 296 
Wells, 'ira M., Dr., 247 

Thomas T., 195, 196 
Wemp (or Wamp), Jan Barentsen, 218. 

219 
Wendall, Gerrit, 71 
Wendell, Joannes, 375 

Robert, 375,317 
Wentworth, Benning, (iov., 41, 42 
West, Hoosick, 431 

Sand Lake, 517 

Stephen town, 498 

Thomas, 565 
Westcott, Joseph, 494 
Westervelt. Peter F.. Dr., 557 

Ralph, Rev.. 13.S 
Wetby, Henrv, 516 
Wether bee, Abel. 196 
Wetsel, Peter, 442 
Whales in Hudson river, 23 
Wheeler, C. S., 191 

Isaac, 549 

J. W., 308 

Nathaniel, 276 -* 

Seth, 460 
Wheelock, Joseph, 307 '' 
Whelan, Dennis J.. 299 
Whipple, A., 190. 196 

A. B.. Rev., 392. 394 

Jonathan E., 393, 397 

William W.. 351 
White, Charles A.. 369 

H., 392 

Jacob, 551 

John. 307. 425 

John R., 353 



446 



LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



White, Joseph D., 'Mi 

Leander, 448 

Marshall F,, 191. 19>,> 

Robert J., 191 

William, 185 
Whitford, Edward, 488 
Whiting, Elizabeth, 2r»'> 

Ruggles, 810 
Whitlock, John H., 203 
Whitman, W. W., 300 
Whitney, Franklin H., 319 

William W., Rev., 518 
Whiton, Henry B.,Dr.. 179 
Whittaker, Ephraim, Olf) 

William, Rev., 413 
Whyland, Jacob and Sons, 5.5(5 

'W. H., 485, 486 
Wickes, Asa W., 203 

MerrittM., 442, 445 

Thomas S., Rev., 413 
Wicks, John H.. 197 

Wichtermann, George J.. Rev, 451, 52fi 
Widdemer, E. S., Rev., 329 
Wilbur. Charles J., 440 

& Co., 309 
Wilcox, Emily T., Miss, 342, 343 
Wilder, Lyman, 425 

Lyman C, 427 
Wilev, Frederick, 440 

W. E., 448 
Wilkerson, Russell, 198 
Willard, Emma, Mrs., 250, 251, 342-344 

George Lamb, 97. 125. 126 

John D., Dr., 169, 342 

John I)., sketch of, 160; 186 

John H., 342 

Sarah L., 342, 343 

William T., 300 

W. W.,301 

340 
Rev. 



315, 51 S 



295 32r 



Willets, John H., 
Williams, Calvin, 

E. W., 429 

Moses, 258 

Nathan, 233, 300, 497 

Pelham, Rev., 330 

Stephen, 191, 533 
Williamson, R. I)., Rev. 
Willis, Byron, 427 

C. P., 460 

Dr., 171 

Lemuel, Rev., 336 
Willson, Samuel and El)enezer, 227 
Wilson, Arthur. 306 

Charles E., 189 

Ebenezer and Samuel. 244 

(ieorge W., 96, 97, 103-105, 203 

Hugh, 544, 550 

James, 194 



Wilson, Joseph, Rev., 413 

Solomon, 428 

T. Newton, 453, 454 

Washington, 30() 

William B., Mrs., 295 
Wincopp, Cornells, 403 
Winne, Gerrit, 70 
Winslow, Gordon, Rev., 328 

John F., 280-282, 309 
Winthrop, Fitz-John, Gen., 34 
Winton, Wesley, 449 

Witbeck, Abraham, John and Hansic, 
53H 

anti-rent ca.se, the, 93, 94 

(ieorge W. , 54S 

John, 403, 463 

Jonathan, 458 

J. V. D., 460, 469 

William. 532 
Witherbee, Frank S., 310 
Witmer. W. W., Rev., 296 
Witmoudt, Jan, 403 
Witsen, Gerrit Jacob, 1 
Wolf, Charles H., 448 

Edward W., 191 
Wood, E. W., 189 

H. F., 319 

Ira J., 430 

Joseph A., 187 

Melvin, .566 

Samuel M.. Rev., 527 

Walter A., 812, 425, 427-430 

jr., Walter A., 430 
Woodburn, John, 503 
Woodbury, G. F., Rev., 331 
Woodcock, D. C, 337 
Woodford, Stewart L., 131, 133 
Woodhouse, Charles, Rev., 395 
Woodruff, Charles H., 95 

Henlock, 392 

Nathaniel T., 187 
Woods, John, 583 

Woodworth, John, 71; sketch o(, 159; 
185, 232, 233. 236 :500 

Robert, 70, 71, 77 
Wool, John E., 80, 100, 201, 243, 270, 282. 

287, 546, 549 
Woolsey, James T., 203 
Wooster, Eleazer and Albert E., 557 
Worden, Arnold, 505 
Worth, J. D., 197 
Worthington, Aaron, .506 
Wotkyns, Alfred, Dr., 176 

Tom S., 357 
Wright, Caleb, 187 • 

John, Dr,, 174 

Sylvester W., 210 
Wvckoff, Cornelius C, Rev., 465 



t 



V/ 



INDEX. 



447 



Wylie, Jacob, 77, 499 
Wynantskill, 534 

Yankee Doodle, orijifin of, 36 

Yales, jr., Abraham. 71 
Christopher C, 194 
Chri.stopher J., 538 
Dr., 171 

John Waters, 71 
bbadiah, 194, 195 

Youlen, P. F., Rev., 528 

Young, Fred S., 311 



Young, Jacob, 189 

J. R., Rev., 413 

Men's Christian Association of Trov 
337 

William H., 294, 302, 320. 355 
Younghams, Henry, and sons, 511 
Younglove. jr., John, Rev., 138, 527 553 
Yourt, William R., 353 

Zabriskic. John L., Rev., 542 
Zander, James A., 262 
Zweifel, Jcsepb, Rev., 542 



PART II. 



Alden. Charles L., 717 
Anderson, George H., 674 
Ayres, Daniel H., 635 

Barnes, Elmer E., 586 
Baucus, Martin, 615 
Benson, jr., Russell F., Dr., 593 
Black, Franks., 726 
Boardman, Derrick L., 705 
Bond, George F., 616 
Bontecou, Reed B., 601 
Brintnall, Charles E., Col., 640 
Brintnall, Lemuel, 640 
Buckley, Peter H., 658 
Burns, John W., 649 

Carpenter, Beecher E., 692 
Carr, Joseph B., Gen., 708 
Chapman, P. Romer, 636 
Child, James J., 683 
Christie, John T., 622 
Church, Andrew M., 614 
Cipperly, John A., 665 
Clark, CafvinH., 684 
Clark, Otis G., 657 
Cleminshavv, Charles, 642 
Clough, Moses T., 638 
Comstock, Albert C, 651 
Cowee, James F., 666 
Crandall, Edward L.. Dr., 622 
Curtis, Henry C, 591 

Davenport, Nelson. 684 
Daw, George W., 724 
De Freest, Herbert E., Dr., 692 
Denison, Jonathan, 619 
Donohue, William, 693 
Dorlon, Elias G., 589 
Doughty, William H., 696 



Emerson, CJcorge S., 656 

Farrell, John J., 691 
Fellows, A. Clarke, 704 
Fellows, J. Franklin, 703 
Ferguson, E. D., Dr., 629 
Fitzgerald, Edmund, 620 
Fitzgerald, P. J., 626 
Francis, J[ohn M., 720 
Frear, William Henry, 679 
Fursman, Edgar Luyster, 644 

Gabeler, Charles H., Dr., 648 
Gaitley, John E., 627 
Gale, E. Thompson, C. E., 710 
Gardenier, Ransen, 637 
Geer, jr., Gilbert, 653 
Gleason, Samuel O., 729 
Gordinier, Hermon C, Dr., 627 
Green, Arba R., Dr., 645 
Greene, William F., 647 
Griffin, Thomas A., Rev., 634 
Griffith, Lewis E., 608 
Griswold, John Augustus, 706 
Gurley, Lewis A., 718 
Guy, Thomas J., Dr., 606 

Hagan, William E., 676 
Hall, William L., 668 
Ilancox, Eli, 636 
Hanaman, Charles E., 645 
Hannan, Cornelius, 623 
Harder, Frank P., 694 
Hartwell, Charles E., 609 
Hasbrouck, David S., 673 
Havermans, Peter. Rev., 585 
Hayner, Irving, 683 
Hicks, Charles E., 665 
Hicks, Philip H., 635 



448 



LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



Hinds. Herbert C, Rev.. o'.Xi 
HoUister. jr.. William H., 678 
House. Edward O., 715 
Howard. Wesley O.. tWi 

Ingalls, Charles Russell. «4-J 
Ingalls, Harry C, 73.') 

John.son, John, «57;! 
Johnston, Alonzo L., *')'.~ 

Keenan, Michael, Dr., <il.s 
Kellver, David H.. 628 
Kemp, William. 630 
Kimball. Stephen, 707 
Knox, John Hugh, 666 

Lansing, James, 722 
Link, David. 627 
Lisk. Kdward H., 624 
Lomax. Joseph D.. Dr., 623 
Ludlow, Henry Gilbert. .■>99 
Lynd, Edgar, 652 
Lyons, Edward L., Dr.. 691 
Lyons, James Henry, Dr , 693 

Mac Arthur, Charles L.. 72x 
McDonough. William L., 629 
McKnight. John W., 679 
Mahoney, Jeremiah, 647 
Manning, John A., 586 
Masters Family, The, 662 - 
Miller, Justus, 655 
Molloy. Francis J., 694 
Morris, John W.. Dr.. 621 
Mosher. George A., 690 
Murphy, jr., Edward, 697 

Nichols, George F., 618 
Nason, Henry Townsend. 665 
Norton, John T., 691 

O'Connor, Jeremiah, L)r. , 660 
O'Neil, George. 629 
Orr, William, 59<J 
Osterhout, Joseph H.. 727 

Paine, John, 677 
Parks, Stephen, 625 
Parmenter, Franklin J., 731 
Parmenter, Jerome B., 730 
Parmenter, Roswell A., 598 
Patterson, Charles Edward, 604 
Peck, John Hudson. 583 



Phillips, James G.. Rev., 639 
Pine, James K. P.. 702 
Plum. Fred A.. 617 
Potter. Charles M., 612 

Quackenbush. Gerrit Van Schaick, 587 
Ouackenbush, John A., 709 

Rand, Gardner, 675 
Reynolds. Charles W., 612 
Reynolds, Gideon. 675 
Robertson, jr., Gilbert, 581 
Ross, George A., 689 
Rowe, WiUiam H., 650 
Rowe, jr., William H., Col.. 651 

Sawin. Theophilus P., Rev., 716 
Scott. George, 695 
Scott, S. Walter, Dr., 594 
Seymour, David L., 668 
Shaw, William, 706 
Shvne, William T., 725 
Sm'ith, Albert, 699 
Smith, Henry W., 701 
Stevens, S. S., 667 
Stoll, Jacob F.. 610 
Stone, George A., 659 
Stryker, Barent W., 664 

Taylor. W. F., 615 
Thompson, James. 598 
Tillinghast. Charles W.. 604 
Tillinghast 2d, Charles Whitney, 603 
TillinghaGt, Jo.seph Joslin, 592 
Tillinghast, Thomas Allen, 602 
Townsend, Martin L, 573 
Travell, Ira R.. 610 
Tucker, Henry OR.. 674 

Van Alstyne. Richard H., 715 

Wait. Josiah A., 648 
Walsh, John J., Rev.. 595 
Ward, R. Halstead, Dr., 685 
Warr. John, 658 
Warren, jr.. George B., 630 
Warren, Joseph M., 632 
Warren, Moses, 585 
Wheeler, M. Arthur, Dr., 634 
Willard, Emma Hart, Mrs., 580 
Wolf. Edward W., 649 
Wood, Walter A., 660 
Woodcock, jr., Don C, 624 
Wright, Albert M.. Dr.. 617 



INDEX. 



449 



PART III. 



Abbott, Elisha P , 238 

Henry J., 119 

Joseph J., 370 
Abele, Luve G., 202 
Abrams, homas I>. , Capt., 214 
Ackart, Edwin, 34 
Ackert, William S., Dr., 102 
Adams, Jacob V., 238 

Mvron T-, 363 
Adt, L. F.,'Dr., 137 
Agan, William J., 115 
Aikin, Elizabeth, 283 
Aird, Andrew, 210 
Akin, Byron S., 11 

John, 12 

Oliver, 129 

Orrin, 258 

Washington, ]>r. , lol 
Aldeu, Joseph J., 398 
Allen, Amos, Dr., 9 

Arthur H., Rev., 214 

Charles Sanford, Dr., 102 

Frederick P., 101 

George P., 273 

George W., 257 

Isaac A , 182 

James W., 256 
Allendorph, John H., 352 

William P., 371 
Anderson, George, 110 

William, 173 
Angeleum, Timothy P., 371 
Anthony, J. Irwin, 359 
Archambeault, Louis J., Dr., 309 
Armsbv, Clark L., 81 
Arnold', Everett D., 290 
Atkin, M. L., 276 
Averill, James Knox, 369 

Babcock, W. F., 256 
Baily, Edmund, 187 
Bainbridge, Edgar R.. 0() 
Baker, Lorenzo, 31 

William v., 103 
Ball, John C, 314 

L. Burke. 38 
Bame. William H., Ill 
Banker, Christopher A., 70 

E. Warren, 333 
Barber, jr., George, 238 
Barker, Calvin J.^, 323 
Barnes, Horace H., 78 

W. D., 50 
Barrett, John, Rev., 311 

Patrick, 270 



Baucus, Elisha S., 33 

J. Bryan, 200 

J. Irving, 34 
Baxter, Dennis T., 317 
Bayer, William F., 351 
Baynes, Joseph Taylor, 312 
Becker, Christian H.. 197 
Beckett, James A., 115 
Bedell, Alcandar, 112 
Behan, Joseph C, 302 
Beig, John, 282 
Beiermeister, Charles F., 407 

jr., Frederick, 395 

John M., 406 
Belding, Rufus Elisha, Dr., 16 
Bell. John, 404 
Benedict, L., Mrs., 223 

T. Lee, 327 
Berry, George T. , Rev., 352 
Betts, Clarence E., 104 

Edgar K., 389 

Joseph B., 238 
Hink, Zachariah, 204 
Birrell, James X., 313 
Bissell, James Harvey, Dr., 15 
Blackball, lohn J.. 301 
Bloss, Jabe"z P., Dr., 138 

Richard D., Dr., 40 
Boetcher, John, 246 
Boland, Charles P., 116 

John H., 326 
Bolton, Crumbey, 305 

Edward, 210 
Boltwood, Frederick A., 341 
Bonacker, Adam. 51 
Bonesteel, Howard F., Dr., 243 
Bontecou, R. Brinsmade, Dr., 154 
Boocock. John, 213 
Bord, jr., George S., 262 

James, 288 
Borst, George D., 251 
Boughton, William H.. 353 
Bovie. Hewitt, 18 

Israel, 147 

Jane, Mrs.. 29 

William H., 72 
Bowman, sr., Joseph, 156 

jr., Joseph, 154 
Boyce, Charles A. 164 

EliasB., 180 

Frank M., Dr., 11! 

Josiah W.. Ill 
Boyd, Douglas, Mrs., 280 
Bradley, John C, 78 
Bradt, John A., 323 



450 



LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



Bratt, Seneca, 148 
Breese, William H., 365 
Brennan, George J., 327 
Brenner, Fred G., 371 
Brewer, Alonzo, 161 
Brewster, George W., 284 
Bridgeman, John F., 310 
Bristol, David N., 383 
Brockett, Samuel S., 41 
Broderick, Edmund, 16 
Brooker, George, 334 
Brooks, Samuel, 334 
Brooksby, James, 203 
Brougham, De Witt C, 204 

Broughton, Amos, 178 ^ , 

Brown, Adelbert, 8 ^- 

Amos W. , 364 

Ellas A., Dr., 243 

Henry F., 71 

Spencer C, 50 

Stephen J., 187 

Thomas G.. 165 

Willet A., 225 
Buchanan, jr., Archibald, Dr., 243 
Buckingham, Jonas C, 322 
Buckley, Joseph, 223 

William H., 282 
Bulkley, Walter, 303 
Bullent, Theophilus C, 294 
Bulmer, John S., 214 
Bunce, Ensign S., 265 
Burdick, W. R., 114 
Burton, Charles W., 379 

Henry B., Dr., 138 

Lebbeus, 150 

Matthew H., Dr., 138 
Bussey, jr., Esek, 135 
Butler, George T., 138 
Butterworth, Charles F., 135 
Button, Elihu L., 86 

Theodore, 32 
Byars, James G., 254 

jr., J. G., 279 
Byron, Patrick, 341 

Cahill, John F., S27 

Willi im A., 23 
Caird, James, Rev., 292 
Caldwell, James B., 162 

James H., 311 
Calhoun, David, 281 
Callanan, Stephen, 111 
Campbell, William G. P., 366 
Campion, Thomas H., 382 
Can field, Thomas, 128 
Cargon, Silas, 64 
Carl, Herman, 351 
Garner, Frank H., 240 



Carner, John, 274 
Carpenter, J. M., 18 
Carr, Ambrose, 278 

Ambrose, 293 

Fred, & Son, 44 
Carter, Edward, 157 
Carv, Charles, 205 

'Edward R., 266 
■"Case, H. D., 39 

Nathan, 10 
Cassey, John L. 283 
Chambers, John M., 335 
Chase, Alanson P., 365 

Lorenzo D., 47 

Philander, 139 

Theodore T., 351 
Cheney, David N., 302 

Edward D., 162 
Christensen, John B., 388 
Cipperley, John H., Dr., 342 
Clapp & Hines, 104 
Clark, Charles D. , 303 

Peter C. , 248 

Willis, 251 
Clarkson, Sarah A., 335 
Cleary, jr., Kyran, 263 
Clifford, Allen B., 250 
Cluett, Coon & Co. , 395 

Edmund, 341 

Fred H., 340 
Clum, Martillus, 181 

Orlin J., 241 

Sanford, 240 
Coffey, James W. , ;i99 
Colby, John D., 175 
Cole, John P., 45 
Coleman, Pierce, 254 
Colgan, Arthur, 178 
Collins, Cornelius V., 390 

Michael F., 361 
Collison, Francis C, 241 
Comeskey, James, 197 
Cone, Henry, 204 
Connolly, Edward J., 245 
Connor, William, 215 
Consalus, John, 227 
Converse, P. W., 190 
Coon, William H., 382 
Coonley, Gterry, 250 
Cooper, William C. , Dr., 342 
Copeland, William H., 360 
Corcilius, Louis D., 86 
Cordes, August E., 263 
Corey, B. F., 257 
Corliss, John Moore, 401 
Cornell, Gerothman W., 332 
Cottrell. Charles C. 27 

George N., 183 



INDEX. 



451 



Cottrell, Jay C, 10 

jr., Jonathan, 145 

Sherman, Mrs., J) 

William C. , 2:^9 
Coutie, George S., 351 
Coutts, Peter, 79 
Coverly, James Montford, 227 
Cowan, Andrew J., 79 
Cox, Edward Bowdoin, 880 
Crabbe, Charles Henry, 297 

George Henry, 297 
Crandall, Louis S.. 15.S 
Crannell, Stephen, 272 
Crape, Crist, 224 
Craver, Albus, 275 

P. H., 185 

Sylvester J., 227 
Crehan, Henry A., 120 
Crosby, Clement S., Dr., .S9 
Cross, George E. , 198 
Cullen, John, 45 
Curtis, Fred W., 314 

Montgomery G., 40 
Cushman, Robert T., 202 / 

Dandaraw, Roswell A., 205 
Darling, David, 8 
Darroch, John G., 264 
Dater, Almira J., 294 

Jacob. 92 
Dauchy, Charles H., 353 
Davenport, G. J., 247 
Davis, Arnold, 277 
Davitt, Albert W., 304 

Alfred H.. 139 
Davry, George H., 288 
Dean, Peter, 46 
De Forest, Edmund, 274 

George Thompson, 228 
De Freest, Frank, 129 

Gilbert, 206 

Isaac, 229 
De Graff, George, 271 
De Groot, Benjamin E., 308 
Delavan, R. H., 247 
Demers, Eugene L. , 381 

William H., 211 
Denison, D. Oscar, 129 

Henry E., 93 
Dennin, J. Thomas, 305 
Derrick, Adam, 335 

Charles E. , 363 

Lewis W., 184 
Devo)', James H., 67 
De Witt, Emil F., 294 
Diamond, George T., 120 
Dickinson, Melville Day, Dr., 140 
Dickson, Thomas G., Dr., 139 



Dings, James L., 206 
Dodds. Archibald, 105 
Doig, John S., 201 
Dominic, Brother, 842 
Don, John, 118 
Donnelly, Annie, 104 

James Moore, Dr. , 382 

James W., 217 

Michael W., 176 
Donovan, jr., Daniel D., Dr., 157 
Doran, Thomas A., 276 
Doremus, Thomas L., 83 
Doring, Charles, 400 
Dorrance, James A., 161 
Doty, Job, 37 

Orman, 294 
Dougrey, Howard M., 350 
Dow-ling, Thomas P., 104 
Downer, James R., 112 
Downey, William, 183 
Drake, Charles F., 228 
Draper, Frederick E., 105 

William H., 385 
Duncan, Charles, 161 
Dunham, W. V., 165 
Dunn, George, 275 

Patrick, 125 
Dunvar, John, 122 
Dutcher,"T. Henry, 189 
Dwyer, Thomas H., 150 
Dykeman, Garrett, 186 

Eagle, Herman J., 114 
Earl & Wilson, 401 
Easton, C. W., 224 
Eddy, H. S., 260- 

Mary J., 806-^ 
Edmans, George D., 82 
Edmunds, Frank W., 394 
Edward, Brother, 124 
Edwards, jr., Edward, 262 
Eldred, P. L., Mrs., 29 
Eldredge, J. William, 85 
Eidridge, Nathaniel A., 4S 
Ely, William H., 76 
Emery, John W., 301 
English, Lawrence A., 350 
Ennis, George H., 369 
Enos, Edgar A., Rev., 229 
Estabrook, Ezra Robinson, 177 
Evans, John N., 119 

Warren, 290 

Fagan & Craig. 194 
Fairweather, Alexander, 183 
Farnham, Chauncev Wadsworth, 806 
Faulkner, Charles T.. 261 
Thomas, 350 



452 



LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



Faulkner, T. H.. 117 
Faye, Catherine M.,.312 
Feathers, John W., '2'2'> 
Fellows, John T., 89 

Lorenzo D.. 47 
Falter, Mahlon, Dr., 39 
Felton, William A., 215 
Fenton, Charles, 206 
Ferguson, William, 230 
Fielding, Harry P., 211 
Fike, Enos, 12:5 
File, Hiram, 12 
Filley Family, The, 312 
Finch, George W., 121 
Finder. Anthony P., 308 

jr., William, Dr., 370 
Finkle, Harrison, 179 
Fish, Milton, Capt., 284 
Fiske, Edwin Jay, Dr., 403 
Fitch, Benjamin P.. 188 
Fitzgerald, Thomas B., 329 
Fitzpatrick, Philip, 160 
Flack, Clarence N., 392 

Frank M., 131 
Fleming, Luke, 278 
Flynn, John, 134 
Fogartv, Michael M., Rev., 264 
Fortief, John F., 73 
Foster, John F., 295 
Foust, Peter, 270 
Fowler, Stephen, 324 
Fox. Joseph, 383 

William E., Dr., 30 
Francisco, Henry, 258 
Franklin, Charles, 247 
Frazer, Ira G., Dr., 364 
Frazier, James A., 29 
Freeman, Henrv Ravmond, 34:5 
Freiot, Alfred K., Dr.. 328 
Frezon, jr.. William H., 371 
Fry, Edwin A., 229 

John W., 117i 
Fuller, Charles L., 12(i 

W. K., 113 

Gaffney, Peter, 200 
Gage, William H., ;^r) 
Galbraith, Hugh, 156 

Robert, 384 

William J., 375 
Gallagher, Andrew, 36 
Galusha, Henry, 328 
Galvin, Thomas F. , 384 
Gardner, David E., 255 

James J., 145 

L. N., 279 

Wright J., 336 
Garrison, Henry, 17 



Geer, Danforth, 22 

William Clarke, 140 
Gerhaensser Charles, 67 
Germond, John T., 165 
Getty, Addison, 22 
Gibbs, Luman H., 126 
Gibson, George H., 114 

John, 85 
GiflFord, Abbott, 296 

David, 36 

Hiram, 17 
Gillespie, Nelson, 225 
Gleason, John H.,216 
Glenn Bros., 105 
Godini, Marie, Madame, 310 
Golden. Justin C, 324 
Goldstone, Michael, 362 
Goldthwait, B. L., Dr., 144 
Goldthwaite, Abel G., 349 
Goodell, George W. E., Dr., 50 
Gooding, Charlotte S., Mrs., 368 

Seymour, Mrs., 26 

Walter C, 8 
Gormley, David K.. 262 
Gottschalk, Charles, 124 
Gowey, William J., 249 
Graham, James, 121 

Thomas H., 230 
Grant, Peter, 63 

Richard Edward, 96 
Graser, Charles F., 211 
Gravatt, Edwin J., Dr., 63 
Gray, James, 41 

Levi H., 265 
Green, Hannibal, 261 
(ireene, Chauncey O., 211 

Dascom, 81 

Edgar R., 94 

George E., 337 

Margaret A., Mrs., ;>07 
Green man, Charles Edgar, Dr., 150 

George N., 95 
Griffin & Rockfeller, 186 
Groesbeck, Charles H., 299 

William Chichester ;^33 
Guilfoil, James, 207 
(iunuer, Richard C, 37 
Guy, Thomas H., 114 

Hagen, Joseph H., 353 
Hakes, Albert C, 20 
Hall. Richard F., 2:50 '■ 
Halla, Julius F., 106 
Halstead, De Witt C, :579 
Ham, C. G., 165 

Henry V., 269 
Hamilton, Ro.swell, 1!55 
Hamm, Charles Webster, Dr., 222 



INDEX. 



453 



Hamm, Helen (Phillips), Mrs., 207 
Hammanu, Conrad, 125 
Hankie, F., Mrs., 250 
Hannah, jr., David, 318 
Hannon, Rdward, 141 

T. H., Dr., 24 
Hansen, Nicholas, 181 
Harder, George W., Dr., 210 
Hardy, William D., 218 
Harper, William J., 359 
-Harrington, jr., Arvin W. , 398 
Harrison, George B., 399 
Hart, William Howard, 3G7 
Hartigan, John J., 376 

Morris H., 362 
Hartwell, Frank C, 65 
Harvey, David H., 214 
Hastings, jr., Nathan Main, 190 
Haussler, Louis, 38 

Mane, Mrs., 360 
Hawkins, John E., 324 
Hawks, Albert Henry, 287 
Hawthorn, Harris S., 78 
Hayner, Henry C, 84 
Havnes, William, 28 

'William, 212 
Hayes, Edward J., 213 
Heermance, Emily, 380 
Hegeman, William H., 269 
Heimstreet, Thomas B., Dr., 156 
Heinzer, Peter, 73 
Helliwell, Thomas B., 215 
Helser, August, 267 
Henderson, Joseph C, 14!) 
Henry, Horace H., 319 
Herran, Mathew A., 287 
llerrick, jr., G. M., 134. 

John A., 135 
Ilerrington, Hammon, 304 

Merrit, 259 

Merritt C, 12 

Sylvia A., Mrs., 147 

& Co., 13 
Hewitt, Clififord, Dr., 18 

Rensselaer W., 118 
Hidlev, Jacob, 271 

Peter W., 271 
Himes, George H., 372 
Hines, John, 30 
Hislop, James W., 136 

Thomas W,. 349 
Hitchcock, William C, 113 
Hoag, Alvin T., 15 

John E., 314 

Jonathan, 14 

Shandanette, 25y 
Hoffman, Heman F., 136 
Hogeboom, John \'., 166 



Holmes, Henry P., Dr., 329 

John B., 398 

Watson M., 147 
Holser, Charles, 199 
Holton, Sarah F., Mrs., 27N 
Homer, Samuel, 324 
Horan, James J., 263 
Horsley, Benjamin, 76 
Hortun. George W., Cai)t., 6-1 

Mahlon F.. 141 
Hotaling, F. W., 179 
Houghtaling, De Witt D., 288 
Hover, Joseph L., 248 
Howe, Arthur V., 282 

Henry N., 298 
Howell, Ophelia F. B.,Mrs., 123 
Howes, W. J., 141 
Hoyt, Alden S., 70 

Frederick M., 315 

Marshall E., 315 

Thomas S., 105 
Hud.son, F. R., Dr., 381 
Hull, Adelbert C, 283 

Alson J.. 95 

Daniel J., 127 
Humphrey, Olin J., 258 
Hunt, Eugene Mortimer, 2J2 

Lewis, 34 

Richard M., 302 
Hunter, Albert, 13 
Huntington, John H., 2i:> 
Hurd, A. J.. 9 
Hurley, Timothy J., 343 
Hutchins, Charles P , 13r) 
Hutchison, James C, Dr., 140 
Hutton, M. B., Dr., 13 

Samuel E., 176 

jr., WiUiam, 118 
Hyatt, Louis E., 293 
Hydorn, Frank, 160 

Ingalls, Henry Harlow Gross, 378 
Ingraham, Nehemiah, 84 
Ives, jr., (larrett, 241 
Truman, 353 

Jacobs, Jacob Vanstone, 302 
James, Thomas D., 166 
Jcssen, John F., 320 
Jessup, Edward M., 289 
Johnson, Henry A., 77 

Seymour, 117 

William A., 280 
Johnston, C. A., 115 

De Witt C, 192 
Jones, Baalani, 287 

E. C, 81 

Eugene M., Dr., 7 



454 



LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



Jones, E. M., BT 

Halbert H.. 07 
Jordan, Abraham, IKS 
Jordon, William, 1H'3 
Josliu, E. A., 77 

J. C).,'2r.:? 

Kane, Pierce D., 295 
Kapen, John J., 4S 
Kaiitz, John, 255 
Keaugh, Bryant, 231 
Keeler, George, 2(iS 
Keenan, James, HHH 
Keller, George, 207 
Kelley. James, 05 
Kellogg, Justin, :-$>S4 
Kellv', John P., 867 
Kelyer," William, 24 
Kennedy, Howard S., :ii)2 

John H., 142 

John J., ;5()8 
Kenyon, Elizabeth J., (ill 

John H., 200 
Kerigan, Elizabeth, 179 
Keteham, Lansing, 200 
Ketchiim, Sanford P>., 122 
Keyes, James, 284 
Kimball, James E.. (tO 
Kimmey, Jacob, 202 
Kincaid, George H., 79 
King, Ilarvev J-, 380 

Phebe J.', IHO 
Kinloch, Everett S. 

Osman F"., Dr., 
Kipp, lohn, 271 
Kirby," Giles, 252 
Kirkland, Ralph Thornton, 354 
Klock, jr., Daniel, 231 
Knibbs, James, 210 
Knickerbocker, Milton I., 52 
Knowlson, Alexander M., lOO 
Knowlton, ¥. M., 5:'. 
Koon, Alfred, 130 
Kraiiss, George, 106 
Kiinz, John B., 175 

Laibach, Charles, 199 
Lally, George Abbot, 298 
Lamb, George M., Dr., 38 
Landrigan, Patrick J., 207 
Lan.sing, Jacob P., 249 

Jacob T., 207 
Lape, John E., 107 

John F., 106 
Large, William E., 392 
Larkiu, ligbert, 53 
Lasell, Samuel IL, 33S 
Lawrence, P. E., 70 



, Dr., 
157 



188 



Laydon, D. E. L., 107 
Lee, William, 217 
Leffler, A. M., 280 
Leggett, Joseph A., 51 
Lennon, Samuel J., 107 
Leonard, Edgar, 144 

Joseph F., Rev., 0:5 
Lewis, Frank M., 119 

Nathaniel B., Dr., 354 

Oscar J., 249 

William H., 98 
Link, Calvin E., 123 

Burwell B., 231 

Thomas B., 231 

William H., 193 
Livingston, William, 372 

William, 265 
Lloyd, James H., 400 
Lobdell, Archie S., 100 
Locke, Sylvanus Dyer, 330 
Lodewick, Charles C, 43 
Loewenstein, Louis, 175 
Lohnes, George W., 15 
Lottridge, A. Clifford, 293 
Lovelock, Edward A., 207 
Ludden, William J., 404 
Luell, John, 254 
Lynam, H. D., 87 

Mabb, Isaac, 37 

Macardle, George W. E., Rev., 91 

MacArthur, Charles La Favette, Col. 

309 
MacKenzie, John. 162 
McCaffrey, Cornelius, 120 
McCarthy, Charles A., 144 
McChesney, Calvin S., :?15 
McClellan, Charles H., 389 
McConihe, Alonzo, 315 
McCormick, John J., 68 
McCrea, Fred A., 73 
McCrossen, Caroline, 66 
McCulloch. William A., 244 
McDonnell, George J., 131 
McEachrou, J. H., 184 
McGinni.ss, J. W., 272 
Mcintosh, P'rancis T., Dr., 62 
McKearin, Patrick, 83 
McKenna Bros., 280 

James T.. Dr.. 123 
McLaren, John and Robert, 226 
McLeod, Sayre, 261 
McMurray, Alfred W., 331 

Josephine A., 323 
McNutt, J. G.. Col., 405 
Mc Wayne, L. D., Dr., 24 
McWhinnie, Henry, Dr., 132 
Magee, Daniel, Dr., 218 



INDEX. 



455 



Magee, John, Dr., ;}55 
MaKill, David F., 374 
Mallet, Ovila, Dr., 62 
Manchester, Edward H., 19 
Mann, jr., Francis N., 393 

Herbert R., '217 

William H., 327 
Manning, John G., 218 
Mannix, Francis P., 333 
Manny, John L., 233 
Manss, Frederick P., 133 
Markham, E. P., 74 
Marsh. Peletiah J., 36H 
Marshall, Philo P., 186 
Martin, Edward W., 341 
Masten, W. J. & C. P.. 53 
Masters Family, The, 357 - 
Mathisen, John, 305 
Mattison, Albert ()., 98 

Edwin D. , 97 

Job O., 98 
Mattocks, Tames E., Dr., 142 
Maxwell, Thomas F., 313 
Mead, George H., 2«() 
Meeker, C. Alonzo, 332 
Meekin, Alexander, 174 
Melius, Harry E., 101 

& Hem street, 4 4 
xMerchant, Abel, 1G7 
Meredith, George L., Dr , 218 
Mesick, Smith V. H., 249 
Miller, Abraham, 107^ "^ 

Andrew J., 83 

C. A., 277 - 

Charles L., 248 " 

George C, 199 ' 

George R., Capt., 54 - 

H. C, Dr., 133 -^ 

John, 246 ^ 

vStephen, 308 

William A., 352 
Milliiis, Melvin R., 91 
Mills, Thomas, 126 
Mortit, Henry, 49 
Moffiitt, John Jay, 48 
Moore, Edward, 132 
Morey, David, 391 

F. R., 54 
Morner, Conradt, 275 
Morrill, William W., 388 
Morris, James A., 43 
Morrisey. Thomas F., 325 
Morrison, Andrew J., 196 

lames A., 299 

William, 193 
Mor.se. E. E., Miss, 361 

Philip A., 163 
Moses, Charles J., 226 



Moses, Elizabeth, Miss, 74 
Mosher, F. D., 8 
Mnllin, Andrew, 226 
Munn, Elizabeth, 330 
Murphy, Edward J., 270 

Peter S. , 387 
Murray, James H., 270 

James T., 394 

John A. , 142 
Myers, A. Y., Dr., 38 

Charles G., Dr., 344 

James, 359 

John L. , 73 

John S., 369 
Mynders, Archibald D., 168 

Nelson, Horace G., Dr., 86 

Newkirk, Lorenzo, 308 

Nichols, Calvin E., Dr., 219 

Nicholls, George Huntington, Rev., 338 

jr., George H., 338 
Niles, George D , 99 
Noack, Bernhardt J., 219 
Norris, Fred H., 384 
Norton, Frank E., 107 

O'Brien, Jarvis P., 261 

Michael H., 159 

William J., 325 
O'Keefe, John, 308 
O'Mahonev, W. H., Rev., 311 
O'Neil, Edward, 276 

John J. , 256 
Orr, Frederick W., 233 
Osborn, Amos, 39 

M. L., 174 
Ostrander, John, 82 

Louis F. , 74 
Ostrom. Henry, 251 
Otis, George H., Major, 132 

Packard, Chauncev D., 101 
Palmer, Eliza D. , Mrs., 108 
Parker, Joseph W., 26 
Parks, Alonzo H., 54 

Charles Wellman, 407 

John W., 334 
Parmenter, Franklin J., 19(1 
Parsons, J. Russell, 31 

Warren G. , 23 

William H., 405 
Palton, Alexander G., 190 
Payne, Martin, Capt., 87 
Peaslee, J. S. , Dr., 55 
Peck. Arthur Middleton, 234 
Peckham, Silas C. 149 

William H., 333 
Penney, Thomas, 169 



456 



LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



Peoble, Charles W., 1:52 
Percey, Klon, 11 
Pcrcy^ G. N., 115 
Perry, Clarence A., IS'.l 

Nathan S. , 280 
Peters, J. Fred, 80 

S. S. , Mrs., 75 
Petersen, Peter, 192 
Peterson, S. A., 15!» 
Pfeiffer, Henrv [., 10!) 
Phelan, John, 1!)S 

Michael Francis, I)r. , ;574 
Phibbs, William IL, 55 
Phillips, David, 1(»8 

David, 209 

M. W. , 2T9 
Pinckney, James E. , IDS 
Pine, Charles L., 395 

P. S., 39 

W. J., 278 
Pinkham, James E. , 27 
Piscr, Charles B. , 259 
Pitts, Alvah, 169 

Andrew F., Dr., 1(54 
Piatt, Frederic T.. 385 

Theodore D. , 49 
Pockman, Spencer B. , 209 
Pollock, Philander, 159 
Pomeroy, Harmon, 46 
Potter, Darius E. , 188 

E. R., 49 

L. E., 6 

Stephen M., 235 
Powell, George E., 19 
Powers, John W., 277 
Prendergast, Felix R., 143 
Pruvn, Jesse A., 257 
Purcell, John, 109 

John J., 219 
Purely, Forrest A., 35 
Putnam, William B., Dr., 378 

Qiiackenbush. Dyke, 147 

John B. v.. 25 
Quigley, John H., 133 

Thomas F., 187 
Quinn, James T., 125 

Randel, Charles D. , 366 
Randerson, John, 55 
Raney, B., Mrs , 169 
Ranken, David M., 316 
Rapp, Christian W. , 163 
Raymond, William Gait, 174 
Reardon, John J., Dr., 148 
Reed, Leonard V., 195 
Reichard, Elmer E., Dr., 378 
Revnolds, A. E., 25 



Reynolds, A. Olin, 25 

F. A., 109 
Joseph, 250 
Roll in C. 60 
Thomas J., 68 
William T., 20 
William \'an Vcghton, 3.S1 

Rhoda, William H.. 375 
Richmond, E. A., 256 

Herbert J., 262 

P. W., 10 

Theodore C, 377 

Z. A., Mrs., 235 
Rickerson, Le Rov, 157 

Seward, 220 
Ricketts, Palmer Chaniborlaine, 344 
Rigney, Thomas, 181 
Riley, C. W., 60 

Francis, 11 
Rising, Charles H., 360 

George A., 194 

G. Frank, 18 
Harold C, 199 

Robbins, Ja.son, 276 
Roberts, Abrani E., 59 

Addison O., Dr., 109 

John Wesley, 359 
Roche. William J., 397 
Rodgers, Spencer C, 402 
Rogers, Edwin D., 94 

William Franklin, 9:! 
Romp, Frederick, 281 
Ross, Adam, 376 

George A., 255 

Ogden E., 405 
Rourk, Margaret, 189 
Rousseau, Zotique, Dr., 344 
Rudd, Sanford H., 148 
Ruoff, George J., 267 

Jacob, 267 " 
Russell, George H., 42 

T. P., 300 

William F.. 46 
Ryan, Cornelius A., 45 

Sage, James H., 346 
Salisbury, Frederick W., 262 
Salmon, 'Thomas H., Dr., 189 
Sambrook, George T., 358 
Sampson, Albert Augustus, 339 
Sands, (Jeorge E., 360 
Sanford, Samuel Brown, ;)44 
Satterlee, John H., 71 

Russell Hawley, 100 
Saunders, James H., 251 
vSawin, Theophilus Parsons, Rev., 345 
Sayles, John P., 137 
Scharch, Anthony, 274 kj 



INDEX. 



457 



Schenc-k, Martin, '.'Mi 
Schermeihorn, Frank, oTO 

Nicholas N., 247 

\"an Dyke, 307 

W. M., 247 
vSchlemmer, George, 57 
Schlosser, August, 177 
Schmander, Jacob, 800 
Schmidt, Neil, 363 
Schneider, Henry, 848 
Schuman, John George \V., 2(j8 
Scott, Walter, 146 
Scriven, Clinton W., 145 

William H.. 60 
Seaburgh, Joseph M., 57 
Seaman, Jacob, 56 
Searls, J. F., 308 
Seaton, William G., 159 
Sharkey, Andrew J., 170 
Sharp, Alfred, 374 

Alonzo, 281 
Sharpe, Buddington, (il 
Shaver, John E., 282 
Shaw, D. C, 291 
Shea, Jeremiah, 185 
Sheary, Michael F.. 248 
Sheer, Jacob, 237 

John, 237 
vSheridan, William, 77 
Sherman, Levi, 80 

Nathaniel G., 260 

Wesley E., 144 

William H., 397 
Shields, William H., 346 
Shortsleev-es, Isaiah, 874 
Shroder, James I)., 78 
Sibley, Warren A., 192 
Simmons, Stephen, 264 

Thomas B., 273 
Simons, William, 346 
Skillman, E. A., 372 
Skinner, Smith Austin, Dr., 23 
Slitcr, Edgar and John W., 58 

Willard F., 258 
Smith, Adam R., 248 

Arthur T., 403 

Charles H.. 88 

Charles H., 154 

C. J., 41 ( 

Charles T. R., 318 

Charlotte A., 209 

Edwin R., 319 

Hans, 325 

Isaac N.,57 

James Watson, 28() 

Joel D., 56 

John F.. 317 

Lampson, 321 



Smith, Robert G., 88 

^'ictor W. , 220 

William P., 56 

jr., William R., 280 

Zacariah Z.. 57 
Snell, H. H., Prof., 296 
Snook. Jacob H., 209 

William A., 286 
Snyder, A. C, 332; "-- 

Charles W., 3 

D. Horatio, Prof., 257 

Isaac, 260 

Jacob H., 4 

Tames M., 367 

Martin, 259 

William J., 61 
Solomon, Clarence B., 405 
Spall, John, 325 
Speck, Henry J., 131 
Speirs, James, 3 
Spenard, Alexander, 198 

Charles A., 235 
Spencer, Charles G., 190 
Springer, George Martin, ; 

Paul, 237 
Sproat, Charles A., 8 

William H., 68 
Squires, Norman B., 826 
Stanley, Charles K., Rev., 
Stannard, Henry D., 29? 
vStapleton. Timothy, Mrs., 

William B., 266 
Steenberg, George Taylor, 
Stein, Christain Adolph, 2; 
Stevens, Frank L., 255 

William N , 82 
Stevenson, George H., 84 
Stewart, Hiram E., 6 
Stickney, Charles L , 265 
Stiles, Franklin ()., 87 

Robert B., 805 
Still, Charles, 72 
Stillman, Harry N., 99 

Wait J., 137 
Stockwell, AdeliaS., Mrs 
Stoll, Gottlob F., 220 
vStone, Thomas H., 285 
Story, C. B., 178 
Stout, Edward L. , 848 
S to well, Henry, 390 
Strait, tJeorge W., 253 

Thomas M., 221 
Strauss, Moses J., 162 
Strecker, Werner, 35r) 
Strobel, Charles A., 289 
Stroble, August, 35 
Strope. David M., 285 
Stroud, Harriet L., Mrs., 



355 

180 

875 

II 



, -10 



458 



LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



Stuart, Francis N., Rev., 17(j 
Surdani, Burke, 7.") 

Kcllion. 27!) 
Sullivan, John J., 191 
Swartwout, Henry, 2!ll 
Sweet, Rufus, 155 
Swift, Wyatt R., ;W 

Tappin, Samuel Charters, ;52N 
Teson, Charles, IHl 
Thiessen, William M., 2(50 
Thomas, Frank W. ,:>i;) 

ftenrv H. , 88 

Jeffrey P., 152 
Thompson, Dwmel French, Prof., olT 

George S. , 18 

John, 171 

Samuel, 285 
Thomson, Lester B., '.Ml 

James, 90 
Thorpe Brothers, 146 
Tierney, Michael A., 61 
Tifft, Willard D., 171 
Tillson. Henry A., 252 
Tompkins, Albert, i{46 

Clark J., 859 

Fred jf.. Dr., 32(1 
Tooley, Hiel J., 47 
Townsend, Rufus Martin, 385 
Traver, Albert P., 275 
Travis, Mary Ett, 301 
Treanor, John P., 133 
'1 roy Catholic Male Orphan Asylum, 343 
Tunnard, Robert A., 402 " , 

Tupper, John H., 158 <■ — 
Twining, F'rancisB. , 170 
Twogood, Charles, 203 
Tyler, Amos H., 116 
Tyndall, James J., 171 

I'nger, John C, 42 

Vail, Samuel M . 216 
Van Alstyne, E. M. , 285 
Van Buren, Abram W. , 58 

Charles, 58 
\'an De Bogart, Nellie, Mrs., 322 
Vandenbergh, James A., 292 
\'andenburg, Corneluis N., 13<> 
X'anderbogarl, John H., 347 
\'andercook, Charles E., 221 --,^ 

Van Hagen, James, 151 
Van Hoesen, F^arnest N., 246 
Van Ness, Jesse P., 274 
Van Pelt, E. A. and F. R., 372 
Van Santvoord, Seymour, 347 
Van Schaack, Alice A., Mrs., 69 
Van Schoonhoven, William H., 37(» 



\'an Valkenburg, Garret, 191 

Smith, 172 
Van Wie. Charles H., Rev., 91 
Van Wirt. J. D., Dr., 4 
\'aughn, Michael, 62 
Verbeck, W. Wallace. 195 
Viets, M. H., 85 

Waddell. Archibald R., 255 
Wadsworth, G. H., 5 
Wager, T. Blatchford, 326 
Waite, Reuben S. F., 9 
Waldo, Howard L., Dr., 16 
Waldron, George E., 222 

Peter, 33 
Wales, Edwin R., 222 
Walz, Adolph F., Rev., 143 
Waterbury, Horatio Lewis, 29H 
Waters, M. B., 391 
Waugh, John, 173 
Weatherby, George W. , 46 
Weatherwax, Aaron L., 289 <'^^' 

John, 201 

William J., 272 
Weaver, Edwin C. , 197 

James H. 373 
Webster, A. H., 30 

Nelson, 90 

Stephen H., Dr., 380 
Welch, C. D., Dr., 59 

Edgar A., 128 
West, Daniel M., 145 
Westervelt, E., 377 
■ Wheeler. Henry, 310 
White, Frank H., 254 

John B., 24 

Salem H., 80 

W^illiam H., 301 
Whitman, Peter D., 60 

William W., 143 
Wh viand, Jacob, 320 

'Willis W. , 96 
Wight, Arthur M., 88 
Wilcox, Charles G. , 75 

George E. , 113 
Wild, John, 300 
Wilder, L. C, 21 

Wiles Laundering Company, The, 339 
Wilev, Frederick, 31 

Robert J. , 264 
Wilkinson, jr., Joseph B. , 52 
Willard, William Wallace, 391 
Willets, John H., 347 
Williamson, Isaac Hasbrouck, I9.S 

Robert D., Rev., 348 

Stephen H., 164 
Willis, Wilbur F., 68 
Willson, W. Vander Heydeu, 288 



INDEX. 



459 



Wilson, Frank, '271 

Lorenzo, 148 
Wiltse, G. L., 26S 
Wing, Daniel A., ;«S) 
Winkelman, Christian, 2S1 
Winkelmann, David F. , ••>() 
Winkler, Emil F., lifif) 
Winnie, Daniel R., 15.") 
Winslovv Bros., 69 

Joseph H., 855 
Witbeck, C. William, 194--' 

Mary. 321 ^ 
Wolf, jr., John F.. 177 
Wood. George C, 804 

George F. , 821 



Wood, John B.. 172 

W. F., Dr., 280 

W. W., 59 
Woodford, O. D., 185 
Woollev, Marsden, 2G 
Word en, L. E., 237 
Worthington, Albert, 180 
Wotkyns, Tom S. , 887 
Wright, E. L., 5 

Yadeau, George H., 178 
Yates. William B..878 
Youlen, P. M., IKi 
Young, jr., William H., 222 



PORTRAITS. 



Alden, Charles L. . . facing 717 

Anderson, George B .facing 674 

Ayers, Daniel H. facing 685 

Barnes, Elmer E. facing 424 

Baucus, Martin facing 468 

Benson, jr., Russell F., Dr. facing 598 

Black, Frank S. facing 870 

Boardman, Derick L , . .facing 152 

Bond, George F. facing 616 

Bontecou, Reed B facing 601 

Brintnall, Charles E., Col facing 640 

Buckley, Peter H facing 658 

Burns, John W facing 264 

Carpenter, Beecher E faeing 692 

Carr, Joseph B., Gen.. ..... .facing 301 

Chapman, P. Romer... facing 888 

Child, James J. . facing 884 

Christie, John T facing 315 

Church, Andrew M facing 614 

Cipperly, John A . facing 144 

Clark, Calvin H. facing 684 

Clark, ( )tis (i facing 284 

Cleminshaw, Charles . facing 642 

Clough, Moses T. :. .facing 240 

Comstock, Albert C. facing 654 

Cowee, James Y facing 666 

Curtis. Henry C. facing 591 

I )avenport. Nelson facing 355 

Daw, George W facing 724 

De Freest, Herbert E., Dr. ...facing 378 

Denison, Jonathan facing 486 

Donohue, William facing 698 



Dorlon, Elias G. . . facing 589 

Doughty, William H facing 696 

Emerson, George S facing 656 

Farrell, John J facing 360 

Fellows, A. Clarke .facing 704 

Fellows, J. Franklin facing 703 

Ferguson, E. D.,Dr.. facing 629 

Fitzgerald, Edmund ..facing 620 

Fitzgerald, P. J facing 626 " 

Francis. John M facing 848 

Frear, William Henry... facing 679 

Fursman, Edgar Luyster facing 128 

Gabeler, Charles H., Dr facing ^48 

Gaitley, John E facing 312 

tJale, E. Thompson, C. E facing 710 

Gardenier, Ransen facing 468 

Geer, jr., Gilbert facing 658 

Gleasou, Samuel () facing 729 

Gordinier, Hermon C, Dr facing 627 

Green, Arba R., Dr facing 645 

Greene. William F facing 804 

Griffin, Thomas A., Rev facing 881 

Gurley, Lewis E ...facing 842 

Guy, Thomas J., Dr facing 606 

Hagan, William E facing 257 

Hall, William L facing 668 

Haucox. Eli facing 636 

Hanaman. Charles E facing 337 

Harder, Frank P .facing 461 

Hartwell, Charles E facing 609 

Havermans, Peter, Rev facing 585 

Hayner, Irving facing 683 



460 



LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 



Hicks. Philip H faciug 290 

Hinds, HerbcMt C, Rev facing 325 

Hollisler, jr., William H facing 678 

House, Edward O facing 715 

Howard, Wesley O facing 682 

Ingalls, Charles Rus.sell facing 48 

Ingalls, Harry O... .facing 735 

Johnston, Alonzo L facing 430 

Keenan, Michael, Dr ...facing 618 

Kellyer, David H ...facing 136 

Kemp, William facing 36 

Kimball, Stephen facing 707 

Knox, John Hugh facing 276 

Lansing, James ..facing 722 

Link, David facing 400 

Loma.x, Joseph D. , Dr facing 623 

Ivudlow, Henry Gilbert ... ..facing 60 

Lynd, Edgar facing 652 

Lyons, Edward L., Dr facing 691 

Lyons, James Henry, Dr. facing 382 

Mac Arthur, Charles L. facing 346 

McDonough, William L facing 364 

McKnight, John W facing 462 

Mahonev, Jeremiah .facing 647 

Manning, John A - - facing 586 

Masters, E. Shelton, between 662 and 663 
Masters! Frank A., between 662 and 663 

■I>:iller, Justus facing 96 

Mollov, Francis J facing 371 

Morris, John W., Dr. facing 621 

Mosher. George A. . - facing 690 

Murphy, jr., Edward... facing 290 

Nason, Henry Townsend facing 665 

Nichols, George F facing 374 

Norton, John T facing 252 

O'Counor, Jeremiah, Dr facing 660 

( )Neil, George ' facing 308 

( )rr, William - - - facing 590 

Osterhout, Joseph H facing 727 

Paine, John facing 24 

Parks, Stephen facing 396 

Parmenter, Frankin Jay .facing 731 

Parmenter, Roswell A facing 598 

Patterson, Charles Edward. ..facing 104 
Peck, John Hudson facing 583 



Phillips, James G., Rev .facing 496 

Pine, [ames K. P. .: facing 393 

Plum," Fred A . ..facing 368 

Potter, Charles M facing 524 

Quackenbush, Gerrit Van S. . facing 88 

Rand, Gardner facing 675 

Reynolds, Charles W facing 508 

Robertson, jr., Gilbert facing 164 

Ross, George A facing 689 

Rowe, William H facing 356 

Rowe, jr., William H .facing 651 

Sawin, Theophilus P., Rev. . facing 321 

Scott, George facing 695 

Scott, S. Walter, Dr ..facing 594 

Seymour, David L facing 155 

Shaw, William facing 706 

Shvne, William T facing 725 

Sm'ith, Albert facing 699 

Smith, Henry W facing 701 

Stevens, S. S facing 416 

Stoll, Jacob F. facing 610 

Stone, George A facing 338 

Stryker, Barent W .facing 460 

Taylor, W. F facing 488 

Thompson James. .facing 4(4 

Tilling ..;-.^ Benjamin Allen. bet. 120-121 

Tillinghast, Charles W facing 604 

Tillinghast 2d, C. Whitney, .bet. 602-603 
Tillinghast, Joseph Joslin. . .bet. 120-121 
Tillingha.st, Thomas Allen.. bet. 602-603 

Townsend, Martin I facing 573 

Travell, Ira R facing 472 

Tucker, Henry O' R facing 349 

Van Alstyne, Richard H facing 260 

Wait, Josiah A facing 268 

Walsh, John J., Rev facing 333 

Ward, R. Halstead, Dr.. facing 685 

Warr, John facing 288 

Warren, jr., George B facing 63(t 

Warren, Joseph M facing 72 

Warren, Moses .facing 80 

Wheeler, M. Arthur, Dr facing 634 

Willard, Emma Hart, Mrs facing 580 

Wolf, Edward W facing 649 

Wood, Walter A .facing 427 

Woodcock, jr. , Don C facing 624 

Wright, Albert M., Dr facing 617 



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